DirkJan #20

Mark Retera's long-running Dutch comedy series rolls into its twentieth volume with a cover that captures the series' boisterous charm perfectly — a grinning, muscle-bound DirkJan sits front and center clutching a frothy beer while cheerfully balancing a sloshing barrel atop his head, all set inside a tavern lit by flaming wall torches. Surrounding him is a wonderfully motley crowd: a hulking brute to his left, a curly-haired waitress carrying trays of beer, and a grumpy little troll nursing a coffee in the corner. At 7,95 EUR, this 2014 Mandarijn release is a great entry point or a welcome addition for anyone who enjoys Retera's warm, anarchic humor.