Durango #13

Yves Swolfs brings his signature painted realism to this 2008 Soleil album, presenting a weathered, battle-worn gunslinger astride his horse against towering rust-red canyon walls — the kind of image that makes the French Western tradition shine. Sans Pitié ("Without Mercy") promises exactly the hard-edged tone the title suggests, and Swolfs renders every leathery crease and sun-baked landscape detail with remarkable craft. A compelling entry in this long-running series for fans of gritty, beautifully illustrated Westerns.