Elsje #13

The cover of Elsje — Vrij blij practically radiates good cheer: Elsje herself leaps triumphantly at the center, waving a rainbow pride flag and a yellow flag bearing a hot-dog emblem, while her grinning friends and a tumbling white dog celebrate around her atop a pile of school gear — all set against what looks like a college backdrop buzzing with crowd energy. Hercules & Valkema bring their warm, expressive linework to this 2024 volume, capturing a mood of pure, unrestrained joy that feels genuinely infectious. If you're looking for an all-ages Dutch comic full of personality and heart, this thirteenth Elsje album looks like a very fine place to jump in.