Emma et Capucine #2

The second volume of Jérôme Hamon and Lena Sayaphoum's tender series finds a young ballerina — dressed in a white tutu and leotard, her hair swept up — standing quietly before a wash of warm stage lights, her clasped hands and downcast gaze perfectly capturing the subtitle's theme: Premiers doutes, or "First Doubts." It's a beautifully understated image that speaks to the quiet emotional weight behind every pirouette and performance. Dargaud's 2017 release promises the kind of heartfelt coming-of-age storytelling that fans of thoughtful, character-driven bande dessinée will find genuinely moving.