Griffin Dark #[nn]

From French publisher Vents d'Ouest, this 1997 Griffin Dark volume subtitled L'Alliance opens with a striking, minimalist cover — a blood-red brushstroke and splash of crimson against a deep slate-blue background, conveying menace and tension before a single page is turned. The work of Crisse and Stanley, the design is bold and atmospheric, letting color and gesture do the storytelling. Fans of moody, stylish Franco-Belgian comics will find this an immediately arresting addition to the shelf.