Kiekeboe #81

Volume 81 of Merho's long-running Belgian humor series brings us "Blond en Blauw," and the cover sets up a deliciously tense dynamic: a mysterious dark-haired woman in a black leather outfit holds a whip at center stage, while a wide-eyed blonde and a startled dark-haired young woman flank her on either side, both clearly caught off guard. The clean, expressive ligne claire artwork — brought to life here by inker Peter Koeken and colorist Ria Smits — gives the scene a playful energy that's pure Kiekeboe. Published by Standaard Uitgeverij in 2004, this is a fine example of the series' knack for mixing comedy with just a hint of danger.