Lanfeust van Troy #9

The ninth chapter of Arleston and Tarquin's beloved fantasy series plunges headlong into "Het hakketakkende bos" — the Chopping Forest — and the cover makes a vivid case for why that name should be taken seriously. Swirling through a burst of golden light, we see Lanfeust and his companions — including a massive, snarling boar and a sword-wielding warrior in a kilt — tumbling dramatically through grasping, twisting branches alive with scattered autumn leaves and startled birds. It's the kind of kinetic, warmly colored image that has kept this Dutch-language series a genuine pleasure to follow, and 2022's Book 9 looks every bit as adventurous as fans would hope.