Mandalay #1

The opening album of Mandalay arrives with a cover by Butch Guice and Mike Perkins that sets a richly atmospheric tone — a rugged man gripping a sword stands guard beside a dapper figure in a white suit who holds close a woman in an elegant orange skirt and purple top, all three framed by a doorway opening onto lush tropical jungle and an ancient pagoda, while a menacing face looms in the reddish background. That brooding composition, paired with the subtitle "De spiegels van de haat" (The Mirrors of Hate), promises intrigue steeped in Southeast Asian atmosphere from writers Philippe Thirault and Sophro. A compelling start to what looks like a stylish, tension-filled adventure series.