Roel Dijkstra #1

The cover of this 2017 Dutch sports comic says it all: blonde-haired Roel Dijkstra, clad in red and white, lunges forward mid-stride toward a football in front of a packed stadium, with a blue-shirted opponent closing in and teammates visible in the background. Writer Willem Ritstier and artist Roelof Wijtsma bring real energy to this opening chapter, "Thuisfront," with Wijtsma's clean, dynamic linework capturing the tension of a live match beautifully. For fans of European football comics in the tradition of classic sports strips, this first album from Uitgeverij L is a very promising kick-off.