Sparte #1

Published by Le Lombard in 2011, this opening volume of Sparte announces itself with striking confidence — a towering bronze Corinthian helmet dominates the cover, its red horsehair crest blazing against a burnt-orange sky, while below it a lone warrior in a red cape charges forward into a sea of spears and shields. Christophe Simon's artwork sets the tone for a story subtitled "Ne jamais demander grâce" — Never Ask for Mercy — a motto that feels lived-in rather than merely declared. If ancient Spartan warfare rendered in bold European bande dessinée style appeals to you, this is a compelling place to start.