Spirou Album #216

The 216th collected album from Dupuis brings together a lively roster of beloved Franco-Belgian characters, all gathered around an oversized soccer ball in a playful beach scene — faces peering from the panels of the ball while two energetic figures tumble gleefully overhead, kicking a smaller ball into the air. It's a charming, sun-drenched celebration of the Spirou universe's remarkable variety, with cover art credited to Tomé and Janry capturing the fun-for-all spirit that made the weekly magazine such a fixture of 1993 European comics culture. A welcoming addition to any shelf devoted to the best of the Franco-Belgian tradition.