The Vagabonds #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeThis debut issue of The Vagabonds, published by Alternative Comics in 2003, introduces a series that follows a group of itinerant characters navigating life on the fringes of society. The story sets up their interconnected journeys and struggles, blending slice-of-life drama with a raw, indie sensibility typical of the publisher's early 2000s output.
In "Tribal Rituals, Part One: On a Mission," Josh Neufeld spins a playful courtroom satire where his own artistic legacy is put on trial, with Tintin himself serving as the prosecutor. The story humorously traces Neufeld’s lifelong homage to Hergé, the creator of Tintin, from childhood sketches to his professional work—revealing how deeply the Belgian cartoonist’s influence shaped his style. With every panel drawn, inked, colored, and lettered by Neufeld himself, the issue is a self-aware love letter to his artistic roots, rendered in his signature clean, expressive line. The cover by Neufeld captures the scene’s witty tone with a sharp, stylized sketch of the courtroom showdown.
Stranded in a remote corner of Thailand, Josh and Sari find themselves drawn into the quiet world of Baptist missionaries, where faith and tradition collide in unexpected ways. As they witness the missionaries’ view of Thai life and the local reverence for fireboats, they’re prompted to reflect on their own spiritual questions—without knowing where the journey will lead.
In a delightfully satirical courtroom showdown, Tintin takes center stage to confront Josh Neufeld over a decades-long case of artistic inspiration, tracing the many ways Neufeld’s work echoes the legendary Hergé—right back to when he was just a kid drawing in the margins. It’s a playful, witty takedown that celebrates influence while poking fun at the fine line between homage and imitation.
Josh sits in silence as the news breaks, the weight of the moment settling over him. Amid the chaos, the familiar lyrics of "New York, New York" echo through the air, a haunting contrast to the unfolding tragedy. With Sari nearby, the city’s heartbeat pulses through song and memory.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Murder by Crowquill #[nn] (1999), 9-11 Emergency Relief #[nn] (2002), Spark Generators #2
Reprinted in A Few Perfect Hours and Other Stories from Southeast Asia & Central Europe #[nn] (2004)
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