Theodor Pussel #2

The second volume of Frank Le Gall's Theodor Pussel series sends its bespectacled, cap-wearing hero into what looks like a nighttime harbor adventure — he peers cautiously from the hull of a red wooden boat, surrounded by masts, rigging, and the moody glow of a crescent moon against a darkened sky. The title Mission Anu-el-Kader hints at intrigue in exotic territory, and the dockside atmosphere — with smokestacks looming in the background — sets a wonderfully tense, understated mood. Published by Carlsen Comics in 1990, this German-language album is a charming slice of European adventure comics at their most atmospheric.