Urbanus vertelt #1

A delightfully playful cover greets readers of this first volume in the "Urbanus vertelt" series, where a bearded, floral-jacketed Urbanus sits in an armchair pointing straight at you — a small cartoon mole perched cheekily on his head — while four animated characters from Mieleke Melleke Mol surround him in lively fashion. The blend of live-action photography and hand-drawn cartoon figures, credited to artist Stallaert with scenario by Urbanus, gives this 2008 Standaard Uitgeverij release an instantly warm, storybook charm. Plankgas en Plastronneke rounds out the title, promising a full cast of Flemish comic fun in one irresistible package.