Authorised Happiness

In Authorised Happiness (2020–2021), a three-issue series from Cinebook, writer Jean Van Hamme and artists Griffo and Werner Goelen craft a taut, near-future thriller where a state-sanctioned happiness program turns sinister. The story follows a world where citizens must earn their joy through a rigid system, and one man’s rebellion threatens to unravel the very fabric of this controlled utopia. Known for Van Hamme’s signature blend of espionage and philosophical inquiry, this series matters as a compact yet resonant exploration of freedom versus engineered contentment.