Die Sputnik-Jahre

In Die Sputnik-Jahre (2002–2004), French cartoonist Baru and co-writer Martin Budde craft a four-issue, German-published series from Carlsen Comics that captures the restless energy of youth in a provincial town during the late 1950s. Baru’s expressive, kinetic art and grounded storytelling bring to life the era’s social tensions and the quiet rebellion of teenagers caught between postwar conformity and the promise of a new, space-age future. This series matters as a poignant, character-driven snapshot of a generation on the cusp of change, told with the gritty warmth and sharp observation that define Baru’s best work.