Operation Istanbul

In this taut 1986 espionage thriller from Carlsen/if [SE], writer-artist Vittorio Giardino crafts a single-issue, self-contained story of intrigue set in Istanbul. Co-written with Ingrid Emond, the comic follows a lone operative navigating a shadowy world of double-crosses and Cold War tensions. Giardino’s meticulous, atmospheric art brings the city’s labyrinthine streets to life, making this a standout example of European adventure comics.