Synopses & Reviews
Fantagraphics is proud to follow up 2010’s inaugural edition of Maurice Tillieux’s classic early-1960s Gil Jordan adventures Murder by High Tide with a new double dip. “Ten Thousand Years in Hell” marks a sharp departure from the moody, urban detective thrillers of Jordan’s previous adventures: Instead, after a feint in that direction, it turns into a rollicking, comedic South American prison escape yarn as Jordan and his assistant Crackerjack, who have followed a case all the way to the banana republic of Xique-Xique, end up in dire straits indeed. The second story, “Boom and Bust,” finds the duo’s countryside jaunt turned into an ad hoc investigation by a spectacular vehicular washout (Tillieux did love destroying cars) and a suspiciously noisy enclosure. And in both adventure the eccentric but lovable Inspector Crouton eventually becomes part of the story, reuniting the wisecracking trio. Even sporting a more free-wheeling, humorous style, Tillieux’s masterful graphics remind the reader why he was considered one of the top Franco-Belgian cartoonists of the time — indeed, any time. With the resurgence of interest in the Tintin comics, readers eager to explore the work of other cartoonists working in that distinctive cleanly drawn comedy/ adventure register will enjoy the Gil Jordan books.
Synopsis
The detective has adventures in Franco-Belgian comics form, like a Tintin for a slightly older audience.
Synopsis
Fantagraphics is proud to follow up 2010’s inaugural edition of Maurice Tillieux’s classic early-1960s Gil Jordan adventures Murder by High Tide with a new double dip. “Ten Thousand Years in Hell” marks a sharp departure from the moody, urban detective thrillers of Jordan’s previous adventures: Instead, after a feint in that direction, it turns into a rollicking, comedic South American prison escape yarn as Jordan and his assistant Crackerjack, who have followed a case all the way to the banana republic of Xique-Xique, end up in dire straits indeed. The second story, “Boom and Bust,” finds the duo’s countryside jaunt turned into an ad hoc investigation by a spectacular vehicular washout (Tillieux did love destroying cars) and a suspiciously noisy enclosure. And in both adventure the eccentric but lovable Inspector Crouton eventually becomes part of the story, reuniting the wisecracking trio. Even sporting a more free-wheeling, humorous style, Tillieux’s masterful graphics remind the reader why he was considered one of the top Franco-Belgian cartoonists of the time — indeed, any time. With the resurgence of interest in the Tintin comics, readers eager to explore the work of other cartoonists working in that distinctive cleanly drawn comedy/ adventure register will enjoy the Gil Jordan books.
About the Author
Born in 1921, Maurice Tillieux, best known for the 16-volume Gil Jordan series, was also a prolific writer for other artists, responsible for a number of episodes of Tif et Tondu (drawn by Will) and Jess Long (drawn by Piroton). Famous among other things for his spectacular depictions of car chases and crashes, Tillieux died in an automobile accident in 1978.