Comics / European Comics

Les naufragés d'Ythaq vol. 1

By Patrick Bérubé
August 18, 2009 - 07:50

I always make a point never to question someone's decision unless I have access to the same information he has. So when a publisher announces a creative change, a new direction or a new comic book I assume he has his reason even if I don't agree. But when Marvel Comics and European comic book publisher Soleil announced that Les chevalier d'Ythaq (or simply Ythaq in English) would be part of the second wave of translation for the North American market it left me wondering for a long time as why did they choose it instead of something better.

Ythaq starts when the young and sexy (remember, this is Soleil...) apprentice astrogator Granite Welgoat is suspended from duty after being late again on the bridge and for dressing ''improperly''. She is then reassigned at the bar where she act as a waitress. Lucky for her, when the cruise vessel she is onboard crash land on an uncharted planet, the recreational section is the only part that survive the ordeal. Stranded there with only another crew member and a rich passenger, she will try to survive on a world that may have many secrets to reveal.

Arleston's plot is honestly not so bad but I personally did not enjoy it. The main reason is because I read a lot of Soleil's comic book recently. Not because I particularly appreciate them but because they are widely available especially in public library and even second-hand book store (where I bought most of the one I have). And after a while they all start to look the same, especially if you follow a particular author. However, if you are new to the Soleil universe and you are picking up Marvel Comics translation, you should enjoy it more than I did. After all, the plot is action packed and you never quite know what to expect.

I could almost say the same thing about the art than I did with the plot. Floch's pencil is very detailed and he creates a very fascinating world. He mixes classic fantasy elements with science-fiction to create interesting visuals. The color by Crazytoons are also very effective. It really helps out the line art to stand out. But as I said above, if you have been following Soleil for a while, it is probably the standard art you can expect from many of their titles.

If you are new to Soleil, this title should really give you an idea what's this publisher is all about so you should consider picking it up in it's Marvel Comics English version. You should even enjoy it more than I did.

 

Rating: 6 /10

Last Updated: January 17, 2025 - 08:20