Le Scrameustache Vol. #34 – Le Retour de Falzar

European Comics
Le Scrameustache Vol. #34 – Le Retour de Falzar
By Hervé St-Louis
June 4, 2009 - 23:54

Glénat
(Originally Dupuis)
Writer(s): Roland Goossens, Walter Goossens
Penciller(s): Roland Goossens
Cover Artist(s): Roland Goossens
ISBN: 9782723463713
$16.99 CAN

The Scrameustache is a classic European comic book series for kids featuring a cat-like alien and his human buddy Khéna. This series was started in 1972 by creator Roland Goossens, a frequent contributor to the Smurfs and other Belgian comic books series. The Scrameustache is from the world of the Galaxians and he has access to highly evolved technology which he uses to fight crime and solve mysteries with Khéna. Stories always feature themes related to archaeology, which is what Khéna’s legal guardian and uncle pursues for a living. In this episode, an old villain not seen since volume 2 I believe has resurfaced. Falzar, transforms humans into half animal/human creatures. It’s up to the Scrameustache to stop him, but after an accident Khéna fears he is dead.

This is a fun series that I used to read assiduously as a child, but after all these years, I must admit that I didn’t remember much of the Scrameustache’s universe. The story is simple and action oriented. It sets up the conflict quickly and asks the reader to follow several sub plots and elements building to one large climax and a to be continued ending that is genuinely entertaining, although not profound. And that’s ok. This is really a comic book that will provide a few hours of entertainment to kids and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It was amazing to rekindle with this series after so long.

The artwork is simple, it pure Charleroi School and will remind readers of the Smurfs. I like the economy in which complex actions are accomplished within a page without any waste of panels and space. Everything is clear to follow, and it’s obvious that Goossens puts the readers’ interest above any artistic pretention he may have. And that’s effective communication, when dealing with kids. This series, although not translated is highly recommended to parents and kids learning French.