The Rainbow Orchid

This debut graphic novel from England offers a delightful tale of pulp adventure in a classic style. Set in the 1920s, the first book in the Adventures of Julius Chancer series introduces a fierce competition over exotic flowers and an ancient sword. Julius takes on the quest to find a rare, mythical orchid, accompanied by silent movie star Lily Lawrence, in order to save a Lawrence family treasure from being gambled away. But diabolical businessman Urkaz Grope will stop at nothing to win his bet with Lily’s father—including eliminating Julius and Lily. Complete with a nosy, chaos-causing reporter and a bumbling Hollywood agent, this first episode feels like an old friend from the outset, and young readers new to the style will find the clear lines and bright colors engaging, reminiscent of the Tintin adventures. Two more volumes are already available in the U.K. Ages 9–up. (Oct.)