Azimut: The Adventurers of Lost Time

Lupano (The Old Geezers) and Andréae fling readers head-first into this lushly drawn tale of an obsession so all-consuming it nearly leads to humanity’s extinction. Manie, a clever, whimsical pinup-styled beauty, is desperate—to find eternal life, to evade her mother’s attempts to outlive her, and to protect the one she loves. When a crime spree reunites her with tortured artist (and jilted lover) Eugène, they flee with Manie’s cadre of “freak” friends, including Picaillon, a talking piggy bank; Betis, her tailor made of stitched-up fabric; and Count de la Perue, an explorer searching for true north. Andréae’s opulent artwork transports the reader into a fairy tale world where mechanical eggs tick away, laid by storks with cages for ribs. Lupano’s narrative makes little sense until all at once it clicks, tipping abruptly from nonsense (such as an army kitted out with long-legged, high-heeled mechanical stilts) into a deeply anxious and profoundly sad statement on the value of time as Manie faces the consequences of her quest. The arc speaks to the dangers of craving a static eternity versus the joys of getting swept away in unexpected adventures (sometimes on the back of a time and space–traversing dragon). It’s a treat for baroque fantasy fans, with steampunk flourishes that will appeal to devotees of Moebius and Tim Burton. (Mar.)