Comics and graphic novels
Uranus, the blue crystal
Script by Bruno Lecigne, drawing by Alberto Foche
Published on April 30, 2025 by Glénat – €15.50
In this fourth volume of the Solar System series, the team of scientists continues its odyssey aboard an extraterrestrial vessel and approaches Uranus, the mysterious blue ice giant. With its 27 moons and 13 rings, Uranus is far from being a simple point lost in the cosmos: the planet is full of mysteries, and the crew must face strange disturbances that put their mission in jeopardy. The arrival of new aliens in the team complicates the cohesion of the group, while the survival of all is threatened.
As educational as it is breathtaking, the story questions the capacity of humans to collaborate beyond differences, while offering a fascinating dive into the wonders and dangers of space exploration. An album that mixes adventure and science, to be put in the hands of all explorers.
Downlands
Script and drawing by Norm Konyu
Published on April 30, 2025 by Glénat – €25
James, 14, lives in a peaceful village in the south of England, mourning the death of his twin sister, Jennifer. Haunted by her last words—the apparition of a black dog, a sign of death according to local folklore—the young boy embarks on an investigation between legend and reality, aided by a neighbor he nicknames the witch. Part detective story, part fantasy, and part rural chronicle, Downlands is a brilliant read, with an atmosphere reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe. The gruesome tales of the past intertwine with James's quest to communicate with his missing sister through letters left on her grave. The angular design, the evolving colors, and the meticulous details immerse us in a world where the supernatural surfaces on every page. A captivating tale of grief, memory, and the power of legends, brought to life by the pen of Norm Konyu.
Abîmes
Script and drawing by Lucile Corbeille
Published on April 23, 2025 by Delcourt – €23.75
Autobiographical and powerful, Abîmes features a photographer and mother confronted with buried family trauma. Upon her father's death, she searches through photo albums, unearths unspoken words, and attempts to break the curse that seems to weigh on her. The album explores the transmission of wounds, the quest for identity, and the need to reclaim one's history in order to move forward. Through her sensitive narration and intimate watercolor illustrations, the author delivers a universal testimony on resilience in the face of the past, questioning each person's place in memory and the possibility of freeing oneself from it. A profound and very accurate story that promises to touch damaged children and parents who want to break away from traumatic patterns.
Betsy
Script by Stephen Desberg, drawing by Teresa Martínez
Published on April 16, 2025 by Delcourt – €13.50
After a bicycle accident, young Betsy wakes up with an extraordinary gift: she can now understand and communicate with animals. This new ability disrupts her daily life and pushes her to engage in a major campaign to defend the rights of the most vulnerable creatures. Driven by her sensitivity and empathy, the little girl quickly confronts the harsh reality of a society plagued by consumerism, blind capitalism, and social injustice.
Between humor, tenderness and emotion, this modern tale delicately addresses current themes, offering an accessible and touching adventure for children (from 6 years old) and adults. Teresa Martínez's colorful and expressive drawing perfectly accompanies this committed story, which invites us to open our eyes to the condition of animals, in the manner of The Unprecedented Revolt, released a few months earlier.
The Face Pass
Script and drawing by Koren Shadmi
Published on April 16 2025 at Marabulles – €25
In the near future, a brain implant gives humans the ability to change their appearance at will. Rose, an aspiring actress, has become one of these Face Passes. She rents out her services full-time, satisfying the demands of clients in need of company, while hoping to regain custody of her daughter. Each mission plunges her into the intimacy of wounded clients: an inconsolable father who finds his lost child, a teenager in search of recognition, a tyrannized employee looking for an outlet... But by constantly disappearing behind the faces of others, Rose loses herself, shaken by the loneliness and distress she encounters.
Koren Shadmi has created a chilling and profoundly human dystopia, where the quest for identity collides with the commodification of emotions and the dehumanization of social relationships. A striking graphic novel, as relevant as it is moving, without a doubt one of our favorites of this month of May.
Possessions
Script and drawing by Alexis Bacci
Published on April 16, 2025 by Glénat – €29
Antonio Ventimila, a disillusioned Parisian in his forties, decides on a whim to leave everything behind for Italy, fleeing a meaningless existence. His journey takes an unexpected turn when a road accident lands him in a hospital in Turin. There, he meets a whimsical writer who invites him to assist him in writing a book about the city. Between mafia news stories and hidden vestiges of Italian history, the Italian city is definitely not a city like the others.
Hupo (volume 1): The Mystery of the Dark Woods
Script and drawing by Billy Partridge
Published on May 7, 2025 by Milan – 12.90€
In May, Milan is launching its new children's collection Histoires Graphiques with two colorful adventures. The first, and surely our favorite, tells the story of Hupo. When a young dreamer with a passion for reading discovers that his best friend Aletha has been kidnapped by strange crows, he doesn't hesitate to venture into the dark woods to find her. Against a backdrop of evil fog that transforms the inhabitants into zombies, the young hero will have to demonstrate unexpected courage in an initiatory quest that celebrates imagination, friendship, and the strength of hope in the face of adversity.
Between illustrated album and comic strip, Milan's new collection alternates between large images and dialogue sequences, making reading accessible even for young readers. A very, very beautiful discovery.
Juniper Mae (volume 1): Guardian of Tykotech City
Written and illustrated by Sarah Soh
Published on May 7, 2025 by Milan – €12.90
The second series in the Histoires Graphiques collection from Milan, Juniper Mae is set in a futuristic tale where science reigns supreme. After an accident caused by one of her inventions, Juniper Mae, an inventive and solitary little girl, finds herself propelled into the nearby forest, reputed to be dangerous and populated by mysterious creatures. Her encounter with a tama-tama, a creature of the forest, will change her destiny and that of the city. A tale of adventure and emancipation, ideal for young readers in search of great stories and new horizons, which takes up the principle of Hupo, alternating between illustrated images and youth comics.
Mangas
City Hunter Spin-off: The Not So Peaceful Life of Umibozu (volume 1)
Written by Tsukasa Hojo, drawn by Esutoemu
Published on April 30, 2025 by Panini – €9.29
Umibozu, the imposing and shy ex-mercenary who became the manager of the Cat’s Eye café in Shinjuku, finally gets his own adventure. Far from the explosive action of the main series, this spin-off focuses on the daily life of the character, who has become the darling of social networks thanks to his wise advice and kindness. A beautiful moment of nostalgia in the universe of City Hunter, signed by the publishing house Panini.
Dragon Ball – Full Color, The Demon King Piccolo (volume 1)
Written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama
Published on May 7, 2025 by Glénat – €14.95
After a first arc devoted to Goku's childhood, Dragon Ball returns in a full-color edition, this time focusing on the demon king Piccolo. As fans know, this episode, scheduled for 3 volumes, marks a major turning point in the saga. After the brutal assassination of Krillin, Goku embarks on a quest for revenge against the terrible Piccolo, an unprecedented threat looming over the world. For new readers or collectors, this edition continues Glénat's superb work on the cult series by master Akira Toriyama.
Ashes (volume 1)
Written and illustrated by Stéphanie Le Chevalier
Published on May 16, 2025 by Ankama – 7.95€
In the town of Jacquesaint, a rain of ash has been falling relentlessly since the explosion at the Beaufort factory seventeen years earlier. The scourge, a symbol of unbridled industrialization, has upset the climate, made the air and water toxic, and plunged the population into a profound health and social crisis. To combat this constant threat, chimney sweeps have become the true heroes of everyday life: they clean roofs and ensure everyone's survival.
It is in this dystopian context that Ben Farein, an enthusiastic young recruit from Sector 3, is preparing to embark on his first mission under the demanding eye of his father, the chief chimney sweep. But his baptism of fire takes an unexpected turn when he is attacked by a mysterious ash monster. Inspired by the industrial revolution, Ashes explores social inequality, the struggle for justice, and resistance in the face of oppression. Stéphanie Le Chevalier's story, a cross between shônen and social novel, offers a fast-paced adventure where friendship, courage, and the quest for truth are at the heart of the story. An original, dark, committed, but resolutely optimistic French manga that makes you want to read the rest.
Books and novels
Tourist's survival manual in Seoul
By Anne-Claire Duval
Published on April 16, 2025 by Ynnis – €19.50
The holidays are coming soon, and you're already planning your next getaway? This practical and offbeat guide is for anyone who wants to discover Seoul in a different way. Between urban survival tips, cultural anecdotes, and tricks for avoiding faux pas, the manual published by Ynnis offers a fun immersion in the South Korean capital. It includes recommendations for getting around, eating, and going out, as well as for understanding the social codes and subtleties of everyday life. A must-have for curious travelers, K-culture fans, or expats looking for landmarks.
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