MORRIS & GOSCINNY (René). Lucky Luke. Bounty Hunter. - Lot 261

MORRIS & GOSCINNY (René). Lucky Luke. Bounty Hunter. Published by Dargaud, Chasseur de primes (Bounty Hunter) is one of the most striking albums in the Lucky Luke series, both for its atmosphere and for the unusual depth of its subject matter. Morris and René Goscinny pit Lucky Luke against a humorless, unscrupulous adversary, a chilling embodiment of greed and legalized violence. The album has a darker tone than the series' average, while retaining the biting irony and scripted precision that have made it such a success. The story explores the excesses of the bounty system and questions the notion of justice in the American West, giving Lucky Luke an almost moral role in the face of a world ready to monetize the law. Morris's drawing reaches great maturity here, with highly legible staging, effective compositions and remarkable use of silences and glances. The iconic cover perfectly sums up the spirit of the album, and is one of the most recognizable of the series. The copy presented is an original Dargaud edition, first print run, with the mention © Dargaud Éditeur 1972 and legal deposit March 1983, printed in France by Maury Imprimeur. This is indeed the first print run of this edition, identifiable by its printing characteristics and corresponding ISBN. The album is complete, without drawings or dedications, as originally issued. Overall condition appears good to very good, with sound conservation for an album over forty years old: boards present despite slight signs of use, solid spine, clean interior.