JACQUES MARTIN - Alix - La Griffe noire - Lot 292

JACQUES MARTIN - Alix - La Griffe noire JACQUES MARTIN Alix - La Griffe noire. Casterman, [s.d., circa 1970]. In-4 hardback, boards illustrated in color. Fifth album in the historical Alix saga, originally published in 1959. The plot opens with a muted threat: a mysterious masked figure, a follower of a secret cult, is attempting to assassinate the Roman governor of Pompeii. Alix and Enak find themselves plunged into the heart of a murky conspiracy, against a backdrop of Eastern secrets and deadly poisons. This album is one of the narrative highlights of the series, combining Hitchcockian tension with Jacques Martin's masterful clear line. The memorable first cover perfectly captures the stifling stalking atmosphere. Justification and dating page: © Casterman 1965 - Translation and reproduction rights reserved for all countries. Second board: the "Déjà parus" catalog lists 7 albums and curiously stops at Le Dieu sauvage (published in 1970), omitting some intermediate titles from the printed list. This type of columnar second board with simplified white border is typical of Casterman prints from the very early 70s. Copy in good overall condition. Solid period boards. First cover still fresh, with its bright prairie-green background. Corners and headpieces slightly dulled, with minor edgewear. The top of the red spine shows a small rubbing mark. The interior is particularly clean, complete and sound, with no erasures. A great classic of Franco-Belgian historical comics.