By the Numbers: Book #1 - The Road to Cao Bang

Victor Levallois #1-2

by Laurent Rullier

Genres: Graphic Novels

112 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 is actually the first 2 tomes of "Victor Levallois"

Story = ****
There is plenty of action and intrigue. You don't know what's going to happen to him next! You really get to know the character well by the range of choices that he makes.

Art = ****
It's done keenly in the Tintin style-> a very impressive rendition.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the somewhat cartoony nature of the art fool you, this is a serious book that deals with smuggling, drug and gambling addiction, prostitution, violence, and war- all with an unflinching matter-of-factness. This is the world and the characters live in it unquestioningly.

In the story we see a mild mannered civil servant in 1950s Paris, accidently get shanghaied for Vietnam, which was under French control at the time. What unfolds is a violent tale of betrayal and sorrow, resulting in the main characters complete transformation. It is a pretty good book and I was not expecting it to be as dark as it turned out. Well worth a look.

[Shawn]

Another volume I was assistant editor on. Quite liked this story, very interesting to tell a story like this in an art style similar to Herge's TINTIN.