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littleredhat's review against another edition
4.0
Gil Jordan (or "Jourdan") is a young private detective in Paris. He is assisted by reformed burgular Crackerjack (though I prefer his French nickname, "Libellule", which actually translates to "Dragonfly"), secretary Miss Midge (originally "Queue-de-Cerise", or "Cherry Stem") and police officer Inspector Crouton (no change there).
The first story in this double volume, the titular "Ten Thousand Years in Hell", deals with Gil's and Crackerjack's journey to a South American republic to rescue an inventor forced there against his will... and where the pair are consquently framed for espionage. The second tale, "Boom and Bust", follows both a series of van thefts, and a letter accidentally misdelivered to Jordan, wherein the intended receipent is threatened with a terrible fate involving a "black dog".
Jordan and Crackerjack are a great double act - the latter playing the joky buffoon to the former's straight man, with some genuinely funny slapstick moments and "banter" (for want of a better word) between them.
The first tale wound up being more of an action plot than a mystery, but it was still a good read. In the second story, the presence of a case to solve is far greater, and the Baskerville-like events lend the piece a fun supernatural air whilst a classic crime ambience is maintained by the subplot. Tilleux's artwork is wonderful and colourful, but not cartoonishly overdone. The world he depicts is grounded and believable.
I'm told only two other Gil Jordan stories have been published in English thus far, which is a shame, but they are certainly on my list.
The first story in this double volume, the titular "Ten Thousand Years in Hell", deals with Gil's and Crackerjack's journey to a South American republic to rescue an inventor forced there against his will... and where the pair are consquently framed for espionage. The second tale, "Boom and Bust", follows both a series of van thefts, and a letter accidentally misdelivered to Jordan, wherein the intended receipent is threatened with a terrible fate involving a "black dog".
Jordan and Crackerjack are a great double act - the latter playing the joky buffoon to the former's straight man, with some genuinely funny slapstick moments and "banter" (for want of a better word) between them.
The first tale wound up being more of an action plot than a mystery, but it was still a good read. In the second story, the presence of a case to solve is far greater, and the Baskerville-like events lend the piece a fun supernatural air whilst a classic crime ambience is maintained by the subplot. Tilleux's artwork is wonderful and colourful, but not cartoonishly overdone. The world he depicts is grounded and believable.
I'm told only two other Gil Jordan stories have been published in English thus far, which is a shame, but they are certainly on my list.
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