Littlest Pirate King - Hardcover

Orlan, Pierre Mac

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1606994034 ISBN 13: 9781606994030

Publisher: Fantagraphics Books, 2010

Synopsis

For decades they have roamed the seas, this shipload of undead pirates. They are desperate to die, but every time they try to dash their ship to splinters and end their miserable existence, a malevolent God scoops them out of danger. And so they have no choice but to continue to sail the seas, looting and killing. Until one day, having exterminated yet another ship of the living, they come across a pink little baby. Adopting him as their mascot and dubbing him their “Littlest King,” they continue their journeys. But eventually the King begins to grow up... Adapted by David B., the acclaimed creator of Epileptic, from a short story by Pierre Mac Orlan (which was published decades before the release of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies).

About this title

About the Author:

David B. was born in 1959 in France. His Epileptic has received multiple nominations and one award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, and is considered a masterpiece among Franco-Belgian comics. He is a founding member of L’Association, a group of French cartoonists who broke ground in their approach comics format, subject matter, and style: they were one of Persepolis's first publishers.

From Booklist:

French cartoonist David B. is best known in this country for his acclaimed graphic novel Epileptic (2005), but English-language versions of much of his work remain widely unavailable. In its attempt to branch out into all-ages comics fare, Fantagraphics has translated this charmingly creepy tale adapted from a short story by Orlan. A band of undead pirates, tortured by their inability to find rest, rescue a baby they find floating after a raid. They decide not to kill it right off but keep it around until it’s old enough to really provide some merriment. Naturally, whatever they have in place of hearts take a shine to the boy, who after years aboard is horrified when he has to return to the living world. David B.’s swirly touches and jolting figures have the unnerving quality of a not-quite nightmare, and the sometimes frank bloodiness and scary passages are probably right in line with the reality of kids’ unwhitewashed imaginations. What’s most refreshing is how well this maintains a sense of subversiveness while ending on an oddly touching, though definitely vexing, note. Grades 3-5. --Ian Chipman

About this edition

• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1606994034
• ISBN 13: 9781606994030
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48