Written by: Jose Luis Munuera
Illustrations: Jose Luis Munuera
Coloring: Sedyas
Publisher: Dupuis
De Campbells #4 Het goud van San Brandamo – Comic Book Review
It’s been a while since we last had the chance to bask in the smell of the ocean, all while we took a leasury cruise in our mighty pirate vessel, plundering, killing and doing other things most pirates do on a daily basis. Luckily, with the release of the fourth album of the Campbells, we finally get a few extra pieces of the puzzle that is Campbell’s past, all while he copes with another tragic loss, which might just get him back in the pirate business. Nonetheless, he has to do something to guarantee his daughter’s safety.
After the ‘Turk’, who was like a father to Campbell, was killed in action, Campbell has been lost in his own thoughts, making his daughter and friends worry about him. While he is one that doesn’t often share facts about his past, or how he’s generally feeling, he makes a valid point when everyone starts speculating about what’s amiss, that they just have to ask. From here on out the story splits into two segments, namely one in the present and one in the past, but they all have one thing in common, namely the fabled island of San Brandamo, where a legendary treasure is buried.
As this issue progresses you’ll learn more about Fanny Morgane, the mother of Campbell’s daughters and the love of his life, who is sadly gone now. Nonetheless, he is aiming to bring Turk’s fleet back together, aim for the legendary treasure as he now knows where it is, and gain enough wealth to truly allow his daughters to lead a free and happy life. As expected, Campbell’s brother, who now hunts pirates, is lurking in the shadows.
Just like in the previous issue of ‘De Campbells’ there is no dull moment to be found, mostly thanks to the many things happening at once and the fairly rapid pace at which things are happening. Nonetheless, even though we feel the album could have been a bit longer, the series does its best to stay true to the pirate theme, all while showing a loving father that might have been a master pirate back in the days but now just wants the best of what remains of his once perfect family. Jose Luis Munuera might not squeeze out an album every few months, he makes sure the story is qualitative, thus surely worth the wait.
Munuera’s illustrations are equally as pleasant as his story writing, and the comical, yet detailed characters take a certain edge away from the story, making it pleasant for both young and old. That being said, even with the funny visuals in place, you’ll still have the feeling the story is rather heavy and not one that was made up in mere moments, thanks to the proper sceneries and coloring. It’s also fun that sometimes slightly more modern things are depicted, or references are made to things like Facebook.
Conclusion
De Campbells #4 Het goud van San Brandamo is slowly lifting the veil from Campbells past, all while he works towards creating a happy family, even if it’s without the love of his life. Great illustrations, combined with a pinch of humor and a beautiful yet exciting story make for a fun read. While the album could and should have been a bit longer, we’re stoked to see how the ex-captain stays afloat.
De Campbells #4 Het goud van San Brandamo – Comic Book Review,
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