Barracuda #6 Bevrijding – Comic Book Review
It’s been a while since we last saw the treacherous seas in a comic book, so we discard the many Western stories and we glance back at the Jack Sparrows of the sea. Last time the party encountered dangerous cannibals, and while this sixth album may be the last, it still has plenty of surprises, booty and of course, pirates! Let’s hoist the sails one more time, whilst we wave goodbye to the mainland, as well as this gritty pirate series.
The Spaniards are tightening their grip around Puerto Blanco, while the Red Falcon is still unaware of how dire the situation is. Nonetheless, before long the Spaniards finally make their move, as their representative is also out for the Kashar diamond, which is presumed to be an object that corrupts the minds of those who lay their eyes on it. While the Red Falcon is fighting his battles on land, Blackdog takes the Barracuda to escape, or at least drag the Spaniards’ ships into the thick mist as a ploy to fool them, and hopefully lead them towards a crash course with items unseen.
Raffy is also back on his feet, and after setting aside his feelings, he is crowned the ‘new captain’, as he leads the rebels on the island right into battle, or at least in the opposite direction to make sure no reinforcements can come. That being said, while their plan initially seems like a success, friendly fire might just ruin the day.
Just like the previous album, the story sections are ‘all over the place’ in this album, as you’ll rapidly switch between the different protagonists, Raffy, the Red Falcon and Blackdog, while the battle for Puerto Blanco rages on. The Spaniards seem to have the advantage at first, but as expected the ragtag team of pirates has a lot of tricks up their sleeves, and they also put their experience from their many past battles to the test. Jean Dufaux does a superb job in creating a few extra twists and turns along the way of this final album.
Illustrations remain rather gritty, while keeping the fairly realistic appearance intact. The extra dark sketch-lines make the album a bit more serious, which corresponds perfectly with the plot. Some more adult scenes are depicted in this album, but for the most part, considering the gruesome battle that unfolds in this album, things remain rather clean and accessible for a teen audience. We hope to see more of Jérémy’s work in the future, as his art style is truly a sight to behold.
Conclusion
Barracuda #6 Bevrijding will give a proper ending to this mini-series about both gruesome and loveable pirates. The gritty artwork and captivating story brought this series alive, and we’re sad that it’s now heading to open seas, never to be seen again. That being said, this last album will certainly prove to be a blast, if you dare to walk the plank that is.
Barracuda #6 Bevrijding – Comic Book Review,
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