Review: The Mighty Return of Ric Hochet (Vols 1–3) (Kindle edition)

Ric Hochet is a Franco-Belgian comics series that debuted in 1955, created by cartoonist Tibet (pen name for Gilbert Gascard) and writer André-Paul Duchâteau. Reminiscent of Hergé’s Tintin, Ric is an investigative journalist/detective who often works with (and sometimes at odds with) the police on cases. Though it’s been translated into many languages, it’s had limited exposure in the U.S. The original series appeared to have ended with Tibet’s death in 2010. (I also didn’t miss the fact that my own Rob Hanes Adventures character bears a slight resemblance to Ric!) That said, these latest albums I’m reviewing are new adventures and a revival of the series by writer Zidrou and artist Van Liemt Simon that have been translated into English. The new stories appear to be very faithful to the look and spirit of the original series, down to the late 1960s/early 1970s setting. They are entertaining mysteries grounded in reality with a dash of humor that sometimes lightly touch on social issues. I should add that I purchased the Kindle edition of these albums. Ric is a reporter devoted to his work and solving mysteries, but fallible, good humored and relatable. Though entertaining, I found that the first volume, R.I.P. Ric, was an odd way to re-boot the series since Ric himself actually isn’t in it much since he’s been replaced by a doppleganger (that’s a bit of a spoiler, though to be fair it is revealed nearly at the very start of the story). But it turned out to be a suspenseful adventure nonetheless as Ric tries to foil his doppleganger's plans, leading to an exciting finish. The other volumes were also great fun—in the second volume, Murder in the Gardens, Ric becomes involved in a murder mystery involving a group of radical leftists of the kind that ran rampant Europe in the 1970s and '80s; and in the third volume, titled How to Commit the Perfect Murder, the series displays some cheekiness and dark humor as Ric and the police investigate a series of murders that appear to have been encouraged by a how-to book on murder planted in book markets. These are fun, rainy day reads, perfect comfort food for those who like mysteries with a dash of humor and PG-13 sex appeal, that show off the flair and solid storytelling and draftsmanship that are typical of many European comics. Though these are technically set in a prior era, I nevertheless enjoyed the authentic peak the series offered into everyday life and the lives of ordinary people suddenly caught up in a bit of danger and mystery in the city and suburbs of France.