The Littlest Pirate King
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