Darwin #1

The first volume of this French graphic novel series sets sail in style, placing two figures — one in a naval coat, one in a tall hat and brown coat — at the bow of a tall ship as it cuts through misty, dramatic coastal waters toward towering fog-shrouded mountains. Writer Christian Clot and artist Fabio Bono bring a painterly, atmospheric beauty to this opening chapter, subtitled À bord du Beagle, that feels every bit as grand as the voyage it depicts. Published by Glénat in 2016, it's a handsome start to what promises to be an adventure rooted in exploration and discovery.