Maïa #1

The vibrant orange cover of this 2010 Dargaud release sets an immediately playful tone, with the stylish, big-eyed heroine Maïa dashing forward alongside a red-haired boy while a swirl of mischievous little creatures — cats, a small bull, and other fantastical critters — scatter around them. Subtitled La Boîte de Pandore, the first volume of this French series by Brigitte Luciani and Colonel Moutarde promises mythology-tinged adventure wrapped in a fresh, energetic visual style. It's a charming opening to what looks like a delightful all-ages series with a lot of personality to spare.