Les exploits d'Odilon Verjus

In Les exploits d'Odilon Verjus (1996–2006), the Belgian publisher Le Lombard presents a sly, globe-trotting historical comedy set in the early 20th century. The series follows the misadventures of a hapless Belgian missionary whose well-meaning blunders send him careening through colonial Africa and beyond, satirizing imperialism with a sharp, lighthearted touch. Written by Yann and drawn by André Juillard, this seven-issue run is a lesser-known gem of Franco-Belgian comics, showcasing Juillard's elegant ligne claire art before his later fame on Les 7 vies de l'Épervier. It matters as a clever, understated critique of European hubris, wrapped in a deceptively charming adventure strip.