Screenwriter Raoul Cauvin died in 2021, but his heroes, the Tuniques Bleues, continue their adventures. After two good episodes scripted by Kris, “Irish Melody” and “Du feu sur la glace”, it’s Fred Neidhardt’s turn to take over. We owe him in particular “Spirou chez les Soviets” and various pastiches.
In “Gold for the Blues”, his references are clearly cinematographic. The title is reminiscent of the film “Gold for the Brave”, in which Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland, American soldiers, went in search of a loot in the middle of World War II.
Same here, Blutch and Chesterfield witness the murder of two southern soldiers by bandits. Before dying, one of them gives the sergeant a letter to give to his fiancée. Vaguely disguised as Mexicans, with a poncho reminiscent of the one Eastwood wore in several of his films, our two heroes are going to be caught by the Southerners. But who believe that they are one of them, on a secret mission to, again, recover a loot.
Southerners killed, loot, changes of uniforms, these are scenes reminiscent of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, always with Eastwood. But when you take inspiration from two good films and the result is conclusive, you won’t complain. Especially since this episode has a unique situation in store for us: by donning enemy uniforms, Blutch becomes Chesterfield’s superior! An advantage he will not deprive himself of.
This 68th volume is therefore a very good vintage, still drawn by Willy Lambil, who, at 88 years old, feels the pleasure of putting this adventure into images. We have certainly noticed in recent episodes some weaknesses sometimes on the faces and hands, but we are not going to blame him for that. The reader has the treasure in his hands.
