In 1983, “The Conch of Ramor”, the first volume in the “Quest for the Bird of Time” series, was released. In four volumes, screenwriter Serge Le Tendre and designer Régis Loisel would complete the first major heroic fantasy saga in French-speaking comics. The conclusion, in 1987, left readers speechless and contributed greatly to the success and fame of this series. Without obviously forgetting the graphic virtuosity of Loisel and the finesse of the scenario of Le Tendre, with extraordinary characters.
Eleven years later, in 1998, “L'ami Javin” was published, the first volume in a series beginning 40 years before “The Quest” and recounting Bragon's youth and his meeting with Princess Mara. Le Tendre is still on the script, accompanied by Loisel who left the drawing to Lidwine, but was responsible for the colors. The new designer has crazy talent, but it takes a lot of time to create the album.
He was replaced and it was not until 2007 that volume 2 was released, drawn by Mohamed Aouamri. Vincent Mallié will succeed him for the next two in 2010 and 2013, David Etien will produce volumes 5 to 7 between 2017 and 2022 before Vincent Mallié returns to conclude the saga with “L'Omégon”, released last November.
Here again, Le Tendre was able to concoct a poignant ending that lives up to the saga. Throughout this war that Bragon will have waged, in this prequel, against the worshipers of the cult of the god Ramor, we obviously find all the characters from the initial series. Which is precisely what makes all the charm and interest of the prequels. Who didn't want to know more about Rige after reading volume 3 in his name, released in 1985? And this second cycle is fascinating when you reread it in its entirety (especially if each album was read at the time of its release, there was time between each).
But, because there is one, it is true that 26 years to complete this prequel is still a long time. And Le Tendre, who originally didn't think he would make eight albums, perhaps shouldn't have changed his mind. Because one of the strengths of “The Quest for the Bird of Time” lay in its conciseness. Only four volumes for an extraordinary story. In just four years. The pre-quest gets lost in too many details, takes circuitous paths when the straight line could have been preferable. These remain excellent comics, but we would have benefited from making them shorter.
If the project once articulated by Le Tendre and Loisel to take charge of a third cycle themselves recounting the death of Bragon is carried out, it should be significantly shorter, because the authors had mentioned two volumes at most. Hopefully they do. And let them stick to it.
