The Crogan Adventures: Last of the Legion

BOOKLIST -- Originally published in 2009 as Crogan's March, this is the second in Oni's colorized reprints of Schweizer's historical escapades. Told with a classic Boy's Own Adventure flair for humor and derring-do, the series dips into multiple generations of the Crogan family, this time focusing on French Foreign Legionnaire Peter Crogan who, in 1912, is plunged into a battle against desert raiders. It's cracking good fun, filled with fierce battles and daring escapes, but impressively given equal urgency is the question of one country's right to enforce its own, perhaps more humanitarian, political outlook on a “lesser” nation. It's a question as sadly relevant as ever, and the quandary is given extra weight with an ambiguous ending that sees Crogan sacrificing himself for several Arab captives. Schweitzer's writing effectively encompasses it all at an age-appropriate level, while his art softens the sharper edges with zany figures and breathlessly designed action. The new color adds deeper tones (both literal and figurative) to the proceedings, so if your library hasn't enlisted yet, now's an excellent time.