https://imgur.com/a/JoRYmmd

Here's a fascinating throwback story about an 'outsider' chess champion who gets discovered during a pleasure cruise. The gaming aficionados on board eagerly press him to play a few matches, and he finally agrees, insisting that everyone team up against him in order to produce a fair match. Naturally, he crushes them with sloshing ease, game after game.

That is, until an unknown stranger saunters over and begins suggesting moves and strategies to the local group. Remarkably, his play serves to stalemate the champion. Who* is this guy, anyway, who evidently doesn't even play chess? The answer turns out to be rather astonishing.

I thought the art and storytelling in this work really captured the spirit and discipline of both chess and the specific timeframe in a way I'd hardly thought to see in a BD. Thumbs way, way up for this lovely album.

CREDITS: The original BD is called Le Joueur d'échecs, published by Casterman in 2017, based on a Stefan Zweig novel Schachnovelle, from the 40's. Major thanks to Philly-Willy for producing a scanlation, as I don't believe this one's been published in English yet.