By Francq & Van Hamme
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 9781849181129
Largo's not afraid to be the public face of the W Group – what with his past exploits he's hardly been that successful at staying under the radar anyway – so this book opens with Largo taking part in a television interview about the nature of business, hostile takeovers and corporate greed. What Largo didn't bank on was the TV studio ambushing him about his takeover of another business that was then shut down, losing a considerable amount of jobs. To compound the horror, the ex-manager is then wheeled out on stage, but rather than confront Largo with a barrage of abuse he instead pulls a gun and ends his life in front of the cameras as a dramatic act that makes Largo look very much the heartless and evil man of big business to drive someone to such lengths.
Largo estimates he's in control of almost a thousand businesses and he doesn't have his finger on the pulse of them all. The decision to close the factory wasn't his but, as the corporate head, public opinion is that the buck stop withs him. Being the hands-on type, he makes his way north on the day of the ex-manager's funeral only to be confronted by disgruntled ex-employees who give him a sound beating. To compound the problems, his pilot Freddy, and later his best friend Simon, appear to desert him, but not before Largo begins to get wind that there may be more to the factory closure than he was first led to believe. We're slowly introduced to the murky world of stock options and financial irregularities, while Largo digs himself a deeper hole and finds himself on the run.
Once again Van Hamme's written an exceptional story, tapping into the darker side of big business and drawing out adventure, intrigue and suspense. It's difficult to see quite how Largo can get out of this one, but that, of course, is why they're a pleasure to read. Francq's artwork just improves with every new book, and his drawings here are just brilliantly detailed and wonderfully observed. The crashing police car in the snow proves he's a master of his craft.
We also get a bit more of Freddy's back story, including how he got that scar, plus the introduction of Largo's new and somewhat unconventional pilot. Van Hamme keeps pushing the narrative forward, and doesn't let you forget what came before with constant nods and references to past scrapes. This makes for a satisfying and in-depth world in which the characters and businesses operate, which combined with Francq's drawing makes for an enriched and rewarding read.
Looking forward to learning how this one will end.
And if you liked that: Then you should already be reaching for volume 10.
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