{"id":36155,"date":"2026-08-07T17:10:45","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T17:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=36155"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:10:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T17:10:45","slug":"yoko-tsuno-volume-21-the-celestial-boat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/08\/07\/yoko-tsuno-volume-21-the-celestial-boat\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoko Tsuno volume 21 – The Celestial Boat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nBy Roger Leloup<\/strong>, coloured by Studio Leonardo<\/strong> & translated by Jerome Saincantin<\/strong> (Cinebook)
\nISBN: 978-1-80044-187-3 (PB Album)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

On September 24th<\/sup> 1970, freelance electronics engineer Yoko Tsuno<\/strong> first began her troubleshooting career as an indomitable intellectual adventurer. Her debut in Le Journal de Spirou<\/em><\/strong> was initially realised in \u201cMarcinelle style\u201d cartoonish 8 page short \u2018Hold-up en hi-fi\u2019<\/em> and although she is still delighting readers and making new fans to this day, for a while it looked as if she wasn\u2019t going anywhere soon. Thankfully, her astonishing, astoundingly accessible exploits were revised and she soon evolved into a paragon of peril, helming a highpoint of amazingly authentic pseudo-realistic fantasies numbering amongst the most intoxicating, absorbing and broad-ranging comics thrillers ever created.<\/p>\n

Tsuno\u2019s globe-girdling mystery cases and space-&-time-spanning epics are the brainchild of Belgian maestro Roger Leloup who launched his own solo career in 1953 whilst working as studio assistant\/technical artist on Herg\u00e9\u2019s Adventures of Tintin<\/strong>. Compellingly told, sublimely imaginative and – no matter how implausible the premise of an individual yarn – always firmly grounded in hyper-realistic settings underpinned by solidly-constructed, unshakably believable technology and unswerving scientific principles, Leloup\u2019s illustrated escapades were at the vanguard of a wave of strips revolutionising European comics. Early in the journey, he switched from loose illustration to a mesmerising realism that is the series\u2019 signature. The long-overdue sea-change in gender roles and stereotyping his eastern star heralded led to a torrent of clever, competent, brave and formidable women protagonists taking their rightful places as heroic ideals and not romantic lures. That small revolution consequently elevated Continental comics in the process.<\/p>\n

Masterful Miss Tsuno\u2019s first outings are sadly STILL unavailable Hold-up en hi-fi<\/em><\/strong>, and co-sequels La belle et la b\u00eate<\/strong><\/em> and Cap 351<\/em><\/strong>, were introductory vignettes prior to epic authenticity taking a firm grip in 1971 when the unflappable problem solver met valiant but lesser (male) pals Pol Paris<\/em> and Vic Van Steen<\/em>. Instantly hitting her stride in premier full-length saga Le trio de l\u2019\u00e9trange<\/em><\/strong> (in LJdS<\/em><\/strong>\u2019s May 13th<\/sup> edition), from then on, Tsuno\u2019s exploits encompassed explosive errands in exotic corners of our world, spy-&-crime capers, devastating deep-space sagas and time-travelling jaunts such as this one. There are 32 European bande dessin\u00e9e albums to date, with 21 translated into English thus far, albeit – and ironically – none are available in digital formats\u2026<\/p>\n

Initially serialised in LJdS<\/em><\/strong> #3138 to 3148, spanning June 29th<\/sup> – 12th<\/sup> August 1998, La Jonque c\u00e9leste<\/em><\/strong> became Europe\u2019s 22nd<\/sup> collected Yoko Tsuno<\/strong> album at year\u2019s end. It finds our tireless trouble-finder back on Earth and striving to separate history from myth – and legend from harsh political truth – in a cold case of child abuse and apparent mysticism that spans a millennium…<\/p>\n

Aboard a commercial jet, Tsuno is flying to China with adopted daughter Morning Dew<\/em> when an onboard incident involving an ailing archaeologist abruptly leaves \u201cDew\u201d in accidental possession of an antique doll and mysterious ivory globe. These the afflicted passenger was delivering to an unspecified address. The aged items are apparently clues to a fabulous treasure and the lost location of the \u201cseventh tooth of the dragon\u201d but further information is unavailable after he is seemingly struck down by an invisible force…<\/p>\n

Attentive Yoko\u2019s instincts and suspicions are further aroused when they disembark and officials attempt to confiscate the items. Naturally, they are deftly foiled and diverted by Ms. Tsuno\u2019s clever misdirection. With Dew in tow, she tracks down the ailing man\u2019s intended destination and meets fading historical scholar Professor Fung<\/em> at his riverside residence. Welcomed graciously, she learns of his studies into – and reconstruction of – an ancient multi-lensed \u201csignal device\u201d and the accompanying legend of the lost tomb of The Emperor Zhen-Zong\u2019s Fourth Wife<\/em>.<\/p>\n

That bizarre episode saw said emperor spend years and vast resources seeking to erase the unhappy bride from history…<\/p>\n

Fung is delighted when Yoko hands him the ivory sphere that completes his reconstructed contraption, and – after the doll also provides hidden components – deduces that his courier\u2019s mishandling of the \u201cThe Spheres of Yin Shi\u201d caused his collapse and continuing malady. With the highly-polished lens in his possession, Fung demonstrates the incredible mirror-gadget to be a weapon Emperor Zhenzong employed back in 11th<\/sup> century Song China…<\/p>\n

Dew & Yoko also befriend Fung\u2019s personal doctor Lin Po<\/em>. Although dedicated, she is clearly at odds with and mistrusts her prestigious patient on many issues, but gradually, cautiously she becomes embroiled in the unfolding adventure after Yoko\u2019s sentimental heartstrings are tugged by the physician\u2019s sharing brushed-over further details of the ancient tale of injustice cruelty and imperial abuse.<\/p>\n

With Dew staying at Fung\u2019s house, Yoko and Lin Po voyage by houseboat to an isolated but gloriously beautiful mountain region. Here long ago, ambition and human greed fomented rebellion and tragedy, compelling the august ruler to marry 6-year old Xin Yi<\/em> for political expediency. Now, Lin Po shows Yoko the hidden tomb she accidentally stumbled upon. It contains the child-bride\u2019s ceremonial barge and a sealed funerary urn resembling the doll of the wife. Shockingly, it somehow generates a steady heartbeat!<\/p>\n

Fascinated, the adventurer and moved mother resolves that neither history nor imperial power will stop her from saving the Fourth Wife. Enlisting faithful pals Vic & Pol (plus the latter\u2019s recently migrated 16th<\/sup> century Flanders-born fianc\u00e9e Mieke<\/em>) and cherished comrade Monya<\/em> – from AD 3872 and possessing a time machine (see The Time Spiral<\/a><\/strong>),Yoko and Lin Po ready a factfinding\/rescue mission and set out for \u201cthe 49th<\/sup> day after the Lantern Festival in the 61st<\/sup> year of the Song Dynasty\u201d (March 29th<\/sup> 1021 CE for short) to thwart fate, cheat history and save a tragic child…<\/p>\n

Of course, history is a deceiving liar, and the team are soon embroiled in complex local politics, armed revolt and assassination plots, with their well-intentioned but reality-risking meddling actually shaping the official (but erroneous) account they had studied in the 20th<\/sup> century whilst revealing – and concealing – the truth of the affair. As benevolent Imperial Counsellor Lord Chou<\/em> and peasant boy Yu<\/em> war with rioting peasants, bandits, river pirates and corrupt overlord Prince Wang, to save obnoxious brat Xin Yi, everyone seeks to exploit or scapegoat the Fourth Wife for personal advantage, before the crisis erupts into open warfare when Wang attempts to use a black powder and his diabolical mirror weapon to end the conflict and remove potential hostile witnesses. Thankfully, Yoko has a \u201cdragon\u201d of her own and the savage rebellion is quashed in record time and with the happiest ending fate will permit…
\n\"\"
\nAs always, the most potent asset of this historical drama is its astonishingly authentic settings, as ever benefitting from Leloup\u2019s diligent research and meticulous attention to detail. The Celestial Boat<\/strong> is a sweeping tale of passion, deception, good intentions and indomitable human spirit: a tense yet action-packed thriller, taut and compelling, and absolutely appealing as much to fans of blockbuster fantasy epics as spectacle-starved comic addicts.
\nOriginal edition \u00a9 Dupuis, 1998 by Roger Leloup. All rights reserved. English translation \u00a9 2026 Cinebook Ltd.<\/p>\n

Today in 1895 French comics star Alain Saint-Ogan<\/strong> (Zig et Puce<\/em><\/strong>, Mitou et Toti<\/em>, Prosper l’ours<\/em>, Monsieur Poche<\/em><\/strong>, Touitoui<\/em>) was born, sharing birthdays with Belgian maestro Maurice Tillieux<\/strong> (Gil Jourdan<\/em><\/strong>, F\u00e9lix<\/em>, Marc Lebut<\/em>, Tif et Tondu<\/em><\/strong>, Hultrasson<\/em>, Yoko Tsuno<\/strong>, Jess Long<\/em>) in 1921; artist Mark Bagley<\/strong>, (Amazing Spider-Man<\/strong>, Ultimate Spider-Man<\/strong>, New Warriors<\/strong>, Thunderbolts<\/strong>, Venom<\/strong>, Carnage<\/strong>) & writer Paul Dini<\/strong> (Zatanna<\/strong>, Harley Quinn<\/strong>, Jungle Belle<\/strong>, Detective Comics<\/strong> The Batman Adventures, Superman Adventures<\/strong>, Batman: Harley and Ivy<\/strong>, Shazam! The Power of Hope<\/strong>, Krypto the Superdog<\/strong>) both born in 1957 and scripter Dan Jolley <\/strong>(Aliens<\/strong>, Terminator<\/strong>, Micronauts<\/strong>, Purgatori<\/strong>) in 1971.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Roger Leloup, coloured by Studio Leonardo & translated by Jerome Saincantin (Cinebook) ISBN: 978-1-80044-187-3 (PB Album) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. On September 24th 1970, freelance electronics engineer Yoko Tsuno first began her troubleshooting career as an indomitable intellectual adventurer. Her debut in Le Journal de Spirou was initially … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Yoko Tsuno volume 21 – The Celestial Boat”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[191,239,255,214,299,122,225,107,229],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-drama","category-environmentalism","category-european","category-feminism-sexual-politics","category-historical","category-mystery","category-science-fiction","category-yoko-tsuno"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-9p9","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36155"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36158,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36155\/revisions\/36158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}