4 out of 5

Although I believe Lob did the writing on this, we can’t discount Druillet’s contributions, which undoubtedly affect the flow and feel of the script.

While the layouts aren’t as universally mind-boggling as those featured in Titan’s first collection of Sloane tales – pages feel a bit looser, and there’s more blocking that prevents the necessity of the intense design work Druillet previously put in – the look of Delirius is no less stunning and affecting, especially when combined with the more streamlined plotting Lob offers.  A mini-epic, space explorer guy Sloane gets asked to man a treasure heist on pleasure planet Delirius, which ends up leading him and buddy Yearl on a 60ish page run-and-gun adventure.  What sets this apart from a standard action yarn, though – besides Philippe’s obsessive circle layouts and Escher pages and sudden 2-page surreal splashes – is the unique combination of recklessness and intelligence with which our hero operates: he’s constantly thwarting every plan with a level-headed assuredness, but it’s total fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants.  Lob / Druillet’s possible distaste for certain aspects of capitalism or government are sprinkled over the tale, but it’s never at the sacrifice of telling the story; we get the gist through Sloane’s actions, and a glimpse of something more in his final thoughts on Delirius, and it all absolutely works within character.

Some of the layouts are once again a tad confusing (despite Druillet trying to use some guiding arrows), but the exuberance of the artwork far outweighs the minus of those moments, and for the most part, the panels are flexible enough that one or two out of order doesn’t disrupt the tale.  Titan’s HC reproduction is slim for $20 but jesus, is it a nice looking book all the same, with that glorious notable artwork full bleed on the cover and bright and clean reproductions inside.

Delirius volume 2 – which apparently was written in 2012, interestingly – is coming up next, but I hope Titan continues to kick out whatever other Sloane tales are available as well.