In 1977 Italian comic book author Attilio Micheluzzi started creating his most extensive work, a comics series called "Petra chérie" which was being published until 1982, reaching a total of 24 small episodes. The main character of the comics is Petra de Karlowitz, a young women living in the neutral Netherlands during the First World War. First eleven episodes tell mutually unrelated stories from her life, showing how she helped the Allied forces in every way she could, trying to maintain her identity hidden in the process to be able to stay on good terms with the Germans and Austrians. While in the first half of the series we get to know Petra, see her virtues and flaws, how she thinks and acts, in a sequence of unrelated situations, in the second half Micheluzzi creates a continuing story which takes Petra from Italy all the way to Soviet Russia, visiting many countries in between, and shows us how she changes and evolves during that journey.
The stories which we read mainly see Petra save the day, but the variety of ways in which she does that is refreshing. To explain them would be spoiling so let's just say we don't get the same formula twice. As if that wasn't diverse enough, but mainly to show she's not invincible, Micheluzzi makes Petra admit defeat from time to time. And even at the end of the final episode. But she's a survivor and every bad situation for her is an opportunity to learn something new about herself and evolve in a way. That's also her greatest value as a character. She shows us that we must overcome every obstacle for we should enjoy life and the only way to do so is to live. While he puts the spotlight on Petra, Micheluzzi doesn't neglect the other characters and through the episodes we meet a wide range of them. From her friends like Nung, Chinese who's been by her side all her life, or Pompeo Aloisi, captain of the Italian royal navy and the closest thing to a love interest for Petra, to her enemies like the menacing Sister Comfort, aiding in the field hospital near Verdun and hiding a shocking secret, or the savage Dragan Baković, the leader of the renegade Montenegrin soldiers who kidnapped Petra. All of those supporting characters, however big or small they are, have unique and rich personalities and stay with us long after we finish reading. And to read "Petra chérie" is a joy. Written as a great historical thriller it makes you always want to read one episode more. While the author, in his trademark fashion, again talks with his main character, the narrative stays clear enabling easier reading experience than in some of the other Micheluzzi's works.
As far as the drawing is concerned, there's not a flaw to be found. Micheluzzi once again delights with his fantastic black and white compositions. The attention he gives to historical details like uniforms or vehicles is only matched by the variety of angles from which he decides to show us Petra's adventures. And all of those angles are perfectly combined to create atmosphere and bring emotions, usually with the help of the stark black and white contrast. Micheluzzi's remain one of the best uses of black I've ever seen. It is also worth noting that as Petra changes through the stories so does the drawing. The changes are sometimes easier and sometimes harder to notice, most obvious being the drawing in the last story (looking to me as if it was done in color and then turned into black and white).
"Petra chérie" is a must-read for everyone interested in the changes in Europe in the first quarter of the 20th century and longing for a dash of adventure. And even those of different preferences could easily get seduced by its courageous leading lady and fascinating drawing which demands repeated viewings. I almost forgot to say that it has a distinct sense of humor as well, which makes it even more entertaining, but also a touch of melancholy every now and then which makes your mind wander and your emotions arise. So if you have recognized yourself in any of the above mentioned things, be sure to read it, and if not, read it anyway. Maybe you'll discover something new about yourself.
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