The Stranger

Gr 8 Up—Adrian Velba is a gladiator-in-training. He lives in a medieval magical land that values tradition, and the annual gladiatorial Games are what he (and everyone else) looks forward to all year. When the Games finally do roll around, his partner gets sick and it seems like all hope is lost. Adrian wants to win the games to help out his mother, but he can't enter without a teammate. Out of nowhere, the rough and tumble fighter Richard Aldana appears, and Adrian is in the right place at the right time because the older man needs a partner, too. The unconventional duo proves successful, mainly because of Aldana's rough fighting style that completely eschews magic. This first installment in the graphic novel series, created by an all-star French trio, does a superb job of setting the stage for the epic battles to come. Adrian is a lovable protagonist, and Aldana is a mysterious fighter who will be a great mentor figure for the fatherless Adrian. Teens will be left on the edge of their seats rooting for the pair. The black-and-white illustrations are well done, engaging, and easy to follow. And while a few different story lines are introduced, they are not confusing. The fantasy world where Adrian, his mom, and Aldana live is well developed, but there are definitely some more questions that beg to be answered in the following installments.