Léo Et Les Orphelins De Paris – Tome 1 – La Formule secrète (“Leo and the Orphans of Paris – The Secret Formula”) is a new illustrated children’s novel is published in French today by Albin Michel, 28th August 2024.
Written by Thibault Bérard and beautifully illustrated by Florent Sacré, the story opens in Paris, in October 1870. Leopoldine lives in a beautiful mansion with her father, but, about to make a major scientific discovery, he suddenly disappears…
Leopoldine finds herself left to herself, in danger from her evil uncle, Eugene. She has no choice but to flee, disguised as a boy. But how will she survive?
Fortunately, she will be able to count on a group of street orphans: The Marauders!
Thibault Bérard (aka Tibo Bérard) was born in Paris in 1980. After studying literature, he became a journalist, then an editor, before devoting himself exclusively to writing. He is the author of numerous children’s books such as Les Cinq Amazones, and has published several novels, including Il est juste que les forts soient frappés and Le Grand Saut.
Born in 1972, artist Florent Sacré is a French video game designer, comic book author and illustrator. He joined Ubisoft in 1997 and participated in the development of his first video game, Tonic Trouble.
His work as lead artist and designer of the visual universe of another game, Beyond Good and Evil, released in 2001, led to film director Peter Jackson asking Florent to adapt his next film, King Kong, into a video game.
He is also one of the creators on Les Lapins Crétins, aka Raving Rabbids, and then worked on Assassin’s Creed.
In 2021, he created his own video game studio, Little Big Frog, and, in 2023, signed on for several ambitious comic book projects with the newly-established Éditions Oxymore, set up by Mourad Boudjellal.
Au chant des grenouilles – Tome 1: Urania, a stunning looking anthropomorphic fantasy, created with Barbara Canepa and Anaïs Halard, interspersed with educational pages illustrated by Giovanni Rigano, was published in French by Éditions Oxymore earlier this year.
• Follow Florent Sacré on Instagram | Tumblr
• Léo Et Les Orphelins De Paris – Tome 1 – La Formule secrète (“Leo and the Orphans of Paris – The Secret Formula”) is available from 28th August 2024 | ISBN 978-2226488336 | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
With thanks to Horacio Altuna for highlighting Florent’s art
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, Comics, downthetubes News, Games, Other Worlds
Comic artist Vivian Truong is this year’s World Book Day illustrator 
Steampunks in Space – at the National Space Centre