Review by Frank Plowright

Over two previous volumes we’ve been introduced to Lieutenant Mike Blueberry, not the most conventional of army officers in the American post-Civil War era, yet courageous and with a sense of honour. Thunder in the West ended with him rescuing a child captured by a native tribe attempting to frame the Apache, and the danger of a universal uprising remains as Lone Eagle opens.

A milestone here is artist Jean Giraud finally settling on the look that would take Blueberry through the remainder of his existence, morphed between albums from the generic action hero to a more distinctive grizzled guy with a broken nose. Giraud is now also the full artistic package. While earlier albums have shown enthusiasm and a willingness to work via viewing packed panels from distance, there’s now an expansive view of the era, with Giraud noticeably more willing to break into larger panels for greater effect. He’s also become far better at drawing the horses.

Jean-Michel Charlier’s writing is also becoming more inventive either via research or creative inspiration. An early scene has an Apache spy guiding his people to Blueberry’s location via a stolen leg of bacon buried beneath stones and the vultures circling above it. The bigger plot is Blueberry leading a small party on what could be a suicide mission attempting to reach the General commanding the forces against the Apache to let him know the natives have been framed. It’s a real nail-biter against the odds, Blueberry identifying the traitor within his party is, but figuring it better to keep him close.

Lone Eagle is an Apache warrior, and as a title might normally refer to the Blueberry seen to date, but this is the first story in which Blueberry is always seen in uniform as a soldier. He’s accompanied by the troublesome drunk O’Reilly, a forerunner of Jimmy McClure, the sozzled prospector who accompanies Blueberry in later material, and is first seen next time in Mission to Mexico.

Album by album Lieutenant Blueberry is becoming a better series. Charlier conceives exceptional trouble, and ensures Blueberry is equally resourceful in dealing with it, while Giraud’s art is now really something to look at. As with the first two volumes, this provides a complete story, but it’s also part of a bigger picture. Blueberry’s achieved one task and an even stiffer test awaits.