Distributed to the book trade by Penguin Random House Distributed to the comic book trade by Diamond Book Distributors

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2 EDITOR Dean Mullaney ART DIRECTOR Lorraine Turner TRANSLATION BY Ariane Levesque Looker and Dean Mullaney EuroComics is an imprint of IDW Publishing a Division of Idea and Design Works, LLC 2765 Truxtun Road, San Diego, CA Distributed to the book trade by Penguin Random House Distributed to the comic book trade by Diamond Book Distributors ISBN: First Printing, June 2018 First English language edition. Special thanks to Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon IDW Publishing Greg Goldstein, President & Publisher Robbie Robbins, EVP & Sr. Art Director Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer & Editor-in-Chief Matthew Ruzicka, CPA, Chief Financial Officer David Hedgecock, Associate Publisher Laurie Windrow, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Lorelei Bunjes, VP of Digital Services Eric Moss, Sr. Director, Licensing & Business Development Ted Adams, Founder & CEO of IDW Media Holdings Jerome K. Jerome Bloche 2: The Paper People (original title: Les êtres de papier) 1985, 2018 DUPUIS, by Dodier, Makyo, Le Tendre. Translation 2018 Library of American Comics LLC. The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All rights reserved. The EuroComics logo and colophon is a trademark of The Library of American Comics, LLC. All rights reserved. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the comic strips in this publication may be reprinted without the permission of the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Korea. Editor s note: Jerome K. Jerome Bloche has thrilled European readers since 1982 and has been collected in twenty-five graphic novels that have been translated into eleven languages. This is the first time this story has been available in English. We ask that readers bear in mind that in these earlier years smoking was a more prevalent practice in society, and that we present these stories as originally written.

3 There! The scene is set. The characters in place. Let's see, the only thing missing is the main character! he ll be a private Eye, But he needs a name Anything for me in the mail today? B Ba Bl Bloche! jerome K. Jerome Bloche! it's an absolutely ridiculous name! I ll call him No, Nothing for you As usual, Monsieur Bloche! THE PAPER PEOPLE 3

4 Hello? YES? I m in danger! Help me HELP!! click tiiit tiiit tiiit Wow!!... I ve got a job! I ve got work! I finally have a case! Yes? in here OH Sorry! What is it, JEROMe? You re beside yourself -- what is it?! stop bouncing off the walls and tell me! My first job, Babette! On the phone! Someone s in mortal danger and is calling for my help! Oh, Jerome! That's wonderful! I knew you could do it! who s the client?... Who? well, um he he didn t say! 4

5 Oh, Jerome will you ever change? Still as shy as ever. Knowing him, he s going to spend the day shut up in his apartment, analyzing the call over and over. And if the client doesn t call back by tonight, he ll do what he always does -- get lost reading his huge volume on general criminology! And after Three pages he ll fall asleep, fully clothed. I ve seen him do it so many times before!! when the sun rises, he ll finish the unread chapter and stand watch at his window, waiting for the postman. to show up. Maybe today that letter will finally come! Good news, monsieur! You ve got mail! 5

6 [Help! I'm in danger! [ Please help me! Enclosed is a small check to cover your expenses!] Signed:F.H. De Verville chateau flambeaux La [small check?!] My goodness! With this I can I pay off half my debts!] strange This letter was sent two days ago and I received that phone call yesterday! Things are moving fast!! well, faster than this train, at least < YAWN > Wake up, SiR! this is your stop La Rochelle! Well, Here we are, La Rochelle at last! 6

7 That must be bloche! bring him here. I Assume you are the private detective, sir. Would you care for a cigar? Let me introduce myself...i am monsieur Poussin, a lawyer. You look like a bright young man, so let me explain My friend, the Baron de Verville, can sometimes be erratic, even delusional. He also has a tendency to disappear, much to the chagrin of his children and those who live on his estate. He phoned me yesterday to explain his latest prank -- this call for help that he made to you...there s no need, really, for you to waste your time. There is a return train at 6;37 pm. Please accept this as compensation for your inconvenience! Uh thank you. Then that concludes our business. Hmm, if I may, I wouldn t mind having a couple of those cigars too! it s the brand that makes me cough the least. That idiot is off to a bad start! 7