Marla’s first episode[1] is signed by comic book writer Giovanni Di Gregorio (author of the Grémillet sisters) and designer Lorena Canottiere. Together the two Italian cartoonists invite us with poetry into the world of childhood and innocence to discover a work in soft pastel colors. This children’s comic strip resonates deeply within us, like a tender invitation to reconnect with our own part of childhood.
When a bottle in the sea awakens childhood dreams
Marla spends her summer vacation with her parents at her grandmother’s house. She overflows with imagination, so much so that her friends nickname her “head in the clouds”. Passionate about treasure hunting stories, she roams the beach with her friend Julie in search of coins, rare shells, rings and anything that sparkles.
That day, Marla’s gaze fell on a bottle by the sea which contained a pearl as well as a small, perfectly preserved parchment bearing the following message: “In the middle of an expanse of oysters, in the flamingo’s cave, where the stars fall into the ocean, there is a treasure worth more than a thousand pearls. » The message was signed “Oracle”.
From then on, Marla’s mind was bubbling with questions: who is this Oracle? Very quickly, she and Julie set out to find this loot. Their research in the village led them to explore the Gulf of Mermaid region. It was finally in the company of her grandmother that Marla took to the road.
“I’m excited,” she said, “to the point where I still don’t know what I’m feeling… it’s a mix of worry and excitement… so I feel like bubbles are sticking all over my body!” » (p.21). Thanks to the kindness of those around her which allows her to complete her quest, the heroine reminds us that all dreams are allowed.
Reda Benkoula
[1] Marla – Volume 1 – The Cave of the Pink Flamingo | Giovanni Di Gregorio (Screenplay), Lorena Calderón (Drawing) |Dupuis | 2026 | 80 pages