Adventure and the Classic Heroes

Adventure comics established many of BD's foundational conventions and remain central to its identity. The adventure genre in BD, however, differs significantly from American action comics, emphasizing character development, historical accuracy, and moral complexity alongside thrilling narratives.

Hergé's Tintin epitomizes the BD adventure tradition. While superficially about a boy reporter's global adventures, the series evolved to incorporate sophisticated political commentary, scientific accuracy, and philosophical depth. The meticulous research behind albums like "Tintin in Tibet" or "The Castaff Affair" set standards for adventure BD that valued intelligence over simple action.

The adventure genre diversified rapidly. Edgar P. Jacobs' Blake and Mortimer series brought British-style scientific romance to BD, creating dense narratives that required careful reading. Jean-Claude Mézières and Pierre Christin's Valérian introduced space opera with political subtext, influencing science fiction cinema worldwide. Hermann's various series pushed adventure toward darker, more morally ambiguous territory.

Contemporary adventure BD continues evolving. Series like "Blacksad" by Díaz Canales and Guarnido transplant film noir conventions into an anthropomorphic animal world, using the adventure framework to explore racism and political corruption. "The Killer" by Matz and Jacamon presents a hitman's psychology with philosophical depth that transcends genre limitations.