A Belgian cartoonist from the Golden Age of comics, AndréFranquin was as important and influential throughout his career as Hergé, moulding and training dozens of artists through his long years at Spirou magazine. In his 20 years at the helm of "Spirou and Fantasio," creator of their fantastical friend the Marsupilami, he was also the father of one of the most beloved anti-heroes of European comics, Gaston Lagaffe, as well as the delightfully dark and sarcastic "Idées Noires." As a sign of his popularity, he received the very first Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême in 1974.

Spirou and Fantasio, during a daring night investigation, encounter a wounded man who is running from mysterious men. He claims they bombed an automobile factory to steal the plans of a highly advanced prototype, and that he took half of the plans and ran. Having sworn to take the documents back to their owner- who has the other half- the two adventurers are soon on their way to Africa. But of course, the bandits are in hot pursuit.