XIII (comics)

XIII
Le jour du soleil noir, original cover
Date	1984
No. of issues	19 as of 2009
Page count	44 pages
Publisher	Dargaud (French) Cinebook Ltd (English)
Creative team
Writers	Jean Van Hamme
Artists	William Vance
Original publication
Language	French

XIII (Thirteen) is a Franco-Belgian comics series written and drawn by Belgians Jean Van Hamme and William Vance, revolving around an amnesiac protagonist who seeks to discover his concealed past. With its plot inspired by Robert Ludlum's book The Bourne Identity, XIII was initially serialised in 1984 in Spirou, and was later published by Dargaud. In 2003, the storyline of the first five volumes was adapted into a video game, also titled XIII, that was released on several platforms. A XIII TV miniseries starring Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff was released in 2008.

Volumes

Only the first three volumes were translated to English in the initial 1989 run by Catalan Communications. In 2005, Alias Comics started publishing it as a monthly comics edited for U.S. audiences, but stopped after 5 issues. In 2007, Dabel Brothers Productions in association with Marvel Comics published an uncensored XIII Volume 1 TP collecting the first three albums, and previously released issue #6 free online. English titles below are translations of the original titles, and may change for the actual albums if and when they are released in English.

Most volumes consisted of three individual issues during the initial run, not otherwise named or numbered.

1. The Day of The Black Sun, 1984 (Le jour du soleil noir) ISBN 0-87416-061-8
2. Where the Indian Goes, 1985 (Là où va l'Indien...) ISBN 0-87416-081-2
3. All the Tears of Hell, 1986 (Toutes les Larmes de l'Enfer) ISBN 0-87416-092-8
4. SPADS, 1987 (SPADS) ISBN 0-87416-130-4
5. Full Red, 1988 (Rouge Total, "Full Red Alert")
6. The Jason Fly File, 1989 (Le Dossier Jason Fly)
7. The Night of August 3rd, 1990 (La Nuit du 3 Août)
8. Thirteen to One, 1991 (Treize Contre Un)
9. For Maria, 1992 (Pour Maria)
10. El Cascador, 1994 (El Cascador)
11. Three Silver Watches, 1995 (Trois Montres d'Argent)
12. The Trial, 1997 (Le Jugement)
13. The XIII Mystery: The Investigation, 1999 (L'Enquête)
14. Danger to the State, 2000 (Secret Défense, "Top Secret")
15. Unleash the Hounds!, 2002 (Lâchez les Chiens !)
16. Operation Montechristo, 2004 (Opération Montechristo)
17. Maximilian's Gold, 2005 (L'or de Maximilien)
18. The Irish Version (La Version Irlandaise), November 2007, drawn by Jean Giraud, to accompany The Last Round
19. The Last Round, November 2007 (Le Dernier Round). Last one of this cycle

Storyline

XIII chronicles the adventures of a man, dubbed "XIII", with memory loss who is searching for his past, and a group of his friends who are trying to unravel the mystery of his identity, which is tangled in conspiracies, secrets, and killers who are out to murder him.

Volumes 1-5

The series begins with a man washing up on a shore in Peacock Bay in the East Coast of the United States, suffering from amnesia, and just the tattoo "XIII" on his collarbone to link him to his past. Volumes one through five deal with 'XIII' searching for his identity and his past, only to find himself confronting the "conspiracy of the XX" which aims to a coup d'état in the United States. They form a closed story arc, ending with the destruction of "the XX".

In the first volume, XIII washes ashore and soon finds himself hunted by assassins for reasons unknown to him. He manages to escape them and collect a photograph of himself in company of a woman, developed by a photograph shop in the city of Eastown. XIII departs to Eastown, where he identifies the woman on the photograph as Kim Rowland, widow of U.S. Army Captain Steve Rowland. Going to Kim Rowland's address, XIII finds a hidden message left by Kim saying that someone nicknamed "the Mongoose" has found track of her and that she will wait for XIII "where the Indian goes". Once again hunted by killers, XIII is rescued by the Colonel Amos, a government agent investigating the murder of President of the United States William Sheridan. Colonel Amos has a video footage showing XIII killing the President and so is sure he has caught the assassin, but he still ignores its real identity. XIII manages to escape, and on his run, is confronted by the Mongoose, the chief of the killers hunting XIII.

In the second volume, XIII's search for Kim Rowland leads to his capture by army General Carrington, who identifies XIII as Steve Rowland, Kim Rowland's husband and former member of a special operation unit called SPADS (Special Assault and Destroying Sections) Carrington created and commanded when Rowland was supposedly killed in an helicopter crash two years before. "Rowland" is returned to his home in Southbourg by Carrington's aide, Lieutenant Jones. While his father, Jeremie Rowland, a rich land owner, and other relatives express no doubt about his identity, XIII is disappointed to not find Kim there. Amos comes to meet XIII and still holds him as his prime suspect as his fingerprints were found on the sniper rifle that shot President Sheridan. But as XIII's amnesia prevents him to be of any use to find who has sponsored Sheridan's assassination, Amos lets XIII go looking for Kim Rowland because as she's hiding, he suspects she knows something important. XIII finally manages to find "where the Indian goes", but is tricked by Jeremie Rowland's young wife Felicity. Felicity kills Jeremie Rowland and Steve's uncle Matt, implicating XIII for the murders, in the aim to inherit of Jeremy's fortune. XIII nevertheless escapes the police with Carrington's and Lieutenant Jones' help, and meets with Kim in her hiding place. Kim reveals to him she is tattooed as well, wearing tattoo number XVII, that she doesn't know XIII real name, who is in fact no Steve Rowland. Kim disappears as XIII is arrested by the police, tried and found guilty for the murder of the Rowlands, and sentenced to maximum security prison.

The third volume finds XIII in a facility for the criminally insane. Meanwhile Colonel Amos, pursuing its investigation, begin to realize that XIII is not Steve Rowland but a body double. He so assumes that Steve Rowland was really killed in action and that XIII endured plastic surgery, assassinated President Sheridan, and the Mongoose tried to kill him to leave the investigators a body to be identified as Steve Rowland to drive the investigation into a dead end. Colonel Amos requests Carrington's help to identify people having been trained as top-level special operators and fitting XIII's physique, in the aim to find out XIII's real identity. Carrington provides the papers of about twenty people, one of them, a Ross Tanner, is missing since two years. Amos decides to leave XIII in prison to have him at hand and have him treated to disrupt its amnesia. The treatment fails, and the Mongoose tries to have XIII killed in the prison. To evade Mongoose's killer, XIII attempts an evasion which fails but Carrington and Jones manage to breakout XIII.

Volume four begins with Colonel Amos finding that Carrington invented the Tanner identity, and suspects him to be part of the conspiracy to kill President Sheridan. XIII, under the name of Ross Tanner, has been hidden by Carrington in a SPADS training facility in the fictitious country of San Miguel. Pursuing its check of files, Colonel Amos finds that in the grave of a Jason Fly was in fact the body of the real Captain Steve Rowland, not killed in an helicopter crash two years before but by bullets shortly after the assassination of President Sheridan. Assuming now that Rowland was the real assassin, Amos is confused about XIII real role but exposes Judge Allenby, who once identified one body in helicopter crash as the one of Rowland and is now chief of the investigation, as one of the conspirators, wearing the number VI. Amos asks Allenby the name of the Number I of the conspiracy, but Allenby is killed by a Mongoose's killer who is about to kill Amos when he is shot by Kim Rowland. Meanwhile a female SPADS Sergeant named Betty Barnowsky reveals to XIII she has seen once Steve Rowland in Eastown after his alleged death in helicopter crash, in company with SPADS Colonel Seymour McCall, thus exposed as member of the conspiracy. XIII, Barnowsky and Jones escape an assassination attempt by Colonel McCall, but end lost in San Miguel jungle.

Kim Rowland takes Amos to FBI director Carl Heideger and General Carrington who reveal that after faking his death in the helicopter crash, Steve Rowland contacted his wife Kim and had her member of the conspiracy. Kim, not sharing the conspiracy ideology and herself a former FBI agent, secretly alerted his former boss Heideger, who was nevertheless unable to prevent the assassination of President Sheridan. Steve Rowland was shot by the Mongoose to end all investigations to uncover the conspiracy, but he escaped badly wounded and died shortly after telling Kim what happened. Heideger and Carrington then came up with a plan to make the conspiracy of the XX believe that Steve Rowland had survived to attract Mongoose's killers in the hope to arrest them and follow their trail to the conspirators. They had Jason Fly turned into Steve Rowland's double, but soon after he disappeared (he was shot, at this point lost his memory, where the story begins). Kim Rowland is also revealed to be Carrington's daughter.

At the start of volume five, XIII, Jones, and Barnowsky kidnap Marquis de Préseau, a rich land owner, to steal his jet to fly back to the USA. Meanwhile Carrington and Heideger have been arrested by the conspirators, as they prepare to take over the country during a large-scale military exercise. XIII and the women meet with Colonel Amos, who brings them into contact with Walter Sheridan, brother of the assassinated President William Sheridan and himself candidate to the presidency.

Sheridan helps XIII infiltrate the military center of operations, and together with President Galbrain they manage to stop the conspiracy at the last moment. The entire conspiracy, with the exception of the illustrious Number I, has been killed or captured. Walter Sheridan is elected president. Kim Rowland remains missing for unknown reasons. At the end of the story arc XIII believes he has found his old identity as Jason Fly, and is prepared to continue his life normally, even if his memories have not yet returned.

Volumes 6-8

In the following volumes XIII takes up the investigation about his past. Volumes six and seven bring XIII to Greenfalls, a snowy town in the Rocky Mountains, where the story revolves around the fate of his father in the McCarthian 1950's. XIII learns that his father, Jonathan Fly, was murdered by the local Ku Klux Klan chapter, after they found out Fly's real identity was Jonathan MacLane, a "red" journalist who had to flee after suffering under McCarthy's witch hunt. The Mongoose still tracks XIII with the blessing of Jonathan MacLane's assassins, but XIII evades the manhunt, get justice for the murder of his father and manages to arrest the Mongoose, who reveals that he was on Number I's boat when he shot the bullet that made XIII amnesic, but no further information about Number I. The story ends and with a good idea that he has finally found his true identity as Jason MacLane.

In volume eight, XIII is approached by President Sheridan to become a special agent, charged with finding the still at large Number I. The Mongoose escapes from custody. XIII tracks down Kim Rowland, guessing she hides because she knows the identity of the Number I. He discovers that one of the boats close to the spot where he was found amnesic is Walter Sheridan's yacht. Meanwhile, Jones investigates further, and discovers that Kim Rowland had a love affair with Sheridan and had a child with him. After transmitting this information to XIII, they become convinced that Wally Sheridan was, in fact, Number I, and used the conspiracy of the XX to have his brother killed and later had the conspiracy exposed so he himself become president. Walter Sheridan had the child kidnapped to force Kim to marry Steve Rowland, to report the conspiracy to Heideger, to betray Jason Fly/MacLane when Heideger's plan threatened to expose him as Number I and have him trapped on his yacht where he was shot by the Mongoose. After trying to release Kim Rowland from an island where they believe she is sequestered, XIII and Jones, along with Kim, are caught by the Mongoose who is on Sheridan's yacht, and explodes it. XIII manages to rescue Jones only, and Kim Rowland is lost and presumed dead.

XIII finally faces Walter Sheridan, exposed as Number I but XIII has not any evidence or witness against him. Sheridan won't try to assassinate XIII to avoid a new investigation that might lead to expose him, and XIII and Jones leave the country.

Volumes 9-12

In the following volumes the action takes place in and around Costa Verde, a small fictional nation in Central America where XIII is led to believe he once led a revolution under the identity of "El Cascador", although El Cascador is supposedly dead. XIII gets involved with revolutionary Maria de los Santos, who claims to have been his wife. During the 10th episode, after freeing her from a prison from which she was awaiting execution, she confirms him to be her husband.

During the revolution XIII met up with Irish-American expat Sean Mullway, who claims to be XIII's real father. However, he also confirms XIII's identity as Jason Mac Lane. The history of XIII's Irish descent is revealed, and XIII learns that his mother was the sister of Giordino, who accidentally murdered her. The Giordino's are revealed as a Mafia family. At the end of the volume, XIII is offered amnesty by the American ambassador, who explains that XIII's help is needed: Carrington has apparently gone insane.

In volume twelve XIII, the corrupt American president Sheridan is kidnapped by General Carrington who has learnt that Sheridan ordered his daughter Kim's death. Carrington and Amos have XIII and Jones capture the Mongoose to get further evidence against Sheridan. In a televised "trial" Sheridan is revealed to the American public as the conspirator, with XIII and the Mongoose testifying. In the aftermath of the event the NSA director Giordino accidentally kills Sheridan, after Sheridan has killed the Mongoose.

Volume thirteen (XIII) is a special issue, where two journalists retrace the first twelve issues, clarifying and expanding the storyline.

Volumes 14-19

While in exile in Costa Verde, XIII and his father Mullway decide to attempt to find a treasure hidden somewhere in Mexico by their ancestors. Giordino, meanwhile, fabricates evidence revealing XIII as Seamus O'Neill, an IRA operative who trained under Fidel Castro. As O'Neill, XIII is wanted by the USA, but again manages to escape. He also survives an assassination by Irina Svetlanova, who has taken over the Mongoose's operation. After many setbacks the treasure is found, and then lost again. Meanwhile Giordino is finally removed from duty by the new President, who has received evidence from XIII and Mullway revealing Giordino as not only connected to the Mafia, but also as the true killer of Walter Sheridan.

Volumes eighteen and nineteen are the last albums written by Van Hamme. Volume eighteen The Irish Version was drawn by Jean Giraud otherwise known as Mœbius. It figures as a story within the story, and it is referred to as part of the plot in volume nineteen The Last Round. This story is the prequel to the initial story arc, and finally solves all mysteries surrounding XIII's identity.

Popularity

First released in 1984 as a serial in the popular Belgian magazine Spirou, XIII was an instant hit among Spirou readers. The first three episodes were released as a single hardback volume by Dargaud the same year, a trend continued for later issues. By the time of the eighth issue, Thirteen against one, sales of the hardback had reached 140,000 copies, and the publisher belatedly realized that they had a bestseller on their hands. Promotion started, including a special drawing by the French national lottery in 2000 with 1,500,000 tickets and a €13,000 grand prize.

Influence

Also published in Spirou was the series Soda about a New York cop. An adventure published in 1999, Dieu seul le sait (Only God Knows), also has the titular character losing his memory, albeit for just a short time. References to the number "13" and other connections to the series appear throughout the story.

The Black Cat manga series, first published in 2000, has numerous similarities with XIII. The main character, Train Heartnet, is known as Chronos Number XIII in his job as a Sweeper or assassin. Train fails a mission in Bourne Identity-like fashion, winds up in conflict with Chronos, and must stop a massive conspiracy.

Translations

Originally in French, XIII was simultaneously translated into Dutch, and translations in other languages such as German, Polish and Italian quickly followed.

In English

• In 1989, XIII was first released in English as Code XIII, but after the first three volumes, publication ended in 1990 when the publisher (Catalan/Comcat) went out of business.
• In 2005, Alias Comics started publishing the title as a series of 32-page monthly comics edited for U.S. audiences. Five issues were released, but #6 was "Cancelled by Publisher" in February 2006. Each issue covered half an album.

• In 2006, the series went to Dabel Brothers Productions. They released the #6 online for free, and the first 144-page volume was released on February 7, 2007 with Marvel Comics, reprinting the first 3 albums.

• Cinebook is publishing the 19 books at the rate of one every two months in the UK. Note, on other continents, the volumes are released three months later. So far five volumes have been released:

1. The Day of the Black Sun (May 2010) ISBN 9781849180399
2. Where the Indian Walks (July 2010) ISBN 9781849180405
3. All the Tears of Hell (September 2010) ISBN 9781849180511
4. SPADS (November 2010) ISBN 9781849180580
5. Full Red (January 2011) ISBN 9781849180658
6. The Jason Fly Case (March 2011)
7. The Night of August Third (May 2011)

Other languages

Tamil

In India, Tamil Nadu 'XIII' has been published by Lion Comics, Sivakasi in Tamil Language since the beginning of the series with its original publication. Lion Comics announced they will publish complete volume (1-19). And they had published the complete volumes on Oct 2010.

Portuguese

• In 1988, XIII began publication in Portugal by Meribérica-Líber. The first three volumes were published over a two-year period, and the series returned in 1997 with the fourth album, after a seven-year hiatus. Meribérica published the first nine albums until it went out of business in 2004.
• In 1990, Portuguese newspaper Público (Portugal) started publishing XIII in its Sunday supplement 'Publico Junior'. Eventually, the first 3 books were published in this manner, before 'Publico Junior' was discontinued in 1992.
• In 2006, XIII is being published in Brazil by Panini Comics. Panini is publishing XIII as a monthly series, with two episodes in each issue. Previously available in Brazil were the Portuguese editions published by Meribérica-Liber.

The first issue The Day of The Black Sun was named O Dia do Sol Negro, the literal translation. The first issue also included a second episode, named Onde Vai o Índio... (Where the Indian Walks), published in May 2006. All Brazilian issues are composed of two albums, except for issue 7, which included the original thirteenth volume, a double-sized album, alone.

Serbian

• In 1980s first 3 volumes in monthly Super magazine from publisher Dečje Novine.
• In 1990 first 6 volumes in monthly Gigant magazine from publisher Dečje Novine. Throughout the decade "Politikin zabavnik" magazine also reprinted most of the volumes, as part of its comic segment.
• 2002-2009, the first 19 volumes were published through Marketprint.

Croatian

• In 1990s volume 7 by Bookglobe
• In 2008 Integral #1 by Bookglobe

Future

Jean Van Hamme has declared that he will not continue to write the series, but William Vance is interested in continuing it with another writer. Yves Sente, who has already taken over writing Thorgal from Van Hamme, is interested to continue the series. He was contacted by William Vance and said he'd propose a story to Van Hamme, but no agreement has been reached yet.

Spin-off

A separate comic series called XIII Mystery, which follows and elaborates on some of the supporting characters from the XIII comic series, began by publisher Dargaud on October 3, 2008 with the release of the first issue, The Mongoose. On October 30, 2009 the second issue, Irina, was released.

Video game

Main article: XIII (video game)

XIII was adapted as a 2003 video game released for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, the PC, and the Apple Macintosh. The plot of the game is an adaption of the first five volumes of the comic series.

Film

Main article: XIII (miniseries)

A XIII 2-part TV mini-series, called XIII: The Conspiracy and starring Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff was shown on French premium television channel Canal+ in October 2008. It was shown in other territories in 2009 and is available on DVD.

Sources

• XIII publications in Spirou, French Tintin, BoDoï BDoubliées Template:Fr icon

Footnotes

External links

• English publisher of XIII - Cinebook Ltd
• XIII non-official site Template:Fr icon