Blake & Mortimer – The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent, Part 1

An adventure blending intimate memory, espionage, and science fiction

Published in 2003, The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent – Part 1: The Universal Threat marks a decisive milestone in the history of Blake and Mortimer. Illustrated by André Juillard, this sixteenth volume successfully achieves the feat of combining a tribute to Jacobs with narrative renewal. Between childhood memories, geopolitical struggles, and futuristic inventions, this first part of an ambitious diptych sets up a breathless tale.

Between intimate past and global stakes

The album opens with a striking flashback: Philip Mortimer’s youth in India. As a brilliant student, he meets Francis Blake there and falls in love with Princess Gita. But tragedy strikes: falsely accused by Emperor Açoka of causing his daughter’s death, Mortimer is banished.
Years later, this painful memory resurfaces at the heart of a global intrigue. In 1958, as Brussels prepares for the World’s Fair, Mortimer throws himself into the British pavilion, linked by radio to a base in Antarctica. But behind the facade of progress, a muffled threat is taking hold.

The shadow of Olrik and the vengeance of Açoka

Açoka, now allied with the Soviet Union, develops an unprecedented weapon: psychic sarcophagi capable of projecting the human mind from a distance. To conduct his experiments, he chooses the sworn enemy of our heroes: Colonel Olrik.
In Brussels, acts of sabotage and manipulation follow one another. Blake, Mortimer, and their faithful Nasir discover the existence of an infiltrated spy, Badju Singh, who is funneling resources to the conspirators. Their investigation leads them to the cargo ship Ravi Kuta, bound for Antarctica.

From the World’s Fair to the ice of the South Pole

The pursuit becomes a race against time. The heroes infiltrate the enemy ship and reach the Antarctic bases. But the trap closes: Blake is captured, Mortimer is delivered to Açoka, and Olrik remains a prisoner in a threatening sarcophagus.
As the base collapses into chaos, Açoka disappears, Olrik remains in limbo, and our heroes barely escape catastrophe thanks to the Subglacior. The story cuts off on an explosive cliffhanger, directly leading into the second volume (The Duel of the Spirits).

A dense and visually sumptuous fresco

Yves Sente pens a script where Cold War espionage, personal drama, and science fiction intertwine. Mortimer’s youth, rarely explored, brings a new emotional depth to the series.
For his part, André Juillard offers majestic plates:

the futuristic architecture of Expo 58,

the icy and unsettling landscapes of Antarctica,

the improbable machines inherited from Jacobs, enhanced by his elegant line work.

Each plate breathes respect for the universe while asserting a graphic modernity.

A foundational and essential volume

More than just a transitional episode, The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent – Part 1 is a masterpiece of the post-Jacobs saga. It succeeds in combining intimate memory with universal stakes, while relaunching the series on an ambitious diptych.
Upon its release, the album confirmed that Blake & Mortimer could evolve without betraying their DNA. Espionage, science, adventure, and a touch of emotion: this volume opens one of the most striking arcs of the modern saga.

In short: The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent – Part 1 is not just a thrilling adventure. It is a reflection on memory, guilt, and the weight of the past, magnified by an epic espionage narrative. An essential read for any Blake & Mortimer fan.