It is truly wonderful! Everything sparkles with talent and spirit! Some of the pages are simply unmatched! This was Goethe's verdict in 1831 on the picture stories of the Geneva artist Rodolphe Töpffer (1799-1846), which are now considered the origin of picture storytelling. With his picture stories, Töpffer founded a tradition that ultimately leads to the European comic through picture sheets, the works of Wilhelm Busch, and the influence of American newspaper comics. Three of his best stories are waiting to be rediscovered by a new audience: The Love Adventures of Monsieur Vieux Bois, Monsieur Pencil, and The Story of Monsieur Cryptogame. Hair-raising adventures that take aim at the customs of polite society, scientists, and politicians.