Do you seriously want to argue about relativity with Albert Einstein?
Anselme Lanturlu (in English: Archibald Higgins; in German: Anselm Wüßtegern) is an edutainment comic series from France by The Professor Jean-Pierre Petit. They explain complicated concepts (mostly from mathematics and physics) in a humorous way. The series lasted from 1980 to 1990. A "new adventure" was published in 2005.
The books are out of print, but can be downloaded legally and for free here
. Thank you very much, professor!
Examples:
- Alien Geometries: Featured in "The Geometricon", "The Topologicon" and "The Black Hole". A world where a balloon gets a flat surface if you pump enough gas in it? A not-quite-Earth where the South Pole is just under the North Pole (and vice versa?!), to Amundsen's chagrin? Actually, it works out, if you understand the maths behind it.
- Animal Companion/Talking Animal: They have several birds and the snail Tiresias.
- Edutainment
- Fanservice: Sophie! Essentially, she's a young Brigitte Bardot with glasses and a smarter expression.
- God: Appears in the story about the Big Bang.
- How Can Santa Deliver All Those Toys?: Especially if the universe is so big, and intelligent aliens might be around.
- Inside a Computer System: "Informagic".
- Limited Wardrobe: Anselme always wears the same nondescript shirt with an "A" on it and the same broad-rimmed hat. Sophie is always clad in a one-piece swimsuit and high heels.
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Sophie has aspects of it in her relation with Anselme.
- Shown Their Work
- Year Inside, Hour Outside: When special relativity is involved.
