The Smurfs Archives Volume Two from Papercutz Review
Summary: The Smurfs Archives Volume Two from Papercutz is jam packed with smurfy goodness!
5
Smurfy!
This absolutely delightful premium format 304-page hardcover from Papercutz is a true celebration of The Smurfs who live in a hidden village deep within an enchanted forest. For those new to the franchise (with another movie due in 2025), The Smurfs were born from the imagination of Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford (1928 – 1992) aka Peyo and they first appeared in the 1958 Franco-Belgian comic magazine called Le Journal de Spirou.
The rest, as they say, is history as these super cute and vibrant blue creatures became a hit as Peyo created a living breathing world for The Smurfs with each Smurf known for their distinct personalities. And here is the next instalment of The Smurfs Archives Volume Two!
Gallery
As you can see from the above pictures, the presentation of The Smurfs Archives Volume Two is a true work of art. Additionally, this hardcover boasts exceptional paper quality and binding of archival quality that preserves the original authenticity of Peyo and his long-time collaborator Yvan Delporte. Also supporting this release are historical notes and commentary by “Smurfologist” Matt Murray, an expert in all things “Smurfy” who is also the author behind The Art of Smurfs (2025) who provides an engaging snapshot into this magical universe.
The Smurfs Archives Volume Two features 10 stories from Peyo, including two classics – The Smurf King (1965) and The Smurfette (1967), two of the most iconic stories of these blue creatures. Obviously, the story called The Smurfette is the first appearance of Smurfette who was created by the evil wizard Gargamel to create chaos amongst the Smurfs. Naturally, her arrival stirred jealousy within the village.
Interestingly Smurfette looked quite different when Gargamel created her, however with some magic, Papa Smurf transforms her into the iconic character of today that fans of all ages love and adore. Another interesting facet of this storyline is that Smurfette doesn’t remain in the village because she does not feel like the others and as a result, she leaves. Fret not, Smurfette does return in other stories and eventually becomes part of the village.
The other classic story is The Smurf King (1965) that when Papa Smurf leaves the village to find rare herbs, a civil war amongst the Smurfs emerges as each Smurf wants to become King. However, an unnamed Smurf nefariously tricks the other Smurfs into voting for him where he declares himself King Smurf. Thankfully Papa Smurf returns to restore order while the “King” eats humble pie. Classic Smurfing!
I particularly enjoyed ‘The Smurfs and the Eggs’ for its humor and its valuable lesson on patience. When Papa Smurf discovers there’s no egg for the Smurf Day cake, two helpers bring back a peculiar, unbreakable egg. Its odd resilience hints at hidden magic and fills the village with anticipation. A tap on the egg grants wishes, triggering a cascade of hilarious mishaps as each whimsical wish spirals into comic chaos, showing that shortcuts to desire often backfire. With Papa’s help, he restores peace in the village and this magical egg finally hatches… into an ordinary chick. Again it’s Peyo storytelling at its best!
The last story in this volume The Sorcery of Maltrochu sees the Smurfs help a noble knight called Thierry who was transformed into a dog by the conniving Baron Maltrochu in a bid to steal both his love, Genoveva and her inheritance. It’s another clever tale from Peyo with some unexpected plot twists plus a clever ending.
Final Thoughts?
The Smurfs Archives Volume Two from Papercutz is a must have title for those that want to revisit a simpler time about a group of blue humanoid and tiny creatures who live in a village away from the prying eyes of mankind, hidden in an enchanted forest. Not only is this volume beautifully presented but the stories celebrate these little creatures perfectly and if you’re a fan or want to know, this is a great place to start!
Book Details
- ISBN: 9781545818589
- ISBN-10: 1545818584
- Series: The Smurfs Archives
- Published: 30th May 2025
- Format: Hardcover
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 304
- Audience: Children
- For Ages: 7 – 12 years old
- Publisher: Papercutz
- Country of Publication: GB
- Dimensions (cm): 31.75 x 24.13 x 2.54
- Weight (kg): 1.63
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