A severely injured amnesiac man is found with no memory of his identity or his past. His only clue is the number XIII tattooed on his collarbone. Soon hunted by killers and watched by the authorities, he discovers that he may be connected to the assassination of the President of the United States and to a vast conspiracy involving high-ranking civilian and military officials. As he flees and investigates, XIII assumes several identities and tries to reconstruct his history while confronting those who seek to manipulate or eliminate him. His personal quest gradually becomes a political thriller in which memory, espionage, and state secrets are deeply intertwined.
Graphic novel
1984
Action
Thriller
Spy
XIII
- Dargaud Publisher
- Jean Van Hamme Writer
- Yves Sente Writer
- William Vance Artist
- Youri Jigounov Artist
Details
- Type
- Graphic novel
- Release
- 1984
- Genres
- Action, Thriller, Spy
- Volumes
- 30
- Status
- Ongoing
- Information verified on
- 3 septembre 2026
Synopsis
XIII
Albums
Albums (30)
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Album 1
An amnesia is collected and cared for by a couple of pensioners, Abe and Sally. He has a XIII tattooed on the collarbone. The couple is murdered by two men whom XIII kills. On one of them, he finds a photo showing him with a young woman... A solid boy with the appearance of a barouder finds himself without name, without past, without memory, in an unknown place. His only beginning of clue to discover his identity is a number, XIII, which he wears in tattoo. His position is all the more uncomfortable as a gang of killers is at his disposal. Moreover, he discovers that high civilian and military personalities are interested in him.
Album 2
Second episode of the cult series. Our hero discovers that he has a name, Steve Rowland, ex-captain in the special sections "SPADs", and a family...family that no longer really waits for him, where he falls very badly in the middle of a sordid plot, of which he will be one of the designated victims...
Album 3
While he is accused of the murder of his so-called father Jérémie Rowland, XIII is sent to the Plain Rock prison asylum. There, he is subjected to various experiments which are supposed to give him first memory and secundo physically determine who he is. Thus Colonel Amos, General Ben Carrington and the rest of the army discovers that XIII would eventually not Steve Rowland but rather a certain Ross Tanner, who also specialized in the close combat and he also disappeared for more than 2 years. During this time XIII decides to escape from this asylum and with the good care of the beautiful Lieutenant Jones he will undertake an exit in force.
Album 4
General Carrington sent XIII to hide himself for a time among the SPADS elite troops under the name of Tanner, but soon Colonel Amos discovers that the general falsified pieces of dossier XIII, that in fact this mysterious amnesia would ultimately be a certain Jason Fly who would have undergone surgery to resemble the late Steve Rowland who would have participated in the murder of President Sheridan a few months earlier. The mission of this Jason Fly was simple, he was to allow the general and his high-ranking allies to gradually dismantle the plot and discover who was hiding behind the mysterious "numbered" chiefs who were pulling the strings of all this. However XIII, accompanied by beautiful Jones and Sergeant Betty, will have to flee the troops of Colonel Mc Call launched in pursuit of him.
Album 5
At the funeral of Henry Sheridan, his son Wally Sheridan was the victim of an attack. He was only wounded but the shooter was immediately shot down by a sniper. Admiral Carl Heideger, Defense Minister Pat Donnelly, Judge Longman and General Carrington were immediately arrested for complicity in murder, conspiracy against the state and high treason. Documents involving them were reportedly found in the man who tried to assassinate the senator. They also had documents linking them to Jason Fly and the murder of William Sheridan. Calvin Wax visited Carrington with General Max Standwell (called "The Boucher"), who replaced Carrington at the head of the state-Major Interarmies by offering him to sign avoyants, but Carrington refused, seriously injured Standwell and tried to escape, only to fall into a trap.
Album 6
While XIII arrived in the small town of Greenfalls to dig into the past of this Jason Fly whom he was supposed to be, Jones was recovering from his stomach injury. She was assaulted by two people looking for XIII but managed to escape. It was soon after discovered that these men were in the Mangouse's pay. XIII, for his part, met Dave Rigby, the director of the local newspaper where Jonathan Fly, Jason's father, worked until his death. Passing as a writer, XIII began to search the newspaper's archives and met Zacharias Hattaway, the former owner. He, aged and blind, seemed to recognize Jason Fly's voice immediately in XIII's.
Album 7
This little town of Greenfalls seems to be hiding many secrets. XIII ends up discovering that his father, journalist Jonathan Mac Lane, had fled the anti-communist commissions he denounced in very hard articles. But very soon in his new home he has to face a local KKK group of people who threaten him before finally taking action! Decided to settle this story XIII and Jones will then go "to fight" and face, helped by the beautiful Judith and the journalist David Rigby, the local notables involved in this odious story.
Album 8
Who ordered the assassination of President Sheridan?
Album 9
When the man who condemns you in this way is the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, it is better to take an extended vacation. XIII, together with Major Jones, has accepted with great heart the hospitality offered him by Armand de Prapnet in his plantation in Central America. An opportunity for our shocking couple to find the former sergeant chef, Betty Barnowsky, in his new role as Marquise.
Album 10
XIII was betrayed. By the Minerco at first, a powerful and mysterious company whose plan was to make it look like the Cascador, hero of the Costardian revolution officially executed three years earlier. By the beautiful Félicité then, amid the title of dictator Ortiz and mistress of the chief of the secret police, Colonel Peralta. By his own revolutionary allies finally, who delivered it to Peralta and made lock up in the dreadful fortress of Roca Negra. In short, by everyone. With an amnesia, we know, all the blows are allowed.
Album 11
XIII, the man without ties, learns from whom he really is the son and why Jonathan Mac Lane, the one whom he believed to be his father, made himself so by giving him his name. And at the same time he discovers the tragic story of his family, modern Atrides with an explosive mixture of Irish passions and Sicilian vendetta.
Album 12
The news fell like a thunderstorm: W. Sheridan, president of the United States, was kidnapped by General Carrington! XIII and Major Jones set out to pursue them.
Album 13
All about XIII. An off-series album that contains indeed multiple documents with bursting revelations to the key. A journalistic thriller composed of 112 pages including 41 of unpublished comic books: the who's who of mystery XIII!
Album 14
What exactly is XIII's identity? We now know that he is not Steve Rowland, the murderer of President William B. Sheridan, since he was shot dead by a killer nicknamed the Mangouse. But is he Jason Fly, alias Kelly Brian, alias el Cascador?
Album 15
Accused of being Seamus O'Neil, an IRA terrorist who is a refugee in the USA, XIII is about to be eliminated by the National Security Agency when members of the criminal organization Executor who kidnap him arise. For both of them, he is more than ever the man to be killed!
Album 16
After escaping the killers of the National Security Agency, XIII fled to the Costa Verde. He joined his friends and especially his former wife, who became president of this small state. But the USA demanded and obtained the extradition of the refugees. Frank Giordino, the boss of the NSA is still as determined to exterminate XIII. He managed to join his refugee friends in the Costa Verde, the small state of Central America now presided over by his former wife. Maria de los Santos. Under the threat of sanctions that would ruin the country, the USA forced the president to hand over to them those opponents that she hosted.
Album 17
Chassed by American justice, XIII and his friends are forced to flee the Costa Verde where they discovered a mysterious message to lead them to 100,000 pesos-or to the effigy of the Emperor of Mexico Maximilian. Will the riddle solved, they reach the treasure before being betrayed, vanquished, even eliminated?
Album 18
Who really is XIII, the most famous amnesia in the comic strip? Jason Fly, son of an American journalist murdered by the Ku Klux Klan? Kelly Brian, Irish terrorist? These two men once climbed a mountain. Only one has come down. Which one?
Album 19
In a villa by the sea, XIII and her friends on the run prepare their departure from Mexico. Not knowing that, by the land, they are approaching several 4x4. On board, the terrible Irina, accompanied by Jessica the killer and the formidable killers of Executor. Not knowing that, by the sea, approaching a yacht. On board, the boss of the local mafia, his soldiers and the venomous Felicity. The time for the final explanation has arrived. It will be bloody.
Album 20
After discovering the truth about his identity, XIII will try to discover the mysteries of his memory. To do this, a charming psychiatrist from Maine, Dr. Suzanne Levinson, recommends brain stimulation. Thanks to this XIII experiment crosses the providential track of an old class friend, Jim Drake. But the killers of the USafe Incorporated prevent the reunion. Before dying, however, Drake had time to speak in front of his friend on Mayflower day.
Album 21
Still a refugee in France at Armand and Betty, our amnesia is hunted down by the USafe mercenary company. They will even go so far as to take Jones hostage to Banichistan to attract XIII. Betty, for her part, investigates the Mayflower, source of a plot and additional revelations...
Album 22
Returning to Greenfalls, in this small town where Jonathan Mac Lane was murdered. XIII fell into the hands of the Mayflower Foundation and, under hypnosis, found himself in a hurry of questions: he would be the last descendant of the Mayflower Adventurers' branch and would know the location of certain documents that would return their rights to the Puritans! Betty, she, crossed the United States to discover the secrets of Jason's adoptive father. Her quest would also lead her to Greenfalls...
Album 23
The Sente and Jigounov duo make it look in every color to XIII in this volume 23! Betty at the hospital, the mafia Little Joe at his disposal, the FBI always accusing him of terrorist acts: it is time for him to leave the United States. Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Leyde. The result of the research of his childhood friend Jim Drake and and Annika, the young dealer with pink hair, lead XIII in the footsteps of his sponsor. A new track game awaits him to discover the secrets of the Mayflower: "Always follow the arrow Wampanoag"...
Album 24
In this 24th volume of the XIII series, Sente and Jigounov put Jason Mac Lane and the Mayflower Foundation face to face. All the means are good for the Foundation that is trying to recover the documents that Jason has in his possession. Jones and Carrington are threatened with death and it remains to XIII to understand his past as soon as possible if he wants to save his friends... and the American government itself. In this race against the watch, XIII will discover his incredible legacy, his illustrious ascendants and, closer to us, the sponsor of the murder of his adoptive father...
Album 25
To satisfy his leader, Randolph McKnight, Dany Finkelstein has to offer him a new concrete article. And precisely, he has just received documents that promise to wreak havoc once again. These are in direct connection with the investigation conducted by the senior of Finkelstein and Warren Glass, as well as the work of the cadet, The Kelly Brian Story. Not only these discoveries risk undermining the idealized image of the origins of the country and its first settlers, but also to break the reputation of some of its current leaders, candidates for the presidency. At least, if Finkelstein manages to publish this information, because the spies roam and this affair bothers many high-ranking people who would like to see this publication killed in the egg...
Album 26
Jason Mac Lane has become a new director of the Mayflower Foundation. To prove his legitimacy to the members of the Foundation and its president, Janet Sheridan-Fitzsimmons, Mac Lane is invited to carry out a very long distance shooting test: he must hit a target at 2,132 meters! Why this sniper test? Will he shoot someone? How will he do at the fateful moment to maintain his credibility with the Foundation without becoming a murderer? He knows that he will have to save time because, in the shadow of the news, the Foundation places slowly but certainly its pawns to seize power in the United States. In order to ensure the discretion of their company, the Foundation's leaders know that they must get hold of the historical documents that prove his malfeasance... and are still held by XIII.
Album 27
Jason Mac Lane, alias XIII, has infiltrated the Mayflower Foundation, an ultra-conservative organization that is preparing a plot to seize the presidency of the United States. Perched at the top of Washington Monument, he is about to execute the order of the Foundation in the hope of saving his friends: shoot at the Pope on an official visit! At 2132 meters away, his bullet touches the Holy Father in the arm. Among the officials, it is panic. Refugees inside the Capitol, the President and the members of the government see the roof of the building collapse on them. A few minutes later, three Islamist terrorists shoot in the crowd from a basket van. Then mini-drones, of the size of an insect, drop a deadly gas on the rubble of the Capitol. The President of the Senate, a member of the plot, then reaches the head of the country. The Mayflower Foundation has achieved its objective. He only has to reprogram XIII by implanting him a new memory, so that he will become fully dedicated to his cause.
Album 28
In a cell, a man is trying to save his skin. He pleads with the director to send an e-mail to a certain Boris Denisov, a Russian who could get him out of this hell.For his part, in Washington, Jason Mac Lane has become a special advisor to security. Since the Mayflower Foundation, a far-right movement that placed President Allerton in power, reprogrammed his memory, he has forgotten everything about his past. Now devoted to Mayflower, he ignores that his glasses, equipped with a camera, reveal all his facts and gestures to Janet, his wife, a prominent member of the organization. Jason is precisely about to fly to Cuba in order to recover the prisoner. Because the e-mail was intercepted: the named Tadine, a first-rate hacker, could contribute to the re-election of Allerton. The problem is that Boris Denisov is also interested in Tades. And that President Allerton, who is suspicious of him, despite the ambitions of Janet's first-order, would not be able to see the wrong side. The first-hand part of Jason would not see the wrong side of the fact of the fact of the fact of the fact of the fact of the fact that he had gone.
Album 29
In a plane to Moscow, Boris, the Russian agent of the FSB that XIII knew in his youth during his infiltration into Cuba, reminds our hero of an old mission that his memory had erased. By stimulating the lost memory of Jason Mac Lane, the Russian hopes to discover the hiding of an old proof of conspiracy that could be useful to revive his career. In 1984, in the time of the cold war, XIII had been sent to kill a candidate for the Russian presidency judged a little too conservative by the American government in the framework of the plan of warming of East-West relations. But the planned attack at a reception at Spaso House, the Moscow residence of the American ambassador, had failed by the fault of a sub-agent of the KGB, Nina Orekhova, alias "Babotchka" (a butterfly). This last, seeing in the word Mac Lane a young idealist, glides into his hands a microcasssette containing evidence of complicity of Russian and American billionaires in a trade of weapons and military technologies infiltrated between the Soviets and the Americans party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of the party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party of party
Album 30
Four days when Janet Fitzsimmons must at all costs reassure the board of directors of the Mayflower Foundation, whose members are worried about popular demonstrations against the American government. For this, nothing better than to place in the White House a solid, calm, and above all, completely under his control thanks to a chip implanted in the brain. And this man is all found: her husband, Jason MacLane, in other words, XIII! She must check that the chip still works, rigging the next elections, and ensuring that the place of Vice-President is vacant... Four days for authoritarian President Thomas Allerton to keep full powers, towards and against everything, and therefore shoots XIII. Four days during which Jason Mac Lane must at all costs save democracy in his country, on the one hand by preparing for the return of Carrington and Jones, still refugees in Canada; on the other, by orchestrating the disclosure of the secrets recorded on the recorded audio cassette of Moscow. And all this by giving the change to his wife and avoiding the attempts to assassinate her country, on the other hand, are fortunately helping the very good Captain Ska and helping the very good one.