Tardi's tales tell of the wacky and extraordinary adventures of a young and intrepid journalist, Adele Blanc-Sec. For the movie, Besson mixed plotlines from the stories Adele et la Bete (Adele and the Beast) and Momies en Folie (Mummies on Parade) with some of his own ideas.
In a film featuring a prehistoric bird hatching and Egyptian mummies coming back to life, there's no time to be bored. On top of the action-packed plot is very aesthetically pleasing cinematography, which immerses viewers in the Paris of the 1910s, and well-rounded characters: a mad scientist, cruel doctor, old professor, lovesick assistant and rogue policemen all join Adele, who is a female version of Indiana Jones with a caustic sense of humour.
The one snag is the final twist which seems to be there so that a sequel can be made.
Don't be put off if you don't speak French. The English and Chinese subtitles work their magic and laughter is assured. A brilliant, upbeat movie - but if you really want to honour Tardi's work, check out the comics, too.