The Black Arrow

The Black Arrow
Original title	La Flèche Noire
Story	Peyo
Artwork	Peyo
Colorist	Peyo
Publisher	Dupuis
Year of publication	1957

The Black Arrow is the 7^th Johan and Peewit comic book created by Peyo in 1957.

Plot Summary

Of course I know what this means, for I, Brainy Smurf, am the master of various languages! This article features material that has been translated into English by unofficial sources. This is the best that we can verify as far as the accuracy of the translation. If you can improve on the actual translation, please feel free to submit any corrections or changes to the article.

In the vicinity of the King's castle, passing merchants are constantly being attacked by a gang of robbers avoiding capture every time. Determined to put a swift stop to this, the King plans with knights Sir Johan and Earl Driegergen to lure the robbers into a trap by sending a special charge of armed soldiers disguised as merchants.

While on a mission with Johan to deliver a golden cup as first prize at a tournament, Peewit unwittingly helps a member of the gang of robbers drive away some attackers. As a result, he and Johan are recruited into the gang. Johan tries to take advantage of the situation by luring the robbers to the disguised soldiers, but the chief of the robbers is already aware of the trap. It appears there is a traitor in the castle who has been informing the robbers all along via messages attached to black arrows sent to the chief. The latest message identifies Johan and Earl Driebergen as the ones responsible for the trap, but the traitor has a proposal: the robbers must infiltrate the tournament to assassinate Driebergen, who is participating. Johan and Peewit are caught intercepting this message, and are forced to flee for their lives. They arrive at the tournament just in time to save Driebergen from being killed.

To unmask the traitor, John writes a letter that supposedly comes from the robbers and gives it to the King. According to the bogus message, the robbers have decided to come clean and reveal the hiding place of their spoils. Knights Monfoort and Schoonbeke suddenly disappear without a trace: they are the traitors. They go to the robbers followed by Johan and company, and as a result the whole gang is captured.