BOOM! Studios presents Gastronomique, a comic that blends body horror, eroticism, and queer elements. Created by Marguerite Bennett, Helena Masellis, Nisha Singh, and Jodie Troutman, the story is set during the French Revolution. Lady Charlotte, a former royal spy, must hunt down Tarrare, a cannibal terrorizing Paris, following a tragic pact with her sister.
Visceral art as a narrative vehicle 🎨
The series employs a graphic style that emphasizes texture and bodily deformation to reflect the tension between desire and violence. Masellis and Singh build panels where the organic blends with the historical, using colors and shadows that accentuate the oppressive atmosphere of 1793. The character design, such as that of Zelie, Charlotte's former lover, balances the grotesque with a restrained sensuality, enhancing the emotional conflict.
Cannibalism, sex, and politics: the most uncomfortable dinner 🍽️
If you thought your mother-in-law was a handful, wait until you meet Tarrare, a cannibal who turns Paris into his personal buffet. Lady Charlotte must choose between slitting throats or rekindling a romance with her ex, all while the guillotine awaits. A more relaxing weekend plan than this spy's, no doubt.