Another new pulp-related comic from Titan Comics/Statix Press is The Wraith of Fantômas. Written by Olivier Bocquet and drawn by Julie Rocheleau, it first appeared in French in 2017, and was translated into English in 2019. It’s an original story “inspired” by the works of Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre, who created and wrote the original stories.
Set in Paris in the 1911, Fantômas is on trial for murder of Lord Beltham (Lady Beltham is his lover), and is condemned to be guillotined. But it soon is shown he had someone executed in his place as he wreaks his vengeance on others. Fantômas kills an actor who had played him in a play and others who had offended him, many in his former gang.
There are all characters from the books. Inspector Juve is after him. Fandor is also present, and we see in a prologue where his mother turns him over to Juve and flees in terror of Fantômas, who wants to kill her. Perhaps because she knows who he really is? I found it interesting that they also had filmmaker Louis Feuillade doing a movie on Fantômas, which he did make — four actually.
While he is wiping out certain people, Fantômas is also working to steal all the gold of Paris. As he is Fantômas he succeeds, in a pretty bloody matter.
Overall, this was an interesting story. As with Doctor Radar, the artwork is more loose than I prefer with European comics, but because of some of the gruesome scenes, the more cartoonish style I think works better in making it more palatable.
The creators left it open to do further stories. I have no idea if they will. Further, this is the third pulp-inspired European comic from Titan/Statix. Prior ones were the Chimera Brigade and Doctor Radar, which I’ve reviewed. Both of those prior series setup further works, but I have no idea if more have appeared yet in Europe, or if they did if we will get translated reprints of them. Check them out if you have the chance.
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