‘La Esmeralda Interdite’ - Sword, Sorcery and Sex, 2001 (3)

Here French draughtsman Jean-Marc Stalner presents Victor Hugo’s Esmeralda as a naked medieval nymph in this limited edition ‘banned’ version of his series of comic books on this gothic take of his heroine.

Shown in the illustration (set up for framing) are unique film liths of the cover with pages 11 and 18 either side. The latter showing a lighter interlude than most of the main theme horror. It roughly translates as, ‘(Her) I was told you need some training . . Good student! One more trick and you’ll be ready . . (Him) I think there are better things to do . .’ (A3)

Stalner's often collaborative brother Eric has a stunning similar medievalist watercolour subject, Solveig, in this gallery.