Peplum

In Peplum, the acclaimed French cartoonist Blutch delivers a single-issue comic for The New York Review of Books that reimagines the ancient world through a modern, dreamlike lens. Blending classical tropes with his signature fluid, expressive linework, the story follows a wandering gladiator through a surreal, fragmented narrative that feels both timeless and deeply personal. Since its 2016 debut, this standalone work stands as a concise, atmospheric meditation on myth, memory, and the power of visual storytelling, showcasing Blutch’s ability to distill epic themes into a compact, resonant form.