The Blonde: 12 Pearls

A six-issue miniseries from Fantagraphics, The Blonde: 12 Pearls (1996–1997) collects the stylish, erotic crime comics of Italian artist Franco Saudelli, who wrote and illustrated the series alongside writers Luca Boscardin and Giuseppe Ferrandino. The book follows a mysterious, platinum-haired femme fatale through a series of sleek, noir-tinged adventures, showcasing Saudelli’s distinctive, elegant linework and the publisher’s commitment to bringing European comics to an American audience. It stands as a notable, if niche, artifact of mid-90s alternative comics, blending pulp sensibilities with a refined artistic sensibility.