The Blonde: Bondage Palace

Franco Saudelli’s The Blonde: Bondage Palace is a five-issue Fantagraphics series from 1993–1994 that blends stylish, fetish-infused adventure with surreal, often erotic storytelling. Co-written with Stefano Gaudiano and entirely illustrated by Saudelli, the series follows the titular blonde heroine through a world of elaborate bondage, intrigue, and dark humor. It stands out as a distinctive example of early-90s alternative comics, showcasing Saudelli’s lush, European-influenced art and a narrative that pushed boundaries within the independent comics scene.