Bluebeard: A Feminist Fairy Tale by Metaphrog
| The dynamic duo Metaphrog have created a creeptastic reimagining of Bluebeard. Award-winning co-creators John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs have cast this traditional French folktale as a fantasy feminist story. Readers meet a girl who doesn’t wait to be rescued. She rescues herself. Here’s how it happens: Eve and her family live near an enchanted forest. Beyond the forest atop a high mountain is the castle of Count Bluebeard. Eve's idyllic life with her family and her best friend Tom is disrupted when strange things begin to happen near the forest. Animals disappear. People can be trapped in the masses of dense vegetation. No one dares to enter this sinister wood. |  |
 | After Eve reaches her eighteenth year, Bluebeard decides to select a bride from among the townsfolk. With a roll of the dice, Eve is selected to become his wife and live with him on the mountaintop. Following the marriage ceremony he takes her to his imposing, opulently furnished castle. Eve notices a long corridor leading to countless rooms. At the end of an extended hallway is a door opened only with a special golden key. When Bluebeard leaves on urgent business he presents Eve with a ring of keys giving her access to all rooms in the castle. She is explicitly warned to never enter the door unlocked with the golden key. Alone and anxious, Eve roams throughout the castle, going from room to room. |
Eventually she opens the forbidden door. To her horror she finds the bodies of all the Count's former wives, hanging from the ceiling, their blood staining the room a violent red. The horrific truth dawns on Eve: He has killed all his wives. She is trapped inside the home of a murderer and she will be his next victim.
Meanwhile in the village Eve's older sister Anne has disappeared. Tom worries about Eve as there has been no communication from her. Tom suspects foul play and decides to take action. He recruits Eve's brothers to help him storm the castle, locate Anne, and rescue the two sisters.
| Bluebeard returns to his home and finds that Eve has discovered the bodies of his murdered wives. In an intense climactic scene, Eve struggles to save her sister. Not waiting for Tom and her brothers, she courageously takes matters into her own hands, finishing off the count and setting both girls free. Tension escalates with a series of panels that depict Eve gazing up a dizzying spiral staircase while Bluebeard stealthily inches nearer. Close-ups of razor-sharp teeth and talon-like extended fingers bring the terror into sharp focus. | |
| Art is breathtaking. Intricately detailed dark silhouettes contrast against the soft jewel tone tints. The gorgeous backgrounds are enchanting. Color plays an important part in the story. Some of the opening settings and coloring are reminiscent of the classic Disney fairy tales, such as Cinderella. Eve's world is a sparkling pink, while the appearance of Bluebeard is signaled with predominantly blue hues. | |
More Wondrous Stories
Metaphrog, is an award-winning graphic novelist team known for imaginative stories, resplendent art and stunning use of color. I became acquainted with Metaphrog about ten years ago when I picked up a curious little graphic novel, Louis-Night Salad. I had never encountered a book quite like this one. The approach is unique with classic art, luscious coloring and innovative story twists. Bluebeard continues that tradition of excellence.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 5, 2020 Publisher: Papercutz ISBN: 978-1545804124
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