Butcher of Paris #5 was released on May 27, 2020. — **Butcher of Paris #5** was released on May 27, 2020.

By Jarred A. Luján — Back before COVID-19 derailed so many facets of our life, Butcher of Paris was one of the titles I found to be among the most intriguing on my pull list. Though we’ve had to wait a bit for the completion of the book, this is a series that is certainly going to be one of my favorites during this entire messy, complicated year.

The truth is that books rooted heavily in reality are often difficult to reconcile into an interesting enough narrative. The truth is also that writer Stephanie Phillips is sharp as hell. The book reads so well, and the way she incorporates the real aspects of the book along with an exciting plot make it a unique experience the whole way through. The entire series is a great example of what historical fiction in comics can be at its best, a perfect example of how well that genre can be executed (heh) in our medium.

Aside from the way the book appeases my inner Giant History Nerd, I also like the the way that Phillips presents this narrative. This feels almost like Sherlock Holmes and a war novel wrapped together in a, frankly, horrific story. It’s the City of Lights occupied by monsters, hunting down a different one. Its plot is so interwoven, its characters so rich, that the book is immediately immersive and often downright frightening. The book’s themes deal heavily with duty, guilt and responsibility, and most importantly of justice, reaching far beyond what happened 70 years ago to touch on what we experience today. There are few final issues for a series that feel as complete in both story and theme as #5 in Butcher of Paris. The way it comes together for a different kind of horror show is amazing (not to mention that those first two pages perfectly set up that BRILLIANT last page).

Butcher’s presentation is, obviously, strongly attributed to the incredible work by the team up of artist Dean Kotz and colorist Jason Wordie. Kotz art fits into this world in a sort of special way. Throughout the book, Kotz abandons panels, like the story is really flying off the page in a way that you can’t stop. Because of the books horror aspect and approach, these moments often feel particularly jarring. Shaking the bounds of the normal page layouts in these high tension moments really brings it home. Wordie’s colors match the same aesthetic. On normal pages, Wordie colors pages fairly normally, but on this BIG moments it almost becomes a splash coloring approach. Colors mashed together to present an extremely tense moment. Again, one of the final pages of #5 is maybe the highlight of these team up together, bringing the climax of the book to a very poetic and beautiful stop.

OVERALL: I loved this series. It’s one that deserves revisit after revisit as you can glean more and more out of it. With an art team that is presenting beautiful work to match the complex and heavy tones of the book, Butcher of Paris should be required reading for comic fans and history buffs alike. 10/10

Butcher of Paris #1 - #5
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Dean Kotz
Colorist: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
Behind bars, Petiot proclaims himself a resistance fighter and patriot. As the trial begins, a new spectacle presents itself. With the magnitude of the murders coming to light, what possible justice can be served?
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Jarred A. Luján makes comics, studies existential philosophy, and listens to hip-hop too loudly. For bad jokes and dog pictures, you can follow him on Twitter.