Gastronomique #1 — Marguerite Bennett and Helena Masellis turn the French Revolution into a fever-dream hunt
There's a specific kind of thrill in watching a creator step into a new world and immediately make it their own, and Marguerite Bennett is doing exactly that here. Gastronomique #1 isn't just another historical entry; it's a sensory experience that drags you straight into the grimy, sensual heart of Revolutionary Paris.
The story centers on Lady Charlotte, a cold-blooded operative who answers to the code name The Python. She's not hunting for a cause or a crown; she's hunting for Tarrare, the historical figure known for a hunger that could never be sated. As she tracks the elusive cannibal through the streets of France, Charlotte finds her quest aided by Zélie, her former lover. Together, they navigate the dangerous shadows of Paris, blurring the lines between espionage, obsession, and desire. It's a cat-and-mouse game where the stakes are visceral and the atmosphere is thick with tension.
Bennett is a writer who knows how to balance brutality with heart, and she leans fully into the weird, wonderful chaos of this premise. This isn't horror for the sake of shock; it's a story about appetite in all its forms—revenge, lust, and the literal need to consume. Masellis' art is the perfect match for that energy, delivering a fever-dream aesthetic that makes every panel pop with movement and emotion. If you enjoy books that aren't afraid to get messy and explore the darker corners of human nature, this is the one that's going to stick with you long after you finish the issue.
If you're keeping an eye on the talent behind the scenes, keep Masellis' name close. She's an Eisner-nominated artist, and seeing her work debut in a project this ambitious is a reminder of just how much talent is moving through the industry right now. Bennett's name on a book is usually a guarantee of quality, but here it feels like she's just getting started with a concept that's entirely fresh. Trust me on this one; it's a stack addition that rewards you for taking a chance on something new.