My Pretty Vampire

A vampire has sex-positive adventures in this “pop shojo”-style graphic novel. Clover ― the “pretty” vampire of the title ― is a Bardot-esque blonde who dreams of the (now-dead) girl she once was four years ago before becoming a fanged bloodsucker. She is being kept prisoner by her brother, Marcel, who fears Clover will be hunted by the outside world (and who may have other, more selfish motivations as well). Clover’s curiosity, however, will not be suppressed: impetuous, sensual, strong-willed, and fearless, she plans her escape. The resultant havoc would make Dario Argento proud. Full-color illustrations throughout.

Paste

"My Pretty Vampire is the best '60s underground gem that never was, a descent into big hair and paisley politics by acclaimed cartoonist Katie Skelly."

SciFiNow

"A playful riff on vampire tropes, My Pretty Vampire is a colorful collision of Euro-arthouse, pop, and exploitation influences."

Under the Radar

"Katie Skelly's My Pretty Vampire is a very fresh take on the iconic bloodsuckers."

Portland Mercury

"Skelly’s newest graphic novel My Pretty Vampire is a sensual, colorful rampage."

Graphic Policy

"The story by Katie Skelly is dark, funny, and intuitive. The art by Skelly is incandescent and the way she draws is quite gorgeous."

Broken Frontier

"With a retro vibe that combines elements of traditional vampire lore and the excesses of an era of exploitation cinema, My Pretty Vampire is, aesthetically, a fascinating fusion of cute and appealing visuals with uncompromisingly brutal violence."

The Comics Journal

"This is a terrific comic, all puce and meringue and hot blood red, a plush and inky world through which a vampire woman staggers, amoral and starved, the escaped possession of her family bent on finding a vein of consumption that befits her idea of herself."

About the Author

Katie Skelly is a Los Angeles-based cartoonist whose comics include Nurse Nurse (SparkplugBooks, 2012), Operation Margarine (AdHouse Books, 2014), My Pretty Vampire (Fantagraphics,2017), and Maids (Fantagraphics, 2020). She has written and lectured about comics for outlets such as The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, Japan Society, The Center for Cartoon Studies, Fordham University, and The New School.  She also co-hosts the podcast Thick Lines with fellow cartoonist Sally Madden. Skelly holds a B.A. in Art History from Syracuse University, and was awarded the Emerging Artist Prize at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus in 2015.

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