Grand Guignol Orchestra Volume 3 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated T+ for “Older Teen”

Lucille is a cross-dressing, mysterious beauty who leads the Grand Guignol Orchestra.  Singing for the masses, this orchestra travels a land infested by people infected with the Guignol Virus.  The virus turns people into “zombie dolls” that are intent on killing humans.  Clestite, who masquerades as her late brother, Elestial, is the orchestra’s newest member, playing piano and getting deeper into the orchestra’s mysteries.

As Grand Guignol Orchestra, Vol. 3 (entitled Ma Chérie) opens, the orchestra closes the mystery of the Abbey of St. Vienne (“Tragedie Lyrique”).  The next storyline, “Ma Chérie,” takes them to the castle of Duke Rhodonite, the leader of the Rhodonite clan.  Lucille is shocked to discover Spinel, an old pal, in the company of the Duke and they’re getting married!  But that shock is nothing compared to the horrible secrets that explode from the graveyard of the past – including secrets concerning Galatea Syndrome a.k.a. the Guignol Virus.

THE LOWDOWN:  From the masterful mistress of Gothic-inspired comics, Kaori Yuki, comes the just-plain-creepy Grand Guignol Orchestra.  Mixing the end-of-the-world scenario, zombie apocalypse, bishounen manga, and palace intrigue, Grand Guignol Orchestra is an excellent horror comic book.  If it were published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, Grand Guignol Orchestra would win an Eisner Award.  If you can stomach the gruesomeness, you’ll love it.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans looking for highly unusual comic books will want to try Grand Guignol Orchestra.

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