Miss Pas touche - Intégrale - Tome 1 - Miss Pas touche - Intégrale - Tome 1

Miss Pas Touche #1-2

by Hubert, Kerascoët (Illustrator)

La srie phare d'Hubert et des Kerascot enfin runie en deux magnifiques intgrales !

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Graphic Novels Comics

96 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2006

About the author

Hubert Boulard de son vrai nom ; il naît à Saint Renan, Finistère, en 1971. À l’origine, il ne se destine pas à la Bande dessinée, mais aux Arts plastiques. Il entre aux Beaux-Arts, d’abord à Quimper, puis à Angers. C’est là qu’a lieu une rencontre déterminante : Yoann (Toto l’Ornithorynque, La Voleuse du Père Fauteuil...), qui se destine déjà à être auteur et est publié en Angleterre. C’est lui qui fait (re)découvrir la bande dessinée à Hubert et ce qui s’y passe alors, tant aux États-Unis (Miller, Sankievitz, Mac Kean, Mignola ...) qu’en France (Barbier, David B., Trondheim...). En 1994, Hubert passe son diplôme de fin d’étude avec des installations tendance conceptuelle. Une fois sorti, il se pose l’inévitable question : « Et maintenant ?» d’autant plus qu’il se sent de moins en moins attiré par le milieu de l’Art Contemporain et de plus en plus par l’écriture. Après un bref passage dans le graphisme, il commence à travailler comme coloriste (Ninie Rezergoude avec Yoann et Omond, éditions Delcourt en 1999). De nombreuses collaborations suivront (notamment avec Paul Gillon, Jason, David B, Tronchet, Philippe Berthet, Vink…). Il est actuellement le coloriste de la série Spirou, avec Yoann et Fabien Vehlmann. Parallèlement, en 2000, il signe ses premiers projets en tant que scénariste : Le Legs de l’Alchimiste avec Hervé Tanquerelle, paru chez Glénat (qui passe le relais à Benjamin Bachelier au tome 4) et Les Yeux verts avec Zanzim au dessin, aux éditions Carabas. En 2006, Hubert ait son entrée chez chez Poisson Pilote avec La Sirène des Pompiers, dessinée par Zanzim et Miss Pas Touche, réalisé avec les Kerascoët. Suivront en 2010 Bestioles, avec Ohm chez Dargaud, La Chair de l’araignée avec Marie Caillou chez Glénat et en 2011 Beauté avec les Kerascoët chez Dupuis. Hubert vit et travaille à Paris.

Texte et photo © Dargaud

Reviews

[Seth T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably better than any other culture-group, the French have over and again adapted the conventions of noir cinema to their own works. This is fitting, after all, as film noir was a critical designation invented by the French to describe a certain mode of crime thriller. Made popular in the '40s in the US, noir is generally counted to span the era of 1941 to 1958—from The Maltese Falcon to Touch of Evil, as it were. Yet though film noir in its traditional, classic sense dies off in 1958 with Orson Welles' tale of good cop/bad cop in a Tex-Mex border town, its influence would be felt for decades after—and not merely in the form of homage (to borrow another French term).

While the American neo-noir scene has had some notable entrants over the years, it's the French who seem to have really taken the noir ball and run with it. While being outside the era and culture specific to True Noir, these French thrillers exhibit a delicious sort of indebtedness to the mode, rolling themselves out in such a way that they capitalize on several of the key elements of noir while forging new directions and destinies. From Rififi to Le Samourai to The Beat My Heart Skipped, the French have spent decades extrapolating the noir ideal—and not just in film either. Some of the best crime comics I've seen have been French and show strong sense of their noir roots. And Miss Don't Touch Me is just one more of those.

Set around the turn of the 20th century, Miss Don't Touch Me concerns two sisters (one a flirt and the other a prude), suburban dance parties, a serial killer, a brothel, and the dish best served cold. When cold, reserved Blanche becomes accidental witness to the Butcher of the Dances (the mass media is every bit as fanciful a century ago in France as it is in America today), Agatha falls victim to the killer who hopes to cover his tracks. Blanche is destroyed emotionally but this devastation prepares her for the journey of detection and subterfuge for which she'll have to be steeled if she wants her revenge. Circumstances lead her into the employ of a brothel where her prudishness and refusal to be touched by a man lead her to become the shop's special dominatrix. Dressed as an English maid, she whips, beats, and savages every single one of her clients, earning herself the title Miss Don't-Touch-Me. Yet as she gets nearer to identifying the killer, she comes closer to falling into the killer's path. It's a treacherous road and one will wonder whether her violent loathing of men will be enough when she comes face to face with the man who killed her sister.



While Miss Don't Touch Me's story travels the necessary paces for every thriller—mystery, betrayal, reversals, and the big showdown—the true glory of the book is its art. I'd not yet run into Kerascoët's work but from this point forward, I'll be vigilant when I hear news of a book he's worked on. His characters are cartooned, with all the exaggerations of character that one might expect to see in New Yorker cartoons but with a degree of polish that makes them sing. Blanche herself is perfectly rendered and Kerascoët ably bounces her between rage and sorrow and fear and comfort and grim determination.

For writer Hubert's part, Blanche is crafted into a character far more interesting than the standard cardboard protagonist that usually populates the revenge thriller. She's plucky, certainly, but inexperienced to the utmost. She embarks upon her quest for justice steeped in naivete and, to the author's credit, never does transform into an able, capable investigator. Despite her righteous cause, she's rash and easily leads herself astray. That she has any further contact with the Butcher after her original, accidental encounter is counted more to the ledger of blind luck and to wiser friends than it is to her powers of deduction. By the end, we find that Blanche's one true gift is her unyielding determination; whether this gift will also be her saving grace is only answered as the reader pursues her story to its finale.



The book is stereotypically (fairly or otherwise) French in its laissez-faire depiction of sexuality, which will almost certainly be off-putting to some readers. Hubert & Kerascoët walk a fine balance between depicting the attitude that sex is just sex and showing that sex has built-in consequences. While highlighting the tension between the two perspectives is not their object in this work, they still dally with the conflict—and this dalliance goes a long way toward turning Miss Don't Touch Me into more than just a common revenge thriller. The book may be a suitable jumping-off point for any number of discussions of the importance of sex to society and how cultural mores address some of our primal instincts.

In any case, Miss Don't Touch Me is a fun work, a thriller that travels potentially awkward paths in almost natural ways. It's guileless in its forthright desire to entertain and hits many of the formulaic notes without seeming obvious about it. While writing this review, I discovered that there is a second volume to the work and I am anxious to see how things turn out, since a number of threads seemed only murkily resolved.

[review courtesy of Good Ok Bad.]

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to like? A crime thriller set in a thirties Paris brothel, where a woman, Blanche, whose sister was murdered by some serial killer, gets "a job" in the brothel to see if she can get some insight/explore/snoop around into who mightta dunnit. And she's a virgin, our Blanche, ha.

Do we believe that this girl can get a job as a "prostitute" and remain a "virgin dominatrix" (her shtick in the brothel, as it turns out)? Nah, but it's pretty fun, and sort of titillating (more so for a man than a woman? maybe. . . okay, probably!) to set a murder mystery in a "High End" brothel catering to aristocrats and government officials and cops.

So it has a sort of noir feel, with plenty of sex and nudity but not SO graphic given its setting, I thought. I liked it a lot in spite of its unrealistic main character's situation, though without spoilers I can't tell you how the resolution of the mystery and our Heroine's (surprising) ability to handle weapons figures in this sense of un-realism, but I still liked it. Some of that has to do with Hubert as writer of a fun tale in a fun setting, but I think more so because of Kerascoët, who does a really good job of creating character and mode and tone. I will read the second volume!

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blanche has a LOT of pent up rage, and who can blame her? Her sister was murdered by a serial killer, the authorities didn't believe her when she told them what really happened and called it suicide, and then her employer fired her and sent her off into the street without a reference. You simply can't have girls whose sisters kill themselves working for you, scandalous! She's furious and out to find the men who killed her sister.
She gets an opportunity to use that rage when, in her not-very-skillful attempt at investigation, she tries to infiltrate an upscale bordello, The Pompadour, and gets hired. Oddly, the brothel has no need of her maid skills, but the madame has something else in mind for a girl such as Blanche. She gets taken on as "Miss Don't Touch Me" a virginal dominatrix. It turns out she is very good at wielding a riding crop.
I was captivated by Blanche's determination, and I especially found the almost high school queen bee dynamics among the women of the brothel engaging. And who knew Josephine Baker was really a transvestite!? Although I am pretty sure that was not the real Josephine Baker.
Lots of nudity and sex here, as well as some really disturbing violence. Very adult, very dark, with a dangerous mystery, that resolved bloodily, with justice and privilege served in a very noir, cynical end.
I want to read book #2, and find out where Blanche goes next.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Nancy Drew, except Nancy is a dominatrix.

Ok, so not exactly. There's a serial killer on the loose in 20s Paris, and the sister of one of his victims has to go undercover as the virgin dom at a high-society brothel to exact her revenge.

Candy for me. Though I'm not sure what that says about me.

This is a great example of a GN where I don't find the art very attractive, but got completely sucked in by the story. I love that about good GN writing.

It's very graphic, both sexually and violence-wise - and it's sad in many ways. The characters are complex and layered. The young protagonist is not just a vessel for the proceedings - she's an active agent with strong feelings about many things. And she's not always likeable. Josephine Baker is a supporting player, although certain facts about her life seem to be tweaked. Not that I'm an expert. Maybe it's even intended to be an aboveboard copycat.

I'm not deconstructing what this book says about gender and sexuality, and I'm sure if I thought more about it, I'd have strong feelings about the gender politics here, but on a surface level, I enjoyed the focus on a place where women had power (of a sort) in a historical setting.

Anyway, this feels like a mash-up of a young-starlet's mystery (a la Miss Drew or maybe Cat Burglar Black) with Rent Girl or Whip Smart. It feels old, and edgy - I'm surprised it came out just five years ago.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe this deserves 4 stars, because: despite the setting the author managed to avoid pandering to the prurient interests; i recognize that my inability to identify illustrated faces hindered early comprehension of key plot developments; and my slothful attention to verbal cues also contributed to lack of understanding at the time that Hubert could reasonably expect an intelligent reader to find clues to solve the mystery.

I'm not much for mysteries, though, so i'm going to round down from 3.5.

If you like mysteries. If you like comix. If you don't mind sex and nudity and violence. If you aren't too depressed by a pessimistic view of humanity. You'll probably really like this.

Final note. [November 2017] Correction below
The back-cover copy for the 2008 English translation has an egregious error: they say that the title character's given name is Florence when there is not a single person in the story with that name and the main character is clearly named Blanche throughout. I cannot imagine how that happened, but somebody should feel quite embarrassed by the gaffe.
Apparently in the UK edition, her name is Florence and in the US edition it's Blanche, so the gaffe is that the Great American publisher "merely" forgot to change her name on the back cover. Somebody should feel quite embarrassed.

New final note [May 2025]: friends' reviews have almost convinced me to reread it.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris, early 20th century. A young maid called Florence witnesses the murder of a high class prostitute in an abandoned building by two men. Hysterical, she rushes out to find her sister, a more outgoing and fun loving soul who goes back to the room to prove her sister imagined it all - and is then shot. Cast out of her house and grieving her dead sister, Florence begins hunting the murderers, a chase that leads her to one of the classiest brothels in Paris, the Pompadour. There she becomes one of the star attractions, a virgin dominatrix who whips her clients into submission. But more prostitutes' bodies start showing up - and what does the British Royal Family have to do with this?

Hubert writes a fascinating erotic thriller from an interesting period of history. Florence is a wonderful character who the reader is rooting for from page one. Enormous praise should also be given to Kerascoet who draws the book, bringing Paris and it's denizens to life beautifully and memorably.

It's another great read and an excellent comic book from the good folks at NBM Comics Lit, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. Good stuff!

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl, Blanche, who works with her sister, Agatha, as a live-in maid in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century. When Blanche witnesses her sister’s murder, her world is destroyed. People think Agatha committed suicide, and nobody will believe Blanche. She goes on a mission to avenge Agatha’s death, which takes her into a realm of prostitution, murder, and deceit.

It is both hard to believe and a relief that Agatha can manage to work at a brothel and not even have to take off her clothes. She is a virgin and does not want to “sell [her:] virtue” (emphasis mine). So she presents her conundrum of sorts to the madam boss, who offers her the ideal position: a “virgin of steel” dominatrix who “whips, but [is:] not to be touched.”

This setup, however, reinforces the virgin/whore duality in the novel. Blanche’s virginity is the main characteristic that differentiates her from every other woman from this point forward, something that even induces hatred toward her from some of the “whores.” One of them even cuts off Blanche’s long dark hair in her sleep, thickening the line that separates them. Blanche only gets along with the two other “special girls” in the brothel: Annette, who looks stereotypically angelical but harbors a dark secret, and the “madame/monsieur” Miss Josephine, her gender-bending confidante and the only other prostitute in the brothel with short hair. The authors have made it clear that Blanche does not belong on the “whore” side of the dichotomy through her asexuality, her appearance, and her very name (“blanche” means “white” in French).

Does this graphic novel stretch the virgin/whore dichotomy to create a new space? What’s for sure is that Blanche is gutsy, clever, cunning, and even cruel. She’s good-looking enough to be a prostitute but has chosen another route. She’s also goal-driven and steadfast. But, her character is not very believable. Not only is her character an amalgam of her aforementioned traits; there are also problems in the narrative that affect her credibility as a character.

The novel reads quickly, and it is enjoyable. But something feels amiss throughout. The authors at times skip from one crucial scene to the next. For example, when Blanche's sister Agatha is murdered, Blanche's life suddenly changes drastically. Blanche, naturally, cries over her dead sister following her murder—and then never does it again. We aren't even told why this is; is Blanche the kind to bury her feelings? She does not seem to be that at all. What’s more, she’s impulsive precisely because she can’t seem to control them. So what gives?

These missing feelings and thoughts—which are ostensibly the very engine behind the plot—make Blanche seem at times incongruous and even robotic. Something important is lacking. While she does think about Agatha and does all she can to avenge her death, Blanche lacks the corresponding depth. And while no other characters display notable depth either, one would think that at least the main protagonist of the novel would. Alas, this is not the case. When she sheds blood, she doesn’t even blink.

The illustrations are sketchy but defined; each character is visually unequivocal from the next. Nudity is ubiquitous, as is to be expected, as well as uninhibited, which shows in the casual lines traced by Kerascoet. There is much play between light and shadow, and although sometimes there are so many details in one panel that you must squint to find what you’re looking for, overall the drawings are sharp and witty.

In the end, this novel is a sassy and even controversial murder mystery that will entertain. It would be even more pleasing if it finished what it started.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh my. This is a racy little graphic novel that stills manages to be charming and stylish. Probably because it is written by the French and they can get away with being risque and tasteful.

The graphic style reminds me of Kate Beaton... only with more nipples and exclusively about murder and prostitutes in post-WWI Paris. I get the impression she'd like it (you know... because of its style and her interest in European history... not because of the graphic nature). The pacing is great and the characters are interesting and I just love the way they're rendered. I'd like to find more works by this author and illustrator, but since they are credited in this work solely as Hubert and Kerascoet, they do not make it easy to figure out who they are. A wise decision on their part if their other work is all in childrens' books and illustrations. Seriously. This book is a little bit filthy.

[Sharon Layburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed. Whoever translated the text did an inferior job- the language was choppy and stilted, but some of the plot points were awkward as well. I wasn't overly impressed with the artwork either.

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel had a really brilliant mystery and the cast of characters kept you engaged throughout about the storyline. Blanche was a really intriguing character and her boldness as she dove into a world she knew nothing about to resolve something for herself was really interesting. The art in this volume was beautiful and meticulously detailed where it needed to be. I also really loved the use of color during more heightened events.

[Jennifer (The Nightly Book Owl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair Warning: This book is quite graphic, but that’s to be expected when you read a graphic novel in which the main characters are prostitutes.

There’s a murderer in Paris, and they call him “The Butcher of the Dances,” preying on loose women at dances and whatnot. The main character, Blanche, has a sister who is murdered by this serial killer, so she goes on a little journey (into a brothel) to find out who killed her sister. Can she work undercover in a brothel and find out who the killer is and still maintain her virginity? Find out in Miss Don’t Touch Me Volume One. Dun dun dun…

Review: Alright, all joking aside, I quite liked this book. It’s your classic whodunit book, but who doesn’t love one of those every now and then? I thought the setting and plot were pretty interesting from the beginning to the end, and I couldn’t put it down. It was just overall fantastic.

Plot: The plot is pretty simple, but it was told in an interesting and entertaining manner. You seriously can’t go into this book and expect to take it seriously. It’s completely unrealistic with the whole keeping her virginity in a brothel thing, but you’re not meant to do so. It’s totally for fun, and it’s supposed to be entertaining, and it was. I loved the whole plot from the mystery to the big reveal.

Characters: Some could argue that the characters are all quite cliched, but I really liked them. They are all so different and entertaining that I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters because I grew a small attachment to several of them. Blanche, even with the whole virginity thing, is still an interesting main character. In some parts of the book, she completely surprises me with some of the things she does, but I suppose she was really angry for the police writing her sister’s murder off as a suicide. All in all, the characters in Miss Don’t Touch Me are great.

Art: The artwork is somewhat reminiscent of Sandman by Neil Gaiman except more racy, and it was quite charming. It was perfect for the setting, and I really liked it. It was fun, colourful, and very detailed. Kudos to the artists for that!

Again, I have to stress that this book is pretty racy with some graphic images, so it’s definitely not for everyone. Read with caution.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer on the loose, a high class brothel, a sister seeking justice and revenge. Sex and violence, those staples of entertainment that we seem to have an insatiable appetite for are given a playful working in this delicious graphic novel.

The media dubbed 'Butcher of the Dances' prowls the streets of Paris in the early twentieth century, seeking young woman returning from suburban late-night dances to make them a headline. Witness the Butcher at work with his latest victim and her sister becoming his next, Blanche is compelled to act. Hoping to uncover the Butcher's identity Blanche becomes the titular Miss Don't Touch Me, the virgin dominatrix at a high class brothel.

Miss Don't Touch Me may be a formulaic thriller but it is one that treads down the well worn path without appearing trite. It want us to be entertained and something about this makes the expected events and action feel genuine and purposeful rather than obvious. It is also it's use of some of the ideals behind noir that truly pull up to place where it is something special. In a city where propriety and impropriety work together in mischievous concert. It give us noir's dark and broody seriousness but balanced with a sense of exuberance for life and living. A tricky ambivalence that is some how captured.

Hubert and Kerascoët craft a captivating story with exquisite characters. Whether looking at Blanche's development as a noir heroine, the high school politics of the girls of the bordello or the warm and calculated humanity of Ms. Josephine, they have created a world that it feels like we could fall into and take joy in despite the underlying dangers.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blanche is convinced that her sister Agatha was murdered by the Butcher of the Dances when she is shot in their tiny apartment after they discover a peephole between their room and the next building. When the authorities arrive the murder weapon is in Agatha’s own hand and they decide it’s a suicide. Blanche is determined to find the real killer(s) and ends up taking a job in an upscale brothel where the last victim of the Butcher is said to have worked. She becomes “Miss Don’t Touch Me,” a dominatrix available only to certain clientele, and continues her investigation. Acting impulsively, she murders a man she believes may be the killer (who also frightens and threatens her). She’s about to go after the owner of the establishment when another of the girls talks some sense into her and helps her track down the real perpetrator.

Blanche is a determined spitfire of a girl (she’s a little scary, too). She must be saving up all of her rage and frustration because she’s quite a successful dominatrix (not her career of choice – she’s not left with many choices after her sister’s ‘suicide’), though, not a very good investigator – her nature is generally suspicious and she sees criminals everywhere she looks. Full-color artwork has a dark and ominous feel, which is definitely appropriate to the atmosphere. Translated from the French. Nudity, sex, and violence (not surprising as it’s set in a brothel that’s harboring a killer) make this most suitable for an adult audience. Somewhat disturbing. Artwork is by the same artist who illustrated Dungeon Early Years and has a similar feel. Also reminiscent of some of Trondheim’s work.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been so many graphic novels that I've picked up from the library on a whim without knowing what to expect, so it's a pleasant surprise that none of them have disappointed me at all! Miss Don't Touch Me is about a young woman in 1930s Paris who is determined to hunt down a serial killer after she witnesses her sister's murder (which had been passed off as a suicide by the police). This whole book is a wild ride, filled with strong female characters and intriguing mysteries that kept me captivated until the end.

The main character of Blanche reminded me of myself, as I am also shy and quiet but definitely would go to whatever ends of the Earth to avenge those I love. She is an incredibly interesting character, and I won't say more than that so I can avoid spoilers (because I want you to go read it!).

This novel is originally published in French, and I (obviously) read the English translation edition. I loved the artwork as well, as the style is both simple and detailed and really lovely to look at. There are a good amount of unexpected twists throughout the plot which kept me constantly guessing and turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The ending is not what I expected at all, but it was definitely a satisfying ending to this story.

If you enjoy graphic novels, strong female characters, and murder mysteries set in 1930s Paris, this is definitely the book for you! I'm so glad I picked this up, and know many others would enjoy this as well. I honestly have no complaints at all about this book.

This review and others can also be found on my book blog: swimmingthroughliterature.wordpress.com

[Skye Kilaen]

I was enjoying this quite a bit. Then, without seemingly any narrative reason, the artist undressed a character who I thought of as trans. Literally nothing seemed to happening in the story that required or was furthered by this full reveal of her body. There was very little similar treatment of other characters that we're supposed to like, despite most of the book taking place in a bordello. It just took me right out of the story.

I don't know my trans history well enough to understand how Miss Josephine would have labeled herself at the time when this takes place - or if she would have labeled herself at all. And this wasn't done as the usual "aha" trope where a storyteller reveals a trans person's trans-ness by having them show up naked. (This trope was discussed very well in an early episode of the excellent podcast The Hopeless Romantic about writing trans romance.) So I don't know if my WTF moment was grounded in anything but my own personal exhaustion with the disrespect of trans people in our media and culture. Or, since I'm not always the smartest reader, I could have missed something here.

But, this is my honest experience with the book, so there you go. I'm not rating because it was too much of a mish-mash experience for me.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like an R-rated version of a Scooby Doo episode, with admittedly no van and way fewer dogs (except for that one guy who liked to bark)...and with a decidedly noticeable increase in vajay-jay and sexy times. An improvement, really ;).
You could definitely feel the French in this story...it had a much more open and honest view on sex and prostitution while still being decadent and glamorous (or at least as glamorous as sex work can get). An interesting mix in any case, and an interesting story.
Although, I didn't really love the art, it felt somewhat cartoony, I did like the colors the artist used, it really helped create the atmosphere I think the author was going for.

Overall good but not great...if you like the idea of Nancy Drew as a film noir dominatrix then you might want to try this graphic novel. ;)

[Meepelous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this comic by the Frenchman Hubert, I was not surprised at all that it reminded me of Little Vampire because apparently the husband-wife team of Kerascoet (who illustrated this volume) also did work in the Little Vampire series, as well as another spooky favorite of mine, Beautiful Darkness.

Very much a noir sort of story, I would like to hold this up as a good example of a noir story that is not misogynistic, and written by a man no less. While the story does certainly still centre around sexualized violence against women, perhaps still a requirement for Noir fiction everywhere, the inclusion of so many other women goes a long way to balancing things out. On top of that, the way in which the main character remains so innocent, even as she is empowered, felt unique to me. But, perhaps, I just need to look further beyond the bounds of my puritanical home country more often?

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blanche begins this story as a housemaid, but is drawn into trying to find "the butcher of the dances," who she believes murdered her sister. In the process, she finds herself working at a high-class house of call-girls, and gets drawn into much more than she bargained for.

There are a few interesting characters, though. For example, Josephine, a transsexual, is mysterious and complex. But most of the other characters are fairly one-sided. And most men in the story are portrayed as at best the victims of their lustful appetites, at worst simply evil.

It often seemed that the whole story was just an excuse to portray a lot of sex and violence. And the ending was particularly confusing to me -- I'm not really sure what happened to Blanche in the last scene devoted to her.

[Negativni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Na prvu se čini da "cartoon" crtež ilustratora Kerascoët (skupni potpis bračnog para Marie Pommepuy i Sébastiena Cosseta) nikako ne ide uz ovu temu i da bi bolje pristajao neki "ozbiljniji" stil, no čini mi se da baš to i čini ovaj, što se tiče priče, relativno prosječni krimić zanimljivim.

Zabavno, sa dosta humora i pričom koja dobro teče i završava.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's weird that I read this right after Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick. Both are great, but a little risqué to read on the bus.

[Brendan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's like a Tin Tin story with prostitues

[r. fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like Amelia Bedelia but she's a sexy scorned french assassin/sex worker. and also josephine baker is there

[emanumela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol.1 5/5
Vol.2 2/5

[Elevate Difference · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Don't Touch Me is the story of a girl, Blanche, who works with her sister, Agatha, as a live-in maid in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century. When Blanche witnesses her sister’s murder, her world is destroyed. People think Agatha committed suicide, and nobody will believe Blanche. She goes on a mission to avenge Agatha’s death, which takes her into a realm of prostitution, murder, and deceit.

It is both hard to believe and a relief that Agatha can manage to work at a brothel and not even have to take off her clothes. She is a virgin and does not want to “sell [her:] virtue” (emphasis mine). So she presents her conundrum of sorts to the madam boss, who offers her the ideal position: a “virgin of steel” dominatrix who “whips, but [is:] not to be touched.”

This setup, however, reinforces the virgin/whore duality in the novel. Blanche’s virginity is the main characteristic that differentiates her from every other woman from this point forward, something that even induces hatred toward her from some of the “whores.” One of them even cuts off Blanche’s long dark hair in her sleep, thickening the line that separates them. Blanche only gets along with the two other “special girls” in the brothel: Annette, who looks stereotypically angelical but harbors a dark secret, and the “madame/monsieur” Miss Josephine, her gender-bending confidante and the only other prostitute in the brothel with short hair. The authors have made it clear that Blanche does not belong on the “whore” side of the dichotomy through her asexuality, her appearance, and her very name (“blanche” means “white” in French).

Does this graphic novel stretch the virgin/whore dichotomy to create a new space? What’s for sure is that Blanche is gutsy, clever, cunning, and even cruel. She’s good-looking enough to be a prostitute but has chosen another route. She’s also goal-driven and steadfast. But, her character is not very believable. Not only is her character an amalgam of her aforementioned traits; there are also problems in the narrative that affect her credibility as a character.

The novel reads quickly, and it is enjoyable. But something feels amiss throughout. The authors at times skip from one crucial scene to the next. For example, when Blanche's sister Agatha is murdered, Blanche's life suddenly changes drastically. Blanche, naturally, cries over her dead sister following her murder—and then never does it again. We aren't even told why this is; is Blanche the kind to bury her feelings? She does not seem to be that at all. What’s more, she’s impulsive precisely because she can’t seem to control them. So what gives?

These missing feelings and thoughts—which are ostensibly the very engine behind the plot—make Blanche seem at times incongruous and even robotic. Something important is lacking. While she does think about Agatha and does all she can to avenge her death, Blanche lacks the corresponding depth. And while no other characters display notable depth either, one would think that at least the main protagonist of the novel would. Alas, this is not the case. When she sheds blood, she doesn’t even blink.

The illustrations are sketchy but defined; each character is visually unequivocal from the next. Nudity is ubiquitous, as is to be expected, as well as uninhibited, which shows in the casual lines traced by Kerascoet. There is much play between light and shadow, and although sometimes there are so many details in one panel that you must squint to find what you’re looking for, overall the drawings are sharp and witty.

In the end, this novel is a sassy and even controversial murder mystery that will entertain. It would be even more pleasing if it finished what it started.

Review by Natalia Real

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sophisticated French Graphic Noir

First some important housekeeping so that you aren't disapointed with what you buy. Blanche's story originally appeared in English in two volumes - "Miss Don't Touch Me" and then "Miss Don't Touch Me Volume 2". Each runs about 96 pages. Then came "Miss Don't Touch Me, The Complete Story", which includes both of the earlier volumes. This is my review of "...The Complete Story", but I'm posting it on all three book sites as a warning to buyers to be careful.

This is a very interesting and rewarding graphic novel. It is well drawn, but more than just "pretty". It is well plotted, with a twisty noirish feel. And it is well written, with a good deal of sharp dialogue and some whip smart humor. And, given that most of the action takes place in a brothel and the heroine is a virgin/dominatrix, it is sexy without being prurient. Think of it as an erotic thriller but with a certain deadpan Gallic sense of humor and sang froid that complements the noir feel.

At the outset, (what would be Volume 1), we follow our heroine as she investigates the circumstances surrounding the murder of a prostitute and then of her own sister. This is what leads her to set up shop in the high class Pompadour brothel, as she suspects the bad guys are working out of there. The police are being less than diligent and so she must seek her own form of vengeance while surviving under cover in the brothel. Half the book covers this twisty and event filled story. Many suspects, a few allies, and lots of doublecrosses. And of course almost by definition every femme is a femme fatale.

Once that crime mystery is resolved we switch to what is basically a second story featuring Blanche, which involves blackmail, grifting, cons, a star-crossed romance, and an additional new set of characters. This second half is what came out as Volume 2. It is much less noirish and on its own it might be considered weaker. But, since it features Blanche and all of the characters we enjoyed in the first half it still succeeds in pulling the reader along.

Unlike some graphic novels, the covers for these books give you a good idea of the drawing style throughout the book. Lines are sharp and characters are remarkably expressive. There are a few panels that look a bit cartoony, (on purpose one suspects), but on the whole the drawing, coloring and lettering are sharp and stylish and consistent with the story and its setting and time frame.

This was a sophisticated and entertaining read and I was delighted to come across it. (Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Dani Peloquin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally published in France, Miss Don't Touch Me by Hubert & Kerascoet is a graphic novel about two sisters who work as the maids to an aristocratic woman until the murder of one of the sisters causes the remaining sibling to go on a hunt for her sister's killer. This graphic novel is a classic who-dunit but is for mature audiences ONLY for it includes a great deal of violence and sexual content.

Set in the 1903s, Agnes is a carefree girl who spends her nights dancing with various men out in the suburbs of Paris. Even when everyone in the city becomes alarmed by a serial killer known as "The Butcher of the Dances", Agnes refuses to give up her wayward ways. Agnes' sister, Blance, is a worrywart who keeps herself sheltered from the seedy side of society. One night, the sisters hear two people killing a woman in the room next to theirs. When Agnes goes to investigate, one of the killers shoots her. While Blanche runs to her employer to get the police, the murder plants a gun on Agnes' body making it look like suicide. No one believes Blanche that her sister was murdered and did not commit suicide, so Blanche takes it upon herself to find her sister's killer. In order to find out more about "The Butcher of the Dances" and get closer to discovering her sister's killer, Blanche becomes a dominatrix at the most prestigious brothel in Paris.

Though the characters in the brothel are interesting, the sexual content alienates the reader to the point of feeling uncomfortable. Of course some "R" rated sexuality is to be expected in a graphic novel in which prostitutes are the main characters, however, this graphic novel seems to be more GRAPHIC and less novel. The plot is the typical murder mystery with the killer revealed at the end but to little applause because of the cliched characters and commonplace storyline. One feature that is nice is the printing which was done on glossy paper with full color pictures. This is rare with graphic novels and thus was a treat! However, the beautiful and colorful graphics could not hold up the limp storyline and characters.

www.iamliteraryaddicted.blogspot.com

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blanche and her sister, Agatha, work as maids in 1930's Paris. The whole town is in an uproar over a serial murderer who has been terrorizing the city. When Agatha is killed, the death is ruled ruled a suicide. Blanche, the only witness, knows the truth and sets out to find the killer. She takes a new job at a high-end brothel, but manages to avoid having her virginity taken by becoming a dominatrix-type prostitute appropriately called "Miss Don't Touch Me". Her new job enables her to learn more about the seamy underbelly of Parisian society. More importantly, it helps her get closer to finding out who killed her sister.
Though it sounds like an extra-dark and provocative story, Miss Don't Touch Me is actually quite colorful and charming in spite of its noir leanings. Blanche is a terrific protagonist who refuses to sacrifice her own code of ethics while never judging the moral compass of anyone else. The artwork in this over-sized graphic novel is wonderful, adding clever visual queues and altering the tone as the story requires. It's an unusual story that's best left to adult readers, but it isn't terribly graphic (in terms of sexual content) or gory (in terms of violence). Overall, a quirky and entertaining noir mystery.

[Jax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I usually don't like mystery stories, I think the art style and the stubborn/mad protagonist made up for it. The graphic novel is fully colored solidly which is nice on the eyes, even when they show particularly unpleasant images. Caution: This book is not meant to be read by an young audience because some of the pictures have sexual content and disturbing graphic violence. Nonetheless, they all mix into a very interesting story that is unlike other stories today. It's similar to the tales of Jack the Ripper, but not quite, since there is a more sensual twist in it. The characters are likable, but I feel that the protagonist was a little unlike what I thought she was from the beginning of the book. She changed to become more insane, angry, and lustful for blood as she continued to seek vengeance. It was not a pretty sight when you're usually expecting the protagonists to be pure and happy. Regardless, I really did like the book and would love to read the second book as soon as I can find it.

[Travis Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining murder mystery set in 1930's Paris. It tells the story of Florence and her search for the truth about murdered friend. Florence is a maid but soon loses her job and decided to find investigate her fellow maid's murder. It leads her to a brothel where she gets a job as Miss don't touch me, a play on words because of her role. It is a standard "who done it" mystery that is fun to read but it is anything amazing for me. The art matches the time frame and is complementary for the story.