Graphic Novel Review: A Man’s Skin

Published by: Ablaze Publishing
Written by: Hubert
Illustrated by: Zanzim
ISBN: 9781950912483
Ages: 18+

When you typically look at a romance story from Renaissance Italy, you expect to see courtship from dashing heroic men, arranged marriages, and corseted hoop-skirted gowns worn by “ladies of the court”. Bianca is one of these ladies, but she is disappointed that her marriage is arranged to a man she’s never met.

Meet Giovanni, a rich young merchant, who comes to town to meet his bride-to-be. Giovanni meets Lorenzo and the two men begin a friendship that eventually turns intimate, despite his pending nuptials. But Lorenzo has a secret… “he” is actually Bianca wearing “a man’s skin”, a family heirloom handed down to their women to allow them to experience life freed from womanly limitations, living with the freedom given only to men.

While Giovanni and “Lorenzo” are falling deeply in love, Giovanni and Bianca have a very slow start to their relationship. The confusion of identity combined with the strong emotions of love and lust create a very unique Renaissance love story that did not end how I thought it would.

A MAN’S SKIN brings together many of the themes of sexuality, gender, religion and morality that are being discussed and debated in today’s world, yet presented through the filter of the 16th Century. Hubert, an author primarily known in France for both graphic novels and screenplays, spins a wonderful tale of romance that knows no boundaries, proving that love really can triumph over all.

For adults only: 18+.

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

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Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

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