#bandette

Bandette is an idiosyncratic and lively comic character who inhabits a current and colourful, if somewhat fantastic, Paris. Normally a dark-haired, fashion-conscious and fun-loving teen, Bandette also doubles up as “the world’s greatest thief”. Extraordinarily athletic with tightrope and rooftop-leaping skills, this masked female catburglar, clad in a red-haired wig, simple red tunic, black and yellow cape and black tights, is a nightmare to art collectors, the police and the underworld alike. Once a contract is put out on her by a sinister criminal organisation known as FINIS, led by unpleasant villain, Absinthe, and her turf is invaded by an older, although benign, super-thief known only as Monsieur, Bandette begins to work with the Paris police and the long-suffering Inspector Belgique, in bringing bad guys to justice. Despite the peril she frequently finds herself in, Bandette maintains a youthful, sunny disposition at all times, wearing an almost permanent broad grin. She is capable of gentle mockery of her victims, as illustrated in the page above, but is rarely violent, except in self-defence, and is never cruel. Rather, in Bandette’s zany world, everything is a source of amusement - even death threats!

It is hard to place Bandette in any comic book tradition, so to that extent, she is a genuine innovation. However, her aspect, dialogue and the stories’ setting remind me of nothing so much as the European camp “caper” movies of the sixties. There is also more than a passing resemblence to light hearted French and Belgian comic adventure heroines.

This intriguing character is the creation of a husband and wife team, writer Paul Tobin and illustrator Colleen Coover. The Bandette series began in 2012 and has so far lasted twenty one issues, the most recent coming out in 2022. I suspect this villainess/heroine will reappear given the series’ critical plaudits and the title’s enthusiastic fan base. The comic is primarily in digital format, although Dark Horse Comics have recently published the whole series.

The page featured is from Bandette #6 (2014). Also pictured is the cover to The House of the Green Mask, Bandette #10 (2015)

Bandette #18 (2019)

Bandette

by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover

Bit late, but here goes!

First, links to Part One and Part Two

11-Domino Lady/Born From Vengeance, Driven To Justice: Honestly, this is another straightforward one, exactly what it says on the tin. Alternates: Judex*+, El Sombra+, Darkman*

12-The Punisher/Veteran Justice: It will not surprise y'all to learn that quite a few Pulp Heroes picked up the skills and abilities they use in their war against crime fighting in more traditional wars. Today is for them. Alternates: Secret Agent "X", John Reese

13-Hellboy/Hero With Good Publicity: Not every Pulp Hero operates in the shadows. Quite a few of them not only do their thing out in the open, they are famous, and oft-times popular with the public. Today is for them. Mystery, Inc., The Chimera Brigade+*

14-Arsene Lupin/The Lawless Bringing Law: Many Pulp Heroes are technically on the wrong side of the law, but these take it a step further; they are, or were, professional criminals; thieves, gangsters, pirates, smugglers, hitmen...they made their living breaking the law, but that doesn't make them any less heroic or willing to do the right thing when needed. Alternates: Bandette, The Goon, Modesty Blaise