In I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer, Rennie Bethary has just been accepted into New York City’s most prestigious fashion school. Her designs are daring, edgy, and singular…and made of human flesh. Did we forget to mention Rennie is a serial killer who simply wants to be a fashion designer instead? More here. 

Rennie Bethary bathes in blood and creates garments from human skin. I love the way we are introduced to the protagonist. Over the first three pages the panels switch between an entrance interview and how she sourced the fabric for the design she uses as part of her portfolio.

“Unique design. Very distinctive. Very identifiable.” What a gorgeous choice of word – "identifiable" and its various contextual meanings. “But is this bold enough to get you into the most prestigious fashion school in the world?” The answer, of course, is yes.

When Rennie starts college, we meet potential friends and victims – I mean antagonists – proud representatives of the mean girls trope. Throughout the interview and first lesson a peculiar habit/mannerism is revealed then repeated until it is impossible to ignore – perhaps not the most subtle foregrounding but definitely effective – Rennie’s scratching. The more anxious Rennie becomes, the more scratching we witness with one page of the centrespread dedicated to four panels of scratching – head, wrist, chest and throat.

A more interesting and nuanced character reveal, in my opinion, is the colouring. Rennie is frequently cloaked in purple shadow – highlighting her difference, her desire to hide, and casting her as a creature of darkness. Whereas the use of yellow links the other female characters to the daylight world.

In class a challenge is set. The prize is a coveted internship. A new bolt of material is required.

By the start of issue two we know how Rennie eases her itching, both literally and metaphorically. She lounges on her sofa, feeling peaceful, her relaxed face depicted with what I would describe as a Joker-lite smile.

At the end of class the teacher, Ms Porschia, compliments Rennie’s work. In the hall her relationship with new friends develops further. Although it scares her Rennie decides to accept their invitation to hang out. Sophie is depicted as surprisingly invested in their friendship, leading my cynical mind to question her motives.

We know who Rennie is and what makes her tick, but I get wonderfully disconcerting vibes from her teacher and a sense of neediness from Sophie that I’m sure will end badly. Perhaps Sophie merely represents Rennie’s opposite – cheerful, childlike and open, unscathed by the world. She may be written that way to encourage the reader to think more deeply about Rennie – is she human or supernatural, and if human, what happened to make her like this?

As issue two comes to an end, we are treated to some impressive kills in a three-page blood fest that ends with a relaxing soak in the bath Bethary/Bathory style.

I love the cinematic use of wide and close shots throughout both issues of the comic – the simplicity of a panel with only one or two props before the lens widens again. If you enjoy horror comics and are looking for a new read this year, check out I was a Fashion School Serial Killer by Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard.

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