Molly Crabapple is an artist long associated with the American Burlesque scene, the illustrious founder of the Dr. Sketchy's Anti-art school. This is, as far as I know, her first venture into the graphic novel, and I certainly hope there will be more. It's a wild, comical tale of intrigue, gender and burlesque in Victorian New York that seems to me to have some of the magic of Angela Carter about it. Ms. Crabapple clearly loves to draw buxom ladies in the most improbable unmentionables, and her every line has a sensual zing to it. Her irrepressible heroine simply bounces off the page in a swirl of furbelows and zaftig curves. Sexy, joyous and perfectly calculated to tickle your fancy! Encore! ( )