Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    The Butcher of Paris #3 Review
    Review

    The Butcher of Paris #3 Review

    Ingrid Lind-JahnBy Ingrid Lind-JahnFebruary 6, 20204 Mins Read

    Paris, 1944, and suspected serial killer Marcel Petiot is on the loose. Can the police track him down? Will the Nazis find him? Is he a member of the Resistance? Find out in The Butcher of Paris #3 from Dark Horse Comics!

    The Butcher of Paris #3 ReviewTHE BUTCHER OF PARIS #3

    Writer: Stephanie Phillips
    Artist: Dean Kotz
    Colorist: Jason Wordie
    Letterer: Troy Peteri
    Editor: Randy Stradley
    Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
    Cover Price: $3.99
    Release Date: February 5, 2020

    Previously in The Butcher of Paris: During the Nazi occupation of WWII, the police search the house of Doctor Petiot and discover, to their horror, a large number of dismembered bodies. On the other hand, Petiot is suspected by the Nazis to be part of the Resistance, helping people escape from Paris. The civilian authorities are not happy about the Nazis, and they aren’t exactly working together.

    CHAOS IN A DARK TIME

    The Butcher of Paris #3 is the next installment of a fascinating, if horrific, treatment of the story of an actual serial killer. It opens in the trenches of WWI. This probably does not explain the killer, but it shows some of the evidence for his being…unusual. He sits calmly in the trench, reading, amidst the dead bodies and visiting rats. Not only that, but the book he is reading belongs to someone else. But this is war, and the law of the jungle applies, Marcel explains, just prior to setting off a grenade. The injury gets him out of the trenches and into a psychiatric ward.

    In 1944 the police continue to investigate Dr. Petiot and discover his history of cruelty to animals, bringing a gun to school when he was a kid, rumors about his selling narcotics to his patients. He also has some staunch friends who deny that any of these rumors could be true. The press have a field day when his wife Georgette is brought to the station. As the Nazi officer there interrogates her, the civilian detective and his son have an interesting conversation about the many ways wives of criminals react to being questioned. What kind of woman is Georgette? Will she defend Marcel? Will she refuse to answer? And then the detective finds out the Director Jodkum is already interrogating the woman.

    Georgette is shaken up, worried about her son, but says they have made a terrible mistake about her husband. She knows he owns the house where the bodies were found, but she has only been there once. And this is where more of his supposed past comes out – billing errors, narcotics, committing fraud when he was mayor of a town. But she claims he was loved by his patients and was kind, and none of this was true. That’s the thing about reasonably successful serial killers – they can hide in plain sight by seeming like the last person anyone would suspect.

    Then it’s off to a fancy dinner party among the Nazi elite. The Allies are drawing closer, and the orders are to destroy Paris. Paris has been around for hundreds of years. It is known as the City of Light. It is an enduring symbol of the French Revolution. It would be intolerable to let it stand, but the current General has difficulty bringing himself to give the orders.

    Detective Victor-Massu discuss Georgette as they get ready to head home for dinner. Just before they reach the door, someone drops off a note signed by the elusive killer they’ve been tracking!

    ART PARAGRAPH

    The art style of The Butcher of Paris #3 fits the subject matter well. The inking is strong and energetic. Some of the details are presented as an impression of the background, enough that we get a sense of place, but not so much that it would distract from the story. This is a story all about the characters – and the hunt for Marcel Petiot, charming, wily, and arrogant. The horrors of war are presented without being too specifically graphic, but the focus is not meant to be the death; it’s all about Petiot, and we see him go from incongruously calm and at ease, to wide-eyed and mad-looking when he pulls the grenade pin.

    In the police station there’s a lot of emotion which is enhanced with some fairly broad ink strokes. Deep shadows on people, I think, give everything a bit of a noir look which, considering the subject matter, is a good fit.

    BOTTOM LINE: A FASCINATING CASE

    The Butcher of Paris #3 is an interesting case study for the true crime afficianado. The horror aspect is not that of a thriller, but solidly based on police procedural, albeit complicated by the politics of war.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    The Butcher of Paris #3

    60%
    60%
    Fascinating

    Marcel Petiot is the chief subject, but his wife remains adamant that he is innocent, and a kind man to boot.

    • Writing
      6
    • Art
      6
    • Coloring
      6
    • User Ratings (0 Votes)
      0
    Dark Horse Comics dean kotz Jason Wordie randy stradley Review Stephanie Phillips The Butcher of Paris Tory Peteri
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleSanford Greene pays homage to My Neighbor Totoro for Bitter Root variant cover
    Next Article Marvel to release Digital Director’s Cut of X-Men/Fantastic Four #1
    Ingrid Lind-Jahn

    By day, she’s a mild-mannered bureaucrat and Ms. Know-It-All. By night, she’s a dance teacher and RPG player (although admittedly not on the same nights). On the weekends, she may be found judging Magic, playing Guild Wars 2 (badly), or following other creative pursuits. Holy Lack of Copious Free Time, Batman! While she’s always wished she had teleportation as her superpower, she suspects that super-speed would be much more practical because then she’d have time to finish up those steampunk costumes she’s also working on.

    Related Posts

    Marvel United: A Pride Special Review

    Read More

    Top Five Snacks (2025 Edition)

    Read More

    Kill All Immortals returns in October

    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    9.0
    June 13, 2025

    Marvel United: A Pride Special Review

    6.3
    June 10, 2025

    X-Men #17 Review

    6.0
    June 9, 2025

    Power Rangers Prime #7 Review

    6.0
    June 8, 2025

    Retro Review: Detective Comics #20 (October 1938)

    8.0
    June 7, 2025

    Absolute Green Lantern #3 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Nathan on Wayne’s Comics Podcast #696: Interview with Creators from Concrete Arcanum
    • Austin Cowboy on FIRST LOOK: Conan the Barbarian #21
    • Frank on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • ZackaryTobias on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • derrigable on COMICS PORTAL: I Want More than Good Memories!
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT