The Troubles of Janice is both transgressive and, in the current climate, more than marginally offensive, so be warned that you will be confronted with coercive control, rampant sexism and overt racism, not to mention excessive violence. The concept of consent is almost universally absent. But this is a fantasy, and an important purpose of fantasy is as an outlet for the extremes of imagination, which do not then need to be played out in the real world.
     That’s our rationale for including Janice; you will have your own for enjoying it – or not!

The Troubles of Janice, which first appeared in French as Les malheurs de Janice, was Erich von Götha’s first foray into the erotic comic genre, set in the late eighteenth century, during the heyday of the notorious Marquis de Sade. Loosely based on de Sade’s La philosophie dans le boudoir (Philosophy in the Bedroom), the tale follows Duke Viscount Vauxhall of Nether Wallop and his female sex slave Janice.

Part 1 sees Janice released from Newgate Prison into the hands of the viscount, who is supposedly conducting an experiment in the rehabilitation of young female offenders, and proceeds, via the underground chambers of the notorious Hellfire Club, to a London mansion and the acquaintance of the black footman Horace. The artwork is relatively crude and simplistic, with pert breasts and large erect cocks centre stage throughout.

Part 2 continues Janice’s ‘rehabilitation’, introducing the younger Lord Mitchcombe, who our heroine eventually marries, and an inevitably lecherous priest. Mitchcombe is assassinated, and Janice is blackmailed out of her inheritance. The artwork improves, and full colour makes its first appearance on page 39.

Parts 3 and 4 of Janice’s troubles can be found here.

The original French editions of Janice were published by International Presse (Parts 1–3) and Bédé Adult (Part 4); the English-language editions were published by Priaprism/Last Gasp. German and Dutch editions were also produced.