The Borgias

Renaissance Rome is thrown into turmoil after the death of Pope Innocent VIII leads to a struggle to seize the papal throne. The competition among the Cardinals is fierce, but only Rodrigo Borgia possesses the guile and savagery necessary to bribe, murder, and extort his way to power. Determined to form a lasting dynasty across Europe, Borgia enlists his illegitimate children as pawns in various plots to destroy foreign enemies and jealous rivals. The ensuing chaos, which includes more political machinations, bribery, torture, graphic sex, and horrific violence than an entire season of Game Of Thrones, is perfectly suited to Jodorowsky (Son of El Topo. Vol. 1: Cain), who has devoted numerous books and films to exploring how the relentless pursuit of power corrodes the human spirit. Manara (Manara Library. Vol. 2: El Gaucho and Other Stories) lives up to his reputation for intricate and stunningly sensual illustration, providing gorgeous images of decadently wealthy, breathtakingly beautiful people doing unbelievably awful things to one another.