The Butcher of Paris #3: Making a Murderer

This newest issue gives the readers the first real look into the psyche of Dr. Marcel Petiot, The Butcher of Paris. Phillips carefully frames the narrative around those impacted by Petiot in their lives, beginning with a story of Marcel during wartime and his unconventional approach to his then-current service. Quickly, a pattern of misbehavior often seen in serial killers is presented, although it would be decades before the FBI would begin such profile construction and coin the terminology.

With this subtle narrative move, Phillips has tapped into the zeitgeist of the current national fascination with serial killers. From How to Make a Murderer to the docu-drama Mindhunters, serial killer ferver is at an all-time high and the creative team behind The Butcher of Paris are here to provide another inside look at such a killer. But where Phillips, Kotz, Wordie and Peteri differ in their narrative is the unforgiving look at the social national social conditions surrounding the rise of Petiot. Multiple world wars and countless occupations play a role in both how serious the investigation is taken to how the public receives said news, making this entry into the serial killer narrative unique.

With only two issues to go and our killer getting bolder, it seems only a matter of time before this series gets to the ugliest of moments in the story of The Butcher of Paris.