S í / / .
S * ..w , | | ^ < í , i / '^ ' ^ i / ^
ETERNAL
GLORY
TO YOUR
HOLINESS!
X PEACE BE ON X
W
YOU, FAITHFUL DUARTE. \ / I SENT YOU TO MAKE SOME \INQUIRIES IN THE STREETS. WHAT NEWS DO YOU BRING ME? \ HOW DO THE PEOPLE REACT? ,
\ ARE THEY HAPPY TO HAVE / \ A NEW POPE? ~
I MUST TELL YOU SOME THING YOU DO NOT KNOW, RODRIGO. TO THEM, THE DEATH OF INNOCENT VII, SIGNIFIED THE
END OF THE POWER OF THE CHURCH... A
VUL6US
PECUS!
THE FLOCK
OF FOOLS!
CERTAIN THAT NO SIN WILL BE PUNISHED, SINCE GOD HAS FORGOTTEN ROME,
THEY PERMIT EVERYTHING...
M
TAKE
THAT, YOU
FAT PIG!
A
GIVE
US YOUR
PURSE!
THE PRIES TS NO LONGER HA VE ANY AUTHORITY... r MERCY?! HAVE SHOWN ANY MERCY, YOU DAMNED PRIEST!OW!
MERCY... I
THIEF/
H A ! YES, TOAD, SOME THIEVES ARE BETTERAT STEALING THAN YOU ARE!
THE HONES T PEOPLE CAN N O T EVEN LIVE
IN PEACE... OPEN YOUR MOUTH, YOU OLD MISER! Y OPEN YOUR MOUTH,OR / OPEN YOUR v THROAT/
BEUAAARKK i f
SHE SWALLOWED HER PEARL > NECKLACE! W H A T A N DISGUSTING BITCH!RODRIGO, ALEXANDER VI... YOU CANT SAIL PAST THIS CONFRONT THE PROBLEM...
THE HOi Y VA T/CAN PLAZA IS OVERRUN W ITH PROCURERS AND
THEIR WHORES. THEY DRINK AND FORNICA TE THERE EVERY HOUR
OF THE DAY AND THE NIGHT.
HOW DISGUSTING! THEY ARE HERD OF ANIMALS! I UNDERSTAND... MY FIRST TASK IS TO RESTORE ORDER TO THE STREETS OF ROME. I AM GOING TO SHOW THEM THE EXTREME SEVERITY
OF MY JUSTICE!
A 1 \ ^ J J
i, «*»■
( AH, WELL... GUISEPPE \ BERTOLI, THE
j PLASTERER. HE IS /CONSIDERED A SAINT, / BECAUSE HE AND HIS
FAMILY MAKE STATUES k OF CHRIST AND THE - V HOLY VIRGIN... TELL ME, IS THERE A CITIZEN THAT THIS IMMODEST RABBLE STILL
RESPECTS? ME AND MY DAGGER ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU, MASTER.
ALRIGHT PAPA. YES, PAPA!
you
ARE RIGHT GUISEPPE. PIERO, THE SKIN OF OUR LORD IS MORECLEAR, ADD SOME WHITE TO YOUR COLOR! LUIGI, ADD SOME VARNISH TO THE BLOOD SO
IT SHINES, THE FAITHFUL LIKE IT WHEN THE WOUNDS ARE HORRIBLE! ANNA, MY DEAR,
ADD SOME DETAIL TO MARY’S BUST, MEN LIKE TO BE EXCITED BY
OUR HOLY MOTHER!
í 1 1
f\
1 1 Al i/NWmaOfi1
í
TX
a í
iO ' ( jV J I
/
I ^ Z a ( j II | A A A O O O U llF F !MY EYES ARE STINGING MY EYELIDS FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE MADE OF LEAD!
MAMA, PAPA GO TO BED. MY BROTHER AND I WILL
FINISH PAINTING THE CHRISTS. MIDNIGHT, ALREADY?!
AND WE HAVEN’T FINISHED! THE MONKS WILL BE HERE A T DAWN LOOKING FOR THIS URGENT
ORDER... YES, YOU GO TO BED. I WILL CLOSE THE DOOR TO THE WORK SHOP.
W H A T TOO K YOU SO LONG
DID YOU SEE A GIRL?
QUIET!
LUIGI? WHY DID YOU YELL? DON'T TELL ME YOU DAMAGED
ANOTHER STATUE
A THIEF!
HELP!
DONT KILL
A A AH !
US!
SACRILEGE!
MY
GOD!
HORROR/ IT 'S A SA TAN/C CRIMEfTHE CHURCH MUST DO SOMETHING v ABOUT THIS! , AND FOR PURE CRUELTY.. NOTHING WAS STOLEN!
GET UP MAURO, HIS HOLINESS W ANTS TO SEE YOU...
HUH?
WHAT?
COME ALONG QUICKLY NOW! WECAN NOT MAKE ALEXANDER VI W AIT! _____— . r r T .; ’ *■ t v" t ,j ^ W — ’ • iA
I'M AFRAID, NOBLE LORD! WHY WOULD THE ALL POWERFUL POPE W A N T TO
SEE A MISERABLE DOS- KEEPER LIKE ME IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NI6HT?
/ I DID NOT CALL YOU HERE TO \ BE PUNISHED, ON THE CONTRARY,
YOU DESERVE THIS INDULGENCE WHICH I'M OFFERING TO YOU. IT GUARANTEES, NO MATTER WHAT LY O U DO IN THE FUTURE, YOUR /
i p ENTRANCE INTO PARADISE! I HAVE TAKEN
GOOD CARE OF THE DOGS. I SLEEP WITH THEM, I WASH THEM, I GROOM THEM, I CLEAN
UP THEIR SHIT... WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG, SUPREME
FATHER?
ALSO, YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS PURSE, IF YOU DO ME
ONE LAST SERVICE...
/ OOOOHi
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! ASK W HAT YOU W A N T OF ME, HOLY
FATHER!
DECLARE YOURSELF GUILTY OF THE MURDERS OF GUISEPPI BERTOLI AND
HIS FAMILY! I HAVE PROMISED THE PEOPLE TO THROW YOU IN JAIL, FROM WHICH YOU W ILL ESCAPE. W ITH THIS GOLD, YOU CAN MOVE
TO ANOTHER CITY AND NEVER HAVE TO WORK FOR THE
NOT REALLY. IN ANY CASE, I SWEAR TO YOU ON THE WOUNDS OF OUR LORD... YOU WILL REPEAT
EXACTLY WHAT I’M GOING TO TELL
JUSTICE!
N
JU S TIC E! HOL Y FA THER, DELIVER THE DEVIL TO U S !
THE CHURCH H A S THE POW ER TO PU N ISH
I'VE ALREADY ADVISED HIS HOLINESS OF YOUR VISIT... IN
HIS EXTREME CHARITY, AND DESPITE BEING OFFENDED BY THE INDIFFERENCE OF ROME, v HE HAS AGREED TO A
V
HELP YOU.... WE REPRESENT ALL OF THECITIZENS OF ROME. WE HAVE COME TO IMPLORE THE POPE TO
SMITE THE GODLESS WHO HAVE MASSACRED THE BERTOLI
FAMILY... THE DEMON IS LOOSE IN OUR
I REJOICE, FAITHFUL SUBJETS, TO SEE THAT YOU FINALLY REALIZE THE
EXISTS, AND THAT NEED THE POWER OF
WE ARE AT YOUR FEET MOST HOLY FATHER. OUR VENERATED CHURCH
MUST PROTECT US FROM EVIL...
OHH! I/i
GOD IS5 TRONGER THAN SA TAN!
MIRACLE!
GUIDED BY THE HAND OF GOD, WE HAVE ALREADY DISCOVERED AND CAPTURED THE SINISTER MURDERER!
GUARDS, BRING IN THE ASSASSIN! I IT ’S TRUE! I AM NOTHING BUT A MISERABLE A S S A S S IN I . INNOCENT BLOOD
FALLS ON YOUR HEAD
MISERABLE
ASSASSIN! ^
REPUGNANT/
VADE
A M M A U J SARf ™ °s i
HOW
HORRIBLE!
YES!DAMNED CHRISTIANS!/ KILLED THE BER TOL/Sf MY MASTER SA TAN COMMANDED ME TO DO IT ! / REGRET r
'w , NOTHING! >
BY THE POWER CONFERRED IN US BY THE HOLY CHURCH,
REPEAT YOUR
CONFESSION, YOU " W f c '
MONSTEROUS / Z m d L l S
BEWARE! HIS SALIVA IS POISONOUS! GUARDS
,
\
TAKE HIM A W A Y ! KNOW WELL, HOLY FATHER... THE FAITH... ANDPEACE HAVE RETURNED! TOMORROW, IN THE COLOSSEUM,
BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF ROME, THIS DEVIL WORSHIPPER WILL RECEIVE THE PUNISHMENT WHICH HE DESERVES.
WHY HAVE YOU CHAINED ME? WHY ARE YOU BEATING ME? IT'S
A MISTAKE! I DEMAND TO SEE THE HOLY FATHER!
SILENCE; YOU SACRELEGIOUS
MONS TER!
WHAT DID YOU TELL ME, YOUR HOLINESS? YOU KNOW VERY WELL
THAT I'M INNOCENT! IT WAS YOU WHO ASKED ME TO ADMIT TO THIS
CRIME WHICH I DID NOT DO! YOU
\ SWORE BEFORE GOD TO LET ME ^ E S C A P E ! DO YOU HAVE
I V MY GOLD? ^ . os I AM HERE, POOR
WAYWARD CREATURE. DO YOU W ANT ME TO GIVE
YOU THE LAST RIGHTS?
CUT THE L Y/N6
TONGUE OUT OF
I, ALEXANDER VI, SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH, I AM YOUR BEST FRIEND, BUT I CAN ALSO BE
AN IMPLACABLE ENEMY...
QUt BENE AM A T, BENE CAS TIG A T ... A d
v YOU ARE NOW GOING TO v ASSIST WITH THE CHASTISEMENT
OF THE WORST OF THE GUILTY! A CRIMINAL WHO HAS SOLD , U SOUL TO THE DEVIL. BRING A
.FASTEN
p/SM EMBER
HIM WELL!
/
uiaai
INFECTED
DEMON!
6 6 6 6 6 6„ HHHH!
GGGGGGHHHH!
BRA VO!
BRA VO!
RELEASE
THE
6 R R R 0 W W ...
6 R R R R 0 W W !
GRRR! G R R R R
GRRR
GNIAARFF
DO N'T YOU F A IN T , YOU B A B Y !DURA LEX, SED LEX!
GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO K N O W S HOW
BRRRRHH6 6 !
THIS ENORMOUS BULL IS THE
REPUGNANT EVIL! MY BELOVED SON
CESAR, REPRESENTS OUR CHURCH,
THE ABSOLUTE GOOD! WITH
THE HELP OF GOD, HE WILL
má
CESAR!
CESAR!
CESAR! X
CESAR!
D
f
CESAR! CESAR!
CESAR! BORGIA!
^B O R G IA!
BO RGIA!
BORGIA!
j ~%/2 // m , ‘ ' ■BORGIA!
BORGIA!
BORGIA!
AD
7 MAJOREM DEI 6 LOR/AM!
WE HAVE VANQUISHED EVIL!
WE CHASTISE MERCILESSLY
THIEVES AND ASSASSINS!
ORDER REIGNS IN THE
.
STREETS AND HOMES
A
V
OF ROME!
Y &
LONG LIFE
TO OUR HOLY
FATHER, THE
^
POPE!
^
MY FATHER HAS ASKED FOR ME! I AM FINISHED WITH THIS PRISON! YOU CAN
ENJOY FREEDOM
CONVENT OF
SA/NT-S/XTE
I HOPE THE
CRUEL BEING, WHOM WE CALL GOD, GIVES
YOU LONG LIVES!
v FINISHED v
WITH JAIL, LIMITS AND THE REPUGNANT GOOD SISTERS! TO ROME
EACH DAY WILL BE A PARTY!
BEFORE SPEAKING OF MY INTELLIGENCE, LET US PREOCCUPY OURSELVES
WITH YOUR BEAUTY. TO HONOR YOU, I HAVE
THE FIRST GIFT: PENTASILEA, BLACK AS
NIGHT AND AS CALM AS A DEEP RIVER
THAT FLOWS NOISELESSLY. THIS SLAVE WILL APPLY YOUR MAKE-UP, YOUR PERFUME, COMB YOUR
HAIR AND DRESS YOU LIKE A
HMMM... I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR TONGUE BETTER THAN
A DOG DOES!
THE SECOND GIFT:
CATARINELLA, SMALL, BUT CONCENTRATED LIKE A PERFUME. SHE IS A LITTLE LACKING
IN SIZE, BUT IS GIGANTIC IN HER TALENT. v WITH HER MUSIC, SHE WILL SWEETEN
\ EVERY MOMENT OF / \ YOUR LIFE... i
AAAHL.
I AM GOING TO DIE IF I DON’T TRY IT ON RIGHT NOW! THE THIRD GIFT:A RESPLENDANT DRESS FOR A LUMINOUS \ YOUNG WOMAN... y ADORN ME IN THIS MARVEL, PENTASILEA! YOU, CATARINELA, PLAY ME THE GAYEST TUNE THAT YOU KNOW!
THE PLEASURE OF BEING DRESSED BY A
WOMAN DOES NOT SURPASS THE PLEASURE
OF BEING UNDRESSED V BY A MAN...
-AND NOW, MISS, THE FOURTH GIFT
A UNIVERSE, A DOOR FOR THE GODDESS WHO GREW UP, CLOISTERED
IN A CONVENT!** 1 INCREDIBLE! A MIRROR! THEY ARE FORBIDDEN HERE! YOUR REFLECTION BECOMES IMPATIENT, LOOK AT YOURSELF
THAT I'LL LOOK DIFFERENT THAN
HOW I IMAGINED MYSELF...
ADMIRE YOURSELF WITHOUT FEAR, MISTRESS s YOUR FACE IS MORE
\ BEAUTIFUL THAN THE 8 k BEAUTY OF YOUR 5 C U L ! ^ S i / / OHHL.. I’M REALLY AS I DREAMED I WOULD BE!
I NOW KNOW WHY GIOVANNI SFORZA W ANTS TO MARRY
ME; IT'S FOR MY B E A U T Y U ^
M AD AM , IF YOU WERE LAME, ONE-EYED AND GROSSLY F A T
HE WOULD M ARRY YOU! YOUR POLITICAL IMPORTANCE IS
PRICELESS! THE FA TE OF ROME IS IN YOUR HANDS! .
FATE OF ROME LIES BETWEEN MY
BY THE POWER OF THIS DOCUMENT, THE CHURCH PARDONS YOU FOR ALL YOUR SINS THIS
YEAR, THAT WILL BE v A THOUSAND ECUS.
INFINITE THANKS, MY LORD BISHOP. HERE
IS THE PAYMENT.
FOLLOW ME MADAM. WE HAVE TO 6 0 THROUGH SEVERAL SALONS BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR FATHER'S PRIVATE
APARTMENTS. THERE ALWAYS \ IS A CROWD OF PEOPLE
HERE... /
POUAH!
WHAT A STENCH! THE SWEAT OF BEASTS V SMELLS BETTER! >? . CHRISTIANS FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF EUROPE COME HERE ON PILGRIMA6ES
HANDS FULL OF MONEY, TO BUY THE SALVATION OF
THEIR SOULS... . MASTER, AM I MISTAKEN TO CONSIDER THE CHURCH A BIG v WHORE? . ENTER, MADAM. THEY AW AIT YOU IMPATIENTLY. I WILL
RETURN TO MY SOLITUDE.
MACHIAVELLI, YOUR SUBLIME SPIRIT INHABITS THE BODY OF
A MAN. TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES, YOU MAY s PENTASILEA FOR /
THE NIGHT... (< THAT IS SO, LUCRECIA; HERE,
THE PRIESTS, THE ALTARS, THE SACRED RITES, THE PRAYERS, EVEN HEAVEN AND GOD, THEY
ALL ARE FOR SALE!
ALEXANDER VI, IN HIS PRIVATE APARTMENTS DOES NOT RECEIVE THOSE
MY
DAUGHTER!
IT WAS ME WHO CHOSE THE RED DRESS FOR YOU
LITTLE SISTER! OH, LUCRECIA,
YOU HAVE BECOME A WOMAN! YOU'RE EVEN
MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOUR
MOTHER! ¿ S S
LET ME BY, YOU PRETENTIOUS MORON! DON'T BE SO MEAN CESAR!
FA THER! M Y BRO THERS!
I REALLY MISSED YOU!
LE T 6 0 v LITTLE FAG! YOU THINK OF HIM / yoU'RE MORE IMPORTANT C ESAR! / THAN I AM! YOU DIDN'T
DESERVE GETTING \ THE DUCHY OF V 1 V 6ANDIA! ,, ENOUGH.! CHILDREN, STOP THIS! JEALOUS! YOUR CLOTHES STINK! YOU W ANT TO BE IN MY PLACE! LET GO, GIOVANNI!
STOP /
77
y o u r r i v a l r y is FOOLISH! MY HEART IS BIG ENOUGHTO LOVE ALL OF YOU THE SAME \ W AY! WE ARE A FAMILY! A !
HOLY FAMILY! / CESAR, YOU'RE THE STRONGEST BREAK THIS BARNCH!
S IT DOWN!
OR/
WILL EXCOMMUNtCA TE ALL OF YOU! NOW, BREAK THIS BUNDLE OF FIVE BRANCHES! YES, VERY EASY, FATHER. WHAT IS YOUR POINT?OOF!
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
DO YOU
UNDERSTAND, MY CHILDREN? ANYONE CAN VANQUISH ONE BORGIA. NO ONE CAN
VANQUISH FIVE!
YOU'VE TOLD US THIS SINCE WE WERE LITTLE
CHILDREN, PAPA... THE STRENGTH OF A FAMILY
IS LIKE THAT OF AN ARMY, IT RESTS IN COHESION
AND UNITY...
IT'S TRUE; THOSE WORDS ARE CARVED INTO
MY MEMORY... THE CLOSENESS OF BLOOD
IS THE MOST SACRED LINK WHICH BINDS HUMANS TO GETHER. MY BLOOD RUNS IN YOUR VEINS...
LISTEN WHEN I
INTO MINE AS
WELL...
SOMEDAY, I WILL WANT ALL OF YOU
TO HELP
...TO EXTEND THE POWER OF THE CHURCH
OF MY CHURCH...
...TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE
WORLD!
I AM PROUD THAT YOUR MEMORIES ARE FAITHFUL TO MY TEACHINGS, BECAUSE WE FACE A GREAT DANGER.
OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DECIDE HERE TODAY...
ALL THE RULERS IN THE WORLD HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT I REPRESENT CHRIST
AND ARE COMING TO V CONSULT WITH ME... ^
ALL, EXCEPT FERRANTI OF NAPLES, WHO PLOTS WITH CHARLES VIII TO HEAD A NEW CONCLAVE BENT ON DETHRONING ME AND ACCUSING ME
OF HERESY, AND PUTTING IN MY PLACE CARDINAL DELA ROVERE!
BUT, IT'S NOT JUST FRANCE AND NAPLES THAT MENACE US. THERE IS ALSO SPAIN,
SEDUCED BY THE LUST FOR POWER OF FERNAND OF ARAGON... FOR US TO SURVIVE
THEIR DEMAND FOR AN
COUNCIL, WE HAVE TO MAKE
TO DO ALL OF THIS, MY
CHILDREN, I NEED YOUR UNCONDITIONAL ASSISTANCE... REMEMBER, WE
ARE THREATENED WITH EXILE AND RUIN...
YEARS! I EVEN HAVE SOME PUBIC HAIR. I REALLY WANT
TO MOUNT A WOMAN! JOFFRE, YOU MAY BE STILL A CHILD, BUT YOU
WILL MARRY SANCHA, THE DAUGHTER OF ALPHONSE
GIOVANNI, YOU ARE GOING TO RETURN TO SPAIN, THE LAND OF OUR ANCESTORS, TO MARRY THE
PRINCESS MARIA ENRIQUEZ, THE COUSIN OF FERNAND OF ARAGON...
WELL, EVEN IF SEX WITH WOMEN DISGUSTS ME, I WILL DO AS YOU ORDER ME
TO, FATHER!
AND YOU, LUCRECIA, LIGHT OF MY LIFE, YOU WILL MARRY GIOVANNI SFORZA, THE DUKE OF PESARO, AND
NEPHEW TO LUDOVIC, THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN MILAN... j k
I’M VERY READY TO OBEY YOU FATHER, BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM...
LUCRECIA 5 PROBLEM CAN WAIT!
j MINE SEEMS MORE IMPORTANT; YOU ARE MARRYING
EVERYONE EXCEPT ME! ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY THAT I AM NOT NECESSARY FOR WHAT
CESAR, MY SON, YOU ARE MY PRINCIPAL ASSET! I AM GOING TO PROCLAIM YOU THE CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP. UPON MY DEATH, YOU WILL BECOME THE POPE. IT DEPENDS ON YOU TO SEE THAT THE HOLY CHURCH
FATHER, RELIGION BARELY INTERESTS ME.
I W ANT TO DO BATTLE WAGE WAR, LEAD AN
ARMY... AUT CESAR,
V AUT NIHIL!
THE POPE IS THE SUPREME HEAD OF ALL
THE ARMIES. YOU CAN HELP ME ELIMINATE THE i COMMON MERCENARIES, THOSE SWISS BANDITS//" ARE READY TO BETRAY US FOR A HANDFUL / ] / /
OF GOLD. WE WILL CREATE AN ARMY OF FAITHFUL ROMANS...
NOW, MY BEAUTY WHAT IS YOUR
PROBLEM?
I AM AFRAID THAT MY MARRIAGE MIGHT BE A FAILURE.
I'M NOT AS EXPERIENCED AS MY FRIEND JULIA... I DON'T KNOW \ WHAT TO DO TO MAKE A
'¡¡h ^ MAN HAPPY IN BED... IF THAT’S
SO, IT SUITS ME!
AND YOU CESAR, YOU HAVE ALREADY
KNOWN SOME WOMEN? I HAVE, FATHER. AND... YOU SATISFIED THEM? ALL OF THEM HAVE ASKED ME TO DO THEM THE HONOR
TELL ME... WOULD YOU NOT DO THE SAME
WITH YOUR SISTER?
^ HOW COULD YOU ASK THAT OF ME?! DOES IT NOT DISTURB YOU TO CONDEMN
MY SOUL TO THE ETERNAL FLAMES OF HELL?
THE PHARAOHS OF EGYPT SLEPT WITH THEIR SISTERS
TO PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE ROYAL BLOOD...
IS THAT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR YOU TO PROPOSE THIS TO US?
MY GIRL, THE FIRST MAN WHO SLEEPS WITH A WOMAN IS THE MASTER OF HER HEART AND HER ACTIONS. I DON'T W ANT TO
GIVE THE KEYS TO ROME TO A STRANGER. IT IS FORTHIS REASON I ASK YOU TO
THE LOYALTY OF FAMILY COMES BEFORE ALL THINGS. WE HAVE TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AND NEVER RENOUNCE THE BONDS WHICH UNITE
US. SHOULD WE NOT DO THIS, WE WILL BE DESTROYED. IF YOU ARE TRULY BORGIAS,
IS IT TRUE? I AM MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ALL OF THE V OTHERS? , / YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN THAT I HAVE EVER v SEEN!
AND YOU, WITH YOUR VIRILE BODY, MUSCLED
LIKE AN OLYMPIAN, . EMBRACE ME!
I BLESS you,
f IN THE NAME OF \ THE FATHER, THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. FORGET THE REST OF THE WORLD, UNITE YOUR BODIES V AND UNITE YOUR >
SOULS...
YOU ARE MINE FOREVER... PROMISE ME THAT YOU l WILL LET NO ONE GIVE [ YOU MORE PLEASURE I THAN I AM GOING TO / (K GIVE YOU... ¿ Z
/ \ I SWEAR; I WILL NEVER LOVE ANYONE MORE THAN I LOVE
YOU A T THIS \ MOMENT.
- — / HAVE SEEN A N IMMENSE ARM Y OF KNIGHTS CROSS THE HEA VENS AMID f
A TERRIBLE CLAMOR OF DRUMS AND V TRUMPETS! COME! COME QUICKL Y! SAVONAROLE IS HAVING SOME NEW ^ VISIONS!
FL ORENCE
/ HA VE SEEN THE IMAGE OF S A IN T ANNE CRYING TEARS OF BLOOD! HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF SOD THEY WILL RAPE ME! WE ARE MENACED BY THE BLACK PLAGUE! INVASION BY FRANCE! .DEVASTATIO N, PILLAGE * \ FIRES AND DEATH! „ /v , OHHHH! m e Z . t . IT IS DIVINE PUNISHMENT!
SAVE US
SAVONAROLE!
AND ALL THESE ODIOUS V
OMENS WILL COME TO
cuamp-PASS BECAUSE,,,
,,
ALEXANDER V I B O U G H T
VOTES TO G A IN THE ' - V
PAPAL THRONE! CUT \
OFF HIS / W HAT GREED! TONSURE, AND HIS HEAD!
THEY SAY TOO THIS DEGENERATE SLEEPS
WITH CHILDREN, GOATS, CHICKENS AND
A MARE HE BATHES IN MILK AND PERFUMES
WITH INCENSE!
THIS DISEASED POPE FOR N IC A TES W IT H ALL THE W OM EN IN R O M E! A T N IG H T , DISGUISED A S A DEVIL B R E A S TS A N D VA G IN A S SLIDE IN T O H IS BED! / DEMAND THA T FLORENCE IN VA D ES R O M E A N D D ESTR O YS THIS DIABOLICAL POPE! L E T THE HOL Y FR IA R GOVERN k* U S!____ D O W N W IT H THE M E D IC IS ! W AR W ITH THE BORGIAS!
YOUR HOLINESS, WE ARE THREATENED BY FLORENCE. DON'T WORRY, ^ MACHIAVELI. LUCRECIA'S MARRIAGE TO SFORZA IS GOING TO GIVE US THE POWER
WE NEED TO BURN THE LIAR... LAURENT THE MAGNIFICENT KNEW
HOW TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM SAVONAROLE, BUT HIS SUCCESSOR, THE YOUNG PETER MEDICI, IS WEAK.
THIS DOMINICAN HAS BECOME A .DANGEROUS LIAR WHO _ CA AIMS TO SPEAK
' ^ FOR GOD. ____
THAT SINNER IS PREGNANT WITH THE
CHILD OF SFORZA'S SQUIRE. DON'T WORRY DUARTE I HAVE SENT A REMARKABLE AMBASSADOR
TO ANNUL THEIR MARRIAGE! BUT, MOST HOLY FATHER,
WHY ORGANIZE THIS CEREMONY WHEN GIOVANNI SFORZA IS
MARRIED TO MADELIENE DE GONZAGUE? SHE IS EIGHT
MONTHS PREGNANT! >
A THING MY FUTURE SO N-IN-LAW WILL ACCEPT WITH PLEASURE, THOUGH NOT FOR HIS LOVE OF LUCRECIA. HE, LIKE
MY SON GIOVANNI, HAS NO TASTE FOR WOMEN, BUT HE DOES HAVE A TASTE \ FOR HER DOWRY OF 3 0 ,0 0 0 GOLD. ,
PESARO
l e s s n n t w r n mf f r r i >
m n \ n m
c * * * f » n m w m j w i z HERE IS THE / LANCE YOU ASKEDFOR, MICHELETTO! AS USUAL, MADELEINE IS DOWN
THERE, IN THE STABLE, BEING DIVERTED BY v. HER SERVANT... /
GO ON! GO ON, GUIDO! I'M YOUR
BITCH!
THERE!
TAKE THA T WHORE!
THA T'S IT
I'M CUMMINS/
BARK! BITCH!
WOOF!
WOOF!
AAAGH!
THIS WAS YOUR LAST RUT!DAMN YOU!
TAKE IT, LORD SFORZA! YOU CAN NOW ANNOUNCE THAT
YOUR WIFE AND HER CHILD DIED WHILE SHE WAS GIVING
PALACE O F S A N T A M A R IA IN PO R T/C U
THE DUKE OF PESARO'S WELCOMING PROCESSION IS ALWAYS ON TIME. MY DAUGHTER HAS TO GET TO KNOW HIM. WHY IS SHE LATE NOW? THE MOB IS
IMPATIENT! THEY W ANT TO SEE IT V ALL AS MUCH AS THEY WANT
TO SEE THE DUKE!
HOPEFULLY SFORZA IS NOT A TRUE MAN... I'LL KILL HIM IF HE TOUCHES
MY SISTER!
HMMM... IF WE BELIEVE THE GOSSIP, THEY’LL
FORCE HIM TO MAKE A SPEECH! (Cy£ ARRIVED IN TIME, DIDN'T I? • Ä ' . » I
LONG LIVE THE MARRIAGE!
LUCRECIA!
GIRL? YOUR BEAUTY YOU HEAR, MYHAS MADE YOU MISTRESS OF v THE ROMANS! >
DON'T TRY TO PLAY TO MY VANITY! WHY DO YOU W A N T ME TO TAKE THIS
PATH? WHETHER IT PLEASES ME OR NOT,
I'M PROMISED TO HIM. THE FACT
TH AT I HATE HIM
CHANGES NOTHING.
YOU MISTAKE ME, I COULD NEVER BE HAPPY, IF I KNEW THAT
MY DAUGHTER WAS UNHAPPY!
HYPOCRYTEL. EVEN IF I WAS DYING
OF THE PLAGUE, YOU WOULD FORCE ME TO DO THIS... THERE! FLUTES AND TRUMPETS FOR THE FAGGOTS!
LOOK! THERE ARE THE EMISSARIES FROM MILAN, FLORENCE, VENICE, NAPLES, FROM FRANCE, SPAIN... AND
ALL THE NOTABLES W OF ROME! W HAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, MY ^ SISTER? EVEN IF HE IS YOUR ' HUSBAND, REFUSE TO HMMM... \ MAKE LOVE TO HIM. KEEP N O W ,
N YOURSELF FOR ME. I'LL / T H A T I \ V ALW AYS BE NEAR. 1 FIND VERY
t EXCITING!
OH, THAT HE'S FOURTY YEARS OLD, SHORT, FAT AND ILL-
MANNERED! HE DISGUSTS • \ ME! HIS SOLDIERS STINK / O v O F ROTTEN CHEESE! / YOU’RE GETTING
MARRIED FOR THE GOOD OF THE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH; YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIM...
VATICAN CITY, THE
STABLE COURTYARD.
GET UP!
WHAT HAS HAPPENED, FATHER?LOVE HAS MADE YOU DEAF? THE DUKE’S SOLDIERS HAVE LOST
THEIR HEADS! THEY W ANT THE WEDDING CALLED OFF! IF THEY
AREN'T STOPPED SOON, THE CITY WILL BE IN RUINS! DO
SOMETHING CESAR!
~ GIOVANNI, ^
GO CALM YOUR MEN! THE BRAWLING YOUR GORILLAS ARE DOING IS WELL BEYOND
CELEBRATING! PROVE TO ME THAT YOU CAN v CONTROL THEM! /
FAITHFUL SOLDIERS, CEASE THIS FOOLISHNESS! IT ’S TIME FOR YOU
TO BE IN BED! y
SO, COWARD,
you
DARE TO GIVE US ORDERS? YOU FORGET HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE RAMMED MY \ COCK IN YOUR /
THROAT? . <
A LORD DOES NOT LET HIMSELF BE HUMILIATED! LET ME HANDLE THIS. f REALLY, YOUR LORDSHIP... DO YOU W ANT ME TO \ KISS YOUR \ ASS? SILENCE; INSOLENT ) MORON/ I AM CESAR / BORGIA! / S i LET'S NOT \ UPSET THEM...
THEY ARE TOTALLY DRUNK... LET THEM DRINK UNTIL THEY PASS
OUT... THAT WONT TAKE LONG... X
IF AN ASS HAS TO BE KISSED
IT WILL BE MINE!
YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE STRONGER THAN I AM? THAT IS OBVIOUS, MY LORD DWARF! IT'S YOU WHO
WILL BE PUTTING YOUR LIPS ON MY
you...
ARE... THE... LORD.. BORGIAyou
HAVE VANQUISHED ME, MY LORD! I CAN DO NO MORE THAN GO TO MYKNEES AND KISS
FO R G IV E US, OH; CESA R f
OUFU REALLY THOUGHT THAT HERCULE WAS GOING
TO KILL US, OR WHO KNOWS MAYBE EVEN
VIOLATE US... HMMM... GOOD NIGHT, LUCRECIA! GOOD NIGHT, YOUR HOLINESS! GIOVANNI SFORZA IS A COWARD! GESAR, HE,
IS A TRUE HERO!
HE IS A
BORGIA!
SAINT PETER'S
PAPAL PALACE.
% à W f i * ñ ñ t* %
BEFORE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
AND ALEXANDER VI, HIS VICCAR, W HAT
DO YOU DESIRE?
MY DESIRE... I DESIRE TO HAVE
THIS WOMAN AS v MY WIFE, v
LUCRECIA, THIS SWORD IS TO REMIND YOU OF THE
DANGER AN UNFAITHFUL WIFE WILL FACE!
I HAVE KNOWN, AND WILL KNOW, NO OTHER MAN THAN
MY HUSBAND!
HE, HE!... MY DEAR JULIEN DELA ROVERE, HOW FAITHFUL DO YOU THINK
THIS CHILD WILL
BAH! SHE COMES FROM A LINE OF SPANISH BANDITS, AND IS THE
OF A WHORE... SHE CAN BE NOTHING OTHER THAN VICIOUS!
TODAY, SHE'S DRESSED LIKE A PRINCESS, TOMORROW SHE'LL
GIOVANNI SFORZA, IT FALLS TO A MAN TO SATISFY HIS I SWEAR TO DO MY CONJUGAL DUTY REGULARLY!
HE, HE, HE!
DO YOU THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT HIS SABER INTO HER SCABBARD? r WHEN WE SEE PIGS FLY! SFORZA
IS A STARVING FAGGOT! HIS ASS
HAS SEEN THE PASSAGE OF MORE COCKS THAN WATER
HAS FLOWED IN THE TIBER!
I ■ r i
THIS WEDDING RING IS THE SYMBOL OF THIS IMPERISHABLE UNION... LONG LIVE THE MARRIAGE!
LIKE ALL THE SPANISH, HER ASS HAS GOT TO BE
COVERED W ITH HAIR! LONG LIVE HE 5 GIOVANNI ALMOST SFORZA! / A " < DWARF... W HAT WILD EYES... LONG LIVE LUCRECIA BORGIA! I SHE HAS NO BUST!
NOT A T ALL, LORD... HIS HOLINESS HAS DECIDED THAT THE YOUNG LUCRECIA WILL REMAIN HERE FOR
YEARS, TO MATURE.. YES, AND I'M THE ONE WHO WILL HELP HER
DO THAT, NO DOUBT! HOW SAD, OUR
SISTER IS GOING TO BE PENNED UP IN PESARO. THAT WILL BE HARD TO ACCEPT! ^ I VAIN PIG!
YOU THINK THAT YOUR COCK IS THE
CENTER OF THE WORLD?...
TO JOY! ^
f TO ENERGY! EAT
f AND DRINK, DON'T HOLD BACK! LET THIS
Y BANQUET NEVER BE/ FORGOTTEN! A I
THAT'S IT LITTLE WHORES! DIVEST ME OF THIS DAMNED CASSOCK! / SHIT ON GOD! / W ANT TO BE A SOLDIER, NO T A ^ ^ A R D IN A L !
YOU EMIT ODORS OF HORSE, FISH AND CHEAP WINE... COULD YOU BE ANY LESS ROMANTIC,
MY HUSBAND...
HMMM.
A fA fM .
SOON, EUROPE W ILL NOT BE ENOUGH! IT IS PROPER FOR ROME TO
RULE THE ENTIRE ^ WORLDI ^
I AM SURE I HAVE ^ THE POWER NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A GIGANTIC TASK! I WAS NOT NAMED CESAR
FOR NOTHING! WHAT JULIUS CESAR DID ONCE, I CAN
DO AGAIN!
THE TOAD TRIED TO INFLATE HIMSELF AS BIG AS A COW... AND THEN HE
EXPLODED... YOU W ILL BE A GREAT CONQUEROR, ^ W ITH NO ARMY... A
' s ' WHAT ARE YOU
/ INSINUATING, SNAKE? N THAT LUCRECIA'S HUSBAND W ONT CONVINCE HIS UNCLE LUDIVIC LE MARRE TO GIVE X ME SOLIDIERS OR
ENOUGH! ITALY IS DIVIDED TOO MUCH FOR ME TO PUT UP W ITH INTERNAL FI6HTIN6! TOAST
LIKE GOOD BROTHERS, THE ALLIANCE OF ROME
^ AND MILAN! ^ - <
TO THE ALLIANCE
OF ROME AND MILAN!
A MOM ENT!
MY NAME IS LUCRECIA BORGIA IT IS NOT ROME! I DRINK TO \ THE ALLIANCE OF GIOVANNI
--V SFORZA AND LUCRECIA x
HISTORY BORGIA! ■
-MOCKS THE UNION OF
A COCK AND A N A S S ! WE) DO N O T CELEBRATE THE
UNION OF A M AN AND ^
A WOMAN; BUT THAT j £ m W OF TWO CITIES! ^
- -
tch... m m ' "BROTHER
V
IS JEALOUS! j rDON'T BE SO S TUP/D, GIOVANNI! ENGLAND AND FRANCE EXIST, THEY ARE ALLIES! A N ITAL Y DOESN'T
EXIST YET; THERE'S ROME,
AND FARTHER NAPLES, STILL FARTHER MILAN AND VENICE AND THE RES T! EACH S TA TE
HAS IT 'S OWN LITTLE INTERESTS! WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED
you SEE?
DRINK TO ROME
AND MILAN!
IT WILL BE NECESSARY, MY LORD, FOR ROME AND MILAN TO BE UNIFIED, SO THEY MAY INVADE THE OTHER STATES. A NATIONAL UNITY
WILL BE THE RESULT AND THAT WILL JUSTIFY THE M E T H O D S ^
HAVE I MISSED SOMETHING?
THIS NIG HT IS YOURS,
LUCRECIA! LE T'S GET T O YOUR DEFLO W ERATION CEREMONY
HUH?
WHA 77 D... DE... DEFLOWER?/?
THE NUPTIAL COITUS HAS TO BE PUBLIC. IT'S AN ANCIENT CUSTOM IN ROME WHICH
WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE VISIGOTHS. THE GUESTS HAVE TO WITNESS THE
PENETRATION AND APPLAUD
HOW HORRID!
BLOOD...
BUT...
THE GREAT MOMENT
HAS COME! EVERYONE,
TO THE NUPTIAL
CHAMBER!
TO BED! TO BED!
COMPLETELY NUDE!
HEAR ME, ALL
WHO LIVE IN FEAR OF GOD; THE HYMEN OF THIS WOMAN, PUBLICLY TAKEN, WILL BE THE IRREFUTABLE PROOF OF THE LEGITIMACY . OF THIS MARRIAGE... , / PENTASILEA, J ; \ CATARINELA, COME M UNDRESS ME! D E A R " ^ ---GIOVANNI,YOU CAN HAVE THE PLEASURE
OF HELPING ME! y S M P B f i WITH JOY DUKE! YOU MUST BE TOTALLY NUDE, MISTRESS.
I'M GOING TO WEAR THE NECKLACE AND THE EAR RINGS, I W ILL FEEL LESS HUMILIATED WHEN THEY FIND OUT I'M V NOT A VIRGIN. — — > { H T i i 1 ^ 1 4 } i ; ) 1 A . i t Z ) / 1 / >j * 1 1 m 1 1 \ i l l / ^ I f l Ï 4 A NO ONE WILL MOCK MY MISTRESS! YOU HAVE
A HYMEN... AND, YOU WILL BLEED!
IT ’S A PIGEON’S EGG, FULL OF BLOOD. HIDE IT BETWEEN YOU THIGHS, AND
WITH A SCREAM OF PAIN, BREAK IT!
COURAGE, MY FRIEND... IT ’S ENOUGH FOR YOU TO MOUNT MY SISTER... .IT 'S NOT A QUESTION \ OF PENETRATION...
v k l ’M GOING TO PUT V ^ Y O U IN SHAPE...
BEUH... BHUU... BHEEUU... I'LL NEVER GET HARD!
A WOMAN’S GROTTO DISGUSTS ME!
NONE MAY SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER'S BEAUTY
IS NOT A GIFT FROM GOD!
I NEVER
THOUGHT THA T
IT WOULD BE
SO BIG!
A
AMAZING!
HE'S AS HARD AS A ROCK! YOU’RE RIGHT, HE WILL GO IN TO T H A T SLU T LIKE A KNIFE ^ IN TO BU TTER ! ^HE'S GOING TO
TEAR HER! y
O O O F ! YOU WEIGH A TON! YOU'RE ALL FAT! I FEEL LIKE VOMITTING!
DESTROY
THE W ALL!
Jm-MOUNT THE I
MARE!
i
PUT YOUR
BIRD IN THE
WET CAGE!
y BREAK H I I D O W N THE W !A . DIK E! O W W W !YOU HUR T
ME!
THIS M AR K SHO W S ALL T H A T ULYSSES HAS TRULY PLUNGED HIS SW ORD IN TO
PENELOPE'S BR EA S T!
I DECLARE
CONSUMATED
THIS HOLY
MARRIAGE!
M s
DAMN YOU! LET ME PASS, IDIOT! THIS IS URGENT! IF YOU DON'T SHOULDER YOUR LANCE,
I WILL HAVE YOU ^ . GUTTED! ^ 4 HAL T THERE,
M Y LORD! AH, DUARTE... YOU ABUSE
OUR OLD FRIENDSHIP... TONIGHT I AM TOO DRUNK... MY HEAD ACHES... I GAVE ORDERS NOT
TO BE DISTURBED...
RODRIGO, LISTEN TO ME
PLEASE...
THE KING OF FRANCE HAS RAISED A COLOSSAL ARMY. HE PLANS ON INVADING ITALY, AND
USING NAPLES AS A FORWARD BASE FOR A FUTURE CRUSADE. HE IS COUNTING ON HELP FROM
THE ENGLISH, SPANISH AND
ALSO, JULIEN DELA ROVERE HAS' S H IT ! IF MILAN FALLS, SENT AN ASTROLOGIST TO THEN LUCRECIA’S MARRIAGE CHARLES VIII, TO CONVINCE HIM / j q SFORZA IS USELESS! IT
THAT HE, AND NOT YOU, ) WILL HAVE TO BE ANNULLED, SHOULD BE THE POPE. / AND HER REMARRIED TO
V /M in /»nun/»., .e . SOMEONE MORE
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE AN ALLIANCE WITH NAPLES AND ARAGON! THAT WILL CLEAR OUT THE SWISS MERCENARIES AND
CREATE A MORE LOYAL ARMY! THEN FIND A STRATEGY TO STOP THIS BASTARD
JULIEN DELA ROVERE FROM DEPOSING ^ ME FROM MY PAPAL THRONE!
f p p i B Y THE M IL K O F THE VIR G IN M A R Y, CAN I N O T HA VE ONE DAY; FOR A L IT T L E R E S T ? !! .
COMING NEXT, BOOK 3: THE PYRE OF FLAMES.
ISBN 2-226- 16678-5 61 0923 5
13,90 € T T C