Help me find an old comic book story similar to Black Swan, the movie.
January 8, 2011 10:53 AM   Subscribe

A forgotten story in a comic book. Very close to Black Swan, the movie. Drawn with mostly dark panels about a ballerina. Help me find it, it's driving me crazy.

Haven't seen the movie Black Swan yet, but each review reminds me of this short story I once read as a part of an (older) comic book. The story I remember reading was only a few pages, very dark and disturbing. I'm mostly sure I'm not crazy and have not imagined its existence, but can't discount having a bad memory.
posted by massless to Writing & Language (7 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
Do you remember if it was an American, Japanese or European comic? Color or black and white?
posted by Narrative Priorities at 11:02 AM on January 8, 2011


Painted or line art?
posted by Artw at 11:32 AM on January 8, 2011


The Gilded Bat by Edward Gorey?
posted by Malla at 12:45 PM on January 8, 2011


Similar to it how? I haven't seen Black Swan so have no idea how to parse this.
posted by iconomy at 1:12 PM on January 8, 2011


The Gilded Bat was included in Amphigorey Too. It is the story of a dancer who by lucky chance ends up being a famous ballerina, while behind the scenes her life is one of sacrifice and drudgery. Death and heartache follow her career. Told in the fabulous macabre style of Gorey, who was a devoted ballet fan.
posted by Malla at 1:25 PM on January 8, 2011


Response by poster: Do you remember if it was an American, Japanese or European comic? Color or black and white?

Color panels, and written in English. But lots of dark, blotchy areas in each panel.

The Gilded Bat by Edward Gorey?

Glad to be introduced to that one! But, sadly, not the one I'm trying to recall.

Similar to it how?

Sorry, should've been clearer. Very similar in plot. Particularly the, er..., conflict. (Both stories can be spoiled, as far as I can tell, should I mention the specifics here?)

Also, I seem to recall the ballerina story wasn't the main story in the book, I think it was an addendum to another, unrelated story.
posted by massless at 4:19 PM on January 8, 2011


Response by poster: Painted or line art?

Painterly...I think. More like Jon J. Muth than Jack Kirby.
posted by massless at 4:40 PM on January 8, 2011


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