17 - Fantômas by Marcel Allain, Pierre Souvestre

Dive into the thrilling world of Fantômas, the infamous serial killer and thief who takes center stage in this series of 32 novels written between 1911 and 1913 by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre. This merciless character, Fantômas, is a chilling successor to LeBlancs Arsène Lupin. Five of these gripping novels were brought to life in the form of silent film serials that caught the attention of the French Surrealists, who were captivated by Fantômass raw violence and cinematic portrayal, marking these films as French Cinema milestones. The series kicks off with a brutal murder of the Marquise de Langrune, leading Inspector Juve, who is hell-bent on capturing Fantômas, to step in and crack the case. (Summary by Alan Winterrowd)