VISIONS OF GIOVANNA

[Visions of Giovannna -2003- 46 pages] Italian illustrator and sexual exhibitionist Giovanna Casotto does a nice job of placing herself under our microscopes while engaging in fairly pedestrian sexcapades (meaning there's nothing kinky or transgressive going on here) that are well drawn and realistic. Meaning everyone's endowments are realistically proportioned and not hyper-exaggerated as in most examples of this 'artform'.She takes photos of the scenarios (how does one apply for this job, is what I kept asking myself) and then almost traces them to look as lifelike as possible. It's mostly pencil and ink, with washes of muted color added, so it's not comic-booky but higher caliber embellished illustrations. There are seven scenarios staged within, all male/female or female/female, but all conjured seductively for our hetero-hijinks. Very European, very graphic, as it should be if you're gonna bother with this sort of thing (which seems quaint and archaic in today's world of gonzo cyber-porn and what's available right outside our doors), but also makes me wonder how many do read these anymore for just those exact reasons?Anyway, if you appreciate an almost classy (I know, oxymoronic) European fumetti form of erotica, this isn't half-bad, and for those that obviously do, it's rather enticing and enjoyable. Rest assured, this is no 'Tijuana bible'. (Too)short, sweet and to the point. And the raincoats are optional.

Hardcore sex comic strips, drawn with superb draughtsmanship and no little sense of humour by La Casotto. This collection of erotic short stories also includes an appendix of preliminary roughs and some studio photos showing models posing for the artist. That must be a hard job, geddit? Oh, never mind!

In una nazione l'Italia dove gli esseri umani di sesso maschile si eccitano solo guardando degli uomini semi nudi che rincorrono un pallone, la Casotto ci porta in un altro pianeta fatto di sensualita',di magia,di profumi....solo per uomini veri....