The Last Queen

Snowpiercer cocreator Jean-Marc Rochette tells the story of a bear who inspires a French sculptor’s greatest work

An epic, emotional tale, The Last Queen follows Édouard Roux, a veteran of World War I whose face is left disfigured from fighting in the trenches. Édouard takes refuge in the studio of animal sculptor Jeanne Sauvage, who gives him a new face in the form of a prosthetic mask. The pair embark on an intense romantic relationship. She introduces him to the artistic community of Montmartre, Paris, and Édouard shows her the majestic mountains of his homeland, the Vercors Massif. He tells her the story of the last queen to live in the region, a bear he saw killed as a child. In the heart of the Cirque d’Archiane valley, he reveals to Jeanne an amazing piece of art, seen by few others, which inspires her to create the masterpiece that will make her famous...

Jean-Marc Rochette is a French author, painter, and illustrator. He is one half of the creative team behind the bestselling Snowpiercer, which was adapted into a film and TV series. His graphic novel Altitude (SelfMadeHero, 2020) was nominated for an Eisner, and has won various international awards in translation. Rochette spends his time painting, drawing, writing, and climbing. With The Last Queen he celebrates subjects that are dear to him: the mountains, and the balance between man and nature