Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale #4 – Prelude story complete

Domino’s origin story is completed. Madeleine gives herself up in Doll Parts: a Lovesick Tale #4. By writer/artist Luana Vecchio from Image comics.

A LOT HAS CHANGED

Previously, lots of things changed for Madeleine. Her demeanor continued to devolve into indifference. Possibly a defense mechanism kicked in. If she acted like she didn’t care then, things wouldn’t matter. But we know that’s not the case. Also, Madeleine had her first experience in the sex department.

During the encounter, Madeleine kept having gore thoughts flash through her mind. Which isn’t a surprise. We already seen how Madeleine developed a warped view on sex. Lastly, the police arrested *P1gG_* from the online message boards. However, the fallout of the recent events is still collecting heavy taxes on Madeleins’s life on multiple fronts.

*SPOLIERS FOR ISSUE 4*

LIVE GORE MESSAGE BOARD

Against all rational thought, Madeleine returned to the online message board scene. This time around, she wasn’t even hiding the fact that she was a girl. Instead, she was posting on the message boards blogs of her daily life, pictures of dead animals and explicit images of herself.

Of course, the other members of the chat expressed a wide range of opinions about Madeleine. The story about Pigg was out there. Some referred to Madeleine as Pigg’s girl, others blamed her for Pigg’s actions. Eventually, one member introduced Madeleine to Cannibal Gore & Autassassinophilia.

CANNIBAL GORE & AUTASSASSINOPHILIA

At some point, these 2 concepts were to be introduced. Since this series serves as a prequel to Luana Vecchios’s Lovesick story (Image Comics). The second half of the Lovesick series is focused on Domino’s obsession with dying. Specifically, dying and being eaten by others.

MADELEINE TURNS 18

For Madeleine’s 18 birth date, she decided to meet with Khris again. No matter how lucky Khris could’ve thought he got by hooking up with Madeleine again. It only happened because she wanted to. Finally, Madeleine began to show signs of that Domino personality.

Not quite the same Domino character from Lovesick just yet. But a young woman who knows how and when to get what she wants from men. Even if it happened just at the subconscious level. Madeleine began to have a dissociated body experience.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Even after the traumatic events with Pigg, Madeleine still thought of him quite often. Pigg ended up in a psychiatric facility. However, in a twist of fate, he was found dead in his room. Possibly from an overdose. Everyone was glad he was dead. Except for Madeleine.

She even took time to visit his tombstone. Just another sign of Madeleine’s warped notion of interpersonal relationships. The Pigg character might’ve committed heinous acts. But at some point he was her friend and she missed him dearly.

JUST DOLL PARTS

Madeleine’s self-worth deteriorated even more. The unfortunate experiences with sexuality did not stop. Her body developed from a girl to a young woman. The attention she received was more inappropriate to say the least. Even in her own home, Madeleine was expected to be “covered up” because her father was there.

Implying that Madeleine’s father would see her as a woman, not as her daughter. Because of her body parts. This unwanted attention convinced Madeleine that she was no more than her body. Because that’s what other only saw and/or wanted from her.

INVITATION SENT

Finally, Vecchio provided the full context to Jack’s tale from Lovesick #4. (See Image to the left). Against anyone’s better judgment, Madeleine posted invitations on every message board she could find. Invitations for anyone who was reading, to go find her, kidnap her and kill her in a snuf film. These invitations included her home address and even pictures of herself.

After some people started to notice Madeleine’s posts on multiple sites, they warned others to stay away. Probably because it sounded like a scam. Who in their right mind would invite other so openly? They might’ve been some eager to accept Madeleine’s invitation, but they decided to stay away.

A LAMB WALKING TO THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE

If the messages weren’t enough, Madeleine went a step further by posting a video recording of herself. She expressed in that video, how little she taught of herself. How loveless her life had been. And how ready she was to just give herself up to anyone who would take her.

If there were any doubts before, there was the decisive proof now. She fully committed to autassassinophilia. A complete disregard for her own safety. Madeleine was desperate for some sort of connection.

JACK’S HERE

Ultimately, it was Jack who accepted Madeleine’s invitation to kidnap her. Vecchio provided Madeleine’s point of view of how Jack took her away. Just like Jack said in Lovesick #4, Madeleine went along without any resistance whatsoever.

If you’ve read Lovesick, you already know the rest. How this story devolved from this moment and how it ends. Madeleine’s evolution is complete now. The incredible yet unfortunate story of Mother Domino is complete.

HOW ABOUT THE ART?

Luana Vecchio’s amazing storytelling skills are put in full display once again. The emotional baggage this story carries is immerse, uncomfortable and very challenging. I can’t count how many times Madeleine reached a breaking point. Just for the character to be sunk into a new emotional low. This series contain erotical elements and explicit scenes, of course. But this is so much more than that.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Madeleine’s story is a cautionary tale on how fragile children’s innocence can be distorted and morphed into something dark and unusual. The “Songs of Innocence and of Experience” by William Blake makes a cameo appearance in this issue. Which is a collection of poems that dramatize the naive hopes and fears that inform the lives of children and trace their transformation as the child grows into adulthood.

Not to say this series was inspired by Blake Williams work. But the parallels are there, particularly the corruption of children’s innocence by the adult world. This was a heavy subject to take on, and Luana Vecchio did it masterfully in my opinion.

If you liked Doll Parts, I highly recommend you check out Lovesick by Luana Vecchio as well (Image Comics). More heavy on the slasher-erotic elements. But just like Doll Parts, it contains a deep uncomfortable message just below the sex fantasy aesthetics. The 2022-2023 series is the chronological sequel to Doll Parts.

LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON DOLL PARTS: A LOVESICK TALE #4 IN THE COMMENTS SECTON BELOW