Pin-up's romance with the past

For those of us fascinated by the history of American pop culture, World War II, the Cold War and the birth of Las Vegas, Pin-up, the French graphic novel created by Yann Leppentier (story) and Philippe Berthet (art) is a romantic trip down a winding memory lane, in which facts and fantasy merge seamlessly. Set in the 40s and 50s, Pin-up follows the saga of Dottie, a bright and magnetic Bettie Page-like model, struggling to carve a living out of her wits and beauty. Along the way, she comes in contact with some of the period's most iconic figures: Pilot Gary Powers, Hugh Hefner, JFK, Milton Caniff, Nixon, Sinatra, Howard Hughes... We root for Dottie to find a life of ease, or even success, while hoping she won't be found one evening in a back alley, with a bullet between her green eyes. English hard cover books edited by Blasé Publishing and available through online retailers. The French web site is worth a visit.