Doll was unfulfilled in her life as a coat checker of a trendy club. But when she is fired from the job and auditions to become a "mannequin" for a reclusive designer, the life of glamour she always imagined is opened before her. She soon discovers that the house of Celestine is as dysfunctional as the clothing that define the classes of this dystopian world...

Alan Moore's lost masterpiece comes to life as an incredible comic book series almost three decades later. The mid-'80s were a stunning period of brilliance for Moore, seeing him create true masterpieces including Miracleman, Watchmen - and Fashion Beast. Working with Malcolm McLaren (Sex Pistols), Moore turned his attention to a classic re-telling of a Beauty and the Beast through his unyielding and imaginative vision. At long last Fashion Beast is presented in deluxe trade paperback and hardcover collections of the complete ten issue series.

This collection has an interesting introduction by Moore himself, where he explains the origins of the movie collaboration that never was with Malcolm McLaren and how after many moons that idea was finally turned into a comic book mini series. Moore is honest about his poor memory and explains that his account of how everything transpired may not be 100% accurate.

The story, when stripped to its core, is simple enough - and is obviously loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. There are a number of neat twists including the sexuality of two of the main players. It's interesting because the origin of the story was formed in the mid-'80s when there was a whole androgynous thing going on in fashion and the music scene; a sort of crossing over of sexuality so that girls could dress like boys and boys like girls. However, the whole "is Doll male or female" question is pretty swiftly revealed.

For fans of Moore this is an essential purchase and for those that enjoy a good yarn this is well worth a look.

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Nick Smithson