Osvaldo Medina's FOJO, his first publication in France, is a claustrophobic graphic novel set in Portugal during the interwar period. The work, translated into French by Mylène Oliveira Contival, will be published by familiaR Éditions on October 14, 2026. The story is inspired by the "fojo," a long V-shaped trap used by hunters in northern Portugal until the 1980s to capture wolves and bears. Medina imagined a scenario where this trap is used to capture a man instead of an animal, setting the narrative in a remote village surrounded by snow and the howls of wolves.
The discovery of a body by the river leads the villagers to suspect a wolf, but the story hints at a deeper, more sinister force at work. Medina describes the village as a metaphor for Portuguese society during the interwar period, which was heavily influenced by the power of the Church, superstitions, and the rise of a nascent dictatorship. The narrative blends horror and suspense, exploring the thin line between the visible and the unseen.
Medina cites Franquin for the graphic narrative, Mike Mignola for contrast and black work, and Hiroyuki Samura for the elegance of the line. This publication marks familiaR Éditions' first purchase of rights abroad and is part of the publisher's second anniversary celebrations. The release is accompanied by a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule, aiming to support the production and distribution of the graphic novel.
New Graphic Novel FOJO Explores Interwar Portugal Through a Metaphorical Trap
AI-rewritten from original reportingHow it works
graphic-novelportugalhorrorinterwar-periodfamiliar-editionsosvaldo-medina



