Warning: The following contains discussion of mature themes and body horror.
The story introduces Lena, a Panther agent investigating a series of ritualistic murders in São Paulo’s underground club scene. The killer: a mysterious, androgynous figure known only as “The Dual One.” Lena tracks the killer to a decadent mansion, only to discover that the antagonist is neither fully male nor female — but biologically both.
Rather than a simple horror villain, de Cas writes the hermaphrodite as a tragic, rage-filled creature. Rejected by society and abused by doctors as a child, the character now exacts revenge on those who fetishize or fear intersex bodies. Lena must confront not only the killer’s physical strength but her own prejudices. As Panteras 250- A Hermafrodita -Richard de Cas...
The climax involves a surreal, dreamlike fight sequence where the villain shifts between masculine and feminine presentations, using psychological manipulation. Lena ultimately spares the hermaphrodite, leading to an ambiguous ending where the two form an uneasy alliance.
In the shadowy corners of Brazilian sequential art, between the demise of the military dictatorship (1985) and the rise of mainstream manga in the 1990s, a thriving underground market produced some of the most transgressive comics ever printed in Portuguese. Among collectors of erotic, horror, and avant-garde graphic novels, certain names carry legendary weight: Richard de Cas (a pseudonym or misspelling of Richardo De Castro or Ricardo Casas, sources conflict), and a series titled "As Panteras" (The Panthers). Warning: The following contains discussion of mature themes
Issue #250, subtitled "A Hermafrodita" (The Hermaphrodite), has become a unicorn in private collections—if it exists. This article investigates the provenance, thematic content, and cultural significance of this hypothetical or hyper-rare publication.
To understand A Hermafrodita, one must first understand the world that birthed it. During the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964–1985), press censorship was severe. However, underground comic book publishers—most notably Editora Dracaena (famous for the "Calafrio" horror line) and later Editora Grafipar—found a loophole. By labeling their content as "adult" or "for collectors only," they could explore themes forbidden in mainstream media: explicit sexuality, political allegory, and grotesque violence. The story introduces Lena , a Panther agent
As Panteras was a flagship title. It followed a female-led gang of mercenaries (the "Panthers") who fought criminals, corrupt officials, and often supernatural foes. By issue #250, the series had evolved from simple crime-fighting into a surreal, psychosexual odyssey.
Given the keyword’s obscurity, forgers have attempted to create “lost issues” using AI art and aged paper. Verify authenticity by: