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.
The keyword points to "Richard de Cas." Unfortunately, this is where history becomes murky. Brazilian comic archives suggest that Richard de Cas (possibly a pen name for Ricardo de Oliveira or a European immigrant artist) worked for several adult publishers in São Paulo during the late 1980s. His style is characterized by: Warning: The following contains discussion of mature themes
Some collectors argue that "Richard de Cas" is actually a pseudonym used by a group of artists to avoid police retaliation. Regardless, A Hermafrodita is widely attributed to him as a solo work.
The issue opens with the Panther leader, Greta (the recurring blonde anti-heroine), receiving a contract: infiltrate an abandoned clinic in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. A mysterious figure—known only as "The Hermaphrodite"—has been blackmailing local politicians. The story introduces Lena , a Panther agent
Upon arrival, Greta discovers that the villain is not a monstrous freak, but a beautiful, androgynous person named Alex, who possesses both male and female biological characteristics. However, unlike exploitative portrayals common at the time, Richard de Cas writes Alex with tragic depth. Alex was the victim of a clandestine military experiment (a thinly veiled critique of the dictatorship’s human rights abuses) designed to create a "perfect spy" who could seduce any target.
Key sequences:
The issue ends with a shocking twist: Greta herself discovers she carries a recessive genetic trait, implying that "the hermaphrodite" exists within everyone.