The Dissidents: Autocrats! Vigilantes! Communists! And Cartoonists!

Derf Backderf, author of the graphic novels Kent State and My Friend Dahmer, is an artist whose work is must-read for me. His newest book The Dissidents was recently published, and before I got my hard copy I borrowed it from my local library (LIBRARIES RULE!). It follows the life and exploits of Joe Hertle, a fictional cartoonist in the 1910s who finds himself caught up in a maelstrom of events. He is a socialist who works for a newspaper, relegated to drawing puzzle pages but yearning to be a political cartoonist. Specifically he aspires to draw for a socialist magazine called The Masses, which was a real publication that showcased some of the strongest artists and most vocal critics of the day. Joe eventually gets to work with several of the artists who actually worked on that magazine, and this book does an excellent job showcasing some of them and their works in the course of setting the context for this tale.

Joe's aspirations meet up with harsh reality as World War I rages on and the Russian Revolution gets waged. President Wilson introduced the Espionage and Sedition Acts. These acts seriously curtail what can be published, with criminal sentences for works considered anti-American. The Masses ceases publication and many of the artists either flee the country or go into hiding. As a potential radical, Joe loses his job at the newspaper as well. To make matters worse, there is also a group called the American Protective League that was acting to neutralize German sympathizers and others it deemed un-American, often violently and with the covert approval of the Bureau of Investigation (precursor to the FBI). The APL threatens Hertle's family, who are of German descent, which further complicates and troubles his life.

I am not capturing all of the nuances in this book, as there are a great many other things going on as well.  It works as a suspense tale and a historical overview. It is a snapshot of a complicated, troubled time that tries to give a clear picture of many prominent figures. I think its scope is ambitious and impressive, and I took away much from reading this book, also struck by eerie similarities to current events in the USA. 

Moreover I think that Derf's artwork might be better than ever. He definitely rose to the occasion in terms of rendering the people and art of the day, not to mention all of the buildings and architecture. I also liked his occasional use of color to liven up the otherwise black and white imagery. He is clearly passionate about the time period and these artists, and his enthusiasm in telling these tales is palpable.

All of the reviews I have read about it have been positive. Jim Falcone described it as "a solid historical fiction that I wish could’ve quit it with the fiction." Kirkus Reviews  called it "a compelling historical exploration of the bounds and consequences of graphic dissent." Kerry Vineberg wrote, "The Dissidents is essential reading for anyone interested in building a better world."

The Dissidents was published by Abrams ComicArts, and they offer more information about it here.

Murder School

I was going for a bunch of scary books this month, and what could be scarier than middle school? Despite the title, there is very little about murder in Murder School, though there is a disturbing amount of corporal punishment. This book is a memoir about Paul B. Rainey's middle school days. It begins with a fictional school reporter talking about a murder mystery but quickly turns to Rainey's tales of ephemeral friendships, trying to fit in, casual violence, and the capriciousness of parents and teachers. My own schooling took place in the USA under different circumstances, but I found a lot I could relate to and empathize with in the many episodes he shares.

The artwork is colored in a muted way, which highlights the mundane qualities of the insanity that occurs. People appear to emotionally restrained, trying to keep a stiff upper lip even in extremely strange or unusual circumstances. And the routine, resigned affect makes for an interesting effect when paired with schoolyard rumbles, bullying, and major life decisions, like parents deciding to move. 

What kicks this book beyond a good collection of remembrances is what follows the school memoir, which is a series of comics set in more contemporary times where Rainey tries to catch up with some old classmates and ends of visiting and revisiting a teacher who was one of the great terrors of his childhood. These entries really bend notions of human relations and what we determine is really important at the end of the day. I found myself transfixed by these comics overall, and I cannot recommend this book enough.

Paul B. Rainey has been making comics for decades, and has a number of graphic novels to his credit, including There's No Time Like the Present and Why Don't You Love Me?.  He speaks about his work on Murder School in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Publishers Weekly summed it up as "spiky and emotionally weighty, yet full of verve." Frank Plowright wrote, " If you thought 1980s schooling was The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller, the British reality is a jaw-dropping contrast."

Murder School was published by Drawn & Quarterly, and they offer a preview and more info about it here. 

Exquisite Corpses, Volume 1

Exquisite Corpses has been a hot series in my local comic shop, and I got the first trade paperback to see what all the hype is about. The name of series is partly a play on words on the Exquisite Corpse method of storytelling, where multiple authors collaborate in creating a narrative. Here, there are a number of writers and artists alternately making chapters to create a graphic novel.

The plot is summarized on the above title page. Every five years on Halloween, the richest families in the USA pick a small town, isolate it, and set those loose to wreak havoc in a grand competition. This volume contains the first third of the story, introducing memorable and terrible assassins like Pretty Boy, Lady Carolina, the Fox Mask Killer, and Rascal Randy as they try to murder, maim, and survive the night in (fictional) Oak Valley, Maine.

What makes this book work is that the compelling premise is introduced in short order, the combatants are unique and visually stunning, and the plot has lots of twists and surprises. The artwork is suitably dark and atmospheric, ramping up the action and horror aspects of the story. This sort of series is not my usual cup of tea, but I think it is really well done and suspenseful. 

The main writers and creators of this series are James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh. Walsh also drew the first issue. In this volume they are joined by writer Pornsak Pichetshote and artists Marianna Ignazzi and Valentine De Landro. Tynion speaks about this series and other things in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Josh Gauthier wrote that what sets this "work apart is the thematic depth and character development that emerges amidst the carnage and action and intriguing stories." Greg Burgas called it "a very keen series" as well as "quite a good comic." David Brooke called it "a blood-soaked spectacle that’s as ruthless as it is riveting."

Exquisite Corpses was published by Image Comics, and they offer a preview and more here. You can also read the entire first chapter for free here. This book is recommended for mature readers.

When I Arrived at the Castle

I have read a bunch of comics by E.M. Carroll, and they are typically very scary, creepy, and totally engrossing. They adapted the celebrated YA novel Speak into graphic novel form, and you can also enjoy an anthology of some of their best short stories, Through the Woods. They are an Eisner and an Ignatz Award winning artist, and they won one of those awards for this book, When I Arrived at the Castle.

The plot of this book is that a cat-woman has been traveling through the countryside in a rainstorm and she comes to a castle. The countess of the castle takes her in and lets her warm up, but (surprise, surprise) she is actually a vampire who is playing with her prey. 

Or is she? As we progress through the book, we learn more (maybe?) about the cat-woman, and not only has she met the vampire before, she may just be stalking her instead. Or maybe she is actually courting her?

When I Arrived at the Castle is a beguiling book because of its complex plot, which takes several turns. It takes its framework from classic fairy tales, but twists them into a different configuration. It is gorgeously illustrated, full of feeling, blood, and gore as well as gothic architecture and furniture. Reading it has its share of suspense, but it is also a very atmospheric book, and the ambience powers it just as much as the plot. After reading this very potent and disturbing tale, I was compelled to re-read it, to make more sense of what I just experienced and also try to figure out if this was a book about murder or romance. It is a frightening and a frightfully good book, haunting readers with its images and tone.

All of the reviews I have read of this book sing its praises. Andy Oliver called it "as hypnotic as it is terrifying." Shea Hennum commented on "Carroll’s incredible capacity to scare." Sara L. Jewell wrote that "what is so satisfying about Carroll’s oeuvre is its resistance to a single reading or interpretation."

This edition of When I Arrived at the Castle was published by Silver Sprocket, and they have a preview and more information about it here. 

Heaven

A new Katie Skelly book is always cause for celebration. I have read pretty much every book she's made, including My Pretty Vampire, Operation Margarine, Nurse Nurse, and The Agency. I love her art style and comics sensibility. She makes some very engaging and gorgeous books.

In Heaven, she weaves a tale about four young women who are obsessed with a strange building on the outskirts of town. It is a strip club, but sometimes it's not there. And its online reviews are bizarre.

One of them, Dolly, an ex-gymnast who is from a troubled home and the only one who is 18, not only manages to enter the building, she auditions and gets a job. Her friends pump her for information, and what she finds is some very weird goings-on. The patrons are shady, and Lover, the owner, can be violent. Plus, Dolly gets to wear a vampire cape at work, which is a big plus for her.

The story has horror elements, with vampires, blood, and murder, but it is also a coming of age story about Dolly trying to find her place in the the world. This book is relatively brief, and it conveys its messages in very economical ways. I appreciated how it does not spell things out completely and leaves the burden on the reader to pick up on visual cues. 

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Neil Raymundo wrote that it "balances horror and youthful uncertainty with confidence, delivering a graphic novel that is accessible and quietly affecting." Justin Harrison called it " a compelling, grindhousey coming-of-age tale." Tate McFadden summed it up as "short and sweet."

Skelly speaks about her comics career and inspirations for Heaven in this interview.

Heaven was published by Fantagraphics, and they offer a preview and more info here. 

Sleep

Let me start off by saying that Zander Cannon is one of my favorite comics makers, and I have reviewed almost every book he's drawn. His series Kaijumax is one of the most enjoyable comics out there, as is his book Heck. He has also drawn a few nonfiction graphic novels along the way, including Bone Sharps Cowboys and Thunder Lizards, T-Minus, and The Stuff of Life. His art style is somewhat cartoonish, but also packs a punch in terms of drama, expression, and pacing. And I love that he adds lots of small touches that reward readers with multiple re-readings of his books.

Sleep is a horror comic, about a man named Jonathan Reason. When he falls asleep and wakes up, he finds himself in strange situations and amid carnage but with no memory of what has transpired.

He begins to realize that when he goes to sleep he becomes something else, something unknown to him. That something hurts and even kills people, and he does not know who to turn to for help. Jonathan has been a good Samaritan for most of his life, and he has one good friend, Tabby, who gives him support, but he is deeply troubled by the ethical consequences of his actions. Also, he has no idea why this is happening to him, or at all really.

Two things make this book work for me. The first is that it is told so that the reader is just as in the dark as Jonathan, which ramps up the tension and anxiety and conveys the horror story in a compelling and visceral way. Second, the black and white artwork is accentuated occasionally with the color red, in the form of Jonathan's glasses usually, but over the course of the book it also comes into play with the reveal of what has been happening. As soon as I finished reading the story, I started going back and seeing what information was being left as clues along the way, a hallmark of a book with exceptional plotting and execution.

Also, I have to say that this book really sticks the landing. The final image is simultaneously revelatory, terrible, and sweet, and it has haunted me since I read the book. If you are a fan of horror, go get this book in your hands as soon as you can.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Eric Marcotte delved deeply into the philosophical aspects of Sleep and called it "a series where you will benefit from a second read-through – it is easy to miss a lot of subtle details and clues as you get caught up in the propulsive thriller aspects." Landon Kuhlmann called it "a slow-burn mystery that rewards patient readers."

Sleep was published by Image Comics, and they offer a preview and more info about it here. This book features violence, gore, and profanity, so it is recommended for readers mature enough to read about those things.

Francisco Goya "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters"

 

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring

I recently borrowed this book from my local library. Libraries rule!

Rite of Spring is a continuation of the series Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, which I read and reviewed last year. In this book we flash forward eight years into the 1990s and the advent of the internet becoming commonplace in homes. With this new technology comes different ways to communicate and share/search for information, which transforms small town living and also begins to complicate Samantha's life. It turns out that people searching for murder victims can track clues and share info on message boards, which brings Monica, a persistent and determined duck, to town to figure out what happened to her brother Daniel, who was one of Samantha's victims.

Monica's momentum is formidable, which makes it compelling to see how Samantha deals with her. This book has just as many twists and turns as the original series, with Samantha trying to stay ahead of her pursuer(s) while pretending to befriend and assist them. Secretly, she is also planning a pretty vicious response of her own. Additionally, her past is explored and the origins of her murderous ways are revealed (to the reader anyhow). 

The artwork is charmingly disturbing in how it uses the cuteness of funny animals to embody horror movie tropes. The gory bits are more shocking in their realism when juxtaposed with the general picture book animal qualities. Overall, I was impressed by how well plotted and creepy this book is, and the way it ends promises more dreadful deeds to come, which I will eagerly await.

Patrick Horvath wrote and drew this series, with lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Horvath has written and directed a number of movies, and beyond this debut series of his he also is writing the Archie in Hell mini-series. Otsmane-Elhaou has lettered books for many different publishers and also was a co-editor of PanelxPanel, an excellent, Eisner Award-winning web journal about comics. Horvath speaks about this follow-up story arc and future installments in this interview.

The reviews I have read of this book have been positive, though some point out the let-down that can come with a sequel. David Brooke wrote that it "successfully builds on the original series with a compelling new protagonist, emotional depth, and chilling visuals." Ian Keogh called it "very readable, but not as strong as the first outing." Greg Burgas wrote about having "serial killer fatigue" in general but still found it to be "a fairly worthwhile comic."

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring was published by IDW, and they offer more info about it here. This book is not for kids.