Tom Batten
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Aaron/Garney, Dysart/Ponticelli, Ellis & Co., Jensen/Case, Miura, Sturm, & Many More | Graphic Novels, April 2019
Readers unwilling to engage with disagreeable or unlikable characters need not apply; a moving noir that reminds us that no one who draws breath has nothing left to lose; breakneck action, mystery, magic, and thoughtful sf collide in this omnibus collection; this one is sure to become a favorite among history buffs and war fiction fans; this type of weird horror is where Hine excels; 300 fans looking for something with a similarly propulsive narrative may be disappointed; the first truly essential graphic novel to tackle American life since 2016
PREMIUM
Philip K. Dick
While some interesting aspects of Dick's life—in particular, his turn to Christianity
PREMIUM
Black Dahlia
Geary is an accomplished cartoonist and storyteller, and these installments in his long-running series on American crime are sure to satisfy fans of graphic novels and true crime alike.
PREMIUM
Crude
Readers might find themselves reaching for a notepad to keep track of the multiple groups and allegiances here, but a close reading is definitely rewarded.
PREMIUM
McCay
Fans looking for a straightforward biography of McCay might find themselves thrown by the far-out concepts that appear halfway through the book, but everyone else will enjoy this deeply strange, incredibly fun sf/fantasy noir with artwork that pales only to that of McCay himself.
PREMIUM
Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Schlitzie the Pinhead
Griffith is renowned for his absurdist comic strip Zippy the Pinhead, inspired by Schlitzie's iconic image, and on some level this biography seems to be an attempt at restoring some dignity to a life he's mined for his own purposes. He succeeds wonderfully.
PREMIUM
Giraffes on Horseback Salad: Salvador Dali, the Marx Brothers, and the Strangest Movie Never Made
A fascinating project inspired by obvious passion from everyone involved, but subpar illustration ultimately results in a volume that will, owing to a few text pieces describing the origins of the project and reprints of Dali's initial treatment and notes, appeal primarily to die-hard fans alone.
Stray Bullets: Sunshine & Roses
This is the latest in a series Lapham has produced on and off since 1995, and part of his brilliance as a storyteller is that every volume works as a great jumping-on point. So if you haven't already jumped on, you really should.