GRAPHIC NOVELS

An Age of License: A Travelogue

(text & illus.). Fantagraphics. 2014. 208p. ISBN 9781606997680. pap. $19.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
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OrangeReviewStarA trip to a Norwegian comics festival takes twentysomething Knisley (French Milk; the acclaimed Relish) out of her comfort zone and yet further into herself. While Relish tells of experiences well digested intellectually and artistically, this literaryish travelog captures in charming, spontaneous black-and-white outline the unscripted flood of experiences and images that traveling yields. Additionally, over 50 detailed colored drawings appear throughout, suggesting gaily hued photos inserted into letters sent home. Knisley's account juxtaposes her professional comics activities at the festival with her sightseeing escapades across Europe with friends and family, her enjoyment of local food, and a romantic adventure. Indeed, some of her loveliest "snapshots" are of the beguiling, intellectual Swede Henrik, whose different opinions lead her to conjecture regarding her own life and future.
VERDICT Knisley makes memoir comics seem both sophisticated and approachable—and beyond these, useful in helping an individual delve into and communicate personal issues. Her journey, external and internal, will resonate with older teens and twentysomethings.
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