Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride

The quirky and the mundane sparkle in this new installment of graphic memoirs from Knisley (Age of License; Displacement). When her on-again, off-again boyfriend John turns into a keeper and then proposes, the besotted couple design their own version of "weddingzilla" that turns into a complicated and thoughtful yet rewarding adventure. Food, decor, venue, outfits, and ceremony all come to incorporate DIY touches, and little how-to vignettes encourage readers to consider similar approaches. Rain and mishaps intrude, of course, and Lucy feels a rush of love when her take-charge mom removes a dead squirrel by hand from the reception area. She also ruminates over issues of gender and feminism vs. American wedding culture, and work vs. love dilemmas. The whimsical full-color drawings interweave narration with images of wedding clichés and traditions worldwide, analysis of the couple's feelings about everything, how-to instructions, and occasional photos.