The Abominable Mr. Seabrook

While William Seabrook (1884–1945) may not be a household name today, in the early part of the 20th century he was a massively popular travel and adventure author, known for trekking through the Sahara with a group of nomads, exploring Voodoo in Haiti (introducing the word zombie to the mainstream), and spending time with cannibal kings in Africa. He was also a self-destructive alcoholic and obsessive sadomasochist. Based on incredibly thorough research and integrating a large amount of Seabrook's own autobiographical writing, author and illustrator Ollman's offering (Happy Stories About Well-Adjusted People) presents a compelling and empathetic portrait of what might be the single most lost Lost Generation writer. Ollmann's illustrations perfectly captures the unease that drives his subject in tight nine-panel grids, and his fascination with his subject is both evident and infectious.