Week ending March 8, 2019

Delporte, Julie. This Woman’s Work. Drawn & Quarterly. Mar. 2019. 256p. tr. from French by Aleshia Jensen & Helge Dascher. ISBN 9781770463455. pap. $24.95. Rated: Teen+. MEMOIR/LITERARY
In loosely structured, leanly written vignettes spanning 2014–16 and the author’s time living in Brussels, Helsinki, and Montréal and on Greek island of Mykonos and the Finnish island of Suomenlinna, French-born, Montréal-based Delporte (Everywhere Antennas) presents her own story and effectively the story of all women in this gorgeously drawn, immensely moving work that is part memoir and part feminist exploration of womanhood, motherhood, and creativity. Taking as her guides various artistic influencers, particularly Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson, whose Moomin characters Delporte has a special affinity for, the author shares intimate moments from her relationships, her subsisting rage for the patriarchy, coming to terms with the impacts of an early trauma, and her desire to start a family, all while wrestling with the precepts of femininity and staying true to oneself and one’s craft. Expressionistic, mostly full-page vibrantly colored pencil drawings pair beautifully with a thoughtful narrative that readers will be in no rush to finish.
VERDICT Profoundly personal, at times politically charged yet nuanced and brave, this collection is one readers will return to time and again. A wonderful addition to all graphic novels shelves.—Annalisa Pešek, Library Journal

Motter, Dean & Mark Askwith (text) & Dean Motter & others (illus.). The Prisoner: Shattered Visage. Titan Comics. Mar. 2019. 112p. ISBN 9781785862885. pap. $29.99; ebk. ISBN 9781787731776. Rated: Teen+. SF/FANTASY/MEDIA TIE-IN
Taking place 20 years after the conclusion of the titular cult classic British TV series and offering a brilliant finale to the secret war between the Prisoner, a former British intelligence officer, aka Number Six (Patrick McGoohan), and his archrival Number Two (Leo McKern), this volume finds the now-incarcerated Number Two writing a tell-all book about the “Village” and stirring up what remains of the buried intelligence program that imprisoned a handful of operatives, including Number Six. Thus, new characters are drawn into a new/old world of mystery, subterfuge, and intrigue. Incorporating old photos from the show into the narrative, this graphic novel adaptation embraces everything Prisoner and envelopes readers in the nostalgia and delirium of the original broadcast. It stands as a monumental tribute to the series but also to the actors who portrayed the two titans of the cast. This mesmerizing work of graphic fiction delivers sublime art by veteran creator Motter ( Classics Illustrated; Batman: Black & White) and immersive storytelling from both Motter and Askwith (Batman; Justice League International).
VERDICT An excellent choice for any collection.—Alger C. Newberry III, Genesee Dist. Lib., Flint, MI

Muradov, Roman.Vanishing Act. Fantagraphics. 2018. 88p. ISBN 9781683961505. $14.99. Rated: Teen+. LITERARY
This story of a party and its aftermath by award-winning author/illustrator Muradov (Jacob Bladders and the State of Art) unfolds in 13 acts told from varying perspectives and in a different style both narratively and artistically. The nonlinear and shifting time line means the pieces can be read in any order, but following the logic of the panels is difficult; the language is dense and feels like poetry, with obscure references and intense wordplay, while the art is often abstracted to the point of incomprehensibility. There’s a recurring gag about an Internet famous dog that may refer to a conversation about recurring gags in Act 2 or may actually be a character. However, Muradov’s skill as an illustrator is clear throughout, as the art is striking and gorgeously rendered, deftly weaving in and out of forms while maintaining a unique touch.
VERDICT This title might appeal to those looking for more literary and artistically abstract graphic novels, but it will leave most readers befuddled.—E.W. Genovese, Andrew Bayne Memorial Lib., Pittsburgh