Description

Introduction by Neil Gaiman.

Overview: This book represents a survey of outstanding American work in the comics medium from May 2003 to December 2004. This sampler demonstrates the creative scope of contemporary comics and points out new directions for comics readers, old and new, to follow. Jaime Hernandezs vignette from Love and Rockets, and especially a somber segment from Joe Kuberts Yossel story of a boy involved in the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Neil Gaiman provides strong bookends with his introduction and part of his and artist P. Craig Russells superb Death tale from Sandman: Endless Nights. Other graphic novels sampled include Craig Thompsons fictionalized first-love memoir, Blankets (2003); Anders Nilssens coming--of-age parable, Dogs and Water (2004); and several works that originated as comic-book serials. Several of the comic-book excerpts--the fourth Fables story arc and the passages from Aaron As Serenity Rose; Eric Shanowers Iliad retelling, Age of Bronze; and Kyle Bakers stint on Plastic Man.

St. Martins Griffin, 272 pp. Remaindered. List price $19.95.