Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006
An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons & True Stories edited by Ivan Brunetti (Yale University Press)
This was an excellent year for anthologies — the inaugural release of Houghton Mifflin's annual The Best American Comics, as well as the continuation of Fantagraphics' outstanding series Mome, featuring the brightest young stars of the form — but this best of the best anthology stood out even in this year's crowd. Brilliantly edited by cartoonist Brunetti, the book features everyone who is anyone in the post-underground world of comics for adults, including up-to-the minute new work. Handsomely presented in hardcover, with both full color and black and white stories, the Anthology has something for every level of interest, but makes for a particularly fine introductory book to the many possibilities of the medium.