(Inside A Black Apple): 3 Beautiful New(ish) Comic Books

The late Summer was very good to me in terms of comics. Sometimes I go months and months, and the only new comics I get my hands on is whatever new Mome is out. Maybe this is all a sign that I'm too persnickety! Anyway, these are some noteworthy, new (I think they're all from 2009) picture-stories I love.

I photographed these, rather than scanning them, 'cause although scanning does give a crisp image, I don't think you get a good idea of what the book really looks and feels like.
So!
First, the highly anticipated conclusion of Richard Sala's series Delphine, which is published in this wonderful large format Fantagraphics calls the Ignatz Series.

I'm going to go ahead and admit that I've had this for weeks and weeks and weeks, and I still haven't really read it. I do this - I "save" things, because I don't want to use them up just yet. The inevitable problem, of course, with things you're saving for a rainy day is that you can totally forget about them altogether!

But I won't let that happen with Delphine...I'm too excited about it. I love his older work and newer work alike - the evolution of Sala's inky, angular charmers is a treat to see - and this story (a retelling of Snow White) has been such a wonderful foreboding wander through the twisty, turn-y, dark forest.

I picked up this next little volume when we were in SF in July...we walked by the Little Otsu store, and I peered in (because it was night, and they were closed). There was this beautiful window installation, and I said to Josiah: "Huh! That tea-kettle looks very Lilli Carre-ish".

And when I went over to the store during normal business hours, I was so happy to see that the installation was promoting their new collaboration, Nine Ways to Disappear! I was also excited to learn recently about Kettle of Fish, Lilli's blog. To me, she's just one of the best up-and-comers in the comics world, and I'm always eager to see what she's up to next.

Last is The Bun Field by Amanda Vahamaki, which I didn't even know existed til' I picked it up last week. I just love it. There is a bear driving a car! There is so much sketchy, smeary loveliness in this little volume...her drawing style has this quality that I find fascinating. It is slyly deceptive about her skill as a draftsman (draftsperson?), and cycles in and out of sophistication and naïveté in a very interesting way.