Sept/Oct/Nov 2009
Space Odyssey
Mazzucchelli's graphic novel marks the quintessence of his formal explorations
Dan Nadel
David Mazzucchelli is not a casual cartoonist. There are no accidents in his comics world; he takes every element into account, from ink and color to paper and binding—which makes the apparent spontaneity and easy naturalism of his work both beguiling and convincing. His pictorial world has expanded over the course of two decades and across a variety of publications and genres, from the noir realism of Daredevil (1984–86) and Batman: Year One (1986–87) to the fablelike tales of Rubber Blanket (1991–93) to the epic character study that is his first graphic novel, Asterios Polyp. The key to these projects lies in a set of concerns that include space, line, perception (and misperception), relationships, and everyday morality. These issues are explored by characters—whether the mysterious Big Man or the dreamy Asterios
… full text available to registered users
Access to this content requires registration to bookforum.com. Registration is free and your privacy is protected.
Already registered? Sign in here:
Forgot your password? Please click here to reset your password.
For further technical assistance, please feel free to contact us.