Finally, the next installment of James Kochalka's epic of self-revelation, The Sketchbook Diaries, is on our shelves. This time around, there's something new:  the strips are printed in FULL COLOR, as they originally appeared online.While we do our best to check in now and then and catch up with James at American Elf, nothing beats sitting down and reading a whole year's worth -- or two -- and experiencing the ebb and flow of time at one's leisure.  It's the primary pleasure offered by this strip and it really is a one-of-a-kind treat.With American Elf, Kochalka has pioneered an entirely new approach to the daily comic strip, and, just like with all great strips, the longer you stay with it, the deeper and richer the experience gets. That may sound like a bit much considering how goofy these strips get at times, but the critical key here is the accretion that occurs. The accumulated years of this strip build layers of associations, themes, sub-plots and leitmotifs that all play off of each other and echo through the years creating a prime example of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Learn more about this fine tradition, here.