The founder and director of The Center for Cartoon Studies puts on his other hat to present us with his first solo graphic novel in nearly a decade, since 2001's The Golem's Mighty Swing.  That's not to say Sturm hasn't been busy, as quite the opposite is in fact the case.  In the intervening hears, in addition to founding and running CCS, he has co-authored Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules, Satchel Paige and Adventures in Cartooning.  With Market Day, however, we get a solid dose of pure unadulterated Sturm, and it's a heavy load he drops on the pages here.  There is a a weariness reflected in the tone and modulation in this work which may very well reflect his own personal exhaustion at having to shoulder so much responsibility; or not.  Regardless of the source of the mood that is evinced in the pages of this work, it is fairly clear that the inspiration for it is the world of independent comics production.  It is atavistically embodied here in the form of a nineteenth century European carpet weaver.  Implicitly woven into this atavism is a connection of the world of 19th century European Jewry to that of their descendants in 20th century America who went on to create the comic industry.  This creates a complex multi-levelled pattern right that will engage perceptive readers right at the get go.  The comics work itself is confident, poised, finely wrought and expertly paced.  We couldn't help but feel that Sturm's narrative strategies in Market Day evinced some sympathies towards Seth's latest work, especially George Sprott, but with closer attention to detail and a more nuanced sense of rhythm.  A dark, deep and challenging work that you can, and should, preview here.