What better book to lead off "Back-to-School" month than the first new book by Aaron Renier, the creator of the popular
Spiral Bound – a graphic novel that has the feel of having germinated in classroom doodles that subsequently took on lives of their own. Fans who have been wondering what he's been doing with himself since its release now at last have their answer in
The Unsinkable Walker Bean, an energetic and entertaining, 190-page, full color graphic novel that is quite the value. One can infer from the raves plastered on the back covers, by the likes of Brian
"Hugo Cabret" Selznick ("Gorgeous... Your'e going to love it."), Lane "
Stinky Cheese Man" Smith ("Makes me feel ten years old again... The guy's a bit of a mad genius") and Jeff "
Bone" Smith ("So beautiful are the drawings, that I can smell the sea salt and feel the spray... Outrageous, and wonderful!"), it appears that this book is aimed at young readers, but, clearly, as with Bone, it is a work that can be enjoyed by comics readers of all ages: it really looks good (and, we can't help but add, it looks as though Renier has gained more than a passing familiarity with the comics of Dan Zettwoch; to which we say, "Hurrah!" Zettwoch being a long time Copacetic fave).
Walker Bean contains page after page of fantastic art in the service of story telling and is sure to encourage a burgeoning of comics appreciation in many a reader. (Colored by Alec Longstreth)