Whew!  This is a brutal, emotionally wrenching and disturbing -- but ultimately very rewarding -- book.  Collecting the entire Vertigo mini-series, it takes that which so many rely on for emotional succor, and especially so in these anxiety ridden times -- our pets -- and then places them directly at the center of the source of so many of our anxieties -- the high-tech amoral world of the modern American military establishment.  Yet, it is a pitch perfect treatment of the theme.  There is not a single false step from start to finsh, and Quitely's art is the best of his career.  If you can stomach the grisly imagery this book dishes out, you'll find that it has a point to it and that the narrative makes a very strong case to back it up.  Although, to be honest, as with any work of fantasy that attempts to double as a polemic, there is the inevitable bit of having your cake and eating it too; but that's all part of the pleasure, guilty though it may be.

The Comics Journal #296 Yes, another year has past and it's time once again for the Best of the Year Issue.  Best picks from comics luminaries Kim Deitch, Lynda Barry, Anders Nilsen, John Porcellino and many others complement the Best of 2008 master list compiled out of the all picks.  This issues also features a great bunch of interviews:  Lynda Barry, Dash Shaw, Frank Quitely, David Hajdu and Mike Luckovich.  R.C. Harvey will fill you in on some great comics that made 2008 "a very good year."  There's nice full clor preview of the first book of C. Tyler's forthcoming book, You'll Never Know. And then there's a whopping 35 page comics section of fine Finnish comics, including an eleven-pager by the one and only Amanda Vähämäki that should whet your appetite for her soon to be released collection, The Bun Field, as well as reminding you that, if you haven't already, you need to get your hands on a copy of Drawn and Quarterly Showcase 5. 

FROM THE ARCHIVES

ONE COPY

Lynda Barry interviewed by Michael Dean

Frank Quitely interviewed by Kristi Valenti

Dash Shaw interviewed by Rob Clough

Mike Luckovich interviewed by R.C. Harvey

David Hadju interviewed by R. Fiore

Comics Feature: 35-pages of new work from Finnish comics makers including an amazing 11-page piece by Amanda Vähämäki!

plenty more!

NOTE: TCJ cover sticker removed