The Best American Comics" showcases the work of both established and up-and-coming contributors. Bechdelas culled the best stories from graphic novels, pamphlet comics, newspapers, magazines, mini-comics, and Web comics to create this cutting-edge collection. 352 pp. 25,000 print.

Reviews

"A rich selection of excellent graphic literature in this collection of 26 stories that span the heartbreaking to the hilarious to the just plain oddball."
--"USA Today" "This year's guest selector, Bechdel, opens with a terrific introduction that digs into the sense of awe felt by many underground vets on comicdom's recent hyperdevelopment... The picks are a typical mix of heavy hitters in top form (Chris Ware, Joe Sacco, Jaime Hernandez, Jeff Smith), younger art-comics darlings (Dash Shaw, Kevin Huizenga), and a nice smattering of talented newcomers."
--"Booklist"""Fun Home" creator Bechdel selects 27 pieces for this year's Best American anthology, and though a reader can trace her sensibility in some of the entries . . . it's a pleasure to see many odd, gritty selections . . . This year's Best American is a handsome anthology with more than a few welcome surprises."
"--Publishers Weekly""""Another annual cornucopia of graphic narrative (and comic strips). Whether comics were ever striving for cultural legitimacy, they are now struggling with it--even resisting it--though this year's collection suggests that the range of subject, tone and technique continues to expand. Perhaps no other graphic memoirist has achieved greater acclaim than this year's guest editor Bechdel . . . While much of this work is at the cutting edge of contemporary culture, there is a historical perspective to some of the more ambitious pieces . . .The extended, wordless visual epiphany in 'Winter' is stunning . . . David Lasky shows the greatest range . . . Chris Ware's inevitable selection is brilliant. The state of an art that has yet to reach stasis."
--"Kirkus Reviews"