CCL Podcast #248 – Asterios Polyp HC by David Mazzucchelli (Pantheon)

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Collected Comics Library Podcast #248
27,901Kb; 29m 29s

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Every year more and more Graphic Novels are being published. One glance at any of the “Best Of” or “Holiday Shopping” lists for Comic Books of 2009 will prove that point. One book, in particular, that has popped up time and time again is Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli (Pantheon).

This book goes beyond being well told and well crafted – it’s inherently designed that way. Mazzucchelli, artist for such seminal runs on Daredevil (Marvel) and Batman: Year One (DC Comics) both with writer Frank Miller, has crafted a meticulous tale that is full or rigid line work as well as luscious curves all the while giving us a rich thought provoking story that will stay with you for some time to come.

The protagonist is Asteios Polyp (strange name, indeed), he is a middle aged professor and also an award winning architectural expert, although none of his designs have ever been built. One fateful day his New York apartment is struck by lightning and goes up in flames. Left with only three items and some cash, he relocates to the, aptly named, small, Midwestern town of Apogee. We are narrated by his twin brother, who died at birth, and are given the rise and fall and rise again of one of the most interesting and self absorbed characters from any work of fiction. Back and forth we go from Asteios’ young and troubled life, his love affairs and the meeting of his wife, Hana, and subsequent divorce to his present life in rural America and his new found appreciation for the world around him.

But this book is more then just story; it’s the actual way it is presented to us on paper – literally. Asteios’ life in the past is offered to us in tones of grays, blues and reds; while his new life is a brighter yellow. Also, each character we meet has their own type of word balloon and font. For example, Asteios’ speech is surrounded by 90 degree angled word balloons and is in all capital letters. That’s not to say that he is shouting all the time. It’s just how he is portrayed – always right, direct and to the point. On the other hand, Hana’s balloons are curved with softer lines and a more feminine font. This typography continues throughout the book as other characters are introduced. It is so poignant that the voices and inflections come of the page and into your head. But the real saga is Asterios and Hana, themselves. They are Ying and Yang. That’s even how they view each other. He, as a mechanical robot and she, as an ever flowing ghost. Yes, they love each other but almost more importantly they need each other.

As for the book, itself it comes with a dust jacket in the aforementioned colors of gray, blue and red that is more like a large cover band and the stamping on the front and back cover is of Asteios in both past and present attire. There is no afterword or sketch page of any kind, which is a bit disappointing considering the massive amount of detail that went into the book. It would have been nice if Mazzucchelli explained how this project came to be and his work process. Even an introduction by colleague, such as Frank Miller or Denny O’Neil would have been welcome. No matter, however, because this book is sure to be dissected by critics, book clubs, blogs and podcasts for years to come. It’s a wonderful look into relationships, tragedy, accomplishment and above all craftsmanship.

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli
Pantheon Graphic Novels, 2009 (a division of Random House)
344 pages, 10.4″ x 7.9″, $29.95

My thanks to Pantheon for supplying me a copy of the book.

Also on the show, I talk about the newly announced Batman and Superman – Earth One graphic novels and the NCAA Football Bowl Contest.

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

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Tags: asterios polyp, collected editions, dvid mazzucchelli, frank miller, pantheon