Charles: I think I appreciated it a bit more because of its subject matter. While I respect and enjoy the works of these creators, the concept of art as a living thing that affects lives is so richly realized, I could not resist it. And despite the black and white milieu, the book is one of deep and thoughtful shading: no character or circumstance is as simple as it seems, and no single simple emotion can articulate ones responses to the events within. Im marking it now as one of my favorites of the year.

Though everything is shooting for second best this year, sorry but Mazzucchelli created a classic.