What? A book about comics we never heard of? Have we not been paying attention? In this case it’s Invaders From the North, a history of Canadian comics by John Bell. Hour, review the tome:
Indeed, in addition to painting a picture of a rich and exciting Canadian comics scene in terms of the more pulpy, popular comics of yore (he focuses on the historical importance of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster, for example), Bell also draws attention to contemporary artists who deserve a spotlight. Among his focuses are Chester Brown, who forevermore expanded the definition of graphic novels with his bio-comic Louis Riel, as well as notable Montrealers like Rick Trembles, Julie Doucet and Bernie Mireault.
The book looks great, with lots of great photos (a circa 1980s Colin Upton meets Chester Brown in Vancouver is a fave).
Heidi, I can’t believe you haven’t heard of this book yet –Sequential has been hyping it since last summer! :)
http://sequential.spiltink.org/2006/06/invaders-from-north.html