Cartoonist Benjamin Frisch makes his graphic novel debut this summer with THE FUN FAMILY, a subversive look at the underbelly of the All-American family through the prism of Family Circus-esque Sunday morning comic strips. Frisch presents a surreal deconstruction of modern parenting, childhood nostalgia, and good old American narcissism. The book, which goes on sale from Top Shelf Comix in bookstores on Tuesday, July 12, is eagerly anticipated and has received advance notice from cartoonists like Jessica Abel and Paul Hornschemeier.

With candy-colored artwork masking dark storytelling twists and an unexpectedly transcendent finale, THE FUN FAMILY is not the book it seems to be at first glance. As Frisch’s story opens, paternal cartoonist Robert Fun has earned a devoted following for his circle-shaped newspaper comic strip, which celebrates the wholesome American family by drawing inspiration from his real home life… but the Fun Family bears some dark secrets. As their idyllic world collapses and the kids are forced to pick up the pieces, can they escape the cycle of art imitating life imitating art?

Check out this exclusive preview from the upcoming romp of a graphic novel, THE FUN FAMILY

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Between his storytelling podcast with Jessica Abel and this graphic novel, Benjamin Frisch is having quite the busy year. Follow Benjamin on twitter and tumblr for more @BenjaminFrisch. For those of us looking forward to this upcoming adorably dark story, THE FUN FAMILY (Published by Top Shelf Productions/IDW) will be available in stores on July 12th.