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A graphic novel set in the Great Depression era New York, exploring capers at a hotel. SOUNDS GOOD, right? when it’s by Jonathan Case (Green River Killer, Dear Creature) it’s even better. The New Deal will debut from Dark Horse in September.

It’s very exciting to see Big Five publishers like Dark Horse putting out OGNs with such unusual (for comics) settings.

The New Deal harks back to the 1930s and the Depression era of New York City as Case explores class misconceptions, racial tension, and deft cat burglary through the lens of a bellhop and a maid in the Waldorf Astoria.

When a charming woman named Nina checks in to the iconic hotel with a high-society entourage, young Frank, a bellhop, and Theresa, a maid, get caught up in a series of mysterious thefts. The stakes quickly grow perilous, and the pair must rely on each other to discover the truth while navigating delicate class politics.

“It’s a fun opportunity because of the comedy caper and crime aspect. It’s seen through these characters that are on the outside of everything that’s happening in the social scenes,” Case told Comic Book Resources. “It’s a really interesting time period, set in 1935, 1936, and there’s a wealth of economic and social conflicts, and exciting things happening at that time, like women’s rights and race relations. Even though it’s a comedy and it’s played mostly for whimsical laughs, I get to explore some of those things I’m interested in.”

2 COMMENTS

  1. Dark Horse puts something like this out every once in a while. i often wonder where a project like this might do better, a place like DH or a place like First Second or Fantagraphics?

    i’d love to see some kind of numbers on how well certain projects do with certain publishers and why.

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