David Mazzuchelli has had an interesting career, from his early days as an artist in Marvel and DC, he worked on some of the best comics of the time in Year One (Batman) and Born Again (Daredevil) and was at the fore front of what super hero comics could offer, but seemingly this was not enough for him! He moved into the world of independent comics, and started writing and drawing his own comics which were ‘more personal’. He started his own series in Rubber Blankets which received a lot of praise at the time, and also adapted ‘City of Glass’ by Paul Auster.

Asterios Polyp is his finest work to date, and one of the best graphic novels I’ve read in recent times. It’s smart and funny, and the art is light and quirky (and pretty far removed from his earlier work). The story itself revolves around Asterios, an Architect and lecturer who gives it all up and leaves his previous life after a fire in his apartment block. We are shown flash backs to his marriage but have little idea why his wife is no longer part of the equation, but it all becomes clear in time.

The book deals with high brow American society, and covers similar ground to many Woody Allen movies, in many ways (Annie Hall or Hannah and her Sisters).  I’m surprised there isn’t a movie version of it, but maybe that will happen in time.