Asterios Polyp - David Mazzucchelli

It's hard to believe that Asterios Polyp is in fact David Mazzucchelli's first graphic novel, such is the artist's reputation as artist on the groundbreaking Batman: Year One with Frank Miller, his dazzling graphic adaptation of Paul Auster's City of Glass and his acclaimed work on his solo work on his Rubber Blankets series, but Asterios Polyp is indeed his first sustained narrative storyline as both writer and artist.

A brilliant and highly respected architect, albeit only being demonstrated on paper and in a lecturing capacity, Asterios Polyp comes to the realisation that his life and failed marriage has ultimately been unsatisfying. When his apartment building is destroyed in an accidental fire, Asterios is presented with an opportunity to start his life anew, even at this late stage, and disappears, taking up work as a car mechanic at the destination where fate takes him.

Not quite as linear as it sounds, Mazzucchelli depicts episodes from Asterios's past life in alternate chapters from his new life. The artwork is quite spectacular - clean and vibrantly dynamic, reminiscent of Will Eisner layouts but with the distinctly modern edge of Chris Ware’s sense of design (one that extends to the beautiful format of the hardcover book itself). Mazzucchelli's forte however is in his expression of emotional states, using a minimal but distinct colour schemes and geometric shapes and patterns to mark contrasts and complements in the moods and sensibilities of each of the characters in a way that only a true artist of the graphic medium can achieve. The storyline however is somewhat episodic and Asterios Polyp remains something of an enigma even by the end of the book, but this is an ambitious and impressive "debut".