Tom Lynch

Houghton Mifflin's finally decided to expand its Best American Series to comics and has picked the right personnel to funnel down the choices--"American Splendor" author Harvey Pekar and Punk Planet's Anne Elizabeth Moore. Moore, whose vast knowledge of the comics world may exceed anyone else around these parts, searched the sea of illustrated literature to find more than a hundred top choices. Pekar sharpened it down to thirty, and we're left with an impressive collection from authors like Justin Hall, Rebecca Dart and Alex Robinson. Newfound talent Jesse Reklaw's "13 Cats" is unforgettable after the first page, sad and lonely, cute and innocent. R. Crumb's in there, too, plus local guys Anders Nilsen and Chris Ware. Pekar has said part of the reason he got into comics was because he wanted to show that it didn't all have to be about superheroes and villains, and this collection certainly helps prove that.

"The Best American Comics 2006" Release Party is October 19 at Hideout, 1354 West Wabansia, (773)227-4433, at 6:30pm. Pekar and Moore appear. Free.

(2006-10-17)

Also by Tom Lynch

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