Abstract Comics - The Anthology: 1967-2009 #[nn]

Edited by Andrei Molotiu, this 2009 Fantagraphics anthology makes a compelling case that sequential art doesn't need recognizable figures or narrative to communicate something vivid and alive. The cover — with cover art by Alexey Sokolin and Warren Craghead — lays out its argument visually: a dense tangle of dark crosshatched marks bleeds into a grid of panels awash in hot pinks, warm oranges, and tan paper tones, each panel offering gestural lines and fluid shapes that feel rhythmic rather than representational. Spanning work from 1967 to 2009, this is a genuinely rewarding collection for anyone curious about where the comic panel form can go when freed from conventional storytelling.