Graphic Novels #5

This 2011 Süddeutsche Zeitung Bibliothek edition presents Joe Sacco's Palästina as part of their Graphic Novels series, and the cover immediately signals the work's distinctive documentary tone. In the foreground, a large profile portrait of a bespectacled figure — rendered in Sacco's expressive black-and-white line work — gazes thoughtfully to the side, while behind him a looser, sketchier scene depicts figures near a vehicle in what feels like a tense, everyday street encounter. The bold red backdrop anchoring the title against Sacco's meticulous ink work makes this a visually striking volume that speaks to the power of comics journalism done with real craft and care.