The Unwritten #35.5

The cover by Yuko Shimizu is a quietly mesmerizing image: a young man sits at the center of a vast, tessellating pattern of open red books, each held by pairs of hands, stretching endlessly in every direction — as if stories themselves have swallowed him whole. It's a striking visual statement for a series that has always placed the power of narrative at its core, and this 2012 Vertigo issue, "Gospel Creatures," brings together writer Mike Carey, artist Peter Gross, and interior artist Gabriel Hernández Walta for what promises to be another thoughtful chapter. The unusual ".5" numbering hints at something a little outside the ordinary run, making this a compelling addition to one of Vertigo's most literary series.