Britten and Brülightly

In 2009, Hannah Berry launched Britten and Brülightly with Henry Holt and Co., a single-issue comic that blends noir detective tropes with a deeply personal mystery. Berry both writes and illustrates this self-contained story, following a jaded private investigator and his magical, sentient briefcase as they unravel a case involving a suspicious suicide. The series stands out for its moody, watercolor art and its thoughtful exploration of guilt and truth, marking Berry as a distinctive voice in graphic fiction. Though brief, this debut remains a striking example of how a creator-owned work can deliver a complete, atmospheric narrative in a single volume.