Empire State

In Empire State, cartoonist Jason Shiga crafts a single, standalone graphic novel for Harry N. Abrams that blends a seemingly simple road trip with a labyrinthine, mind-bending puzzle. First published in 2011, this comic follows a young man's journey from California to the Empire State Building, only to have his quest for a lost love unravel into a clever, structurally inventive narrative. Shiga's distinctive, clean-lined art and playful use of a branching, choose-your-own-adventure format make this a unique, quietly influential work that showcases his talent for merging emotional storytelling with intricate conceptual design. It stands as a memorable example of early-2010s independent graphic fiction that rewards rereading.