Jar of Fools

In 1997, Jason Lutes launched Jar of Fools with Black Eye, a single-issue comic that stands as a poignant, self-contained graphic novella. The story follows an aging stage magician and his troubled young assistant, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the fragile illusions we build around ourselves. Lutes, working as both writer and artist, crafts a quiet, melancholic tale with his signature clean linework and deep emotional resonance. Though brief, this issue remains a compelling early showcase of the storytelling depth that would define his later, acclaimed work.