Lynd Ward: Six Novels in Woodcuts

A monumental two-volume set from The Library of America, this 2010 collection gathers the pioneering wordless novels of Lynd Ward, whose intricate woodcut narratives helped define the graphic novel form decades before the term existed. Spanning the 1920s and 1930s, Ward’s six silent epics—including Gods’ Man and Wild Pilgrimage—use stark, expressionistic imagery to explore themes of ambition, social justice, and the human condition. Essential for understanding the pre-superhero roots of sequential art, this edition restores Ward’s work as a foundational influence on the modern comic medium.