From the Longbox – Blankets

November 15th, 2009

Where to begin with Blankets? This critically-acclaimed, whopping, volume of a coffee table book has been on every best-of list since it was published back in 2003. And now it is here in Panel of the Week’s revered Longbox column. I could go on and on about how writer/artist Craig Thompson crafts the kind of brilliant high school ‘dreadstalgia’ that can relate to any human that picks up the book. I could talk about how well he just bullseyes the feelings that come with finding and losing our first love.

But that’s not really what I’m all about here at POTW. Well not entirely. I do appreciate excellent writing. Like, a lot. But I’m a dude so I’m all visual y’know? I’m here to talk about pictures brother! I’m here to talk about how Mr. Thompson crafts a page with a brush-pen. Do you even know what a brush-pen is? Go look at one. And if you’ve never toyed with one go to an art store and play with one. These things are hard to use but Thompson uses these unique instruments to make the flowing lines that fill the pages of Blankets.

Absolutely gorgeous. Sparse, bold, energetic, organic. I just cannot say enough. There isn’t really need for much narration of the following shots except to say that the story is autobiographical and it details the author’s first time falling in love with a girl named Raina.

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