Vertigo

In a story inspired by H. G. Wells's The Invisible Man, Lemire creates an antihero whose exploits in the small town of Large Mouth change the life of a teen. As Vickie guides readers through the strange events involving a man who is wrapped completely in bandages, the art reveals that if he removes them, he is completely invisible. Griffen was a prominent scientist, but now he is hunted by his one-time peers and mourns the death of his wife. Vickie knows little of his inner struggle but is determined to become his friend, and to give him support until the very end. The story is a bleak one; it's as much about the hollow growth Vickie experiences when she begins to see the world through what she imagines is Griffen's perspective as it is about Griffen's ultimate fall. The style is intentionally rough, minimizing the details of the predominantly black-and-white art, which is shaded with light blue in order to heighten moments of flashbacks to Griffen's previous life, sketched entirely in blue. The setting is a small town with easily prejudiced residents, whether against the mysterious man in bandages or the town's one African-American resident, who is a noted loner. A good selection for most collections.–Alana Joli Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

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