Sing No Evil

Stuttering Finnish guitarist Axel is the front man for Perkeros, a hard rock band whose evolution is kept in check by Axel’s awful vocals, and this dense graphic novel is an account of his artistic and personal travails. Axel’s concentration on the band at the expense of all else causes the disintegration of his long-term relationship. After Perkeros hires a better vocalist, Axel wrestles with insecurity and his own oppressive perfectionist tendencies. The book is similar to other “forging of the band” stories, but it features whimsical details, like a drummer who’s a bear, and is elevated by a tight script and stunning artwork that perfectly expresses the kick in the guts one feels when attending live rock shows in small clubs. The narrative needlessly veers into supernatural territory toward the end, seemingly in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience. With its amazing artwork, this one’s a keeper—in spite of the late-in-coming demonic angle. (Sept.)