Intelligent Sentient?

The worldbuilding in this debut graphic novel is organized only by loose themes, but Ramsey (and a few collaborators, including Michael DeForge) brings it all to life in incredible detail, challenging readers to study the interlocking nature of the art in this comic. Ramsey packs a superhuman level of intricacy into each page, exploring a science fiction setting. Opening with images of birth, the comic builds to a city filled with life, including humanoid trees and gigantic figures that interact in surreal ways. Larger shapes, like faces and planets, are composed of smaller elements, inviting the reader to discover them all. Snake-like squiggly lines shape into patterns in the manner of Escher, and further humanoid figures reappear, making more distinctive elements%E2%80%94such as an airplane%E2%80%94pop out against the rest. The use of a dull pink-brown color scheme gives the sparing use of brighter colors a similar impact. The art recalls other abstract comics creators, including Jesse Jacobs (who worked on two of the pages) and Theo Ellsworth. Anyone willing to look past the lack of a plot is in for a visual treasure trove of hidden delights. (Mar.)