Fata Morgana

This entirely wordless comic takes the reader through the surreal dream journey of a young boy. He meets up outside his house with his friend, a tiny man made of stone. Soon, they’re on their way across fantastic landscapes. They see trees barfing green ooze, a battle to the death between anthropomorphic foods, and a winter wonderland full of demented-looking snowmen. Along the way, they gather new friends, including a party-hat-wearing dog, and a deranged-looking piece of cheese. Each panoramic page spread is filled with trippy colors and wonderfully intricate drawings that are easy to get lost in. There’s plenty of violence, with multiple cheerful characters being sliced, gouged, and stabbed, but Vermilyea is a master of drawings that strike that wonderful balance between creepy and sweet. He works as a designer on The Problem Solverz cartoon and his imagery is firmly in the current style that mashes together vintage video games, maze books, and fantasy art drawn in the back of classrooms. It’s both playful and familiar, and he has his finger on the pulse of youthful fear, excitement, and strangeness, creating a book that’s perfect for anyone who knows what it’s like to grow up weird. (Nov.)