Naked City

American Book Award winner Drooker (Blood Song) delivers a trenchant and elegantly drawn graphic novel that follows a musician and a painter struggling to make ends meet without abandoning their morals or muses. Izzy, a Mexican and Italian–American singer-songwriter, whose father died of Covid and whose mother was deported, braves the grueling New York City gig economy on her way to a stint of stardom that proves exploitative. One odd job along the way, as an artist’s model, introduces her to an aging painter who’s shifting from cityscapes to portraiture to keep the lights on. The switch brings him an unexpected period of success before a devastating end. Sliding into both their lives are freewheeling trans street dancer Alex and a nameless disabled window washer (“I’m a poor man—but rich in memories. Each window told me a story I’ll never forget”). The philosophical dialogue throughout verges from Drooker’s hallmark wordless comics style, but his stark, stylized figures and distinctive cross-hatching remain, recalling Seth and Jason Lutes. Alternating palettes—slate blue for Alex’s sections, sepia for the painter’s—are tied together by inky linework. Drooker’s comment on the sacrifices inherent to the pursuit of the arts feels both timeless and of-the-moment, thanks to his spot-on critique of late capitalism. Any creative to ever question their craft or purpose will find themselves reflected here. (Oct.)