Pekar (American Splendor
; Our Cancer Year
) adapts Terkel's masterpiece of oral history in this loving tribute. Working
features various artists, including Sharon Rudahl (A Dangerous Woman: the Graphic Biography of Emma Goldman
), Terry LaBan (Edge City
) and frequent Pekar collaborator Gary Dumm (Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History
). Though several of Pekar's colleagues have connections with the labor movement or activism, this volume does not push a particular political or social agenda. It simply adds dimension to Terkel's original, illustrating the daily concerns of working men and women. As is typical in collections, some of the pieces are stunning, while others merely adapt the story. Two standouts are “Jack Spiegel: Organizer” and “David Reed Glover: Stockbroker,” perfectly illustrated by Peter Gullerud and Pablo G. Callejo, respectively; Gollerud's stark woodcuts recall the art of the labor movement, while Callejo's meticulous detail and use of shading reflect the claustrophobia of a desk job. This collection will capture the interest of Pekar fans and Terkel aficionados alike, particularly in light of Terkel's death last year. (May)
