Birdseye Bristoe

Intricate diagrams, local legends, and eccentric characters fill the pages of Zettwoch's debut graphic novel. The title character, his niece, and his nephew chronicle the construction and collapse of a huge cellular tower in a rural, middle-of-nowhere community. But though the illustrations are clear on the recipe for a red cow shake, they are not at all clear on why the tower was destroyed, leaving readers to wonder about the fate of the main character%E2%80%94and the point of the story. Zettwoch's illustrations are so full of detail they appear cluttered, and the lettering, sometimes whited-out for effect, has to squeeze between his complex diagrams. The style is appealing when it is legible, but without a comprehensible context behind the what and why of the tale, the conclusion may leave readers scratching their heads. Others will simply enjoy the imaginative and zany level of detail as an end in itself. (July)