Mome Vol. 14

Mome Vol. 14

The latest in this anthology series curated by Fantagraphics' Eric Reynolds and Gary Groth is what you need to give your really smart adult friends who are starting to enjoy sequential art but don't want to begrime themselves with the whole superheroics rigmarole: Because this is an excellent collection of work (comprising the serious, the funny, the weird, the contemplative, the goofy, and other flavors sublime or ridiculous) by a variety of new artists and old.

Lilli Carré's long narrative "The Carnival" is highlighted in the introduction, and understandably so. The story is like some gorgeous mumblecore film made more effective through adaptation to the comics medium, a bittersweet blend of the material and the metaphorical as the lives of two strangers overlap around a roadside fun park.

The volume also boasts new work by the ever-intrepid Dash Shaw, Laura Park's creepy-cute "Office 32F," and a series of interstitial graphic beats by Derek van Gieson among its riches. Give this Mome to someone you love; they'll be queuing up to buy the next iteration.

For more reviews of recent graphic novels, check out the Chron's books blog at austinchronicle.com/underthecovers.