I don't normally cover hardback graphic novels in the X-Axis, but Shutterbug Follies is worth the plugging.

This is a collection of the first Bee story originally published on Jason Little's website, and there's already a second story in progress over there.  Bee works in a one-hour photo lab in Manhattan, and amuses herself by collecting any interesting photos that turn up.  When she finds herself developing photos of a naked corpse, she sets out to investigate.  As protagonists will tend to do.

The back cover describes Shutterbug Follies as "suspense", which is accurate enough.  But Little's own description ("bubblegum noir") gives you a better idea of what we're talking about here.  It's a murder mystery, and it's brought to you in glorious technicolor, a cartooning style that fits with the oddity of the plot.

Shutterbug Follies is one of those comics that demonstrates how much a cartoonist like Little can achieve more in a six panel, two tier format.  When you really understand the form as well as Little does, you don't need all those histrionic panel layouts.  You can just tell the story.

Of course, that's no use unless you have a good story, but Little has one of those as well.  It's a neatly plotted mystery which all fits together beautifully in the end, and carries the reader with it no matter how bizarre the plot might get.

This is an absolutely excellent example of what comics can really do.  Wonderful.

Rating: A+

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