BLANKETS is a rare exercise in comics autobiography that possesses both the substance and clarity to articulate its vision in a compelling and moving way. In a field cluttered by the maudlin and the mediocre, BLANKETS is an inspirational journey through the childhood experiences of Craig Thompson, marked by religious zeal and alienation, but also possessing a sense of hope that separates Thompson from his contemporaries.
With BLANKETS, like Good-bye, Chunky Rice before it, Thompson displays a unique ability to explore themes of longing and despair without ever losing his sense of optimism. The story pivots on the maturing relationships between Thompson and his younger brother, Phil; and Thompson and his first girlfriend, Raina. Finding comfort in a world that has no place for them binds the two strands thematically, even though they have little in common at face value. The result is a work of sincerity and honesty drawn from the ink of a heartfelt pen.
At nearly six hundred pages, BLANKETS is one of the more ambitious original graphic novels produced in the medium. More importantly, though, BLANKETS is a poignant document of lessons in discovery and self-realization both universal and enlightening.
Peter Aaron Rose is a writer, producer and technologist who lives and works in San Francisco, CA. Under the pseudonym "Peter Siegel", he recently authored Killing Demons, a graphic novel available from Engine Press and Platinum Studios.
