When the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award nominations were released several weeks ago, one title jumped out more than any other. Nominated in five categories, Return of the Dapper Men caught everyone’s eye. For those wondering, here are the categories which it, as well as writer Jim McCann and artist Janet Lee, were nominated in:
• Best Publication for Teens
• Best Graphic Album—New
• Best Writer
• Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
• Best Publication Design
Press release:
Part fairy tale, part steampunk, all original- the graphic novel that’s already being hailed as “ground-breaking” and “an instant contemporary classic,” RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN” is published by Archaia and is available wherever books are sold. Features a Foreword by Tim Gunn (Project Runway), and is listed on Publisher’s Weekly Great Graphic Novels as Gifts and “Essential Reading” for Fall 2010 by GraphicNovelReporter.com. Order now from your favorite online retailer or local seller.
Imagine a land where Time itself has ceased to exist. Welcome to Anorev, a world in between time, where children have played so long it’s almost become work, machines have worked so long they have begun to play and all the clocks have stopped at the same time. It’s a stagnate land of no change and deep division where only one human boy- Ayden, the boy who still questions, and one robot girl- Zoe, the robot whom all others protect and believe to be special, are the only ones who interact. All of this changes, however, when 314 identical looking dapper men rain down from the sky, bringing time back with them.
There is one among these Dapper Men who finds Ayden and Zoe and together the three of them set about changing the world. They must discover what made time stop, understand what their true places are in this world, and learn what “tomorrow” really means. The sun is setting for the first time in memory, and once that happens, everything changes.
RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN is a visually stunning fairy tale that combines steampunk with fantasy and science fiction with Renaissance style, brought to life from the minds of award-winning playwright and comic book writer Jim McCann (HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD) and critically acclaimed visual artist Janet Lee. Together these two have created a world where J.M. Barrie, Lewis Carroll and Maurice Sendak meet Jim Henson and Tim Burton. All sharply dressed in a pin-stripe suit and a dapper bowler hat.
Tick tock, time is about to start.
I read up a little on the title, and was interested enough to order the book immediately. It took several agonizing weeks to arrive (as I’d bundled it with Chew: The Omnivore Edition Volume 1). My local comic book shop didn’t have any copies (of either), so I was buying the book without having actually gotten to hold it in my hands. I didn’t know what to expect, however the price on Amazon was superbly cheap, so I wasn’t worried.
That said, once the package arrived, I was blown away. I could not believe how unbelievably gorgeous Return of the Dapper Men is. Without even cracking open a cover, I knew I was in for a treat. As such, I got myself a nice glass of wine, sat down and put my feet up in my comforter and prepared for a wonderful experience.
What I did not expect, despite Tim Gunn’s introduction, was an experience so profoundly moving. Drawing on fantastical stories like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan, Return of the Dapper Men is a story that has the power to change you… so long as you allow it. I’m not speaking of permanent, life-altering changes… but rather just a few moments, upon closing the book and running your hand over the cover, where you allow the child within to see the world for you.
Return of the Dapper Men takes place in the make-believe world of Anorev. In this world, time has stopped. As such, there are no nights, no dreams, no tomorrows. Children never age. None but one questions this; a boy by the name of Ayden.
Child: “I can’t tell who you’re talking to!”
Dapper Man: “I honestly have no idea,”
Eventually, the children tunnel underground and create a space therein to live. There are no adults (or parents) in this story, though there are robots; and though it is never expressly stated, the metaphor is quite obvious without being one which hits you upside the head.
Children and robots do not mingle, but for young Ayden and a feminine robot named Zoe, whom many believe has a purpose which far exceeds all other robots.
The story till this point is brilliantly written. You find yourself completely immersed in this world, thanks to lyrically beautiful writing, and artwork that is warm and absolutely gorgeous in every regard.
Before we go on, allow me to say that I am the type of reader which writers love writing for. I say this as both a reader and a writer.
I allow myself to get sucked into a book. I don’t try to predict the outcome. I simply enjoy the path upon which the story will lead me. I stop and look around. I sometimes get lost. I suspend disbelief and it takes a lot before I try to impart any expectations.
Certainly, there are times when I will read with a critical mind, however those are typically instances where that is required and I go in with that mind-set. However when I’m only interested in being entertained, I will open myself to many possibilities, and simply soak up everything on the page.
I tell you this because Return of the Dapper Men was able to completely steal me from our mundane world. In so few pages, I was drawn down the rabbit hole and allowed to live in this make believe world. It made sense to me. It breathed and lived and when those hundreds of Dapper Men floated from the sky, all wearing identical dapper suits, my jaw loosened causing my mouth to open slightly.
It did not drop entirely, but just this, for a comic book or graphic novel, is an astounding achievement. To have drawn me in so much that I could not put the book aside. I had to know what would happen next. It mattered to me. I was invested.
Jim McCann is a brilliant writer whose words flow so effortlessly upon the page. In analyzing the story and the manner in which it is presented, you can appreciate the work that must have gone into choosing each word so perfectly. And yet when reading, simply for the sake of losing oneself in another world, the writing feels organic, and not the least bit forced. It breathes and lives.
Allow me to tell you that this is such a difficult state to attain when crafting a story.
McCann pulls it off… and what’s more, makes it appear effortless.
And then there’s Janet Lee’s art. I was very happy that a brief piece was written at the back of the book which described the process which Janet used to create the illustrations for the book. I was already blown away, but to hear about the process simply made me appreciate the art, as well as the incredible amount of work that went into it, even more.
Lee’s combination of decoupage, markers and pine boards creates stunning illustrations that not only fit the story perfectly, but also set the experience aside from all other comic books. Couple that with the book’s design, and you’ve got something that shines above all others on your shelf.
As I said on Episode 23 of our podcast, I will be quite disappointed if this book and its creators aren’t awarded for this insanely good experience. There are so few graphic novels with the quiet power of Return of the Dapper Men… nor the intelligence, enlightened writing, or visual impact.
Thank you Jim and Janet, for taking us upon this journey.
Return of the Dapper Men
Archaia
Story: Jim McCann
Art: Janet Lee
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