Sergio Ponchione

Sergio Ponchione's Grotesque #1 is one of the more intriguing recent entries in the Ignatz Series from Fantagraphics Books and the Coconino Press. In some respects, the last few "new starts" in the Ignatz series have been disappointing, but Grotesque #1 is the obvious exception to the rule. Ponchione's line is beautiful, his page and panel layouts are well constructed, and his story is completely fascinating, even if a little bit obscure in this first issue. Although loaded with visual show more references to great comic artists past and present, there seems to be quite a bit more going on here than a mere homage - Ponchione may well be on the verge of creating something truly unique, entertaining, and thoroughly original. show less

The third installment of Sergio Ponchione's Grotesque brings a lot of clarity to the overall narrative, and fleshes out the characer of Mr. O'Blique, who appears to be the central figure in this complex and beautiful tapestry. Ponchione riffs freely off the work of comics artists whom he clearly admires, but the end product is something all his own. With wonderful artwork, an intriguing story, and highly inventive characters, this is definitely a series that deserves wider attention.

The final volume of Sergio Ponchione's Grotesque ends things in fine fashion, with a characteristic mix of highly inventive story, beautiful comic art, and any number of small homages to the great creators of visual literature to whom Ponchione pays tribute. The climatic scene that brings Grotesque to a close is a bit disappointing, given that it lacks much narrative resolution, but this has been a great series despite that, and the final volume is as good as the preceding installments.

The second installment of Sergio Ponchione's Grotesque starts to give considerable shape and direction to the odd (but compelling) narrative initiated in the first volume. Ponchione's artwork is beautiful and a joy in its own right, but with the fleshing out of the storyline, Grotesque is really beginning to take off as an intriguing mesh of visuals and ideas. It's anybody's guess where all of this is going to lead in future issues of Grotesque, but the ride has certainly been worthwhile so far.