<DIV></DIV><B>The debut graphic novel from a dazzling newcomer with a singular, idiosyncratic style<BR></B><BR><DIV>In the few short years since he began his pamphlet-size comic book series <I>Lose</I>, Michael DeForge has announced himself as an important new voice in alternative comics. His brash, confident, undulating artwork sent a shock wave through the comics world for its unique, fully formed aesthetic. With his debut Drawn & Quarterly title, <I>Ant Colony</I>, DeForge confirms his place as a mover and shaker in the world of graphic novels.<BR> From its opening pages, <I>Ant Colony</I> immerses the reader in a world that is darkly existential, with false prophets, unjust wars, and corrupt police officers, as it follows the denizens of a black ant colony under attack from the nearby red ants. On the surface, it’s the story of this war, the destruction of a civilization, and the ants’ all too familiar desire to rebuild. Underneath, though, <I>Ant Colony </I>plumbs the deepest human concerns—loneliness, faith, love, apathy, and more. All of this is done with humor and sensitivity, exposing a world where spiders can wreak unimaginable amounts of havoc with a single gnash of their jaws.<BR> DeForge’s striking visual sensibility—stark lines, dramatic color choices, and brilliant use of page and panel space—stands out in this volume.</DIV>