The popularity of the graphic genre continues to rage, and The Best American Comics is a diverse, exciting annual selection for fans and newcomers alike. The inaugural volume includes stories culled from graphic novels, pamphlet comics, newspapers, magazines, mini-comics, and the Web. Contributors include Robert Crumb, Chris Ware, Kim Deitch, Jaime Hernandez, Alison Bechdel, Joe Sacco, and Lynda Barry — and unique discoveries such as Justin Hall, Esther Pearl Watson, and Lilli Carre.

This inaugural volume includes stories culled from graphic novels, pamphlet comics, newspapers, magazines, mini-comics, and the Web. Contributors include Robert Crumb, Chris Ware, Kim Deitch, Jaime Hernandez, Alison Bechdel, Joe Sacco, and Lynda Barry--and unique discoveries such as Justin Hall, Esther Pearl Watson, and Lilli Carre.

Anne Elizabeth Moore is an author and coeditor of Punk Planet.She has earned Harvey and Eisner Award nominations for her work on theComics Journal and the first two Comics Journal Special Editions. She's written for The Onion, the Journal of Popular Culture, and Bitch, and provided commentary on CNN and NPR. She has an M.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.Harvey Pekar is the author, most recently, of the graphic novel The Quitterand was the costar and subject of the Oscar-nominated film American Splendor. His American Book Awardwinning series of the same name has been published since 1976 and illustrated by artists such as Robert Crumb, Frank Stack, and Joe Sacco.

Preface by Anne Elizabeth Moore : ix

Introduction by Harvey Pekar : xv

1 : Joel Priddy. The Amazing Life of Onion Jack from Superior Showcase

11 : Kim Deitch. Ready To Die from McSweeney's

17 : Anders Nilsen. The Gift from Dogs and Water

35 : Lilli Carré. Adventures of Paul Bunyan and His Ox, Babe from Tales of

Woodsman Pete

43 : David Lasky. Diary of a Bread Delivery Guy from Arthur

44 : Ben Katchor. Goner Pillow Company from Metropolis

46 : Alison Bechdel. Only Disconnect from Dykes to Watch Out For

47 : Joe Sacco. Complacency Kills from The Guardian Online

55 : Justin Hall. la rubia loca

from True Travel Tales

103 : Chris Ware. Comics: A History from McSweeney's

105 : Rebecca Dart. RabbitHead from RabbitHead

130 : Ivan Brunetti. Untitled from The Stranger

131 : Jonathan Bennett. Dance With the Ventures from Mome

143 : Jaime Hernandez. Day By Day With Hopey: Tuesday Is Whose Day?

from Love and Rockets

147 : Esther Pearl Watson. Busted! from Unlovable

154 : John Porcellino. Chemical Plant/Another World from Diary of a

Mosquito Abatement Man

161 : David Heatley. Portrait of My Dad from Deadpan

166 : Lloyd Dangle. A Street-Level View of The Republican National

Convention from The Stranger

168 : Hob. The Supervisor from Hi-Horse Omnibus

169 : Gilbert Shelton. Wonder Wart-Hog: The Wart-Hog That Came In From

the Cold from Zap

177 : Olivia Schanzer. Solidarity Forever from Hi-Horse Omnibus

179 : Alex Robinson. Thirty-Three from Tricked

189 : Jessica Abel. Missing from La Perdida

203 : Seth Tobocman, Terisa Turner, and Leigh Brownhill. Nakedness and

Power from World War 3 Illustrated

212 : Rick Geary. Recollection of Seduction from The Comics Journal

Special Edition

213 : Tom Hart. The Executive Hour from Unmarketable

219 : Kurt Wolfgang. Passing Before Life's Very Eyes from Mome

232 : Jesse Reklaw. Thirteen Cats of My Childhood from Couch Tag

252 : Lynda Barry. Two Questions from McSweeney's

264 : Robert Crumb. Walkin' The Streets from Zap

Contributors' Notes : 277

100 Distinguished Comics from January 2004 to August 2005 : 291