The people who published these two books have recently released an anthology that not only illustrates this last point marvellously but also provides insight into the enviable cultural contexts that have allowed traditions of substantial cartooning to flourish overseas.

Many of the stories presented in Drawn & Quarterly Volume 5, in particular, Dupuy & Berbérian’s “Monsieur Jean” and Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s “Kept,” have an unselfconsciously literary feel that is foreign to the North American scene.

As with the Matt and Brown books, D&Q 5 is beautifully presented and would make an excellent addition to any serious comic book library.