Helen of Wyndhorn

Author King and illustrator Evely follow their Eisner Award-winning Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow with an ambitious epic composed of elements drawn from gothic literature, sword-and-sorcery fantasy adventure, and The Wizard of Oz. The protagonist is Helen Cole, a young woman whose life is disrupted by the sudden death of her father, a legendary author of pulp fiction. Overcome with grief, Helen is sent to live with her gruff grandfather in Wyndhorn House, an expansive estate where secrets of her family's history--and her father's stories--begin to bleed into reality. King's narrative is layered with mythological depth and psychological nuance, using Helen's journey from chaos and despair to reluctant heroism to examine the boundaries between escapist fiction and real life. As the story unfolds, Evely's haunting yet vivid and dynamic illustration makes the sprawling manor and fantastical worlds Helen traverses feel as much like characters as settings. VERDICT The story's sophisticated, nonlinear structure may challenge readers more interested in straightforward adventure than an exploration of grief, legacy, and redemption, but those willing to engage with this emotionally resonant tale are likely to agree that it's an early contender for one of the best graphic novels of the year.