Second frame of issue 3:

This was flagged up to me last year as being particularly popular among File 770 readers in the run-up to Hugo nominations; when it didn’t appear on the final ballot, I guessed that it might have been pushed off by the Puppies and bought it during my brief visit to Portland, Oregon. In fact, it didn’t even make the top fifteen of last year’s nominations, and probably did well in the File 770 straw poll because Busiek is a frequent (and valued) contributor over there.

I don’t think I’d have voted it terribly high on my list if it had made the ballot. The world of the Autumnlands is one where various character who are anthropomorphic animals are in conflict with each other; the wizards of the steampunkish flying city summon an ancient hero who turns out to be a human, like you and me, and outwits the groundling enemy due to his superior human intellect. The one major female character is a sneaky turncoat. I’m never terribly comfortable with the resonances of stories like this, and although it’s nicely illustrated, it didn’t draw me in.

This had finally made it to the top of my pile of unread graphic novels in English. Next on that list is Providence: Act 1, by Alan Moore.