Asterios Polyp
by David Mazzucchelli
Lowdown: Liked it. There’s a lot to digest in Asterios Polyp. On the surface, it’s the story of the title character coming to grips with himself. But there is a deeper subtext and meaning hidden below the surface that requires careful, additional readings. This would be a great read for a book club or school class.
The story begins with Asterios Polyp, an extremely self-absorbed professor of architecture, losing all his belongings in a fire that burns down his entire apartment complex. With just the money in his pocket, he randomly picks a new home town and begins a journey of self-realization.
This book is definitely more than the story of a man coming to understand himself. It is filled with philosophy and symbols and sub-texts. Mazzucchelli’s brilliant use of color could easily consume a lengthy discussion. There’s a beautiful, silent interlude comparing Asterios with Orpheus. It’s all wonderfully written and perfectly illustrated. This would be a great book for a book club or school class. There’s a lot to analyze and understand. This is one of the deepest graphic novels I’ve read.
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