PUT THE BOOK BACK ON THE SHELF BY BELLE & SEBASTIAN

Written and drawn by various, from the music of Belle & Sebastian
Published by Image Comics

In the spirit of their Flight anthologies, Image Comics again draws together a collection of talented up-and-coming comic creators for a selection of brilliant and unexpected stories around a central theme. Put the Book Back on the Shelf houses several moving stories inspired by the music of Scottish band Belle & Sebastian, with pieces ranging from direct visual interpretation of lyrics to free association evoked from the listening experience.

The variety of styles and interpretations in this volume expresses the differences in how people listen to music, and how different sorts of people might describe what they feel when hearing a certain song. The short tales in Shelf generally work best when the artists allow the source-song to score their story, providing a soundtrack without being overly intrusive. Highlights in this vein include "Dog on Wheels," illustrated by Kako, and "Marx and Engels" by Jamie S. Rich and Marc Ellerby. An exception to the rule would be "Beautiful" by Charles Brownstein and Dave Crosland, in which the lyrics on the page press the story onward in a mad jumble of images to stirring effect. In all cases, the art is remarkable, the disparate styles coming together to form a beautifully cohesive whole.

The marriage of art and music seems so obvious that it is surprising that more comics of this sort are not already available. Perhaps Image Comics can rectify that situation. If future volumes adhere to such a singular quality of vision, such a series of anthologies could introduce each band's fans to a new way of experiencing their favorite music.
BUY IT FROM BELLE & SEBASTIAN HERE, OR ON AMAZON
VIA