Chicago’s bright and shining graphic novelist, the creator of “Forlorn Funnies,” offers his latest opus, the autobiographical “The Three Paradoxes,” a book that took him four years to complete. A story within a story—complete with jumps back and forth through time debating Zeno and pre-Socratic philosophy—Hornschemeier’s created a massive “plot” within a slim page-count, too warping to explain here. What’s most effective, as always in his work, is his ability to evoke extreme emotional reaction from such subtle images and dialogue, whether it’s deep melancholy or grand elation. (“Man, no offense, but are you guys retarded?” asked to a gaggle of philosophers is a moment to remember.) “Mother, Come Home” was utterly devastating, and “The Three Paradoxes” has its way with you as well. Visually staggering, it’s one of the best local books of the year. (Tom Lynch)
Paul Hornschemeier discusses his work October 25 at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State, (312)747-4300, at 6:30pm. Free.
