A. D. After death

Imagine a world in which death could be cheated, cured by modern science. Would things be better? Maybe, or possibly worse. Jonah Cooke, a part-time thief, inadvertently steals an item that leads him on the path to immortality. Suffering through the horrible death of his mother and unborn brother at age 12 has shaped his destiny. Now he must decide if he can accept who he is and remain that way forever. In a story that explores questions of sacrifice and whether we have what it takes to become ageless, Snyder (Wytches; American Vampire) makes us wonder: Are the stakes too high for some but not for others? And while the body may be engineered to live infinitely, are the processes of the mind limited? Letterer Wands and Lemire's (Descender; Plutona) illustrations paint a washed-out world, bringing a sense of despair that serves as an underlying current of the narrative. Part graphic fiction and part stream-of-consciousness, this poignant tale will have readers grappling with the moral aspects of mortality. Verdict A highly thought-provoking story that is both enjoyable and slightly depressing, in essence, very similar to real life. A must for core graphic novel collections.-Laura McKinley, Huntington P.L., NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.