Arctic Comics

This collection of comics "written and drawn by Inuit and other northerners" showcases a variety of styles and themes. "Kiviuq Meets Big Bee" by Jose Kusugak, illustrated by Germaine Arnaktauyok, recounts an adventure featuring a legendary Inuit character likened to an "Arctic Ulysses" in the volume's introduction; with vengeful shamans, giant spiders, and an eyelid-eating monster, it's an apt analogy. The lovely "On Waiting" is adapted from a poem by Michael Kusugak, in which a boy daydreams while hunting seals; Susan Thurston Shirley's art brings the northern landscape to vibrant life. Other stories, particularly those by Nicholas Burns (who assembled the collection), recall vintage comics: "The Great Softball Massacre" reads like a slightly edgy, far-north version of Archie, with a lover's tiff playing out on a softball field, while "Sheldon the Sled Dog" shorts seem inspired by the likes of Heathcliff and Marmaduke. The slapstick and crass jokes in Burns's "Film Nord," about a beleaguered movie shoot, fall flat. The anthology closes with "Blizzard House," a thriller that mixes renewable energy, family drama, and violence. Though not every story hits its mark, it's still an intriguing window into Arctic life and lore. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. (May)