The Deep Dark

[psocoptera]

The Deep Dark, Molly Knox Ostertag, 2024 YA graphic novel. I was hooked on this as soon as I picked it up and ended up reading it in one sitting once I got my hands on a library copy. A reunion with a childhood friend and a supernatural secret and a nicely-realized near Joshua Tree setting and a sweet F/F romance. I really enjoyed Ostertag's art - mostly black and white with some excellent use of spot color, switching to full color for flashbacks and similar purposes. One particular sequence was just - wow. The pacing and plot were all very well done too; Ostertag did some neat stuff to help us track the passage of time (ranging from setting the story around the winter holidays to showing time and day stamps on cellphones) and wove the various plot threads together in a really satisfying way. I'm definitely adding this to my Hugo Graphic ballot!