Talk about your big graphic novel! Both the size (672 page hardcover) and the magnitude (highly anticipated follow-up to mega-hit Blankets) put huge weight into Habibi, the new book by Craig Thomspon. The story follows a fantasy like love plot against a Persian backdrop and harkens back to traditional fairy tale adventures. Though not hard to get into, I think the writing was perhaps my least favourite aspect of the novel for a few reasons. First, the storyline constantly cuts away to mystical splash pages full of esoteric poetry and symbols which I think took away from just the overall simplicity of the tale. Secondly, the subject matter in general, exploring muslim and christianity faiths seemed excessive, and even self indulgent given Thompson's overt interest in religion. Save those few quibbles, it is still a good yarn none-the-less, just not what was expected and a big departure from Blankets.

The art, as usual from Thompson is stunning, and the hours that went into its creation are very evident. The trademark characters full of emotion and free-flowing brushwork are well suited for Habibi, and in many cases, steal the show. More than once I had to break up the reading flow, just to take time to full appreciate some of the gorgeous panels. The detail of the various middle-eastern patterns, clothing, architecture and calligraphy seem intensely researched and just as intensely rendered. The only drawback to all the fine detail being that sometimes the art style shifts over too close to realism, rather than keeping to the more comfortable comic book imagery through out much of the pages. Overall, reading Habibi was an immersing experience and well worth the time...I only hope it's not another seven years till Craig Thompson's next book.