David Collier is, well, a very political cartoonist. His latest effort, Surviving Saskatoon is probably the first (but hopefully not the last) comic book to feature footnotes on its back cover in lieu of that ubiquitous Sea Monkey ad. And talk about value for your money – Surviving is actually two stories in one, with “Saskatchewan ’69” detailing the story of David Milgaard’s wrongful imprisonment and eventual release, while “Milgaard and Me” features Collier’s environmental, financial and emotional battles with Saskatoon, where he has lived, married, divorced and worked for much of his life. The two tales unfurl on alternate pages and the side-by-side story format allows Collier to keep his editorializing and personal asides separate from the facts. As he tours us through Saskatoon, he gently (and not so gently) points out its shortcomings, from the kiddie stroll in Pleasant Hill, to surprising crime statistics (the chances of being a break and enter victim in the toughest districts of Detroit: 1 in 70; in Saskatoon: 1 in 7) to the treatment and perception of the native population. He does an excellent job explaining the social dynamics and collective mindset of small city life, but things get truly compelling when Collier calmly pokes holes in the case against Milgaard showing exactly how badly justice was served. Meanwhile, “Saskatchewan ’69” turns the oft-discussed Milgaard into a fresh, fast, fun, manageable and revealing story. It’s not quite Canada: A People’s History, and that’s exactly the point. (RB)
Comic, $4.50, Drawn and Quarterly, P.O. Box 48056, Montreal, QC, H2V 4S8. www.drawnandquarterly.com