SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST shows that Josh Cotter is set to become one of the great cartoonists, and this is only his first published work. His story of a fifth grader growing up in the American Midwest is told with such nuance and subtlety that every moment seems as profound and affecting to the reader as it is to the characters — without any over-indulgence in storytelling.
   
With the looming threat of pretty girls, and boys who are bigger than he is, the young boy finds protection in his imagination as the super-spaceman Nova Stealth, whose bravery and boldness can overcome any bully and win the affection of even the most popular girl. This created realm is seamlessly woven into the story and illuminates the saving power of imagination, as well as its ability to distract and alienate.
     
Cotter knows how to balance humor, sometimes dark and sometimes self-consciously stereotypical, with a tone of utter loneliness and depression. He changes his art to fit the mood in different stories, but it is always beautiful and well composed. Every page, every panel of this book matters. The atmosphere is quiet but thick, perfectly composed to paint a vivid portrait and maintain a great depth of realization to the very end.
   
SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST is a must-have for comic readers of all sorts. It displays the comic medium’s power, achieving great pathos and mood in its storytelling. The hardcover, put out by Richmond’s own Adhouse Books, is beautifully designed and comes with an appendix of cover galleries and extra material. And the price is nice, too! -TB