Montreal, Quebec: Drawn and Quarterly, (2002) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - A hardcover edition of four of his graphic stories originally published as issues five through eight of his comic book series 'Optic Nerve.' Born in Sacramento and now living in the Bay area, at just 21 he won the comix industry Harvey Award for Best New Talent. He "constructs tales of emotional disconnection with an ear for painfully real dialogue. Combined with his deft black and white depictions of urbane lifestyles, his fans have often accused him of eavesdropping in on their most intimate moments and, with forensic skill, laying their lives bare. The conflicts between emotional gratification, narcissistic neediness and moral discernment mark the title story in which a socially crippled man nurses an obsessive crush on a young woman. `Hawaiian Getaway,` features Hilary, telephone service rep who is having the worst week of her life. She lost her job, her apartment, and her grandmother. Close to the edge, she is losing her grip. In 'Alter Ego' a successful young author has writer`s block. He can`t, or won`t, decide between another ghostwriting gig and finishing his second ÔrealÕ novel. Finally, 'Bomb Scare' documents the early unease of his generation by setting this coming-of-age story during the tense months of the Gulf War, the event that ushered in the 1990s." SIGNED on the title page and uncommon thus. Frontispiece map. Slightly oversized format. 132 pp. ISBN: 1-896597491.