The Property

2013 | Fiction & Poetry

After the death of her son, Regina Segal takes her granddaughter Mica to Warsaw, hoping to reclaim a family property lost during World War II. As they get to know modern Warsaw, Regina is forced to recall difficult things about her past, and Mica begins to wonder if maybe their reasons for coming aren't a little different than her grandmother led her to believe. Rutu Modan offers up a world populated by prickly seniors, officious public servants, and stubborn women - a world whose realism is expressed alternately in the absurdity of people's behaviour, and in the complex consequences of their sacrifices. Modan's ever-present wit is articulated perfectly in her clear-line style, while a subtle, almost muted colour palette complements the true-to-life nuances of her characterisation. Savvy and insightful, elegant and subtle, The Property is a triumph of storytelling and fine lines. Modan's first full-length graphic novel, Exit Wounds, made a huge splash for this signature combination of wit, style and realism; The Property cements Modan's status as one of the foremost cartoonists working today. It is the winner of the 2014 Eisner Comic Industry Award.

Jessica Cohen (Author)

Rutu Modan (Author)