Depressing tale of upwardly mobile Jews in early 20th century America. Not sure what the audience for this kind of graphic novella is, but it's well written and gorgeously drawn. ( )

Will Eisner is often credited with creating the modern adult graphic novel with his Contract with God. The Name of the Game is one of his final efforts in this medium. It's a generation-spanning saga of upper-class Jews in America, and specifically how marriage was seen as an essential tool for moving up in the class hierarchy. Along the way, there is a lot of discrimination of Jews by both gentiles and Jews, alcoholism, infidelity, and spousal abuse. ( )