Okay, if I'm being completely honest, I would have to say that my love of graphic novels stems as much from the art as from the story. Too often, though, and perhaps not surprising given the limited space to completely tell a story, the art and the story don't seem to come together comfortably.

Not so Alabaster Wolves #1. This is that rare graphic gem in which the art and the story are in complete harmony. Alabaster is a wonderfully creepy tale about the meeting between an assassin of the lord and a werewolf and the consequences of this meeting in a town out of time. Beautifully written and beautifully illustrated, the story is complete without the rushed feeling which mars so many other graphic novels. Whether you read graphic novels for the story or enjoy them for the art, Alabaster satisfies on both counts. ( )