Cheat

    (Oni, 2003)

Moving into their new, larger apartment was supposed to be a fresh start for young married couple Janey and Marc. But this move puts them in close proximity to their best friends Davis and Anna, which puts more strain on their already troubled marriage.

Janey and Marc are not only husband and wife, but also work together as writers. But Janey’s feelings wander toward Davis, while Marc is traveling, and her heart grows more restless, as Marc’s mind focuses more and more on work.

Norrie’s story is painful, as stories of temptation and betrayal often are. But this is mostly because, in 64 short pages, Norrie does an excellent job of developing these four characters and highlighting their contrasts —notably, the similar feelings Janey and Davis have for their respective marriages, but also how starkly opposite their coping mechanisms are.

Her art remarkably speaks volumes despite its simplicity; the intermittent black-bordered single-panel pages convey key moments, and her as-needed use of shadows provide an understated but wonderfully effective method of emotional shift. Her handle on the characters and the art make for a great example of graphic storytelling.

— Jim Johnson
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