08: A Graphic Diary of the Campaign Trail is a graphic novel from Dan Goldman (creator of the fabulous graphic novel about embedded bloggers in Iraq, Shooting War) and New Republic writer Michael Crowley, an astute political reporter.
08 is a time-capsule of the events leading up to the 2008 election, starting with the stinging GOP defeat in the 2006 mid-terms and continuing up to election day, and as with many such recent histories, there's a certain vividness that comes of reading the recent past recast in historic terms, a combination of distance and closeness that comes from feeling like you witnessed events that are now part of history.
But more than that, 08 is a beautiful book, its page layouts stark and emotional at the same time. The art and layouts serve as a major illumination on the text (I was reminded of the graphic novel adaptation of the 9-11 Commission Report). Some are so good I wanted to clip them and have them framed.
