“Mere words-or at least my mere words-seemed not enough to even try to convey just how intricate and ornate, lush and seductive, arabesque and sometimes knowingly grotesque this artistic epic is…a visual masterpiece.” –Comic Riffs, Washington Post blog “Erotic, grotesque, and profoundly moving…I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this, and I expect I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.” –Boing Boing This book is a gorgeous object to make it, Thompson apparently covered himself in honey and rolled around in a thousand years of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic art, and the result is breathtaking.” - The Boston Phoenix 'Craig Thompson's new graphic novel, Habibi, is a masterpiece. “A graphic novel that is sure to attract attention…A mature-in all its meanings-glimpse into a world few Westerners are at home with, and Thompson is respectful throughout.” - Kirkus “The exquisite beauty and deep magic of this Arabian Nights -style love story cannot be overstated.Habibi is certain to join the ranks of graphic novels that expand our understanding of not only the genre but also the world it describes.” – Library Journal, starred review

A dense, swirling dervish of a tale…this will be the most talked about graphic novel of the fall.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A lushly epic love story that's both inspiring and heartbreaking…In addition to richly detailed story panels, the gorgeous Arabic ornamental calligraphy makes each page an individual work of art. It is unfair to expect two masterpieces in a row from anyone, but here Thompson sits securely in that rarefied air.” – Booklist, starred review

“The character depth, plot complexity, and storytelling in this lyrical, sexual, and scholarly epic would make any novelist proud…Thompson strings compositions that are often more tapestry than comics and that balance graphic design, illumination, calligraphy, and cartooning in steady alignment.

Habibi novel