U.K.-based creator Kengo Kurimoto's graphic novel debut, Wildful, is visual storytelling perfection. The plot is simple: a girl and her dog meet a new friend on their daily walks. Close attention to Kurimoto's exquisitely detailed art, however, reveals multiple layers of delightful transformation.
Wildful is divided into seven chapters, each beginning with a similar scene of a girl walking her dog. She's utterly distracted in the first chapter, headphones on, eyes glued to her phone. But when the dog sees a fox and barrels through the opening of a dilapidated fence, Poppy chases Pepper. A wool-capped boy wrangles Pepper and returns the pup to Poppy. As chapter two commences, Poppy and Pepper head straight for the fence; Poppy and the boy reunite for a wondrous adventure.
Kurimoto uses pen and ink to produce his meticulous sepia-toned illustrations. He's an indisputable master of perspective, giving readers beautiful views. His insightful precision depicts Poppy's closed-eye appreciation of birdsong and the intricacies of a blooming wildflower. Kurimoto brilliantly manages to thread exploration, memory, renewal, and gratitude throughout his exact, ruler-straight panels. Wildful is a breathtaking, wildly welcoming achievement. --Terry Hong