“The job of a dam keeper is to keep the darkness away.”
Reading this pair of graphic novels whose continuing story is haunting and complex but also wonderful and honest. The art feels like it was executed thoughtfully and deliberately, layered and deeply nuanced but not heavy. Yes, darkness is prevalent throughout the story but there’s also friendship, light, hope and a sense of purpose. And some of the best rendering of light and mood we’ve ever seen.
The Dam Keeper and The Dam Keeper: Word Without Darkness were created by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi of animation studio Tonko House and published by First Second Books. Click here to see a preview of the animated film version of The Dam Keeper and other Tonko House projects.