Guy Delisle and Jerusalem come to Montreal

Initially trained as an animator, Quebec City native Guy Delisle turned to comics as ever more of animation is outsourced abroad. Traveling alongside his wife, a Doctors Without Borders administrator, and children, he has gone to some of the least-travelled and most politically unsavoury—and, let’s face it, most dangerous—places on earth, recording his experiences in a series of comic travelogues.

His latest book, Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City, is being celebrated tonight, Friday July 20th at Librairie Drawn and Quarterly. The book follows up on his last several books, Shenzhen, Pyongyang and Burma Chronicles, and it shares these books’ striking greige palette, accessible narrative and compelling insights into places many of us have not and may never go.

His voice is fresh, funny and exceedingly honest, and he’s not afraid to poke at nationalist foibles and cultural clichés, while still giving privileged access to the cities and countries he visits by engaging with unique characters that fall far outside the expected.

Delisle will be give a presentation about his latest book at 7 p.m., followed by a signing session, and copies of his gorgeous book will of course be available for sale on-site. ■