Acme Novelty Library

The Acme Novelty Library is a solo comic book series created, written, and drawn by the acclaimed American cartoonist Chris Ware. It began publication in the early 1990s and serves as a testing ground and collection for his deeply detailed, melancholic stories.

The series is famous for its highly experimental narrative techniques, often utilizing complex architectural layouts, intricate diagrams, and non-linear storytelling. Ware frequently explores themes of loneliness, depression, and the passage of time through deeply flawed characters.

The pages of the Acme Novelty Library introduced and featured some of Chris Ware's most beloved recurring characters. Most notably, it serialized the deeply emotional story of Jimmy Corrigan, a meek loner, which was later collected into the award-winning graphic novel "Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth."

Historically, the series was published as large-format, individually numbered comic books by Fantagraphics Books. The physical publication itself is notable for its high-quality paper stock and design, often mimicking early 20th-century print advertising and catalogs.