Singing the Body Electric

✓ kingstoken's 2026 Book Bingo: Graphic Novel or Comic

Riverges lointain by Anaïs Flogny (also published in English as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes with translation by Dan Christensen) is a historical graphic novel and gay love story involving American gangsters in the 1940s.

The protagonist is Jules Tivoli, a young Italian immigrant who captures the attention of Chicago kingpin Adam Czar. The two become romantically involved, but their life grows more complex after they're forced to flee to New York City, where Jules becomes involved with the Casa Nostra and gains a partner—Eufrasio—who insists that Adam is holding him back. As the conflicts between the realities of criminal life and the foundations of Jules and Adam's relationship deepen, things eventually reach a breaking point that irrevocably changes the lives of all three.

I really liked this one. First off, the art is great. Its blend of classic and modern comic styles works perfectly for the setting, the visual storytelling is strong, and its use of alternating sets of muted colour palettes is one of those things that reminds me of where comics can uniquely shine. The writing is just as good, with well-drawn characters, a clear arc for Jules, and the right amount of emotional weight to have me invested without going too far into melodrama. Also, you know I'm always here for age gaps, a strong sense of time and place, visually contrasting characters, and moral ambiguity. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Anaïs Flogny does next!