Ripple: A Predilection for Tina Format: Hardcover

In Ripple, Martin is a floundering painter desperately attempting to pursue his fine-art inclinations rather than toil in the world of commercial art. He hires a model, Tina, to pose for a series of paintings he dubs “The Eroticism of Homeliness.” Over time, their relationship evolves from a tenuous working relationship to a confused sexual entanglement. Martin’s initial repulsion for Tina slowly turns to attraction, causing him to re-evaluate his own notions of beauty and sexuality. Tina’s motives in working for Martin are slowly turned upside-down as well, leading toward the book’s inevitable, explosive ending. Sad, funny, and often uncomfortably titillating, Ripple is rendered with kinetic realism.

Dave Cooper is an animator, designer, and cartoonist who lives in Ontario, Canada. He has worked on Futurama, and co-created Pig Goat Banana Cricket for Nickelodeon.

David Cronenberg is an acclaimed Canadian director, best known for his work in the body horror and noir genres, such as The Fly and Eastern Promises.