When you think Kelly Froh, you generally think of superbly-constructed and heartfelt memoir and autobio comics, either short-form or long, but with her latest self-published ‘zine, The Downed Deer, she blows that perception right out of the water — and the results are quietly, and frighteningly, glorious.

One of the best Short Run debuts I picked up this past November, this handsomely-formatted comic is riso-printed in rich burgundy ink on thick cream-colored paper, so it’s a pleasure to look at before you’ve even looked at it good and proper, but I should probably warn you : don’t give this even a cursory glance-though prior to reading it or you’ll “spoil” the whole damn thing. There’s a key surprise toward the end that is best left exactly that, so I’ll refrain from giving too detailed a plot recap here.

What I will say is that the fluidity of Froh’s cartooning…