Pictures and Words collects some of the most outstanding contemporary examples of pictorial storytelling. Celebrating illustration that stands on its own to tell a story rather than simply accompanying or adorning another medium, the book includes extracts from graphic novels, comic strips and books, as well as single-panel cartoons and drawings. Words are present in the form of character dialogue or narration, or sometimes a story emerges from a series of illustrated panels that contain no text at all. With or without words, this is a highly expressive medium, dealing with a vast range of subjects from political issues to the most complex of human emotions. Comics and graphic novels are currently enjoying huge popularity in mainstream culture. This timely book brings together work by 30 key artists from around the world, including Paul Davis, Benoît Jacques and Andrzej Klimowski.

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Roanne Bell is a freelance writer. During her four years at Creative Review, she edited two books on illustration: Pen & Mouse and Hand to Eye. Mark Sinclair is Senior Writer at Creative Review.