Books: Inside Vineyland

Perhaps the best way to explain "Inside Vineyland," an indie comic book by Laura Weinstein, is to compare it with other works. This is a short trip through the surreal imagination of its author, not some epic life story like "Persepolis." At times, though, the artwork has the uncluttered energy of "Krazy Kat," or the freewheeling parody of "Mad" magazine. Nevertheless, the whole affair is uniquely Weinstein.

It's an interesting comic book, and it's definitely short enough to be absorbed in one sitting. The longest and best piece, "Robot Quest For Love," concerns the trials and travails of a robot in whitebread Midwestern town. In any case, it's cheap, and worth a look if you like the art style.