Book excerpt: A collection of wry, meditative comics from the cartoonist and Lemony Snicket illustrator In what has become his calling card, the cartoonist Seth lovingly and exquisitely designs Palookaville #22, adorning the cover with green foil, and the interior with gatefolds and ornate endpapers. On sumptuous display is Seth's continual exploration of the past and the search for resonance in the dusty corners of his consciousness. In three separate sections, this bittersweet reconciliation with the past and bygone eras manifests both in his comics and his non-comics art. Readers will return to the world of Dominion, where Abe and Simon Matchcard of Clyde Fans are engaged in a war of the words over the slow, painful disintegration of their family business. Their disagreement leads Abe to visit an old flame and further ensue in a battle of memories, in the conclusion of part four of Seth's long running and acclaimed narrative. In chapter two of his autobiographical serial "Nothing Lasts", Seth revisits his small town Ontario childhood. He explores his town's library, drug store, and post office, places whose daily presence in his young life provided comfort and stability amid the school taunts, the many moves Seth's family endured, and his parents' unhappy marriage. Each volume of Palookaville treats readers to a new facet of Seth's creative output. Volume 22 features a photo essay of the fictional history he created for the actual Crown Barber Shop in Guelph, Ontario, owned and operated by his wife Tania, complete with a comic on the art of barbering. The Palookaville digest is the grand endeavour of one of Canada's greatest artists.