Asterios Polyp

Summary

Asterios Polyp is a visually inventive graphic novel about an arrogant, middle-aged architect whose life collapses after a personal crisis. When his home is destroyed by fire, Asterios leaves New York and drifts into small-town life, working as a mechanic while reflecting on his past. The narrative shifts between his present struggles and memories of his failed marriage to Hana, an artist whose warmth and creativity clashed with his rigid rationalism. The story explores dualities—order vs. chaos, logic vs. emotion, male vs. female—and how these tensions define relationships. Mazzucchelli’s art style constantly shifts to match perspective, with color palettes and visual motifs used to embody philosophical ideas. Asterios Polyp is both character study and meditation on art, love, and the human need for balance. It is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious literary graphic novels of the 21st century.