Our twelfth graphic novel issue presents work by writers and authors grappling with a range of social and political concerns.  Although the art may be in black and white, the topics are anything but, as writers here look to both the future and the past to shed light on current events. Jean-Pierre Filiu and David B. challenge the official narrative of the US involvement in Iraq. Hannele Mikaela Taivassalo and Catherine Anyango reveal the dark side of a perfect world. Davide Reviati listens in on Italian villagers slamming Roma immigrants. In our first graphic piece from the Czech Republic, Lucie Lomová stages a theatrical mystery. And Barbara Yelin and Thomas von Steinaecker show a young German physicist finding the formula for success in a sexist field.