We live in a golden age of comics.  Graphic memoirs, novels, histories, literary criticism, and good old-fashioned comic strips are thriving like never before, and this fascinating collection features examples of each. Running the gamut of notable cartoonists from Scott McCloud to Alison Bechdel to Chris Ware and many others, Outside the Box (Univ. of Chicago, $26) contains twelve interviews, three of them not previously published, between Hillary Chute and these innovative artists. The conversations let you in on the stories behind the stories; you earn about the artists’ different perspectives, glimpse the rich graphics community, and come to understand the past, present, and future of graphics.  Each chapter features several examples of a cartoonist’s work or inspirations, adding up to seventy illustrations  altogether.  Tracking the ascent of comics from the 1940s to today, this anthology is great for comics buffs and novices alike.