The second volume of Art Spiegelman's award-winning graphic memoir finds the artist grappling with the success of the first, and questioning his ability to pull off such an ambitious project.

In doing so, he adds another layer to the book's metaphorical conceit of depicting various ethnicities as different animals, and creates a work more reflective and self-aware than its predecessor.

Meanwhile, as Spiegelman's often contentious relationship with his father takes him from the Catskills to Florida and back to New York, Vladek's recollections take him from the horrors of Auschwitz through the end of the war. But although he's finally free of the concentration camp, his trials are far from over.

Recommended in This Episode:

• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
• Safe Area Gorazde and War's End: Profiles From Bosnia 1995-96, by Joe Sacco

Join us in two weeks as we change course to discuss Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon, by Matt Fraction and David Aja!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!