Joel Rose reviews two to-be-released graphic novels at the Los Angeles Times: Playback, an adaptation of a Raymond Chandler screenplay (never filmed) by French authors Ted Benoit and François Ayroles (it was already published in France); and A Scanner Darkly, adapted from the Richard Linklater movie, based on a Philip K. Dick's novel, with added dialogue and captions by American Splendor's Harvey Pekar.

Rose intertwines his analysis with some Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) quotes: "'Each successive frame of a movie is projected on exactly the same space — the screen,' explains McCloud, 'while each frame of comics must occupy a different space.'"