In the world of alternative comics, Richard Sala is something of an oddity: While the major trend lately has been autobiographical cartooning firmly grounded in the squalor of twentysomething existence, Sala creates strange detective stories with an occult edge. The Chuckling Whatsit is his most ambitious piece yet: Originally serialized in Fantagraphics' Zero Zero anthology, Sala's latest work is 182 pages of shadowy secret societies, gruesome murders, and relentless paranoia. But he never takes himself too seriously, despite the fact that his book begins with quotes from Kafka and Susan Sontag; his cartoony drawing style and campy characters superbly offset the dark tone of the story. Ultimately, it's that story that carries The Chuckling Whatsit: Although its ornate lettering and perfect crosshatching are great to look at, the truly admirable quality of The Chuckling Whatsit lies in its labyrinthine plot. The loyalties and goals of the large cast of characters revolve around the hapless protagonist in an ever-shifting puzzle, never solidifying until the final scene. At a time when many alternative comics seem to be impulsively created page by page, Sala's epic, tightly woven narrative is especially commendable.