The humour largely exists in the juxtaposition of this larger-than-life, mythical figure of Galaad showing up on his white steed in the midst of a very ordinary English neighbourhood. But what will she be willing to take in return for the nice cup that she thinks looks so well beside her figuring of a basset hound? It isn’t long before he returns though, hoping to offer Mrs. Whitaker makes him tea (after demanding identification) but turns down his request for the grail. When Galaad comes to the door, questing for the grail, Mrs. She brings home the Holy Grail where she happily displays it on her mantel. Like many, she sticks to her routine, which includes her visits to the thrift shop. The story and the pictures are wonderfully married for this funny and poignant story. I picked it up on a whim while perusing the New Arrivals shelf at my local library and read it in one sitting on a bench in the sunshine before heading to work. The illustrations and the medieval-style illuminations and lettering add so much to this simple story. This is the concept behind Chivalry, a short story by Gaiman turned into a luscious graphic novel by Colleen Doran. What if the Holy Grail ended up in thrift shop in a quiet town in England? What if a little old lady who frequented the shop found it and, liking it, brought it home? What if she liked the way it looked on the mantelpiece beside the photo of her late husband? And what happens when Sir Galahad shows up on his quest for the Holy Grail? Chivalry – Neil Gaiman & Colleen Doran (Dark Horse Books, 2022)

Chivalry by Neil Gaiman