A gripping and lushly illustrated tale of love and lies set between 1930s Chicago and New York’s criminal underworld, perfect for fans of manga like Banana Fish and readers of graphic novels like Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me who are looking for adult LGBTQIA+ fiction
Chicago, 1930. Jules Tivoli is a penniless Italian immigrant doing odd jobs to make ends meet. A twist of fate causes him to cross paths with Adam, a kingpin in Chicago’s criminal underworld who sees something in Jules that nobody else does—something special.
Under Adam’s wing, Jules becomes somebody and falls in love hard with the man who made him. But after an FBI crackdown, Adam and Jules must flee to New York to escape being caught in the ensuing chaos.
In New York, Jules’s Italian heritage gains him access, recognition, and power in the Cosa Nostra crime family. As he becomes more important in a city where Adam can’t seem to catch a break, he meets Eufrasio—his handsome, violent, and ambitious new partner who insists that Adam is holding Jules back. But Jules would be nothing without Adam—wouldn’t he?
Torn between his past and his future, a sudden betrayal forces Jules to find a way to protect his love and prove his loyalty—if he can even manage to make it out alive.
Praise
“Flogny’s elegant artwork, though, goes down smooth as silk. She evokes the 1930s and ’40s in choice background details and tailored dress, while tastefully suggesting violence rather than depicting graphic bloodshed (though she never soft-pedals her characters’ dark deeds). Her figures move gracefully through the chaos.”
—Publishers Weekly
"The world building is this story Is impeccable, with historical detail in the backgrounds, body language, and character designs to set the stage for this classic crime drama."
—Booklist
"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is an exceptional beginning to what I believe will be a remarkable portfolio from Anaïs Flogny. My sincere hope is for future work from the talented Flogny will also be translated into English."
—Gay League
“Flogny’s crisp artwork nails the period details, from cars to clothing to interior design, and her understanding of body language enriches the character interactions.”
—AV Club
