The Lost Sunday
Author/Artist: Iléana Surducan
Published 2026 by Oni Press
What a delightful book from Iléana Surducan!
The art fits the “fairy-tale retelling” perfectly. There is a wonderful storybook quality to the artwork that complements the narrative beautifully.
Yes, there is history here.
The notes in the back explain that “Frau Holle” was published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm. In that story, a girl drops her spindle into a well and, fearing her stepmother will scold her, jumps after it. She enters the Other World, helps an oven and an apple tree, and eventually reaches Frau Holle’s house, where she stays as a maid. When she shakes the pillows, it snows back on Earth. For her hard work, she is rewarded with gold. Her jealous stepsister follows the same path but refuses to help anyone and is ultimately covered in tar instead.
Another influence is “The Old Man’s Wise Daughter,” which appeared in 1872 as part of The Legends or Fairy Tales of Romanians, collected by Petre Ispirescu. In that story, a girl is driven from home by her stepmother. Along the way, she cleans a tree, a well, and an oven before reaching the house of Saint Friday, where she must care for the saint’s children, including beasts and dragons. As a reward, she chooses the smallest treasure chest, which turns out to be filled with jewels.
Surducan updates things a bit, but not that much when it comes to the core of these stories. And that’s a good thing. She takes the familiar fairy-tale elements and turns them into something that feels fresh without losing their original spirit.
At its heart, The Lost Sunday is about realizing that while we all have daily responsibilities, we also need to stop and relax in whatever way works for us. And what better way to do that than by reading a delightful graphic novel?
The story starts with a somewhat dark mood, not nearly as dark as the original Grimm tale, I’m sure, but it smoothly transitions into a much brighter and more positive story.
It’s easy to see why this book was nominated for an Eisner Award.
I’m 66 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but this is also a book you could read with your kids. There’s something here for both adults and younger readers.
Recommended.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
The Lost Sunday
Author/Artist: Iléana Surducan
Published 2026 by Oni Press
What a delightful book from Iléana Surducan!
The art fits the “fairy-tale retelling” perfectly. There is a wonderful storybook quality to the artwork that complements the narrative beautifully.
Yes, there is history here.
The notes in the back explain that “Frau Holle” was published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm. In that story, a girl drops her spindle into a well and, fearing her stepmother will scold her, jumps after it. She enters the Other World, helps an oven and an apple tree, and eventually reaches Frau Holle’s house, where she stays as a maid. When she shakes the pillows, it snows back on Earth. For her hard work, she is rewarded with gold. Her jealous stepsister follows the same path but refuses to help anyone and is ultimately covered in tar instead.
Another influence is “The Old Man’s Wise Daughter,” which appeared in 1872 as part of The Legends or Fairy Tales of Romanians, collected by Petre Ispirescu. In that story, a girl is driven from home by her stepmother. Along the way, she cleans a tree, a well, and an oven before reaching the house of Saint Friday, where she must care for the saint’s children, including beasts and dragons. As a reward, she chooses the smallest treasure chest, which turns out to be filled with jewels.
Surducan updates things a bit, but not that much when it comes to the core of these stories. And that’s a good thing. She takes the familiar fairy-tale elements and turns them into something that feels fresh without losing their original spirit.
At its heart, The Lost Sunday is about realizing that while we all have daily responsibilities, we also need to stop and relax in whatever way works for us. And what better way to do that than by reading a delightful graphic novel?
The story starts with a somewhat dark mood, not nearly as dark as the original Grimm tale, I’m sure, but it smoothly transitions into a much brighter and more positive story.
It’s easy to see why this book was nominated for an Eisner Award.
I’m 66 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but this is also a book you could read with your kids. There’s something here for both adults and younger readers.
Recommended.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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