In the 'Arts and Leisure' section of the Sunday New York Times George Gene Gustines reviewed Nick Bertozzi's The Salon ($19.95), a graphic novel published by St. Martins last month that tells the story of the birth of cubism (and throws in a murder mystery for good measure). Gustines notes that the 'standout character' in The Salon is Pablo Picasso and that Bertozzi makes a connection between Picasso's love of comic strips and the artist's use of 'loose, cartoony eyes' in his famous portrait of Gertrude Stein.

In addition to his comments on The Salon Gustines, who entitled his story 'When Picasso Went Down to Georgia,' also chronicles how an excerpt from an early version of Bertozzi's saga, which was reprinted in the Free Comic Book Day Alternative Comics #2 got Rome, Georgia retailer Gordon Lee in trouble when it was mistakenly given away during a Halloween street fair (see 'Gordon Lee Will Go to Trial').  At a benefit for Mr. Lee held on April 26th in New York City Nick Bertozzi did his part to help Gordon Lee, whose case will go to trial next month, with a drawing of a 'mug' shot of Picasso, which was sold in order to raise money for the Comic Book Legal Defense Committee.