Alternative Comics publisher Jeff Mason began to pull together 9-11 Emergency Relief the weekend after the attacks, and it was released in January. The focus of the work by over 80 artists is on the initial reaction mostly to media reports, but several give eyewitness accounts. All proceeds have gone to 9-11 funds.

While President Bush used language like "evildoer" which could have been taken from the pages of a comic book, many of the pieces display more subtlety and depth over just a few pages.

Or even one page. Harvey Pekar (who writes about music and is known for American Splendor) opens the book with the first panel showing him hearing the news on the radio. In the bottom panel, he says, "I bet it don't get any easier from here on..."

Josh Neufeld's contribution (which is online) weaves lyrics from "New York, New York" into his observations from Brooklyn. Fly saw the attacks while riding to work. Dean Haspiel (available online) observes it from his window.

The online version of Scott Morse's piece has color which isn't in the book version. Though comic legend Will Eisner's drawing of a television showing Ground Zero has red blood dripping out of it.

Jeff Smith tells of watching the coverage in Norway and returning home to fly a flag for the first time.

I could go on, but the anniversary coverage is beggining. And the best thing to do anyway is to flip through a copy at your local comic shop or independent bookstore (or just buy it here).