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**WINNER OF THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION**

**A GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR**

A stunning first graphic novel by a Cape/Comica/Observer graphic short story competition winner – a tale of a skirmish in the ice-cream wars that is worthy of Alan Bennett

In the small seaside town of Dobbiston, Howard sells ice creams from his van, just like his father before him. But when he notices a downturn in trade, he soon realises its cause: Tony Augustus, Howard’s half-brother, whose ice-cream empire is expanding all over the North-West…

Flake, Matthew Dooley’s debut graphic novel, tells of how this epic battle turns out, and how Howard – helped by the Dobbiston Mountain Rescue team – overcomes every obstacle and triumphs in the end.

Publisher Review

[Matthew Dooley] handles this gloomy trifecta of middle age, limited financial prospects and an English costal resort in the melancholy style familiar to fans of Chris Ware, but unlike that great prophet of emptiness, restores a sunburst of optimism to this dismal corner of the nation by book’s end. * Strong Words * Dooley is deft at employing a Chris Ware-like sense of ennui… Flake is principally comedic, comedic in the way that Magnus Mills is comedic or Wallace and Gromit… We will watch to see what he does next with baited breath. * Bookmunch * Full of irresistible puns… A meld of Alan Bennett and the American comic-book artist Chris Ware…and also Tom Gauld. — Tim Lewis * Observer * Matthew Dooley’s debut graphic novel Flake is a joy… If it was a film, you could see Bill Forsyth directing it. If it was on TV, you’d file it next to your Detectorists box set. But as it’s a graphic novel, think of Joff Winterhart with a cone and a squirt of strawberry sauce. — Teddy Jamieson * Herald Scotland *