To Derf Backderf, 'Jeff' was a much more complex figure: a high school friend with whom he had shared classrooms, hallways, and car rides.

To the public, Dahmer was a monster who committed unthinkable atrocities. This new paperback edition will coincide with the release of the movie adaptation of My Friend Dahmer and will include additional bonus content from the author archives. In 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer - the most notorious serial killer since Jack the Ripper - seared himself into the American consciousness. With profound insight, what emerges is a Jeffrey Dahmer that few ever really knew, and readers will never forget. In My Friend Dahmer, a haunting and original graphic novel, writer-artist Backderf creates a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of a disturbed young man struggling against the morbid urges emanating from the deep recesses of his psyche-a shy kid, a teenage alcoholic, and a goofball who never quite fit in with his classmates. To Derf Backderf, Dahmer was a much more complex figure: a high school friend with whom he had shared classrooms, hallways, and car rides. I think about him a lot whenever I think about this book. He follows me around a lot, Backderf says.

During that time, Backderf was hanging out at a friend’s house only 150 yards away. In 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer-the most notorious serial killer since Jack the Ripper-seared himself into the American consciousness. Dahmer killed Hicks at his house June 18, 1978, and spent nearly two weeks taking apart and disposing of the body. Club, comiXology, Boing Boing, Publishers Weekly, MTV Geek, and more! Named a BEST OF 2012 by Time, The Village Voice, A.V. Backderf is quite skilled in using comics to tell this tale of a truly weird and sinister 1970s adolescent world.” -R.

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf