Graphic Novels

Seasoned fans of Meg (a witch), Mogg (a black cat), and Owl (an owl) will recognize some familiar panels from the R-rated daily postings that kept me on the edge of my phone during 2020. This tome perfectly captures the paranoia and confusion of early quarantine, but tenfold in the insanity that is the crew’s hard partying ways including werewolf divorce, arson, several bags full of thongs, a doomed treehouse, and a whole lot of dysfunctional love. —Celeste

Wow, what a fun and enjoyable read! Shang Chi has spent a long time running from the legacy of his supervillain father, only to discover that some things cannot be outrun. This series reminds me why I love comics—action and witty banter interspersed with fantastic characters and truly touching emotional beats. Told with a love of the genre and an eye to keeping things fresh, Shang Chi is a superhero whose stories you won’t want to miss. — Jax

Poet and novelist Hiromi Goto makes her graphic novel debut in this tale of an elderly woman, Kumiko, who leaves the assisted living center her daughter placed her in order to enjoy her independence in a bachelor apartment. There she rejoices in a simple and solitary life. She cooks herself tasty meals, goes swimming at the community center…and traps Death in her vacuum cleaner. With quietly beautiful artwork and a dash of Miyazaki-esqe whimsy, Shadow Life explores themes of aging, autonomy, and eldercare through the story of one woman who is just not ready to go yet. — Molly

Alison Bechdel (Fun Home) returns with a new memoir that traverses the decades of a culture, a country, and life, showcasing a new facet of her own lived history. Framed by family, lovers, literature, philosophy, and the shifting US political landscape, The Secret to Superhuman Strength shows how Bechdel’s evolving relationship with her body has shaped her existential understanding. Her frank writing, which approaches the poetic, combines with her playful art to create an engrossing read, touching on universal questions of being. — Jocelyn

This irreverent graphic novel, translated from the Spanish, follows a down-and-out illustrator who teams up with a quirky, free-spirited woman. Together the two start a food truck and then end up on the run from a rival food trucker who wishes them off their turf. The art has a gestural style and a cinematic feeling, the muted palette of reds, greys, and greens gives the graphics a dusty quality and sets the tone for an adventure across the desert. — Celeste

The Daughters of Ys is a modern reimagining of an ancient Breton legend about a wealthy city sunk into the sea by magic and vice. Jo Rioux’s dreamy palette and illustrations have, like M.T. Anderson’s story, a deceptive simplicity that pulls you deeper into the complex currents of duty and desire, love and loyalty, loss and responsibility, and family and nation, amidst a tale of dark magics and miracles. The depths of this may haunt you...but in the best way. — Jocelyn

What an absolute treat! I was so excited to finally read Bechdel’s seminal work, and even more surprised by how relevant and relatable it is still. I adore the lovably neurotic Mo, who is as concerned by the state of the world in the 1980s as we are now, and the hilarious and diverse cast of her friends. If you’re a fan of Dykes to Watch Out For or are perhaps looking for a supportive and affirming group of queers, you need this collection in your life. — Jax

It feels like every college student is trying to find themself and often it’s the failures that become the most meaningful. With Yanow’s expert eye and bold art style, The Contradictions explores the world of the college student trying to find themself and finding that their failures end up being the most meaningful part of their journey. While studying abroad, Sophie falls into a group of anarchists and sees firsthand the struggle and contradictions not just of her new friends but of herself. Yanow has managed to tap into the psyche of youth and come out with some profound insights into the human condition.  — Ivy
 

My favorite thing about graphic novels is how much they can convey within a frame, and in Welcome to the New World, I felt the poignancies, laughter, and desperate desire for home on every page. Meet the Aldabaans, a family fleeing war-torn Syria only to land in the US on the eve of the election in 2016. Now the rest of their family is left behind and the Aldabaans must assimilate and carve out a life as best as they can. A fascinating look at modern immigrant life that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. — Jax

Bea, a young girl who has intense anxiety, and a Galdurian, a species assumed extinct, team up to find Bea’s missing and increasingly infirm grandfather. Traveling through Irpa (their world), they discover beautiful wonders and creeping dangers. A wildly inventive start of what is sure to be an exciting graphic novel series, I couldn’t put it down for anything. I can’t wait for the next installment! Fans of Amulet and Mighty Jack take notice, this one's for you. —Ivy