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Mardou’s frank and sometimes horrifying journey into her ancestry arouses empathy and understanding and will support readers in their own quests for mental wellness. It’s also a compelling adventure story about how the mind works and can heal itself with capable, professional help. Highly recommended.
Focused in on a few aspects of its source to a fault, this is an elusive graphic adaptation of a modern Japanese classic.
Rich with information and buzzing with conviction, this is a memorable and skillful graphic adaptation.
PREMIUM
Masterpiece
Bendis’s fast-paced plotting and witty dialogue and Maleev’s gritty, atmospheric illustration result in an energetic, high-stakes crime caper.
PREMIUM
Cemetery Kids Don’t Die, Vol. 1
A chilling reflection on the cost of overreliance on technology and the seductive power of virtual realities to reshape our identities and relationships, sure to resonate with both horror and science fiction fans.
Manara combines figures rendered with sensuous minimalism and intricately detailed backgrounds to create a sense of deep immersion in 16th-century Rome in this enthralling tale of the legendarily volatile “Master of Light and Shadow.”
PREMIUM
Distant Ruptures
CF’s (Gymnasium) sparse, highly expressive illustration, experimental approach to page and panel layout, and narrative pacing challenge traditional perceptions of how a comic can be read and experienced. A sometimes enigmatic but ultimately deeply engaging collection from an expert of the form.
PREMIUM
Love Me: A Romance Story
Clichéd dialogue and predictable plotting aside, this is an ultimately charming story about a robot’s quest to rescue the human woman of his dreams.
PREMIUM
Dog Days
A deeply moving story about the healing power of companionship, rendered in strikingly evocative black-and-white brushwork.
Whether he’s foiling an invasion by the Empire of Lizards, fighting sandworms in Antares to work off his debts, or matching wits against a race of butterfly- and onion-eating Icemen, Joe’s hardboiled attitude and penchant for swashbuckling make every page of this volume a captivating and thrillingly absurd adventure in itself.
Highly recommended for any fans of Bunn’s previous works. Fans of violent storylines, including Killadelphia by Rodney Barnes and The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, will find the artwork enthralling.
Experts in various disciplines may disagree with some of these interpretations of history, but the point is to engage readers and inspire curiosity rather than dictate details. Highly recommended for high schoolers, college age, and older, including for classrooms.
PREMIUM
Jessica Farm
An exhilaratingly horrific tour de force. There may not be another creator of horror stories working in comics, film, or prose today who comes even close to rivaling Simmons’s ability to evoke an atmosphere of menace and dread.
PREMIUM
UFO Mushroom Invasion
A harrowing alien-invasion thriller with an unexpectedly philosophical bent, due to several chapters which diverge from the main plot to deliver the author’s personal reflections on the vastness of outer space and the intricacies of animal and plant life on Earth.
PREMIUM
Fortune and Glory: The Musical
Bendis relates his journey from comic book super fan to industry professional with infectious enthusiasm in this second installment of his memoirs, after Fortune and Glory, Vol. 1.
Russell and Meli deliver a sharply observed, often poignant reflection on humanity’s search for meaning in this unforgettable tragicomedy.
In its future focus, this collection’s 140+ selected imaginings of hope and humor complement the 2021 COVID Chronicles anthology of stories set during the pandemic. Highly recommended for general and medical graphic novel collections and for libraries supporting comics art instruction.
A remarkable tale that’s enriched with few words and plenty of neutral-toned illustrations. It beautifully spotlights movement and the music of Pärt.
This novel in intricately crafted interconnected stories represents by far the most emotionally affecting and thematically rich entry in Shaw’s already-impressive body of work. Not to be missed.
The authors make a compelling case for the importance of mysticism and magical thinking for the development of human consciousness and civilization in this marvelously entertaining, stunningly illustrated and designed masterwork.
Brubaker and Phillips (Where the Body Was) continue to prove themselves as two of the very best creators to ever generate works of sequential storytelling in this haunting, knottily plotted hybrid of thriller and character study.
In his graphic novel debut, cartoonist Horvath’s stunningly gorgeous painted artwork evokes classic children’s book illustration to create a sense of witnessing raw transgression against all that is good and pure. The effect is both viscerally disturbing and, for fans of horror and serial killer thrillers, immensely thrilling.
PREMIUM
Brittle Joints
Sweeney’s debut graphic novel embodies a plea for understanding and empathy regarding the possible hidden health problems of others. A sobering read-alike to What’s Wrong?? by Erin Williams, Ripple Effects by Jordan Hart, and Notes from a Sickbed by Tessa Brunton.
PREMIUM
Milk Without Honey
Elegant and tragic, this contemplative contemporary art comic succinctly snapshots an important example of humanity’s destructive dominion over the natural world.
Collecting one of the most popular, beloved, and influential comic strips ever created, this volume and the four preceding it are essential purchases for all libraries.
A piercing, straightforward summation of the challenges faced when carving out one’s identity as a parent.
PREMIUM
The Science of Ghosts
Paranormal soft horror with a sexy vibe. Readers, especially mystery fans, will find this blend of the arcane and the academic intriguing.
PREMIUM
Hogbook and Lazer Eyes
This brief, visually rich graphic novel evokes an imperfect, appealing vision of domestic harmony.
PREMIUM
The Wendy Award
Scott’s nuanced characterization and bitingly humorous insight into the contemporary art world result in an incisive comedy examining an artist’s struggle for authenticity.
PREMIUM
Disciples of the Soil
Mure’s watercolor and pencil illustration brings this fantasy steeped in real-world political issues to life so vividly that readers might find themselves worrying the characters will pop up off the page and scurry away.
PREMIUM
Ninja Sarutobi Sasuke
Shigeru’s sense of design and bold use of collage and montage effects result in an enjoyably silly and absurd masterpiece of early psychedelic art.
PREMIUM
Subgenre
Kindt (Mind MGMT) and Torres (Superman ’78) draw inspiration from iconic pulp authors such as Philip K. Dick, Raymond Chandler, Robert E. Howard, and Philip José Farmer in this riveting celebration of genre storytelling.
A stunningly illustrated exploration of alienation, obsession, and the experience of yearning for connection with another human being, particularly when one feels that they are only capable of expressing themselves through art.
PREMIUM
You and a Bike and a Road
Davis evokes each episode of her long journey with perfectly chosen, keenly observed details and raw honesty, providing a sense of intimate insight into her life, mind, and creative process.
PREMIUM
The Deviant, Vol. 1
Bestselling author Tynion (Blue Book) and illustrator Hixson (The Plot) deliver a moodily illustrated and psychologically complex horror thriller that examines the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the humanity of an individual who does not conform to the societal expectations of the prevailing culture.
PREMIUM
Drawing Blood: Spilled Ink
Semi-autobiographical elements offering insight into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cocreator Eastman prove fascinating enough to just barely make up for the insertion of a relatively cliché thriller subplot.
PREMIUM
Anna
Oberländer writes a graphic novel that is quirky in tone and execution, but readers in search of deeper commentary about feminism, body positivity, and intergenerational trauma might be left unsatisfied.
PREMIUM
Spiral and Other Stories
Koch considers whether humans can understand and protect nature, and her multi-form characters call readers to recognize them, to empathize and preserve. A good volume for ecology collections; also important for students of graphic narrative.
PREMIUM
Crave
An exquisitely illustrated, propulsive-plotted erotic thriller from Llovet (Porcelain).
Parisian cartoonist La Police’s English-language debut pokes fun at tropes drawn from the pulpier genres, with a thrillingly unique blend of deadpan humor and surreal silliness that is both uproarious and evocative of a fascinating, singular vision.
An uncommonly entertaining biography and reconsideration of Kafka’s complex character, released to coincide with the centennial of his death.
PREMIUM
1949
Weaver (Paklis) merges elements of cyberpunk and film noir in this admirably ambitious, totally engaging sci-fi thriller.
Fans are likely to find this gorgeously illustrated, uniquely immersive conclusion to Karen’s story well worth the wait.
An essential collection of intricately plotted, emotionally complex, wonderfully entertaining tales written and drawn by one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
Kaneko retains Tezuka’s relentless pacing, flair for melodrama, and thematic focus on justice, corruption, and individuality within an oppressive society, while integrating elements of body horror and an increased focus on the unsustainability of societies where vital resources are controlled by a thriving minority, to the detriment of the masses.
A debut graphic memoir that was originally published in Spain and won the Popular Prize award at the Salón del Cómic in Barcelona, this moving and devastating portrait of a little-understood condition will fascinate and educate readers.
Dorrance’s (It’s All About Mimi) gorgeous, plaintive story speaks to those caring for aging parents and realizing they must eventually prepare for their own exits. A lyrical read-alike for Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast.
Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic) offers a fine idyll through a fabulistic world that’s an appealing read for cozy fantasy fans.
PREMIUM
Dwellings
Readers who enjoyed Afterlife with Archie by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa or Octopus Girl by Toru Yamazaki will enjoy untangling the plots of these six cutesy yet highly disturbing stories.
PREMIUM
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons
Author Tieri (Multiversity: Harley Quinn Screws Up the DCU) and illustrator Miranda (We Live: Coming of Age) spin a thrilling adventure featuring the world-renowned King of the Monsters.
Author Sebela (Crowded Vol. 1) and illustrator Laming (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus) present a riveting science fiction thriller examining how hope can inspire heroism, or become an excuse for monstrousness, in the face of desperation.
A tender, probing exploration of queer identity in a world seemingly on the verge of collapse, brought to life with warmth and grace by Bulling’s (Cutes: Collected Queer and Trans Comics) exceptionally fluid, emotionally evocative linework.
Marra employs a loose, somewhat sketchy cartooning style that’s perfectly matched to his fast-paced, seemingly intuitive plotting. An occasionally shocking, sometimes nightmarish, completely unpredictable satire of modern masculinity.
PREMIUM
Army of One, Vol. 1
Despite an overabundance of exposition and worldbuilding, this is an intriguing initial offering from Lee (Hope Falls) in an ongoing sci-fi adventure, starring a charismatic queer teenager.
PREMIUM
Void Rivals, Vol. 1
Kirkman (Firepower) and illustrators De Felici (Oblivion Song Compendium) and Lopes craft a fantastic space opera centered on a fascinatingly complex pair of protagonists.
Tjong-Khing draws on psychedelic and pop art influences, using exaggerated figures, flamboyant gestures, and vivid color to evoke an uncanny sense of movement and unbridled emotion in this fascinatingly surreal dystopian science fiction pop fantasia.
Not a particularly great starting point for new readers, but so packed with magnificent action and trippy notions about human nature that even the uninitiated are likely to find something to enjoy in this operatic science fiction epic.
PREMIUM
Portrait of a Body
Moody, elegant, slow, and serious, Delporte’s self-portrait feels defined in great part by its beautiful, formidable frame.
PREMIUM
I Feel Awful, Thanks
Written from the heart and personal experience, Pickle’s debut is a compelling effort to help young adults feel seen through an imaginative delve into familiar psychological challenges.
Excellent for readers seeking to understand challenges facing devout LGBTQIA+ people and for religious queer individuals themselves.
A demanding historical narrative with a profound, ever-relevant vision of the human capacity for both cruelty and cultural persistence.
PREMIUM
Won’t Back Down
A visually and thematically varied pro-choice anthology with many thoughtful entries.
Czerwiec’s wrenching, inspiring story addresses how people should be treated by the medical system and challenges them to treat all patients as in Unit 371. Highly recommended.
These dozen dramatized interviews speak for the uncountable war veterans throughout history who died with their PTSD, guilt, and pain undiagnosed and misunderstood. Highly recommended for readers willing to brave the wars inside veterans and thus better understand the wars outside them.
An inventive introduction to what to expect for someone seriously ill with leukemia and for medical professionals needing insight into their patients’ points of view. Also, a sobering readalike for Marisa Acocella Marchetto’s Cancer Vixen, in which the author survives.
The raw accounts of these five tormented women reveal a disturbingly ineffective health system. Vital for health collections in public and university libraries.
PREMIUM
Everything Is OK
Those stuck in a destructive feedback loop of self-punishment will recognize themselves in Tung’s account and pick up ideas for exiting the downward spiral, perhaps deciding to trust a therapist to help them. Helpful for young adults as well as their elders.
For lovers of storytelling and lovers writ large, this is a masterful, unforgettable introduction to an essential romantic text.
PREMIUM
Nervosa
Challenging in its detail and honesty, this will draw sympathy from readers who recognize similarities to their own struggles, and it may spur readers to really see other people, not just encounter them superficially.
PREMIUM
Going Remote: A Teacher’s Story
A sobering and educational meditation on how medical and educational worlds both benefit and suffer from technological interventions.
PREMIUM
Memento Mori
Takalo’s wrenching account lays bare the difficulties of surviving an imperfect life even when things go well. A bittersweet guide to happiness for readers captivated by personal journeys.
Hilnama’s realistic details and encouragement would help any cancer patient prepare for the worst but work towards the best as well. A must-buy for most libraries.
PREMIUM
A Chance: Complete Edition
Inspiring and informative for would-be parents and for those who enjoy stories about real-life, complicated families.
PREMIUM
Ephemera: A Memoir
Mournful but somehow deeply soothing, Loewinsohn’s graphic memories conjure a human’s strength to perpetuate and reshape a bond, drawing creatively from only recollections and imaginings. This debut is a potent inspiration for readers yearning to reach toward important people of their own, now forever absent.
Capturing the zeitgeist of 2020, this anthology documents the suffering people behind the statistics: so many voices, so much death. Important for historical and medical collections, for education about crisis management, and also peerlessly entertaining.
Knisley’s painful yet often funny chronicle, spotlights difficult realities of childbearing that most women aren’t told about. Excellent background for prospective parents, their friends and relatives, and clinical professionals.
PREMIUM
Work-Life Balance
An inventive take on workplace barriers to mental health, the failure of safety nets, and the resilience of those relying on them.
Gruesome yet puckish, this summary conveys fascinating details of amputation, tourniquets, the phantom limb phenomenon, and prosthetics design. It makes a fine choice for adult and teen collections and for science curricula.
PREMIUM
Hummingbird Heart
A moving and entertaining reality check that will resonate with readers considering their own turning points.
Ronan’s lyrical, tragic story tells how death ends a life, not a relationship, and how forlorn lovers can savor their joy about those they love even while mourning their loss. Highly recommended.
Ollerton’s engaging collection makes a wide-ranging and emotionally rich introduction to the circumstances of people with autism. Useful for high schoolers as well as adults.
PREMIUM
Ripple Effects
An insightful presentation of the daily challenges and tradeoffs of living with an invisible, dangerous, and incurable illness. Educational and compelling for those with these illnesses and others who undoubtedly know but don’t recognize these individuals.
Millar’s skill for conveying characterization and exposition through action and Larraz’s (X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023) fluidly dynamic illustration make this an action-packed, breathtakingly paced, and surprisingly accessible superhero epic.
While some entries emphasize action sequences so heavily that the characters seem connected to the source material in name only, the majority are refreshingly contemporary updates of the intricate plotting and character dynamics present in Doyle’s original stories.
Botton’s deeply insightful script and knack for composing dialogue attuned to Tarantino’s distinctive rhythm and intensity make this an essential volume for fans of the filmmaker, as well as anyone interested in modern American cinema.
A razor-sharp satire of conservative values, bohemian ideals, outlaw culture, capitalism, and more, from a creator evincing a powerful, if idiosyncratic, vision of modern American life.
Matsumoto (Cats of the Louvre) offers a provocative meditation on the struggle to maintain artistic integrity while creating art for mass-market consumption.
PREMIUM
Four Gathered on Christmas Eve
An essential horror anthology from an all-star lineup of creators.
A well-crafted saga exploring the nature of evil, drawn from elements of the crime, horror, and science fiction genres. A perfect starting point for newcomers, while longtime Grendel readers should be thrilled at how Wagner has reinvigorated what was already considered a classic story.
Wertz’s immersive and sometimes very funny tale hardly fits the “completely average” subtitle, yet nearly everyone can see themselves somewhere in her story, cheer her on, and enjoy the surprise ending.
PREMIUM
Us
This charming, even humorous chronicle of a journey fraught with immense complications will be welcomed by romance lovers as well as those looking for information about trans matters. An empathic adventure for teens and adults.
This poignant meditation on a body that seems difficult to understand or love, but all too easily exploited, challenges readers to contemplate the complexity of human selves, including their own.
Anne’s family and acquaintances model a range of responses to a trans relative’s coming out, illustrating common difficulties while showing that acceptance and joy become possible with care and diligence. An excellent graphic novel and resource for families and others who experience the unexpected transition of a loved one.
PREMIUM
Dog’s Breakfast
A must-have for Invincible Summer fans looking to fill in missing installments. A supplementary purchase for libraries where zines and memoir-style graphic novels circulate well.
With humor and humility, Jancewicz and Stevenson (creators of the webcomic The Touring Test) share their tale of pursuing a world record via music venues across the 50 states. It’s also sprinkled with tips on packing light for road tripping and how to be a better audience member; young adults and veterans of the indie music scene will find something to love.
PREMIUM
All Eight Eyes
Foxe’s (Dark X-Men) scripting emphasizes thrills and chills over exposition without shortchanging character development in this exhilaratingly pulpy horror thriller.
Subitzky’s uninhibited imagination and penchant for absurd humor create a thrillingly revelatory collection, with contributions by cartoonist Mark Newgarden.
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