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Top 31 Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga:
October 2024
Years in the conjuring, a grimoire of a grand finale tops off Alan Moore’s exceptional contributions to the comics medium, in the guise of an accessible, practical Guide to Magic, conspired with a coterie of collaborators…
British-born, U.S. resident Sacha Mardou also achieves her long-term project, her candid memoir about her upbringing and its deeper origins and legacies.
Parenting and fatherhood are also up front in this tender family album from Montreal…
The past lives afresh in Jon Macy’s fresh telling of a Twenties queer radical…
And in Paul Peart-Smith’s powerful ‘graphic interpretation’ of Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s landmark indigenous history of the U.S.A.
The riso-printed serial by Belgium’s visionary raconteur Olivier Schrauwen gets a complete compendium to lose yourself in…
And the OuBaPo experimentalist Matt Madden both maddens and thrills with his audacious experiments. These goodies and still others are featured below in my latest PG Tips. I hope I can help you discover your next huge favourite!
Adieu Birkenau: Ginette Kolinka’s Story of Survival
by Ginette Kolinka, Jean-David Morvan, Victor Matet, Ricard Efa & Cesc F. Dalmases
SelfMadeHero
£19.99 / $24.99
The publisher says:
The graphic memoir of Ginette Kolinka, Holocaust survivor, educator, and “ambassador for the memory” of Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is April 1944. Nineteen-year-old Ginette Kolinka arrives at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Her father and little brother are immediately gassed. Ginette is selected as a worker. She survives. It is October 2020. Ninety-five-year-old Ginette takes advantage of a lull in the COVID-19 epidemic to accompany a group visiting Birkenau one last time. As a farewell, she brings with her a journalist, France Info’s Victor Matet, and a comics writer, J-D Morvan. From this trip a comic book is born. Ginette tells of her life before the war, how she discovered she was Jewish, how her family fled Paris before she and her father were denounced. She tells the story of the camp; completely, honestly, without seeking pity. We see her today, how she still shares her story with the world, how she still stands and bears witness. Ginette tells everything with her trademark liveliness and biting humour. We often laugh, and sometimes we shudder. Because the story she tells is ours, too. 112pgs colour hardcover.
Adrift on a Painted Sea
by Tim Bird, with paintings by Sue Bird
Avery Hill
$18.99
The publisher says:
Sue Bird was always painting: botanical art, landscapes, still lifes, and especially the sea. She took classes, kept countless sketchbooks, and filled the house with art. From their neighbourhood to their family trips, all the moments of her life were memorialised in her artwork. Throughout her life, she never sold a piece—she gave art to family and friends, and shared her work online, but never received wider recognition for her work. This graphic novel by her son, Tim Bird, explores their family life and her creative explorations through a mix of her paintings and Tim’s comics, depicting their relationship and her life from teenagehood to her struggle with cancer at the height of the covid pandemic. After her death, this graphic novel at last showcases her work. At its heart a book about creativity and family relationships, Adrift on a Painted Sea tells a story about the things we overlook in the people closest to us. 84pgs colour paperback.
Afterlife: The Boy Next Door
by Gina Chew & Nadhir Nor
Difference Engine
$17.50
The publisher says:
Kyra’s younger brother is stricken with an ailment that has no cure. The last thing she needs is to find a mysterious boy lurking in the hospital. But where did he go, and why does she feel this inexplicable connection to him? Spirit Keeper Eric isn’t prepared for this. He was just there to do his job and bring a soul into the Afterlife. Little did he expect to run into a too-familiar face from his past in the land of the living… In this great expanse where what’s lost is found, fate, memories, and love intertwine as Kyra and Eric embark on a daring rescue mission to save a little boy from Death’s clutches. ?pgs one-colour paperback.
Aristotle: A Graphic Biography
by Tassos Apostolidis & Alecos Papadatos
Abrams ComicArts
$25.99
The publisher says:
From the artist behind the critically acclaimed, award-winning, New York Times #1 bestselling graphic novel Logicomix comes a graphic novel about the life and legacy of Aristotle, the polymath who became one of the founding figures of modern thought. Little is known about the early life of Aristotle, the polymath who would go on to serve as a cultural cornerstone of modern thought and scholarship. Alecos Papadatos, the artist behind the critically acclaimed, award-winning Logicomix, and Tassos Apostolidis, an author and teacher, team up to bring his story to life, following the trail of clues to paint a picture of the great man and his philosophy. The son of a renowned Macedonian physician, Aristotle pursues his studies in Athens and becomes one of Plato’s favourite disciples. A great scholar, he even serves as Alexander the Great, Ptolemy, and Cassander’s personal tutor. For many, that would be the high point of their career, but Aristotle goes on to found his own school, the Lyceum. There, he transmits his knowledge and passion to any student wishing to embark on an intellectual and philosophical journey. Most of his works that have endured to this day are from this crucial time, thought to be lecture aids for his students. The fact that these were not likely intended for publication and yet have had such an astounding influence on every school of Western thought, speak to the monumental legacy which Papadatos and Apostolidis carefully reconstruct in this compelling and informative graphic novel. 216pgs colour hardcover.
Babe in the Woods, or the Art of Getting Lost
by Julie Heffernan
Algonquin Books
$28.99
The publisher says:
From acclaimed painter Julie Heffernan, a wholly original and visually stunning four-colour graphic work of autofiction about a young mother who—lost overnight on a hike with her infant son—experiences an extraordinary journey of memory, remorse, and rebirth that offers her a new way of seeing the world; for readers of Alison Bechdel, Roz Chast, and Marjane Satrapi. One summer day, a young artist with a newborn—sleep-deprived, desperate to escape her hot, cramped apartment and her oblivious husband—sets off on a hike in the country with her baby boy, Sam, strapped to her front and her senses fully attuned to the colors, the sounds, and the flora and fauna in the woods around her. During her journey, Julie reflects on her childhood, her parents, her marriage, and her path to becoming a painter. Her memories soon merge with the imaginative pictorial worlds she invents in her work, creating a glorious and perturbing narrative. When Julie suddenly realises that they are lost, with few supplies, as darkness begins to set in, she must come to terms with the sudden gravity of her situation and invent tools for coping. She then discovers her own resourcefulness: snacking on wild garlic and fixing a torn shoe; tucking herself and her baby into a cave for the night; climbing a tall tree for a better vantage point. Each step in the unknown terrain of the forest leads her deeper into a reckoning with survival and unresolved past issues. She invokes the struggles of painters like Artemesia Gentileschi, women’s strength in Rubens’ Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus, and the plights of activists like Julia Butterfly Hill, illuminating how great art can be a vehicle for perspective—how it teaches us how to see, think, and navigate obstacles and wonders and find one’s way out into a capacious and self-determined life. Beautifully told and illustrated by an established fine painter whose work has been collected around the world, Julie Heffernan’s Babe in the Woods is an extraordinary journey of memory, remorse, and rebirth, and a powerful lesson in trust in one’s self, offering a new way of seeing for anyone who feels lost in the world. 240pgs colour paperback.
Big Jim and The White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined
by David F. Walker & Marcus Kwame Anderson
Ten Speed Press
$25.99
The publisher says:
A thrilling graphic novel reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that follows Jim, an enslaved man on a journey towards freedom, and his sidekick, Huck, in the antebellum South—from the team behind the Eisner Award–winning The Black Panther Party. Commonly regarded as one of the great American novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers since 1885. But since its publication, critics have rightfully condemned Mark Twain’s troubling portrayal of Black Americans as stereotypes and caricatures, with contemporary fans searching for a modern update to this iconic tale. Big Jim and the White Boy is a radical retelling of this American classic, centring the experiences of Jim, an enslaved Black man in search of his kidnapped wife and children, along with his cheeky sidekick, Huckleberry Finn. Jim and Huck’s high-stakes adventures take them on an epic voyage across the antebellum South and Midwest, through Confederate war camps and runaway safe houses, into Old West standoffs, and on the road as covert Underground Railroad agents. Intertwined into the story of Jim and Huck are the stories of Jim’s descendants in the 1930s, 1980s, and 2020s, making this a multigenerational family epic as well as an adventure story. Big Jim and the White Boy takes readers on a journey through Jim and Huck’s past, present, and future, delving into their incredible friendship and years of adventures—a bond that transcends the gruesome racism of the Civil War era. With compelling artwork and riveting storytelling, David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson push the boundaries of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in this incredible graphic novel, exploring the triumphs and tribulations of Jim and his family, and finally giving his due as a hero of American literature. 288pgs colour hardcover.
Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars
by Raymond Tyler, Summer McClinton & Paul Buhle
PM Press
$19.95
The publisher says:
In the early-20th century, strikes and union battles were common in industrial centres throughout the US. But nothing compared to the class warfare of the West Virginia Mine Wars. The origins of this protracted rebellion were in the dictatorial rule of the coal companies over the proud, multi-racial, immigrant and native-born miners of Appalachia. Our illustrated history begins with Mary Harris “Mother” Jones’s arrival at the turn of the century. White-haired, matronly, and fiercely socialist, Jones became known as the “miners’ angel,” and helped turn the fledgling United Mine Workers into the nation’s most powerful labor union. “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living,” was her famous battle cry. In 1912, miners led by stubborn Frank Keeney struck against harsh conditions in the work camps of Paint and Cabin Creeks. Coal operators responded by enlisting violent Baldwin-Felts guards. The ensuing battles and murderous events caused the governor to declare and execute martial law on a scale unprecedented in the US. On May 19, 1920, in response to evictions by coal company agents, gunshots rang through the streets of a small-town in “Bloody Mingo” county. In an event soon known as the “Matewan Massacre”; the pro-union, quick-draw chief of police Smilin’ Sid Hatfield became an unexpected celebrity—but also a marked man. Events climax with the dramatic Battle of Blair Mountain that pitched the spontaneous Red Neck Army of 10,000 armed strikers against a paid army of gun thugs in the largest labor uprising in US history and the largest armed uprising since the American Civil War. This graphic interpretation of people’s history features unforgettable main characters while also displaying the diverse rank and file workers who stood in solidarity during this struggle. 136pgs B&W paperback.
Bowling with Corpses & Other Strange Tales
by Mike Mignola & Dave Stewart
Dark Horse
$24.99
The publisher says:
New folklore-inspired tales abound in this new anthology of fantasy stories written and drawn Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. From a search for the beating heart of a long-dead sorcerer, to a pirate girl who makes a deal with the devil, to the titular boy who wins a grim prize in a game with some undead interlopers, and more. Mignola builds a brand-new world filled with the weird, wicked and whimsical in this volume that will delight longtime Hellboy fans and new readers alike. 112pgs colour hardcover.
Clay Footed Giants
by Mark McGuire & Alain Chevarier
Mad Cave Studios
$19.99
The publisher says:
Set in Montréal, Clay Footed Giants is a tragicomic meditation on parenthood, masculinity, and violence. Being a parent is so much harder than Pat ever imagined. While his partner Ester is away on a work trip. Pat loses his temper and transforms into a grizzly bear of a father, scaring his children and compounding his guilt. His friend Mathieu’s stay-at-home-dad parenting advice is of no help, and only emphasises Mathieu’s professional shortcomings. The two men soon realise their children are mirrors reflecting old wounds that might never heal. Meanwhile, an unexpected package arrives from Pat’s estranged father containing letters, photos and a mysterious medal from his time as a soldier in Vietnam, and it propels Pat’s obsessive quest to understand his family’s dark past. As Pat plunges deeper into his research, he and his family reach their breaking point. With help from Mathieu and Pat’s mom. Pat digs down to the roots of their family’s intergenerational trauma and learns how to heal himself in the process. Growth is possible, but so is oblivion. Eventually, the light pours in. 264pgs colour paperback.
The Cosmic Con
by Ron Kashman
At Bay Press
$24.95
The publisher says:
Toronto, 1970. Herbie Weingarten, a teenager in his last year of high school, finds that his uncle Jeffrey, a holocaust survivor, has been taken in by a new religious movement called, “Exalted Consciousness”. The young man tries to extricate his uncle from the group even while his uncle tries to pull him into it. Visit Toronto’s downtown core when Yorkville was a hippy haven, Rochdale College was a centre of the illicit drug trade and bands had names like Intercontinental Ballistic Grapefruit. Watch as personalities are broken down and moulded in the pursuit of power and money by the mysterious Baron Gerhard Von Albrecht. Take a walk along “cult row” from Davenport and Avenue Road through to Yorkville, as pernicious gurus create ugly alternatives within the Age of Aquarius. This propulsive plot is matched by Kasman’s meticulous and lavish illustrations capturing a bygone era of Canada’s largest city and the seedy characters within. 140pgs two-colour paperback.
Ditching Saskia
by John Moore & Neetols
Flying Eye Books
$19.99
The publisher says:
A heart-warming, supernatural slice-of-life graphic novel that gently weaves together tough, everyday themes of identity, grief, and accepting flaws in those we love the most. Living with his grandfather and struggling in a new high school, Damian decides to summon his mother’s ghost so he can talk things out – but he blows it and summons Saskia, a scruffy, annoying kid. Trying to settle into his new life, Damian doesn’t need her hanging around trying to ‘help’ him with his crush – but Saskia’s suffering too, and everything they’re both hiding deep down might be just what they both need to get some peace. John Moore and Neetols paint a sweet and hilarious tale of young love amid grief, where someone’s flaws might be the reason you love them the most. 192pgs colour paperback.
Djuna: The Extraordinary Life of Djuna Barnes
by Jon Macy
Street Noise Books
$24.99
The publisher says:
A graphic biography of Djuna Barnes: writer, artist, and queer radical of the Lost Generation in the Roaring 20s. Djuna Barnes lived in a dazzling world filled with literary salons, innovative writing, and daring new art styles. But it didn’t come easily. She managed to work her way out of an abusive childhood growing up in a polygamous rural utopian community on Long Island. She was determined to live an extraordinary life, and found herself socializing with the likes of James Joyce, Natalie Barney, Peggy Guggenheim, and T.S. Eliot in 1920s literary Paris. Called the most famous unknown of the century, Djuna Barnes stood out for her brilliant writing, her biting wit, and her unique style. Her novel, Nightwood, is considered by some to be one of the greatest lesbian love stories ever written. But as the stock market crashed and the Lost Generation left Paris, her life began to unwind. A fascinating window into the life of a woman whose enormous literary talent and provocative attitude were both celebrated and disdained by the world. 320pgs ? paperback.
French Girl
by Jesse Lee Kerchival
Fieldmouse Press
$22.95
The publisher says:
Told in a series of stories that blend boldly expressionistic and dreamlike colors with spare and unflinching text, French Girl is Jesse Lee Kercheval’s debut graphic memoir. Exploring the relationship with her mother, her childhood, her own motherhood, and the passage of time, French Girl is a reflection on the material and immaterial ways that our families affect us. Jesse Lee Kercheval is a poet, writer, and translator, specializing in Uruguayan poetry. A Washington Post Top Graphic Novel of 2024. 224pgs colour softcover.
Leela Corman, author of Victory Parade and You Are Not A Guest, says:
“With dreamlike drawings reminiscent of Chagall, Kercheval welcomes us into her meditation on family history, motherhood, grief, love, and displacement, rendered in colors so beautiful they’re almost edible.”
Ghetto Klown: A Graphic Novel
by John Leguizamo, Christa Cassano & Shamus Beyale
Abrams ComicArts
$19.99
The publisher says:
This graphic novel adaptation of the award-winning Broadway play Ghetto Klown “is autobiographical dynamite—this is Leguizamo at his scathing, honest, moving, comedic best. Among the finest portraits of an artist as a young wounded talented man as I’ve read” (Pulitzer Prize–winning author Junot Díaz). Tony Award winner John Leguizamo lays bare his life story in this graphic novel illustrated by artists Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale. He shares memories of his early years as an actor on stage, on television, and in major motion pictures opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest stars—including Al Pacino, Patrick Swayze, and Steven Seagal—and working for directors Baz Luhrmann and Brian De Palma. Leguizamo also opens up about his loves and marriages, while addressing self-doubt and melancholy in a way that enlightens and entertains. With a cover by Drew Friedman and an introduction by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 208pgs B&W paperback.
Girl Rebels
written by Julien Derain, Laurent Hopman & Febien Morin, illustrated by Brett Parson, Jocelyn Joret, Rebecca Traunig & Vittoria Macioci. cover by Gije
Titan Comics
$19.99
The publisher says:
“From what age are we allowed to change the world?” Six girls, five empowering adventures. From climate activism to fighting for education and gun control, each story delves deep into the personal struggles and triumphs of remarkable individuals. The Girl Rebels graphic novel shares the extraordinary journeys of six young women who refused to be silenced in the face of adversity and have since become symbols of change. Through rich storytelling and stunning visuals, readers will be inspired by the unwavering spirit of Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Yusra Mardini, Emma ‘X’ Gonzalez and the Parkway Kids, and Melati and Isabel Wijsen. Each turn of the page will draw readers into the lives of these young girls, who never intended to become spokespeople or flag-bearers, but have now become inspiring icons and role models for thousands of young people all over the world. Carefully crafted by a talented team of international authors, the anthology presents a compelling exploration of youth activism and social change. The noblest battles of the modern world are brought to life by diverse and renowned illustrators, such as Bret Parson and Gijé. Girl Rebels is for fans of thrilling real-life stories and youth activism around the globe. Join these brave young women on their journey to change the world and discover the power of resilience, determination, and solidarity. 144pgs colour hardcover.
Graphic Novel Builder: The illustrated guide to making your own comics
by Edward Ross
Collins
£12.99 / $24.99
The publisher says:
A comic book…about making comic books! Graphic Novel Builder is the perfect gift for budding artists and aspiring storytellers. Written and illustrated by comic artist Edward Ross with an introduction by Alice Oseman, creator of the best-selling Heartstopper series. She writes: “The book you’re about to read is something I would have read and reread obsessively as a young artist.” Meet the Graphic Novel Builders, a group of big-dreaming teens who set out to write, design and draw their own comic books. There’s Ash the Publisher, Jay the Writer, Finn the Designer, Rayah the Artist, Sam the Colourist…and Peanut the Pup! Together, you’ll explore all the building blocks of the complete creative process: Discover different types of comics; Plot and script your story; Create characters and build worlds; Level-up your drawing skills; and Share your graphic novel with the world! Edward Ross is an Edinburgh based comic book artist, writer and illustrator. 160pgs colour paperback.
The Hidden Life of Trees
by Peter Wohlleben, Fred Bernard & Benjamin Flao
Greystone Books
$35.00
The publisher says:
The graphic novel adaptation of Peter Wohlleben’s international bestseller, with breathtaking illustrations and easy-to-follow text that will delight readers young and old. Are trees social beings? For forester Peter Wohlleben, the answer has always been yes, the forest is a social network. Trees live like human families: tree parents live together with their children, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick and struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. This vibrantly illustrated graphic novel follows Peter as its loveable main character, revealing the secret network of the forest and sharing struggles and triumphs from his career protecting trees. Told in Peter’s warm, conversational voice, not unlike that of a beloved grandfather chatting fireside, this visually stunning book offers scientific insights and pearls of wisdom gained from Peter’s decades of observing forests, including how trees impact weather and climate, how they communicate with each other, and how they interact with fungal networks deep within the ground. It also offers poignant memories from Peter’s personal life. Featuring 240 pages of full-colour illustrations and text covering the entirety of The Hidden Life of Trees, this adaptation honours the spirit of the original book by seeking to change the way the world looks at trees, and will inspire generations of readers to celebrate the natural world and protect our last remaining forests before it’s too late. 240pgs colour hardcover.
I, Dragon Book 1 (of 3): The End of Genesis
by Juan Giménez
Alien Books
$12.99
The publisher says:
A new medieval fantasy saga from Juan Giménez, the artist and (co-)author with Alejandro Jodorowsky of The Metabarons, begins. The fiefdom of the royal family, Rosentall Castle, faces its darkest hours, surrounded by a massive army. Led by a bastard descendant of a lost royal line, she has returned to reclaim her throne, igniting a long and bloody struggle for power. Meanwhile, inside the castle, a strange carnival woman gives birth to her first child. Previously released in Spanish, this series is making its English debut, bringing a new dimension to the medieval fantasy saga. 56pgs colour paperback.
Jessica Farm
by Josh Simmons
Fantagraphics
$29.99
The publisher says:
A career-spanning comics project 24 years in the making, Josh Simmons creates a deeply personal fantasy drama infused with psychological horror. Like a Lynchian take on Alice in Wonderland, Jessica Farm opens with an exterior of what could be any Midwestern farmhouse. Once inside, we track our titular heroine (she is a person, not a place) as she bounds out of bed on Christmas morning and goes about her routine, eventually breakfasting with her grandparents. The banality of the situation is subverted by a ratcheting sense of dread as we discover that Jessica’s increasingly nightmarish house ― where the inside seems bigger than the outside, like Snoopy’s doghouse ― is filled with creatures around every corner: some whimsical, some sexual, some despairing, and some malevolent. Most terrifying of all is Jessica’s father. Will she even get to open the presents under the Christmas tree? Taking place over a single Christmas Day, Jessica Farm is a career-spanning comics project in which Simmons has been drawing one page every month for the past 24 years, starting in January 2000. This is a horror-fantasy-psychodrama that will appeal to fans of Charles Burns, David Cronenberg, and Dario Argento. 304pgs B&W hardcover.
John Willie: A Bizarre Life
by Jane Garrett
Schiffer Publishing
$34.99
The publisher says:
This illustrated and deeply researched biography uncovers the captivating life, groundbreaking work, and enduring legacy of John Willie, the celebrated mid-20th-century fetish artist, publisher, and sexual pioneer. With his iconic art and the groundbreaking content of his Bizarre magazine, John Willie is perhaps the person most responsible for introducing fetish style to the mainstream. Illustrated with examples of John’s work, this in-depth exploration shines the spotlight on the man behind the drawings of buxom beauties and the photographs of expertly executed erotic bondage, delving into: his early life from his 1902 birth in England as John Coutts through his education, military service, immigration to Australia, and employment as a seaman and labourer; the chance encounter with a network of high-heel fetishists that incited John’s discovery of his community and his calling in the world of erotic art; his relationship with model, wife, and muse Holly Faram; his move to the United States and his place in the mid-20th-century fetish scene populated by artists, publishers, editors, and models such as Charles Guyette, Robert Harrison, Edythe Farrell, Irving and Paula Klaw, Bettie Page, and Eric Stanton; the debut of his groundbreaking Bizarre magazine in 1946, through which he created a space for like-minded people to share and celebrate fantasies—from high heels and cross-dressing to blindfolds and bondage—that the mainstream world found “bizarre”; his career-long struggles against the forces of governmental oversight; and how the murders by so-called “Glamour Girl Killer” Harvey Glatman—who posed as a bondage photographer to lure his victims—helped spur John’s eventual disillusionment with the world of fetish art he helped build. Ahead of his time, John’s influences can still be seen in the worlds of art and fashion, and he was an advocate for freedom of expression in dress, gender identity, and sexuality—issues that are still hotly debated today. Drawing heavily from John’s extensive interactions with researchers at the Kinsey Institute, Garrett provides a close-up portrait of the artist whose ideas have fed the erotic fantasies of generations of people. 176pgs colour hardcover.
Kids Are Still Weird and More Observations from Parenthood
by Jeffrey Brown
NBM
$9.99
The publisher says:
A sweet and charming collection of comics about how strange and funny kids can be. New York Times bestselling cartoonist Jeffrey (Darth Vader & Son, Jedi Academy) Brown chronicles his life as a parent while his children speak brutal truths and make unintentionally hilarious observations. 112pgs colour paperback.
Love Me: A Romance Story
by Francesca Perillo & Stefano Cardoselli
Mad Cave Studios
$17.99
The publisher says:
New York City, sometime in the far future, where robots like JoJo have taken over the tasks humans no longer want to perform…like driving a taxi. JoJo is pretty happy with his lot in life but feels as though something is missing…then he meets Gilda and it’s love at first sight. But the course of true love is a bumpy one and JoJo is going to find that out firsthand when he discovers that Gilda is entangled with the mafia that runs his beloved city, and they’re very much against this potential union for their own reasons. Watch out, JoJo! 112pgs colour paperback.
The MAD Files: Writers and Cartoonists on the Magazine that Warped America’s Brain!
by various, edited by David Mikics
A Library of America Special Publication
$19.99
The publisher says:
A mainstay of countless American childhoods, MAD magazine exploded onto the scene in the 1950s and gleefully thumbed its nose at all the postwar pieties. MAD became the zaniest, most subversive satire magazine ever to be sold on America’s newsstands, anticipating the spirit of underground comix and ’zines and influencing humour writing in movies, television, and the internet to this day. Edited by David Mikics, The MAD Files celebrates the magazine’s impact and the legacy of the Usual Gang of Idiots who transformed puerile punchlines and merciless mockery into an art form. 26 essays and comics present a varied, perceptive, and often very funny account of MAD’s significance, ranging from the cultural to the aesthetic to the personal. Art Spiegelman reflects on how he “couldn’t learn much about America from my refugee immigrant parents—but I learned all about it from MAD”. Roz Chast remembers how the magazine was “love at first sight. . . . It was one of my first inklings that there were other people out there who found the world as ridiculous as I did.” David Hajdu and Grady Hendrix zero in on MAD’s hilarious movie spoofs. Liel Leibovitz delves into the Jewishness behind the magazine’s humour, and Rachel Shteir amplifies the often unsung contributions of MAD’s women artists. Several essays are admiring profiles of the individual creators that made MAD what it was: Mort Drucker, Harvey Kurtzman, Al Jaffee, Antonio Prohias, and Will Elder. For longtime fans and new readers alike, The MAD Files is an indispensable guide to America’s greatest satire magazine. 221pgs part-colour paperback.
Manhole Vol. 1 (of 3)
by Tetsuya Tsutsui
Abrams-Kana
$12.99
The publisher says:
From rising star manga artist Tetsuya Tsutsui comes a three-volume horror-thriller that draws the reader into a tangled web of intrigue and lies as two detectives trying to solve a string of mysterious deaths come face to face with a much larger conspiracy that threatens a manmade global pandemic. A killer parasite is on the verge of threatening 180 million people . . . and a race against the clock has begun! What do two Japanese detectives, a naked man on a city street, and a roundworm from Botswana all have in common? In this first volume of Manhole, Ken Mizoguchi and Nao Inoue are a pair of investigators asking themselves this very question as they string together clues to solve a string of bloody and mysterious murders. But as the pieces come together, they begin to uncover the threat of a deadly biological agent which poses a threat of epidemic proportions. An unlikely lead sets them off on the hunt for a mysterious photographer, but as they chase down shadows, the infection keeps spreading. This thrilling detective story with a biological horror hook will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Rising star manga artist Tetsuya Tetsui’s Manhole is a tightly paced fight to prevent a pandemic as perplexing as it is deadly. 210pgs B&W paperback.
Martin Scorsese
by Amazing Ameziane
Titan Comics
$29.99
The publisher says:
From Amazing Ameziane, the creator of Quentin by Tarantino and Don Coppola, comes the final volume in his “Cineaste Trilogy” of graphic novels. Based on the lives and films of acclaimed cinema icons, this book focuses on the legendary director Martin Scorsese of Goodfellas fame. “For as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a film director…” In this first-person graphic novel, Martin Scorsese, totally possessed by his love of cinema, tells the story of the journey of the asthmatic little boy from Little Italy who went on to become one of the world’s greatest directors. Martin takes the reader on a witty journey through his somewhat rock and roll life and behind the scenes of the cinematic masterpieces he has given us. Created and illustrated by Amazing Ameziane, Martin Scorsese is the third instalment in the author’s Cine Trilogy, illustrating the behind-the-scenes stories of some of Hollywood’s biggest hits. 384pgs colour paperback.
The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic
by Alan Moore, Steve Moore & various artists
Top Shelf / Knockabout
$49.99 / £39.99
The publisher says:
The most acclaimed writer in comics history, Alan Moore, joins his late mentor Steve Moore (no relation) for one last graphic grimoire: a sprawling and stunning introduction to magic in all its timeless forms, brought to life by six wondrous and whimsical artists. Splendid news for enquiring minds, and guaranteed salvation for humanity! Messrs. Steve and Alan Moore, proprietors of the celebrated Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels (sorcery by appointment since circa 150 AD), have produced a clear and practical grimoire of the occult sciences that offers endless necromantic fun for all the family. Exquisitely illuminated by a host of adepts including Kevin O’Neill, John Coulthart, Steve Parkhouse, Rick Veitch, Melinda Gebbie, and Ben Wickey, this marvellous and unprecedented tome promises to provide all that the reader could conceivably need in order to commence a fulfilling new career as a diabolist. Its contents include profusely illustrated instructional essays upon this ancient sect’s theories of magic, notably the key dissertation “Adventures in Thinking,” which gives reliable advice as to how entry into the world of magic may be readily achieved. Further to this, a number of “Rainy Day” activity pages present lively and entertaining things to do once the magical state has been attained, including such popular pastimes as divination, etheric travel, and the conjuring of a colourful multitude of spirits, deities, dead people, and infernal entities from the pit, all of whom are sure to become your new best friends. Also contained within this extravagant compendium of thaumaturgic lore is a history of magic from the last ice age to the present day, told in a series of easy-to-absorb pictorial biographies of fifty great enchanters and complemented by a variety of picture stories depicting events ranging from the Palaeolithic origins of art, magic, language, and consciousness to the rib-tickling comedy exploits of Moon and Serpent founder Alexander the False Prophet (“He’s fun, he’s fake, he’s got a talking snake!”). In addition to these manifold delights, the adventurous reader will also discover a series of helpful travel guides to mind-wrenching alien dimensions that are within comfortable walking distance, as well as profiles of the many quaint local inhabitants that one might bump into at these exotic resorts. A full range of entertainments will be provided, encompassing such diverse novelties and pursuits as a lavishly decorated, decadent pulp tale of occult adventure recounted in the serial form. Completing this almost-unimaginable treasure trove is a lengthy thesis revealing the ultimate meaning of both the Moon and the Serpent in a manner that makes transparent the much-obscured secret of magic, happiness, sex, creativity, and the known Universe, while at the same time explaining why these lunar and ophidian symbols feature so prominently in the order’s peculiar name. (Manufacturer’s disclaimer: This edition does not, however, reveal why the titular cabal of magicians consider themselves to be either grand or Egyptian. Let the buyer beware.) A colossal and audacious publishing triumph of three hundred and fifty-two pages, beautifully produced in the finest tradition of educational literature for young people, The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic will transform your lives, your reality, and any spare lead that you happen to have lying around into the purest and most radiant gold. Book design by John Coulthart. 352pgs colour hardcover.
The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien
by John Hendrix
Harry N. Abrams
$24.99
The publisher says:
From New York Times bestselling, award-winning creator John Hendrix comes The Mythmakers, a graphic novel biography of two literary lions—C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien—following the remarkable story of their friendship and creative fellowship, and how each came to write their masterworks. Through narrative and comic panels, Hendrix chronicles Lewis and Tolkien’s near-idyllic childhoods, then moves on to both men’s horrific tour of the trenches of World War I to their first meeting at Oxford in 1929, and then the foreshadowing, action, and aftermath of World War II. He reveals the shared story of their friendship, in all its ups and downs, that gave them confidence to venture beyond academic concerns (fantasy wasn’t considered suitable for adult reading, but the domain of children), shaped major story/theme ideas, and shifted their ideas about the potential of mythology and faith. The Mythmakers also shows the camaraderie and the importance of the social/literary circle of friends called the Inklings, and how the friendship of these two great men fell apart and came together again. Hendrix concludes describing how the writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien had re-enchanted the 20th century, after two World Wars. In writing aimed at scholars, adults, and young people, these two tweedy academics altered the course of storytelling and embraced the concept that fantasy writing for an adult audience was an accepted form of literature. The format is similar to The Faithful Spy: prose interspersed with images and narrative comics. The narration is often conversations between a knowledgeable wizard and a comical lion. Through brisk conversation between these two friends, they explain some of the bigger ideas in an approachable and entertaining way. Throughout the story, there are “gateways” that lead readers to the back matter where certain themes, such as how myth/fantasy evolved or the art of world-building, are discussed more fully. This device keeps the main story flowing quickly and smoothly for those readers not interested in the more academic ideas behind the narrative. Also included are an author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, and index. 224pgs colour paperback.
No Rules Tonight
by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada
Penguin Workshop
$24.99 / $17.99
The publisher says:
From the creators of Banned Book Club comes a young adult graphic novel about unveiling secrets, confessing your crushes, and finding yourself: all in the mountains of South Korea on Christmas Eve. It’s time for the annual winter camp at Anjeon University. A full weekend, deep in the mountains, with no parental supervision. But this is no ordinary getaway. It is 1980s South Korea where the police are always watching and even the slightest bit of self-expression can lead to arrest. Luckily, it’s the only night of the year when generations of Koreans had no curfew, no obligations, and no rules: Christmas Eve. In the snowy mountains, everyone has a different plan for their one night of freedom. Hyun Sook is trying to restart her banned book club but has to hide from a boy she suspects of being a spy. Taehee and Kiwoo are trying to build up the nerve to confess their feelings for one another, while Suji pines after her crush, ready to risk it all and finally tell someone the secret she’s been hiding for her entire life. Acclaimed creators Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada deliver a cinematic, hilarious, and heartfelt story about the universality of growing up, making friends, and falling in love. 208pgs colour hardcover / paperback.
ODB: Oddities, Discord, and B-Sides: Lyrical Ruckus in the City
written by Regine Sawyer, Jason Pierre, Ike Reed, David Gorden, Chris Robinson & Troy-Jeffrey Allen, and illustrated by David Brame, Dojo Gubser, Maan House, Chris Gooding & Mike JC
Oni Press Inc.
$24.99
The publisher says:
From an all-star cast of creative talents comes a volatile, genre-defying homage to hip-hop icon Ol’ Dirty Bastard that reimagines New York City’s Five Boroughs through the eyes of the maverick MC and Wu-Tang Clan co-founder. In a fractured New York City, an elemental impact event has caused different versions of the city’s most infamous neighbourhoods from across the multiverse to converge together into a single reality. Spectral apparitions now haunt the streets of Queens. In the Lower East Side, a rogue artificial intelligence has seized the streets. A hundred blocks north, time travellers are throwing a block party in Harlem. And that’s only the beginning… Our guide through this splintered mutation of New York’s past, present, and future is none other than Ol’ Dirty Bastard himself. Follow him as he leads us through odd, urgent, and powerful tales that cast freedom and oppression, wealth and poverty, love and loss, and even life or death like so many dice in a cosmic game of chance. Created in partnership with Four Screens and officially authorised by the Ol’ Dirty Bastard estate, this taunt and turbulent graphic novel features contributions from an epic cast every bit as sprawling as the city within: Troy-Jeffrey Allen (Chuck D’s Apocalypse 91: Revolution Never Sleeps), Paris Alleyne (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), David Brame (MediSIN), Dojo Gubser (Rot8ion), Jay Hero (Green Lantern), Maan House (Bloodborne), Mike Del Mundo (Avengers), Jason Pierre (CW’sIn the Dark), Ike Reed & David Gorden (Rampage Jackson’s Big Brawl), Chris Robinson (Vince Staples’s Limbo Beach), Regine Sawyer (Dark Nights: Death Metal—The Last 52), Damion Scott (Batgirl), Felipe Sobreiro (“Weird Al” Yankovic’s The Illustrated Al), Ron Wimberly (Prince of Cats), and more. 104pgs colour paperback.
Orchard of the Tame
by Marlo Meekins & Nick Cross
Pegamoose Press
$24.99
The publisher says:
Truth may set you free, but that knowledge can be a terrible burden. River Siren is a young mermaid who has been manipulated and held prisoner by the evil, twisted Ainsprid. When she is accidentally discovered by two forest birds, Crowver and Birdt, River Siren is presented with an opportunity to escape her cage, leaving behind the only home she knows to journey out into a world of wild, wonderful, and sometimes dangerous things. This beautiful coming-of-age tale, visually inspired by the golden era of animation, is an absolute feast of imagination. Equal parts whimsical and eerie, it harkens back to the warm nostalgia of classic fairy tales while then also pushing into the cold, uncanny landscapes of science fiction classics. 376pgs B&W paperback.
Jeff Smith, creator of Bone, RASL, Tuki and Thorn, says:
“Eye opening, frightful and full of life, Orchard of the Tame by Meekins & Cross is teeming with the DNA of fairytales and thousands of cartoons, and yet it feels elementary and new. Not only that, but the drawings of trees alone is worth the price of admission. We love blue!”
Past Tense: Facing Family Secrets and Finding Myself in Therapy
by Sacha Mardou
Avery
$30.00
The publisher says:
A brave and captivating graphic memoir about the power of therapy to heal anxiety and generational trauma. When Sacha Mardou turned forty-years-old, she was leading a life that looked perfect on the outside: happily married to the love of her life, enjoying motherhood and her six-year-old daughter, and her first book had just been published. But for reasons she couldn’t explain, the anxiety that had always plagued her only seemed to be getting worse and then, without warning, she began breaking out in terrible acne. The product of a stoic, working-class British family, Sacha had a deeply seeded distrust of mental health treatment, but now, living the life she’d built in the US and desperate for relief, she finds herself in a therapist’s office for the first time. There she begins the real work of growing up: learning to understand her family of origin and the childhood trauma she thought she’d left hidden in the past but is still entangled in her present life. Past Tense takes us inside Sacha’s therapy sessions, which over time become life-changing: She begins to come to terms with her turbulent and complicated upbringing, which centred around her now estranged father, who had a violent relationship with her mother and would later go to prison for sexually abusing her stepsister. With her therapist’s guidance, she sees how these wounds and other generational trauma has been passed through her family as far back as her grandmother’s experiences during The Blitz of World War Two. And she discovers modalities that powerfully shape her healing along the way, including the work of Bessel Van der Kolk and Richard Schwartz (Internal Family Systems). As Sacha’s emotional life begins to unfreeze and she lets go of the shame she’s long held, she realises that the work she’s doing and her love for her family can ripple outward too, changing her relationships now, and creating a new legacy for her daughter. Bravely told, visceral, and profoundly moving, Past Tense is a story about our power to break free of the past—once and for all—and find hope. 336pgs B&W hardcover.
Phantom Hearts
by Rosie Talbot & Sarah Maxwell
Scholastic UK
£10.99
The publisher says:
From the bestselling author of Sixteen Souls and Twelve Bones comes a sapphic graphic novel with a supernatural twist. This is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Heartstopper, with incredible artwork by Sarah Maxwell. Sixteen-year-old Malia is popular, pretty and smart, but underneath her carefully crafted façade she’s struggling with anxiety. When a school bus crashes killing some of her fellow students, Malia is thrown into a further emotional spiral as she remembers the students; rebel and dropout Shepherd; volatile track star Russ; and brainy Emil. When Malia meets Keezy, the cute daughter of the local mechanic, the two begin to question the motive for the crash. As Malia and Keezy start to uncover secrets, Malia starts to see ghosts wherever she goes. How will Malia find time to flirt with Keezy when pursued by restless spirits … what don’t the dead classmates want her to discover? And will Malia ever find the courage to tell Keezy how she feels? 288pgs colour paperback.
Printopia
by Bob Fingerman
Cosmic Lion Productions
$25.00
The publisher says:
Printopia, Bob Fingerman’s first all-new graphic novel in over a decade, is a smart, satirical, story set in New York City, featuring a cast of eccentric creators unleashing their visions on the world. Part Ghost World, part acid trip, experience what Matt Groening described as “Brilliantly written… masterfully drawn… funny as hell.” 102pgs colour hardcover.
The Prophet
by Khalil Gibran & Zeina Abirached
Interlink Publishing Group
$35.00
The publisher says:
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) is the third bestselling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Laozi. His masterpiece, The Prophet, is one of the most beloved classics ever to be published. It sold over 9 million copies in the US alone and was translated into over 100 languages. Now his 1923 inspirational book is brought to life as a richly illustrated graphic novel. The night before embarking on a long journey which will take him back to his homeland, the young Almustafa, “the chosen and loved,” responds to questions from residents of the city of Orphalese. Among them, he particularly addresses the Prophetess Almitra, who is keen to learn his teachings and wisdom on the big questions of human life: love, friendship, talent, self-awareness, time, good and evil, reason and passion, beauty and pleasure, suffering-everything including death. In this philosophical and spiritual narrative, reproduced here in its full text, Zeina Abirached creates a graphic novel full of light and shadows, exploring the most lyrical images to the most conceptual passages. 365pgs B&W hardcover.
Q & A
by Adrian Tomine
Drawn & Quarterly / Faber & Faber
$16.95 / £12.99
The publisher says:
Everything you wanted to know about storytelling or Adrian Tomine but were too afraid to ask. “That would’ve been too easy and spontaneous for me, and I had to find a way to make everything more complicated.” And yet for over thirty years, bestselling author, screenwriter, and New Yorker cover artist Adrian Tomine’s work has set the standard for contemporary storytelling. With Tomine, his readership has grown from the dedicated following of his comic-book series Optic Nerve to include a wider but still engaged, opinionated, and ever-inquiring public. And now, for the first time in print, Tomine responds to his readers directly, tackling their questions and comments with generosity, humour, and vulnerability. Q&A is one part personal history, one part masterclass in crafting quality entertainment. With questions pulled from his time at the Substack Writers’ Residency, and with additional, new material, Q&A is an indispensable addition to the collections of eagle-eyed fans and aspiring artists, writers, and cartoonists alike. Tomine answers questions about his preferred tools, his creative process, the ups and downs of adaptation, and perhaps most importantly―how to pronounce his last name. Illustrated with drafts, outtakes, and photos from the artist’s personal collection, this rare peek into the mind of a contemporary cartooning giant lays out the method to his meticulous brand of madness. The artist looks back on his career in response to queries from his―maybe adoring but mostly curious―public with his signature dry wit and unflinching, self-deprecating honesty. 168pgs part-colour paperback.
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s Indigenous People’s History of the United States
adapted by Paul Peart-Smith
Beacon Press
$22.95
The publisher says:
In stunning full colour and accessible text, a graphic adaptation of the American Book Award winning history of the United States as told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples—perfect for readers of all ages. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s influential New York Times bestseller exposed the brutality of this nation’s founding and its legacy of settler-colonialism and genocide. Through evocative full colour artwork, renowned cartoonist Paul Peart-Smith brings this watershed book to life, centring the perspective of the peoples displaced by Europeans and their white descendants to trace Indigenous perseverance over four centuries against policies intended to obliterate them. Recognised for his adaptation of W.E.B. DuBois’ The Souls of Black Folk and his extensive expertise in the comics industry, Peart-Smith collaborates with experienced graphic novel editor Paul Buhle to provide an accessible introduction to a complex history that will attract new generations of readers of all ages. This striking graphic adaptation will rekindle crucial conversations about the centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regime that has largely been omitted from history. 120pgs colour hardcover.
Shadows on the Ice: The 1972 Andes Disaster
by Frédéric Bertocchini & Thierry Diette
Black Panel Press
$22.99
The publisher says:
On a fateful Friday the 13th in October 1972, a plane traveling from Uruguay to Chile, carrying a young rugby team, crashed in an inaccessible area in the heart of the Andes Mountains. For many weeks, the survivors had to endure intense cold, biting hunger, thirst, and the despair of being completely abandoned. To survive, they eventually resorted to eating the flesh from the frozen bodies of the deceased. In this harrowing and almost inhuman ordeal, they were spared nothing. 112pgs colour hardcover.
The Silence of Unicorns: A Tara Togs Adventure
by Stref
Shift Presents
$21.99
Scottish teen orphan Tara Togs dreams of being a photojournalist like her father. Her passion for chasing a story puts her at the heart of a dangerous adventure as she finds herself entangled with life threatening underworld criminals, mythical creatures and Private Eye “Heggy” in a race to uncover one of the greatest art mysteries of all time! Tara Togs: The Silence of Unicorns by Stref took five years to complete. Stref is the pen name for Stephen White, who is a writer/artist who has worked for the Beano, Dandy, Viz and on characters such as Peter Pan, Raising Amy, Oor Wullie and the Broons. 72pgs colour paperback.
Six Treasures of the Spiral: Comics Formed Under Pressure
by Matt Madden
Uncivilized Books
$34.99
The publisher says:
An author struggles to understand an encounter on the subway that has led her to romantic despair. Six characters embark on a dangerous voyage, searching for a mysterious treasure. A cartoon character finds himself in bizarre yet uncannily familiar scenarios. Three characters obsess over the same image and sense that their lives connect across generations. Novelistic worlds in miniature. Hilarious hijinks. The occasional twist ending… The stories in Six Treasures of the Spiral: Comics Formed Under Pressure are inventive and wide-ranging, sometimes funny, occasionally sad, and always offbeat. The New York Times called Matt Madden a “stuntman-philosopher” because he creates comics in the crucible of formal constraints ― one comic is a visual palindrome, another maps on to the letters of the alphabet, several follow the rules of demanding poetic forms like the villanelle and the haiku. It may seem that strict limitation would stymie creativity; on the contrary, the massive pressure it exerts on the author’s process bonds atoms of text and image together into comic diamonds that Booklist has called “formally rigorous and narratively lucid.” Madden is an educator and evangelist for experimental comics. This book contains an extensive afterword that walks through all the game-like rules he used in the stories in this collection. He offers insights into how he turned the shackles of these complex constraints into a source of inspiration an
