Kids who grew up in the 80s, especially those who come from religious upbringings, remember the phrase “Satanic Panic.” Those kids might remember it as a time when many pop culture properties, from Dungeons & Dragons to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, were considered gateway hobbies that could lead children to embrace Satan and commit acts in his name. Far more nefarious were accusations that schools and educators were drawing children into Satan’s eager embrace. Many of these were seemingly corroborated by child victims who’d had their recollections manipulated through unsubstantiated psychological techniques.
Fast forward years later, and Ed Brubaker, who was a teenager in the 80s, has already written comic stories like Criminal and Where the Body Was, along with his frequent artistic collaborator Sean Phillips. The two once again join forces to tell a story of the Satanic Panic’s aftermath in Houses of the Unholy.
Protagonist Natalie Burns was once a member of the infamous Satanic Six, a group of children who testified to satanic abuse by people they trusted, even though, as an adult, she isn’t sure what, if anything, took place. An adult Natalie helps rescue people from cults (for the right price) but the past comes roaring back when FBI agent West, an expert in cult cases, asks for her help in investigating a killer who might be evoking the demons that Natalie no longer believes in. As she and Agent West dig deeper into the case, Natalie starts to remember the past that she tried desperately to forget.
Brubaker’s story is straight-up noir with just the smallest sprinkle of Satanic evil. Rather than use supernatural tropes like demonic possession and summoning, Brubaker keeps the focus on the terror caused by human beings and the trauma caused by a strict religious upbringing supercharged with paranoia. Interspersed between the pursuit of a serial killer/road trip is Natalie reliving her past with her overly religious mother along with moments that showed how she couldn’t quite escape from under the shadow of being one of the Satanic Six. In this hyper-realistic world created by Brubaker and illustrated by Phillips, whose human characters are illustrated with all their bodily flaws and morose faces, many of the demons that plague these characters are of the personal variety.
While there are no horned demons flying around possessing people, that’s not to say demons (and the fear they create) don’t permeate this book. Phillips adds several pictures of these demons, along with other examples of both religious and satanic iconography, that read like the front of tabloid newspapers from that era, all done in a grisly red the color of spilled blood. It’s a similar red that’s used later in the book during a scene that, while not showing demons taking to the skies, creates an overall apocalyptic tone as the story barrels to an ambiguous but thought-provoking conclusion.
While working on supernatural books like Fatale and superhero books like Sleeper, Brubaker and Phillips have mainly built their reputation for creating bleak, blood-soaked noir, and this book maintains a modern noir feel throughout. The evil it reveals is as lacking in the supernatural as the panic that made Dungeons & Dragons seem to some like a gateway to Satan. The book may not satisfy those looking for demonic horror but it could be great for adult fans who know that evil in society never needed Satan’s help.
Houses of the Unholy By Ed Brubaker Art by Sean Phillips Image, 2024 ISBN: 9781534327429
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Oh my gosh, I loved this book. There isn’t really a genre to describe the post-apocalyptic-Conan/Heavy Metal (but-no-sex)/Moebius/Canticle for Leibowitz-light-hearted anti-war comedy this book is but trust me—that characterization will make sense once you’ve read it. The story is a duology; both stories examine the theme of violence and war, but that’s not obvious in the first few pages. I spent the first half of the book wondering where the story was going. The fantasy setting feels very familiar but … it might not be what you expect!
The first story introduces a snowy post-apocalyptic village where an argumentative, impetuous, treasure hunting scribe-archeologist steals a priceless relic and a police constable with an overabundance of caution and sentimentality catches her. The second story introduces us to a conscientious objector cook who manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in the middle of a Conan-type war between two armies. Throw in some lost technology, a recently awakened proselytizing robot priest with a Chi-Rho on his chest (who knows a LOT of hymns, especially 1980s Christian Rock ones), and a war god in the body of a goose and you have a thoroughly original sword-and-sorcery fantasy mash-up that I absolutely laughed my head off over! Even though there is some violence, the pacing, plot, and character’s lines show that author Simon Roy has a strong knowledge of both fantasy/science fiction tropes AND human nature.
All the characters in both these stories have many reasons to use force, violence, and brutality on the NEXT PAGE to get what they want—but it doesn’t go the way you think it will. That kept me guessing all the way through 204 pages. The art lines are brushier than Moebius’s, but they’re rendered in a way that shows the grunginess of life on each planet. The colors are muted in the first story, which effectively depicts the snowy environment. They’re brighter in flashbacks, and in the second story, which is more of a desert/Miyazaki-like forest environment.
There’s a lot buried in both these deceptively simple stories—like, if you can’t remember your history, because it’s been lost or not recorded, whose story gets told? What beliefs persist? What if there were conscientious objectors in Robert E. Howard’s Conan? Does even a god of war tire of war? There’s a pseudo-advertisement backstory in the last few pages, along with several artists’ depictions of the different characters. Two characters are shown in their undies after they spent the night together, and there are some bloody parts near the end, but there are no explicit adult depictions. This is an enjoyable read for adults or older teens, especially those that have seen and read a lot of sword-and-sorcery stories. I’d shelve it in the adult section.
Griz Grobus and the Tale of Azkon’s Heart By Simon Roy, Jess Pollard Art by Simon Roy, Sergey Nazarov Image, 2024 ISBN: 9781534397866
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
In comics, there are numerous examples of marginalized groups that are hidden away beneath the Earth’s surface (the Morlocks of Uncanny X-Men and the Moloids of Fantastic Four come to mind), but Sabir Pirzada flips this idea by presenting a world wherein immigrants, displaced workers, and other “Exiles” are relegated to the sky. Told across a series of short, loosely connected stories featuring different artists, Dandelion gives us a glimpse into a near future in which the skies are full of floating, habitable pods. Known as Dandelions, these pods are occupied by people who have renounced citizenship of the surface world in exchange for the safety and security of a new home in the sky. The lower class is literally hovering high above the rich and powerful, but we soon discover that many of the familiar struggles still remain.
Against the backdrop of an Earth ravaged by global warming and dwindling resources, the comic kicks off with the story of a couple making the painful decision to leave behind their life on Earth to live in a Dandelion, but goes on to tell tales that explore the ways these pods impact relationships, mental health, and humanity’s connection to nature and tradition. While each story touches on a different aspect of life in the age of Dandelions, these seemingly disparate narratives are united by mentions of the mysterious Jen Nakamuto, the supposed inventor of the Dandelions.
Much like its sci-fi anthology predecessors such as The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror,Dandelion takes a simple high concept and explores it in ways that raise questions about current-day concerns. Themes of class warfare, the destruction of the environment, the displacement of humans by technology, and the sacrifices we make to have comfort and stability under a Capitalist system linger throughout. However, Pirzada keeps things grounded and explores these issues through the lens of actual human beings who are affected by them. Across the various chapters, we see characters who are faced with loneliness, regret, and frustration as a result of technological advances that make it possible to sequester unwanted citizens to the sky.
Pirzada mostly keeps the narrative going at a quick pace, allowing his artists to do much of the storytelling legwork, and never really gives the comic a chance to get too heavy or preachy, despite the extremely weighty themes. While not a dealbreaker, the use of different artists for each story means that occasionally, the transition from one tale to the next feels slightly jarring, and not every artist brings the same level of clarity and readability. Highlights include the two sections drawn by Martín Morazzo, who is no stranger to ambitious comics that ask big, uncomfortable questions, as evidenced by his work on Ice Cream Man. His work, which is wisely chosen for the opening chapter, demonstrates legible linework that evokes the works of artists like Steve Dillon or Frank Quitely, and brings a sense of accessibility that shouldn’t scare away new comic readers.
It’s also worth noting the degree that Pirzada normalizes diversity within the different stories of Dandelion. LGBTQIA+ characters, couples of different skin colors, and various forms of disability are on full display, such that they are merely an accepted part of everyday life. Although Pirzada and the artists are more explicit in the questions they raise about technology and social class than, say, racial and gender politics, they nonetheless make an important statement that the world is meant to be populated by a diverse group of people.
Dandelion is suggested for readers 16 and up, perhaps due to a few instances of profanity, blood, and gore, but I think the comprehensible art style, social awareness, and clever concept could also speak to adventurous sci-fi fans who are slightly younger. As a well-paced, self-contained book that highlights major issues of today, Dandelion is great for readers of sci-fi anthologies (or sci-fi in general) who like their speculative fiction focused on the human condition. Fans of Tales from the Loop, Snowpiercer, or the previously mentioned Black Mirror would feel right at home.
Dandelion By Sabir Pirzada Art by Martín Morazzo, Vanesa Del Rey, Eric Koda, Roy Allan Martinez Image, 2024 ISBN: 9781534397545
Publisher Age Rating: 16+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: Argentinian, Cuban, Pakistani, Character Representation: Japanese,
“Everything ends,” says W. Maxwell Prince’s newest compilation of linked stories. But as is true of any Prince release, there’s more here than meets the eye.
Prince and Image comics give us Swan Songs, a series of six loosely connected narratives, each in their own way about endings. We open simply enough—with the end of the world. This grand cataclysm is grounded intimately in a hospital-bound mother and the son who fights to care for her amidst the end of everything. From there we travel through the end of a marriage and the eternal mortal combat. Husband and wife agree to face across fantastic realities as they reckon with young love and fractured connection. We cross the aftermath of a prison sentence and a biblically-infused post-apocalyptic story of a new Eden. We go deep into the psyche of a man who cannot feel joy and we end at a sidewalk that extends out into nothing. But, as the comic asks each time in its own way, is this truly where these stories end after all?
Prince has shown himself to be truly at home in the weird, stitching together narratives of people living through the uncertain and often uncomfortable realities of existence. Though there is significantly less horror in this volume than some of his other works, Swan Songs is a compelling blend of truly strange storytelling and deeply poignant themes. From calamities to eternal combat to the depths of the human subconscious, the writing and imagery across this series is sometimes tangible and other times utterly surreal. Nevertheless, the characters facing these strange circumstances are immediate and recognizable—people awash in humanity and doubt, doing the best they can to find connection. I don’t know how Prince manages to do it, but each new comic he releases somehow feels more powerful than the last. The final issue here presents a twisted inversion of Shel Silverstein’s famous work. While this issue initially felt like the weakest in the collection, it manages to rouse itself to a quiet but powerful conclusion, drawing together questions that have built through each preceding story and leaving the book with a powerful send-off. It’s an ending that leaves things open without feeling at all like it has abandoned the reader before the time is right. And this works because even when the story ends—life still goes on.
Pairing with Prince’s writing, six artists bring their talents to capturing each entry in this tapestry of endings. Showcasing some notable names in contemporary comics, the shifting styles move between color palates and visual aesthetics as the real gives way to the unreal across these pages. Each artist brings a distinct style to their chapter, but this is an anthology where every artist stands strong on their own. At the same time, the six recognizable styles feed into each other and manage to create a cohesive whole despite the only vague threads tying them together. Prince’s writing is gripping, but these artists provide a visual journey that carries the reader along into some fascinating places.
Image gives Swan Songs a Mature rating and with a spread of sex, violence, strong language, and mature themes, this is clearly a volume aimed at adults. However, it’s difficult to convey just how much lies between the covers of this this book. Anyone interested in comics that manage to be surreal, dark, hopeful, and contemplative all at once will find something to enjoy. There are subtle references to Ice Cream Man to be found, so anyone who is an established fan of Prince’s other work is sure to be intrigued. But for those who want an entry point that is less horrific than the Ice Cream Man series, there’s darkness here, but it combines with a meditative melancholy that offers more possibility than the sometimes nihilistic undertones which run through Prince’s other offerings.
In summary, as with Prince’s other work, Swan Songs is weird, surreal, dark, and more complex than one might expect—but in spite of all its strangeness, he remains an immensely compelling storyteller who is playing with the possibilities of the format while delving deeper and deeper into the strange uncertainties that make us human. I never know where he’s headed next, and I will keep reading across every unexpected chapter spanning our world and imagined others.
Swan Songs Vol. 1 By W. Maxwell Prince Art by Martin Simmonds, Caspar Wijngaard, Filipe Andrade, Caitlin Yarsky Image, 2024 ISBN: 9781534398283
Publisher Age Rating: M NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+)
Creator Representation: British, Portuguese Character Representation: Neurodivergent
Daniel Warren Johnson is a writer/artist whose name is becoming more and more well-known in the comics community. From his Eisner award-winning ode to pro wrestling Do a Powerbomb to his recent retelling of those ‘80s era robots in disguise Transformers, Johnson has shown a particular flair for action, whether it’s people high flying off the top rope or robots the size of buildings crashing into each other. While he might be well-known for both those projects, he also does a webcomic called Space Mullet, part of which is collected in this trade paperback. This trip among the stars features not only Johnson’s penchant for action but includes some of his trademark zany humor.
The story focuses on ex-Space Marine (and owner of the glorious mullet) Jonah and his alien co-pilot Alphius. Amidst their arguments over who needs to clean the dishwasher and how many squares of toilet paper one should use, they travel the galaxy, taking various jobs and occasionally trying to do some good in this universe, even if they don’t always succeed. In their travels, they encounter an alien girl with psychic powers, a surprisingly gentle killer robot, and an ex-athlete who survived the roller arena long enough to get some parts replaced with cybernetics. Jonah and Alphius also run afoul of Jonah’s old buddy in the Space Marines and discover why it’s absolutely imperative that someone cleans the dishwasher.
Though a great deal of the crew’s adventures take place far away from Earth’s gravity, Johnson’s comedy chops, along with the two leads Jonah and Alphius, keep the book grounded. Star Wars fans might think of the dynamic between the two as the one between Han Solo and Chewbacca, but Space Mullet’s dynamic comes off more humorous because readers have a better understanding of what verbal barbs the non-human of the duo is hurling. While Johnson gives the book some comedic touches, there are also moments of drama, especially as it’s discovered that issues like caste systems and colonialism are still around in this universe.
Comedy and drama aside, a big draw of this book is the action and Johnson’s art provides plenty of it, ranging from a very brutal roller derby-like sport to the death dealing antics of a giant robot. Oddly enough, and perhaps because of Space Mullet’s original iteration as a webcomic, the overall color palette is simply white, black, and blue, a color choice that sometimes muddies the action in some panels. However, the overall cartoonish, indie style of art adds to the book’s irreverent tone. Johnson might already be well-known among patrons frequenting the adult graphic novel section. If that section already has some books by Johnson, this book would fit in very well among them. The very accurate synopsis for this book reads “For fans of Firefly and Cowboy Bebop, two spacefaring intellectual properties featuring rogues roaming the universe. Those who are indeed fans of both properties may become fans of Daniel Warren Johnson.
Space Mullet By Daniel Warren Johnson Image, 2024 ISBN: 9781534327252
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Many people remember their teenage years fondly, even if those years are looked at through rose-colored glasses. When coming-of-age stories tackle teenagers, they will often focus on the friendships that form in those turbulent years, the ones that keep an individual grounded and feel destined to last forever. What strengthens the bond between the teenagers in The Cull Vol. 1, a science fiction/horror/coming-of-age story by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis, is a search for a missing brother across an alien landscape.
Cleo’s family life is torn apart because of her brother Jake’s disappearance. Under the cover of darkness, she and a group of her friends, under the pretense of making a short film, investigate a strange cave on the shore that leads into a whole other world, a world that seems too fantastic to be real. But they soon discover, to their horror, that there are things that follow them back, things that mean to do real harm to their world, forcing these friends to momentarily forget the problems in their own lives and embark on a quest to close the door they may have accidentally opened.
It’s easy to compare Kelly Thompson’s story to Stranger Things, due to the show’s popularity, or even The Goonies, due to these kids going on a perilous quest. But Thompson’s story, through its teen characters, touches on topics that neither intellectual properties have explored. Katie, a level-headed teen, still holds out hope that she can get back together with Cleo, despite Cleo’s own issues. There’s Lux, who appears to fit the teen princess trope, but comes from a very difficult homelife. Along with characters that go beyond their teen trope templates, the alien world the kids find themselves in has less in common with The Goonies treasure and traps and more in common with the world found in Alex Garland’s film Annihilation, a world full of monstrous horrors.
While the tone and appearance of said alien world references Annihilation in atmosphere and appearance, the creatures populating that world are things one would find in movies featuring giant monsters like Cloverfield. The alien shapes rendered by artist De Iulis are not only completely unlike anything seen in our ecosystem, but they are also given a truly monstrous scale. The humans drawn near them are usually shown running in terror from monsters who are as tall or taller than the panels on which they’re drawn. De Iulis’s monsters and mastery of light and shadow is guaranteed to pull in readers. The mundane world is bathed in shadows and shrouded in fog, while the colors and fauna of the alien world glow on the page. The characters in this comic are so gorgeously and realistically rendered that they look like they could leap off the page and interact in our world.
The Cull, Vol. 1 is a graphic novel that blends the best of both a compelling story and amazing artwork. For any science-fiction or horror fans, particularly those who love when those two genres combine, they should definitely give The Cull a read, and librarians with those older teen and adult patrons/fans of science-fiction/horror should give this book a chance to invade their graphic novel collections.
The Cull, Vol. 1 By Kelly Thompson Art by Matta De Iulis Image, 2024 ISBN: 9781534397873
Publisher Age Rating: T+ NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Where the Body Was is the latest offering from the legendary duo of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. It is a single volume story that features a lot of the hallmarks of their work. There is a Vietnam vet who is struggling with his mental health. It is summer in the 1980s. A cop who operates outside of the rules. A young woman who is troubled. And a male character feels compelled to save her even if it is a self-serving move.
This book does also contain a convention I haven’t seen from them where every character tells a portion of this story directly to the reader. This breaking of the fourth-wall adds an interesting layer to the story because at times characters are aware that others are telling their version of events and will comment on it. In the hands of a lesser author it might feel contrived, but here it really colors in the character dynamics and the weight of the information we are receiving.
The book opens on a map of the neighborhood, Pelican Road, in 1984. All the houses are labeled and a marker for where the titular “body” was found helps orient us. There is a photo card page with the nine most important characters as they looked then. There is some stage-setting where we learn the history of the first house built on the block and we are brought up today with the current occupants, “a revolving collection of lowlifes.” Kids like Tommy and Karina, young punks who drink, make noise and do drugs are now the collective irritation of the neighbors. Mrs. Wilson of the neighborhood watch speaks directly to us explaining how everything changed the day the cop intervened. It was Palmer, who lived at the end of the street, and he was the sort of “hard ass” cop she had been hoping for. He scared off one of the worst of them and this sets the story in motion as these kids and Palmer will be driving the rest of the narrative.
Palmer meets Toni Melville, the married woman on the block who seduces him and begins having an affair. She’s bored and lonely where Palmer is strong and exciting. He was her secret and that was as thrilling as his brutal nature. In her direct address she says she knows it was wrong, but her relationship with her husband had been dead for years at this point and she wasn’t sure why they were still together. Dr. Ted Melville, a psychiatrist, features in several characters’ lives as we’ll learn.
At this point we’re introduced to 11 year old Lila who has a superhero costume and roller skates that she wears to patrol the neighborhood. She has a strong moral compass and is determined to keep her neighborhood safe. Through her we will meet the private eye that is searching for Karina. She also introduces Ranko, the homeless Vietnam veteran who lives in the woods behind the 7-11. These are the characters whose lives get so tangled up thanks to a lie, lust, and infatuation that when the private investigator is found dead in their neighborhood, no one’s life is ever the same again. They are telling us the story decades later and we’re still seeing the fallout from this fateful summer.
The storytelling convention employed here makes the story more accessible to readers who may be newer to comics. It was easy to follow the multiple points of view and makes for a much richer reading experience. The art of Sean Phillips once again keeps the story grounded with heavy lines and a gritty texture. The 1980’s aren’t represented with wild, stereotypical items or neon colors, but by the lack of technology, the clothing and the cars. The colors from Jacob Phillips are muted and the pop of brighter panels really helps showcase the different lives these people live in the day versus the night when their worst selves step forward.
Much of Brubaker and Phillips recent work is rated Mature and this is no exception. I would point to the affair Palmer and Toni have as the culprit because there is more nudity and sex in this book than other work from this team. While it’s in service to the story, it does age this one up dramatically. There is language and drug use in here as well, but neither stick out quite so aggressively. With that said, it was a compelling mystery and there were several twists that paid off early subtle touches in a very satisfying way. This will fit in well alongside other work by this team, while also feeling distinct, especially next to their other most recent title Night Fever. Both titles are a nice departure from books like the Reckless series, while not alienating fans of their style and tone.
Where the Body Was By Ed Brubaker Art by Sean Phillips Image, 2023 ISBN: 9781534398269
Thanks to the many superhero movies and shows that have flooded theaters and streaming services, people are by now well familiar with the superhero origin story. Once the hero is bitten by a radioactive animal, caught in a nuclear bomb explosion, or discovered they get powers while under a yellow sun, they choose a costume, a superhero moniker, and begin fighting crime. That’s the basic story of Night Club, Volume One; written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Juanan Ramirez, except this story includes an intoxicating, bloody blend of vampire tropes.
The hero in question is Danny Garcia, a high school student and future viral sensation who is gravely injured in a stunt gone wrong. Lying in the hospital with a series of broken bones, young Daniel is visited by a vampire who recruits the young man in a war with other, more murderous vampires. But Danny doesn’t want to be just a soldier in an immortal war. He can take being shot, climb walls, and transform himself into mist or a swarm of bats. All he and his friends Sam and Amy need are luchadore masks, and some extra clothing to keep out the sun, to become superheroes who save the day while recording their exploits to put up on social media.
Some might be familiar with Millar’s more out there works like Wanted and American Jesus, but Night Club, reflects a more traditional approach to its superheroes. Millar’s story relies on the tried and true formula of typical superhero origin stories. Once Danny discovers his powers, he and his friends (whom he recently turned into vampires) enjoy their superhuman abilities until they encounter a larger and deadlier threat, which is a family of older vampires who murder rather indiscriminately. Millar doesn’t reinvent the wheel here. He simply smashes vampires and superhero tropes together, but Millar, who has also written several superhero comics for Marvel, tells a fun superhero story.
That superhero energy is maintained thanks to the dynamic artwork of Ramirez, who depicts these teen heroes as leaping from car to car, exploding into a swarm of bats, and baring their teeth at criminals. That style, along with the designs of their superhero costumes, enforces the idea that this book is a superhero story that just happens to feature vampires. Being that these heroes are vampires, Ramirez also depicts the necessary amount of blood and violence to show that these heroic vampires are still vampires who drink blood and who tend to combust when exposed to sunlight.
This book will soon have a show on Netflix, but Millar and Ramirez’s book works well beyond being a media tie-in. Though this book happens to feature creatures of the night, this superhero story has more in common with Spider-Man than the Crow, less about revenge and more about teenage power fantasies. This book’s teeth might put it in the adult section, but it seems tailor-made for adult superhero fans who loved watching Spider-Man swing above the New York streets and who’ve watched vampire movies like The Lost Boys multiple times.
Night Club Volume One By Mark Millar Art by Juanan Ramirez Image, 2023 ISBN: 9781534399914
Publisher Age Rating: 16 years and up Related media: Comic to TV
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Accepting your body can be hard, especially when it doesn’t match your self-image or fit society’s ideals. The Features Team has compiled this list of comics where the characters navigate their relationship with their bodies, often while also figuring out how to handle other life challenges and society’s judgement. Discussions around body image often involve difficult topics, such as eating disorders, mental illness, dysphoria, and bullying, so we have written descriptions that describe the titles’ overall tone and provide content warnings. Please use the entries to select the titles that are best for you. We hope you find titles that meet your needs, whether you need a mirror to self-reflect or a guide to help you on your journey.
About Betty's Boob
Vero Cazot
Julie Rocheleau
After breast cancer takes her left breast, Elisabeth finds herself without a job and partner. As she struggles to come to terms with her changed body, she meets a cabaret group that sets her on a journey to self-acceptance.
Appeals to
About Betty’s Boob touches on some tough topics, yet its vibrant art and playful, often humorous, storytelling, ultimately give the story a hopeful, joyous tone. It is perfect for readers who want stories that explore body acceptance and will be especially relevant to those who want to explore body acceptance in the wake of illness.
Content Notes
Betty’s Boob has some nudity (much of it contextually appropriate), scenes leading up to intercourse, and some dream sequences that might unnerve some readers.
Creator Identities:
Canadian, French |
Main Character Identities:
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Be Gay Do Comics!
Matt Bors (Ed.)
In this comics anthology from The Nib (RIP), many of the authors grapple with complicated feelings about their bodies that are wrapped up in their queer identities. For comics dealing with big feelings about bodies, check out "Gender Isn't a Binary and Neither is Anatomy"; "Off the Rack"; "Boobs Aren't Binary"; "I Am More Than My Chromosomes"; and "It's All for the Breast".
Anyone looking for thoughtful and deeply personal pieces about the good, the bad, and the so bad you just have to laugh of the queer experience will find something in this anthology.
Content Notes
Discussions of Homophobia and Transphobia. Discussions of Gender Dysphoria.
Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, Intersex, Nonbinary, Trans |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Chunky
Yehudi Mercado
Hudi's got a lot going on, with doctors telling him to lose weight and parents pushing him to try sports he has no interest in, on top of other health problems and his parents' money issues, oh and also being the only kid in his small town who's Jewish and Mexican. He discovers an imaginary friend who cheers him on through the various attempts, but each sport makes him feel more and more discouraged about his body. But he finally discovers what works for him and his parents learn to trust his instincts on what makes him happy and whole.
Appeals to
Chunky is less specifically about eating disorders and more about being comfortable and healthy in your body, but I feel that this is a great introduction to talking about disordered eating and body dysmorphia with children, among other things. As such, this comic is something for families to read together and discuss, or for children who feel left out by society for who they are.
Creator Identities:
Mexican |
Jewish |
Main Character Identities:
Mexican-American |
Jewish |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Eat, and Love Yourself
Sweeney Boo
Mindy has tried just about any diet or promise a magazine has given her for weight loss, and it always crashes and fails. One lonely night, she finds an odd chocolate bar in the convenience store called "Eat and Love Yourself". Each time she eats a piece, she remembers a moment in her past and with it, slowly heals her relationship with her body and with accepting love from others.
This comic isn't as in-depth or as emotionally difficult as some of the others in this list, so this might be a good starting point for someone wanting to try reading about eating disorders but isn't quite ready for the heavy hitters. It's unusual too in that it has a more magical solution for the very real issues of eating disorders, but the message of learning to love yourself and reflecting on your past to help heal is great.
Content Notes
Discussions of eating disorders, depictions of depression
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Embrace Your Size: My Own Body Positivity
hara
In this collection, artist Hara describes her own journey toward body acceptance as a plus-sized person. Over the course of the book, she details her own struggles with her weight and society's pressures, the effects her poor body image had on her mental health and art, her sources of inspiration, and recommendations for positive plus-sized representation. With its mix of topics and approachable style, Embrace Your Size feels like you're in a conversation with a friend. Hara's adorable illustrations are an added bonus!
Appeals to
Although Hara addresses difficult topics like disordered eating and bullying, the warm tone and the fact that she focuses on reflections about her journey make Embrace Your Size an overall hopeful read. I would give this to readers who are interested in exploring body acceptance and body positivity but are looking for a gentler read.
Content Notes
Portrayal of bullying, struggles with shopping and clothes as a plus-sized person, and mental health struggles; discussion of disordered eating behaviors
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Galaxy The Prettiest Star
Jadzia Axelrod
Jess Taylor
On the outside, it would seem that Taylor Barzelay had it all. Brains, good looks, and a basketball star, he's what most awkward adolescents dream of being. But on the inside, he's an alien princess hiding as a boy on Earth to escape an intergalactic war that killed the king and queen and ravaged their home world of Cyandii. When Taylor meets the cute and fun Kat, she starts to realize that sacrificing her identity for safety may have been too high of a price to pay. This graphic novel explores the pain of wearing your body as a mask and the joy of being your full and authentic self.
Appeals to
Anyone waiting for a transfemme superhero, she's here and interstellar.
Content Notes
xenophobia and transphobia
Creator Identities:
Trans |
Main Character Identities:
Trans |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Horse Trouble
Kristin Varner
Kate is completely in love with horses and riding, even though some of the barn girls are mean because she keeps falling off! If her barn woes aren’t enough, she is also struggling with being chubby and dealing with bullies and boys. Kate’s riding instructor starts preparing her for a prestigious horse show. Can Kate rise to the occasion?
In addition to being a great read for horse lovers, Horse Trouble also highlights the importance of learning to thrive even if your body is not “perfect”. Even though she struggles with her body image, Kate has friends and acknowledges her own abilities. Horse Trouble could be a great book to help young readers get ideas about managing body insecurity.
Content Notes
Bullying, body insecurity, dieting
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Hungry Ghost
Victoria Ying
All of Valerie's careful control of her life, grades, and most importantly her body, goes out the window when tragedy finds her family. In the wake of loss, things first get worse especially as her mother's toxicity towards Valerie and her body gets more invasive. Her relationships crumble as she lashes out, but with time and reflection Valerie realizes she needs help and the way she lives isn't normal, her mother's attitude isn't normal, and Valerie reaches out for help. Hungry Ghost ends not with a perfect happily ever after, but instead that recovery is a process.
What makes Hungry Ghost particularly great is that it shows how pervasive the thoughts around eating disorders are, and how normalized it can all be for people dealing with them. The way Valerie is written feels true to teens, and with the story being serious and not overly happy, I could see this being a great recommendation for teens. There's also resources in the back, so if they want to do more research they can without having to ask someone.
Content Notes
Depictions of binging and purging, disordered eating
Creator Identities:
Chinese-American |
Main Character Identities:
Chinese-American |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
I'm Kinda Chubby and I'm Your Hero
Nore
Ponjirou is an actor trying to get his big break but is worried his weight will get in the way of his dreams. Mysterious gifts of sweets from a local shop give him a needed pick-me-up. When he meets his secret fan--Konnosuke, a local pastry chef--the two start forming a deep friendship. With each supporting the other, can they achieve their goals?
Appeals to
With a sweet, light plot centered around a great relationship, I’m Kinda Chubby and I’m Your Hero is a charming story that is perfect for readers looking for a positive story featuring a chubby lead. I would especially recommend this to readers who love warm character dynamics similar to those found in Heartstopper.
Content Notes
Some fatphobia and intoxication
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
My Body in Pieces
Marie-Noëlle Hébert
Written first in her native French and translated for English-speaking audiences by Shelley Tanaka, Marie-Noëlle Hébert's graphic memoir, My Body in Pieces, is an unflinching look at a girl trying to break free of her own self-destruction while those around her only reinforce negative opinions and stereotypes. Like many young girls, society has convinced young Marie-Noëlle that the solution to all of her problems (her family making fun of her eating habits at the dinner table, the girls at school calling her ugly, the boy she likes not paying her any attention) is to be thin and beautiful. But when she starts a fitness routine to try to change, it sends her down a spiral of obsession with her weight and appearance, and into bouts of depression and suicidal ideation. When a close friend convinces her to try therapy, though, her journey starts to take a turn in the direction of healing and self-confidence. Hébert's graphite pencil illustrations in a variety of art styles depict both intensely difficult, potentially triggering subjects and the beauty of finding and becoming unapologetically yourself. Told in language easily approachable to teen readers, My Body in Pieces is a moving, important coming-of-age tale,
Appeals to
Teen readers who have enjoyed other graphic memoirs about mental health and/or memoirs about teens in difficult situations who have survived and found their own strength. Also would appeal to adults who enjoy graphic memoirs.
Content Notes
Mentions of suicidal ideation, depression, eating disorder, body dysmorphia.
Recommended by
Maddi Ranieri
Nervosa
Hayley Gold
In this raw memoir, Hayley Gold explores her quest to make an impact while battling her anorexia.
Nervosa will appeal to readers who like frank narratives that don’t follow conventional narrative patterns for a topic. Gold doesn’t sugarcoat her emotions or condition, and I appreciated her honest discussion of the physical and psychological impacts of her struggle with the disease and the often cruel medical system in which she was a frequently frustrated and reluctant participant.
Content Notes
Nervosa includes several hospital scenes and medical treatments; there are incidents of cruel treatment from staff, including one molestation. It also frankly discusses anorexia’s mental aspects as well as the physical conditions that can result from having the disease. Calorie numbers, as well as eating disorder behaviors (hiding food, tactics to change weight, etc.), are also portrayed. Nervosa also addresses Gold’s difficult upbringing, including Gold’s father’s frequent putdowns of her mother and Gold herself.
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Short and Skinny
Mark Tatulli
This graphic novel is based on the author's experience growing up in the late 70s as a comic-loving kid who dreams of a growth spurt and big muscles. Right before summer vacation, Mark finds an ad that promises all of this with the help of a miracle cure that claims to make you taller and/or stronger in the back of a Mad Magazine. He thinks this is the boon he's been waiting for and sends away for it, hoping to go back to school in the fall completely changed. This is all happening in the summer of 1977, the same summer that the first Star Wars movie came out. Mark quickly falls in love with the movie and wants to create a parody movie. With the help of his friends and family, he spends the whole summer planning, prepping, and filming his Star Wars parody film and learns that people like him for his humor and creativity, even if he didn't get those instant muscles or grow 5 inches taller.
Appeals to
Lovers of Dairy of a Wimpy Kid will love this underdog story.
Content Notes
Bullying
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Smaller Sister
Maggie Edkins Willis
Lucy loves and looks up to her big sister, Livy, but lately, Livy has been acting differently. Soon Lucy discovers Livy has an eating disorder, and she can’t help Lucy with her problems at her new school. Lately, Lucy has been wondering if her own problems would go away if she changed her body…
This warm story about two sisters wrestling with school challenges and disordered eating strikes a perfect balance of hopeful and honest, and middle-grade and tween readers dealing with the complicated challenges of tween/teen life and body image will want to pick this up. The sisters’ bond is a wonderful centerpiece of the book, and the vibrant art brings the story to life. As a bonus, Edkins Willis offers some resources for those going through similar struggles in her afterword.
Content Notes
Smaller Sister portrays eating disorder thought patterns and behaviors as well as bullying.
As countless movies, shows, biographies, and behind-the-scenes documentaries have shown us, being famous is a double-edged sword. Fame puts people on pedestals, but that just means those on pedestals can’t reach anyone down below. Yet no matter how much the so-called dark side of fame is covered, people still crave celebrity and social media has made it more accessible than ever. Another bit of media that deserves a dark-side-of-celebrity tag is Parasocial. Written by Alex De Campi and illustrated by Erica Henderson, Parasocial is a new take on the well-known trope of obsession turned dangerous.
This story’s object of obsession is Luke Indiana, a star whose brightness has considerably waned. Once the breakout star of a sci-fi show, he now makes his money traveling the convention circuit while also soaking up his fans’ adoration (of course, he’s also staying safe during the pandemic). At one convention, Luke runs into his biggest fan, then runs into her again when he’s stranded out on a desert road. Lily’s Good Samaritan act is the perfect opportunity for her to capture Luke and bring him to her trailer, where celebrity and stalker engage in a battle of wits and wills that just might darken Luke’s star permanently.
A lot of people might compare this story to Stephen King’s Misery, but compared to King’s gradual horror, De Campi’s story is like riding a bullet train. Within the confines of this single graphic novel, De Campi reveals Luke’s backstory, that of an actor whose focus on himself is to the detriment of those around him, and then takes off with Luke’s abduction and attempts to escape. Luke might be a shallow, narcissistic actor, but readers will root for his escape as he learns to dig deep within himself. Lily is not a monster like Misery’s Annie Wilkes; she simply wants Luke to reciprocate her feelings for him. The dichotomy of the two characters actually highlights their symmetries and makes their dialogue intriguing.
What helps move this story along at a frenetic pace is Henderson’s artwork. The contrast between the fine-boned, strikingly handsome features of Luke and the more realistic yet average appearance of Lily shows through images which side of the fan/celebrity spectrum both fall even before De Campi’s story starts scratching their individual surfaces. The standout of Henderson’s artwork, however, is when she evokes social media. Whether it’s through text messages or Instagram posts, these panels keep the story moving without getting bogged down by exposition while also exploring the boundary between the persona social media sees and the reality.
This book is a self-contained story that doesn’t go across multiple volumes, which might be appealing to those looking for a quick, exciting read. Adults who love graphic novels, a good thriller, and a story that doesn’t demand too much of their time should savor this surprisingly filling story.
Parasocial By Alex De Campi Art by Erica Henderson Image, 2023 ISBN: 9781534399372
Panic.” Those kids might remember it as a time when many pop culture properties, from Dungeons & Dragons to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, were considered gateway hobbies that could lead children to embrace Satan and commit acts in his name. Far more nefarious were accusations that schools and educators were drawing children into Satan’s eager embrace. Many of these were seemingly corroborated by child victims who’d had their recollections manipulated through unsubstantiated psychological techniques.
Oh my gosh, I loved this book. There isn’t really a genre to describe the post-apocalyptic-Conan/Heavy Metal (but-no-sex)/Moebius/Canticle for Leibowitz-light-hearted anti-war comedy this book is but trust me—that characterization will make sense once you’ve read it.
“Everything ends,” says W. Maxwell Prince’s newest compilation of linked stories. But as is true of any Prince release, there’s more here than meets the eye.
From his Eisner award-winning ode to pro wrestling Do a Powerbomb to his recent retelling of those ‘80s era robots in disguise Transformers, Johnson has shown a particular flair for action, whether it’s people high flying off the top rope or robots the size of buildings crashing into each other. While he might be well-known for both those projects, he also does a webcomic called Space Mullet, part of which is collected in this trade paperback. This trip among the stars features not only Johnson’s penchant for action but includes some of his trademark zany humor.
Many people remember their teenage years fondly, even if those years are looked at through rose-colored glasses. When coming-of-age stories tackle teenagers, they will often focus on the friendships that form in those turbulent years, the ones that keep an individual grounded and feel destined to last forever. What strengthens the bond between the teenagers in The Cull Vol. 1, a science fiction/horror/coming-of-age story by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis, is a search for a missing brother across an alien landscape.
that features a lot of the hallmarks of their work. There is a Vietnam vet who is struggling with his mental health. It is summer in the 1980s. A cop who operates outside of the rules. A young woman who is troubled. And a male character feels compelled to save her even if it is a self-serving move.
As countless movies, shows, biographies, and behind-the-scenes documentaries have shown us, being famous is a double-edged sword. Fame puts people on pedestals, but that just means those on pedestals can’t reach anyone down below. Yet no matter how much the so-called dark side of fame is covered, people still crave celebrity and social media has made it more accessible than ever. Another bit of media that deserves a dark-side-of-celebrity tag is Parasocial. Written by Alex De Campi and illustrated by Erica Henderson, Parasocial is a new take on the well-known trope of obsession turned dangerous.
