A murderous cowboy, monstrous bugs, characters and places that may or may not exist—all this and more waits within the pages of this strange and unsettling anthology collection.
Created by Dustin Weaver and with the additional talents of Jeremy Barlow and D.J. Bryant, The Juniper Lodge collects 5 stories from Weaver’s anthology series PAKLIS, also released by Image Comics. Though tonally similar, each episode stands entirely on its own, making this a perfectly viable entry point for any reader not familiar with Weaver’s work.
Though “the Juniper Lodge” story sits at the heart of the collection, the first entry brings readers back to the wild west, where a gun demands sacrifice and a man facing execution finds that his hopes of salvation may come drenched in blood. Each new narrative delivers a surreal mix of body horror and monsters alongside mystery, fractured realities, and unraveling psychological uncertainty among characters struggling to separate the real from the fantastic. The stories embrace their own ambiguity, leaving a great deal unresolved by each finale and stranding the reader amidst the grotesqueries of each new world. With all three writers taking the lead at various points, some stories offer shades of Kafka while others play out with more noir tones. There are flashes of superhero lore, and visual elements of scifi and cyberpunk woven throughout. But even with all the strangeness unfolding across each page, the core themes remain close to characters in crisis, each reckoning with a world that is not what they once believed it to be.
While the writing rotates hands, Weaver creates the visuals across each new chapter. The realism of the art shifts between stories, with some more polished and others feeling more textured on the page. Further capturing the tone of the volume, Weaver plays with color palates and perspectives to sometimes change and sometimes distort the reader’s experience. One scene may appear normal; a few panels later, we’re confronted with bulging eyes, twisting hallways, a floating grin that lingers where a stranger once crouched. Weaver’s art establishes the familiar and then breaks it, luring the reader into the horrors. The volume also ends with some bonus content, exploring the comics industry and what it takes to make the leap from big superhero titles to a book like this, providing insights into Weaver’s artistic journey.
Image gives The Juniper Lodge a Mature rating. There’s violence and death, graphic nudity, sexual content, and horror imagery aplenty over the course of the five stories, so this one is more suited for adults. This collection offers a fascinating trip through a series of vivid worlds and distinct characters. As is sometimes the case with anthology comics, the pieces of Juniper Lodge may feel undeveloped, leaving readers searching for a coherent whole. The stories do not resolve neatly, and some feel cluttered with too many moving pieces and big ideas to follow as effectively as I would have liked for myself. But for any reader who wants the blend of science fiction, mystery, and horror wrapped up in nightmare landscapes where nothing is certain, The Juniper Lodge will provide a memorable ride. It will likely have the most appeal to readers who have enjoyed Prince’s Ice Cream Man or Walsh’s The Silver Coin—and possibly some of Junji Ito’s shorter works alongside.
In the end, The Juniper Lodge was a bit too abstract for my tastes, but no one can accuse the volume of being boring. For the right reader, I expect these five stories could be exactly the sort of portal they’re looking for.
The Juniper Lodge By Dustin Weaver, Jeremy Barlow, and D.J. Bryant Art by Dustin Weaver Image, 2026 ISBN: 9781534331020
Ross’s Murray’s Bedford Street is an often bleak, sometimes funny, but quietly compelling look at the lives, loves, and losses of a group of characters united by their proximity to a single street.
Opening with a short sequence aptly titled Roadkill, Bedford Street immediately sets its somewhat grim tone which is nevertheless run through with bursts of dark humor. From there, the book transitions to the first full story of the collection—that of an alcoholic father entrusted with taking care of his teenage son for the weekend. He sips drinks and searches for shared interests as his son unleashes rage issues on a battered grill in the yard. Much of this opening story is told in visuals, but Ross works a great deal of character and connection into the way father and son move through their shared space—each unsure exactly how to exist on their own or communicate with the other. It’s an effectively human story, full of relatable uncertainty and capped with bittersweet moments of love and connection.
Each story that follows shares similar threads of deeply flawed people trying their best, through moments of strength and often moments of failure. A nurse debating whether to intervene in a domestic disturbance, two brothers navigating life after an accident, a man trying to restart life after release from prison—the stories are quiet, but they are earnest and honest in capturing all the rough edges of their subjects as the lives of the Bedford Street residents continue to unfold.
Ross brings a deft hand to each vignette, crafting a compelling character arc, and blending natural dialogue with powerful visuals to capture the heart of each short story. Like any collection, some are likely to land with a reader more than others, but the range of characters feels united by the tone of the overall book. In each, it feels as though Ross is looking to understand the central characters and bringing the reader along on the experience. Some make terrible mistakes that upend their lives and the lives of those around them. Others are caught in difficulty through no fault of their own. Regardless, Ross’s delivery doesn’t feel as though it seeks to pass judgment on this collage of lives. They are simply complicated, and through the choices they make, they will be forced to face the consequences, whatever those may be.
Matching this writing, the art has a simple realism to it. There are plenty of details to take in, but Ross’s visual style strips away the noise to focus on scenes—on expressions and quiet moment as they occur. Different colors dominate the palate depending on the nature of the sequence, but the subdued shades interplay with light and shadow to build panels that feel worn and lived in, but which also hold the eye as these characters pass their days.
Fantagraphics rates Bedford Street for 16+. The stories are all thematically mature, but some are more acceptable for teenage readers than others. While certain of the mature elements occur infrequently, the book does include strong language, death, suicide, injury to humans and animals, substance use, strong sexual content, and graphic nudity among its content concerns. Between this and the overall subject matter, it will have strongest appeal with adults. Overall, for readers who like more literary works, Bedford Street is a generally quiet examination of complex characters and a range of themes. There isn’t a strong narrative tissue connecting the stories to each other, but a definite emotional arc runs across the collection and these characters who ultimately seem to (mostly) be doing the best they can with a myriad of imperfect situations. It’s a striking book that deserves a place on any shelf where it will be appreciated.
Bedford Street By Ross Murray Fantagraphics, 2026 ISBN: 9798875002625
Die is back with a new party of players and whole new corners of the world left to explore. Penned by the original creative team of Gillen and Hans, Die: Loaded picks up a year after the original series. After having fallen into the world of a sentient role-playing game twice already, and with one of their number dead from the last time it happened, the remaining members of the friend group are doing their best to pick up the pieces and find something resembling normalcy in the real world. But living so much time in a fantasy land changes a person, and unable to explain to their loved ones the truth of what happened, to say things are uncomfortable would be putting it mildly. The kicker, Sol—who remains tangled in the game’s ambitions—has plans to release Die the game to the public. All is not well for our heroes who barely managed to find their way home the last time—but they are not the ones setting out on this next adventure.
The dice come as gifts, delivered discreetly to loved ones of the original adventuring party. Unaware of the danger, each unwitting hero touches their token and falls into a world of magic and monsters, proud gods and devastating prophecies. The first is Ash’s wife Sophie. Ignorant about Die and the rules of role-playing games in general, it now falls to her to navigate these strange landscapes, find the other players, and escape back home—but to do that, she’ll have to learn the rules, and quickly. Because death is all too real in Die, and nothing can be trusted. Especially not the game itself.
For anyone who read the original story arc, there’s plenty to settle back into here. Familiar faces fill the opening before tossing Sophie and the others into Die’s fantastic realms. Familiar character classes take on new flavors in response to the griefs and traumas of the players—because the game certainly does love to play off people’s darkest secrets. There’s a whole pantheon of gods looking to trade for favors. One entire realm is made of art while another is full of chosen one characters, all seeking to fulfill their destinies. With its meta-textual awareness, complex themes, and inside jokes aimed at gamers, Die has lost none of its edge.
In some ways, this series offers a landing pad for new readers. With a cast of characters not familiar with the rules of the game, there’s some explanation naturally woven into the reintroduction of the world. And being a new campaign, it’s not necessary to know every detail that transpired previously. At the same time, the shadow of the previous campaign looms over everything, with references to characters and events that will mean little to anyone who missed the previous story.
For new and familiar readers alike, Die: Loaded is full of the darkness and complexity the series showcased on the last outing. Lore and character conflicts unfold over time, but it’s the baggage that the players bring with them that sits at the core of the story. Grief, identity, betrayal—the nature of Die forces the characters to confront themselves and each other if they want to make it home alive. With volume 1, this new arc feels tighter and more intimate than before but remains a remarkable feat of storytelling to bring all these elements together, balancing humor and horror with an ensemble cast and a world that just keeps getting bigger.
While the writing remains on point, the art from Hans is also as gorgeous as ever. Shifting styles and palates across the story, the bold colors and sharp detail float in the watercolor landscapes and stranger spaces of the fantasy world. It’s dreamy, it’s horrifying, and it brings each character to life with vivid emotion. Even for readers who may be hesitant to dive into this world, it’s worth it to wander these realms for a while and discover what might be hiding around the next corner, with artwork that helps shape Die into such a unique title.
Image hands Die: Loaded a Mature rating. With graphic violence, strong language, mature themes, sexual references, and some heavy content in general, it’s definitely a title aimed at adults. For those more mature readers though, there’s so much here to love. Obviously, many readers of the original series will be interested to see what unfolds in this new chapter, and the series will have the most appeal for fans of fantasy stories and role-playing games. However, for anyone open to a fantasy comic with a lot of layers, complex characters, and a good bit of darkness, Die is one of those titles that may challenge the boxes people sometimes try to stick graphic novels into. I found it delightful to return to this world, and with the adventure only getting started, I eagerly await the opportunity to see where things go next. Things are already looking pretty dire, and if we’ve learned anything from Die—it’s that the situation can always get worse.
Die: Loaded Vol. 01: Zero Sessions By Kieron Gillen Art by Stephanie Hans Image, 2026 ISBN: 9781534335356
The killers are back and they’re bloodier than ever.
Exquisite Corpses Vol. 2 picks up right where the first volume left off—with the citizens of Oak Valley, Maine fighting for survival against a cabal of thirteen powerful families and the menagerie of violent murderers they have gathered to compete in a “game” that has already left a trail of bodies behind. From Image Comics and helmed by James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh, this new volume yet again offers up an incredibly talented roster of writers and artists for these next five issues of carnage and survival.
With Tynion as co-writer, each issue of the series maintains a consistent voice and tone, while the other writers—Che Grayson, Jordie Bellaire, Tyler Boss, Michael Walsh, and Pornsak Pichetshote—have the chance to shift focus among people on all sides of the conflict—townsfolk, killers, and the families behind it all. It’s a stacked roster of comics creatives, all coming together to tell a story that steps on the gas from page one. The pace in this volume is as quick as ever as the young people of Oak Valley gather for a party, unaware that they are creating a possible killing ground. The unhinged killers, each with their own vivid personalities and approaches to violence, crash onto and off of the page with the same chaos they have introduced to the quiet town, battling each other and anyone unlucky enough to get in their way. But the story continues to find its quieter moments as well. Not all the killers are bloodthirsty. The infighting of the rich families leisurely watching the night unfolds in layered questions of morality and power. And the town survivors must decide for themselves if they will hold onto hope or give into darker impulses as they struggle to save their loved ones.
For a story of nonstop action, Tynion and the others never forget that the humanity of the characters gives the rest meaning. The writers give the story space to breathe and allow vivid emotion amidst gripping pacing and an unfolding sequence of reversals and revelations. There are compelling personalities on all sides, and even as the bodies continue to fall, it’s hard to look away from the spectacle. Perhaps that is its own sort of commentary on the whole ordeal.
The art remains excellent throughout the volume. Claire Roe, Gavin Fullerton, and Adam Gorham join Michael Walsh deploying a relatively muted color palate across the grittier scenes, bringing realism to the visuals that helps ground the bold premise of the series. At the same time, the artists shift the major colors across characters and sequences, capturing mood and stylizing action to dramatic effect. There’s just something about a morally ambiguous woman in a fox mask flying across the page with a katana that captures the attention. The art is equally effective when two trained killers in masks are participating in a dance of death in a quiet graveyard—and when grief and horror settle in as the survivors realize the increasing cost of the nightmare that has settled over them. There’s a striking cinematic quality to the entire series, and with Walsh and Tynion both as co-creators, it’s an excellent example of artistic vision brought to life.
Fair warning to potential purchasers and readers, Exquisite Corpses earns its mature rating with graphic violence and injury and strong language throughout. The visuals never revel in the violence quite as much as the killers do, but the series never shies away from it either. Hands are removed, eyes come out, and character good and bad, young and old, are caught in the crossfire. For those who can stomach the violence and occasional sadism however, Exquisite Corpses sits comfortably in the evil rich people genre that has been popular these last few years—including films like Ready or Not and The Menu as well as comics such as Sarah Gailey’s Eat the Rich. Mix all that with a serial killer battle royale, and there’s plenty here for older readers to enjoy. Be sure to track down volume one first, but this is an action horror series well worth your time.
There’s still hours to go until dawn for the citizens of Oak Valley, and with the series still ongoing, I suspect the worst is yet to come. I, for one, will be back to see what happens.
Exquisite Corpses, Vol. 2 By James Tynion IV Art by Michael Walsh Image, 2026 ISBN: 9781534334687
Company Age Rating: M
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) Creator Representation: Gay, Character Representation: Black, Queer,
From studying under J.R.R. Tolkien in university to fighting the rise of fascism in the 20th century to serving as a powerful creative force behind the most famous works published by George Orwell—23rd Street Books dives into the life of Eileen O’Shaughnessy in Mrs. Orwell, written by journalist, author, and filmmaker Andrea Chalupa with art by Brahm Revel.
Mrs. Orwell opens with our introduction Eileen O’Shaughnessy (later Eileen Blair), studying at university under the esteemed Professor Tolkien, partying at night, and chafing against the strict social standards which hold women back in the name of propriety. At a party, she crosses paths with a writer named Eric Blair, who publishes under the name George Orwell.
With shared interests in art and politics, the two find a deeply passionate connection, somewhat to the dismay of Eileen’s brother with whom she lives. From marriage to traveling conflict zones in Europe in search of political movements and armed resistance to the rise of fascism and the brewing storm of what would become World War II, Eileen and her husband find themselves tested as they fight for both their ideals and their lives.
A talented writer on her own, Eileen throws herself fiercely behind supporting her husband’s work, serving as editor, typist, and muse for numerous of his publications, especially influencing his most famous titles, Animal Farm and 1984. With a world in violent chaos and a marriage fraught with turmoil and infidelity, this graphic novel shines a light on two incredibly influential writers—only one of whom remains widely known today.
As discussed in the note at the end of the book, Mrs. Orwell serves as a work of historical fiction that nevertheless draws heavily from recorded fact. It even includes a reading guide for anyone wanting to dive deeper into Eileen’s life. While never shying away from the complexities and failings of either Eileen or Eric, the main focus remains on recognizing and celebrating Eileen’s work and the vital role that art and resistance play in the face of violence. The characters are layered, revealing facets of themselves through engaging and entertaining dialogue, while Chalupa carries us through a great span of time including major historical events on the world stage. It’s a great deal of content to cover in a book of this sort, and if Mrs. Orwell has any flaw, it’s that there’s not quite enough time to unpack some of the history, particularly in the book’s later portion.
Nevertheless, in tackling themes of fascism, war, censorship, art, and media—there’s a wealth of material here that remains all too relevant today. But in addition to uncovering lesser known biography and vital discussions about the nature of creation and resistance, the book is also simply fun to read. Entertaining and often funny, it succeeds on a narrative level as much as a historical one. It’s a feat to balance all these elements, and Chalupa has written a striking story about two passionate, flawed, messy, creative, and highly influential people which brings them to vibrant life within these pages.
And speaking of vibrant pages, Revel’s shifting palate of art is a delight from start to finish. Colors and tones shift across the story, as do the layouts and structures of each page. With a careful eye for pacing and visual storytelling, Revel keeps the art grounded without being afraid to weave in flashes of stylization and dramatic representations of emotions alongside the more focused, powerful moments the book has to offer. Heightening both humor and heartache, Revel’s visuals are a vital aspect of the book’s appeal. The grit feels real, as does the threat of war and death. At the same time, we get soft romantic interludes, mixed realities where fiction intrudes on the present, and appropriate weight given to the heavier themes the book holds in store.
23rd Street Books lists this title for adult readers. There are smatterings of violence, sexuality, and language throughout, but the book never lingers on the more mature elements or presents them in graphic detail. At the same time, with a strong historical focus alongside a range of complex topics and themes, it’s likely the book will appeal most to older readers and those already familiar with Orwell’s work. It could also be a good companion read for older students studying Orwell’s life and writing. Overall, Mrs. Orwell is an excellent read in its own right, while also bringing to life a figure often lost in the obscurity of history. A woman who refused to accept the bounds society placed on her, a fighter who dreamed of a better world, a writer who left her mark for generations to come—more people should know the name Eileen O’Shaughnessy, and this graphic novel is an excellent step in ensuring that her life and accomplishments are not forgotten.
Mrs. Orwell By Andrea Chalupa Art by Brahm Revel 23rd Street Books, 2026 ISBN: 9781250877857
Company Age Rating: Adult
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Shining a light on a lesser know story from the Civil War era, Legion M Entertainment and Stranger Comics bring together a talented creative team including creatives from Disney, Marvel, and DC, for Defiant, this first volume chronicling the life of Robert Smalls.
Born to an enslaved mother in the American South, Smalls dreamed of freedom. Beginning with his childhood, Defiant follows Smalls as he grows through education, love, and eventually into working as a sailor when war breaks out against the North. It is in this war that Smalls sees an opportunity at freedom, to steal the Confederate transport ship he worked on and escape to Union-controlled territory with some of his fellow crew and their families.
It was this escape that made Smalls famous, but his life’s work did not stop there. He continued as an influential figure throughout the war and beyond, including time serving in Congress. There are many today who do not know the details of Smalls and his life, and in the supplementary material that accompanies this graphic novel, the creators, as well as Smalls’s great great grandson, reflect on the power of legacy and the necessity of telling stories like this in order to remember the past and inform the future.
Defiant opens with a framing narrative depicting Smalls later in life as he takes his grandson fishing. It is here, as they wait for the fish to bite, that he begins to recount his story. Each section of the book captures key moments of Smalls’s youth and adulthood. It’s a significant length of time to cover, but the creators pace the story well, showcasing the experiences that formed Smalls’s character and the sense of defiance that would later drive him to risk everything in pursuit of freedom. The story is told with fondness and dramatic flair, but it doesn’t lose sight of the Smalls’s humanity or the horrors of US slavery at the time.
Balancing cinematic sensibilities with a desire to share a true segment of history, the writing effectively moves between interludes with the older Smalls and the larger narrative chunks leading up to his dramatic escape. The dialogue is straightforward and occasionally on the nose, but the book does an excellent job identifying important details to convey and moving the story along, while also bringing the reader into Small’s life along with the lives of those around him. It’s a story told with concern for historical truth, but also with acknowledgement that some liberties were taken and some factual gaps filled in to bring the story to life.
With these same cinematic sensibilities, the artistic team uses bold coloring and some dynamic layouts that quickly grab the reader’s attention. There’s a general sense of realism to the visual sequences, but the art takes some compelling creative liberties at times which help to elevate the themes and content of the story. There is one pivotal moment early in the book where Smalls, as a child, witnesses the violence and cruelty committed against the Black people around him. With use of light and shadow as well as distortions of faces that once seemed less threatening, the artists bring us into the experience of the moment and the realization of the evil inherent to the institution of slavery. Here and elsewhere, the art reckons with the realities of the time without the need to linger over pain and suffering. As the book progresses into the dramatic escape that Smalls is most known for, the visuals continue to bring the reader into the action, with effective choices in framing and dramatic moments that heighten both the tension and the heroism of what Smalls and the other achieved.
Stranger Comics lists Defiant as suitable for all ages. There are a range of areas in the content to be mindful of—violence and death in war and toward enslaved people, occasional slurs, briefly implied nudity, and some sequences of tension and threat which at times include children. However, none of these are presented for shock value or in graphic detail; even the creators state that their intention is not to linger over the violence and other horrors of the time. What detail we do see in the pages is relatively brief, maintaining focus on Smalls as a central figure and celebrating what he achieved without glossing over the reality that helped shape him.
As such, it’s a suitable read for older kids and upward, not only for the book’s sense of adventure, but also for the rich and important history it seeks to convey. In the afterword, writer Rob Edwards reflects on the importance of telling stories and why he sees such value in remembering the life of Robert Smalls. There is value, not only in the history recorded here, but in the discussions offered by Edwards and the others in this book who reflect on what it can mean for us today, to remember the bravery and steadfastness of those who have come before. In this way, Defiance is a perfect read for the current moment, and a great addition to shelves in schools, libraries, and home collections, especially with a movie also in production.
Defiant The Story of Robert Smalls By Rob Edwards Art by Sean Damien Hill Legion M and Stranger Comics, 2025 ISBN: 9781939834379
NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Black, Character Representation: Black,
In a world where supernatural being and humans tensely live in proximity to each other, a turf war between organized families of demi humans is the spark that will trigger a much larger conflict to come.
Gran Familia is the first serialized story from creator Louis Yamani and Titan Comics. The book introduces us to Leo, the somewhat haphazard but sincere manager of Goodfellas Bistro. Along with fellow employees Rose and Zach, Leo seems committed to keeping his head down and his spirits up as he runs a business amidst the growing threat of demi human attacks on humans across the city.
Through genetic mutation, these demi humans take a variety of forms—vampires, werewolves, mermaids, and more. It’s a bit like folklore meets superheroes. And whispers that a new family of demi humans is making a power play in the city have everyone tense. However, it’s not until this new family attacks a friend of Leo’s that readers learn the bigger picture; Leo is a part of the Gran Familia, the most powerful of the demi human families, and is a powerful vampire in his own right. But when Leo steps in to punish the upstarts who hurt someone he cared about, it sets off a series of consequences involving law enforcement and local criminals, all of whom have their own interests as well as a score to settle with a member of the Gran Familia.
Yamani balances episodic storytelling with a larger narrative in a way that serves the story well. Each section of the book finds Leo and friends caught up in the circumstances of the humans and demi humans that live around them. With each new adventure (or misadventure) readers learn more about the characters and the world as Leo can’t seem to stop himself from helping those in need around him even as he balances his demi human and human lives. At the same time, members of human law enforcement are on a quest to eradicate all demi humans, regardless of who they are.
As Leo’s interventions gain attention from unfortunate places, the narrative ups the stakes toward the inevitable confrontations. Overall, the idea of supernatural beings living alongside humans is not fresh, but this manga never makes the concept feel stale either. Leo’s clumsy affects do feel a bit like other manga characters we’ve seen before, but when the mask comes off and he leaps into action, he proves himself a hero worth following. Overall, the writing delivers an entertaining and packed first volume while putting plenty of pieces in place for these characters and the larger world.
Yamani’s art as well, is excellent. Sometimes sparse and sometimes full of fine detail, the visuals shift well from mundane sequences to highly stylized moments of supernatural action. There are a few rough moments where the visual sequence is a little hard to follow, but for the vast majority of the volume, the imagery is a treat to behold. Beyond the cityscapes themselves, some of the high points visually are when Leo and the other demi humans unleash their powers, changing form and dashing across the page—each character with their own distinct abilities and presentation. From start to finish, there’s a great deal to enjoy in the artistic storytelling, and Yamani shifts layouts and tones enough to keep that journey interesting.
Titan lists the age for the title as 15+. There’s some stylized but occasionally intense violence, scattered language, occasional mild fanservice, and some non-detailed nudity in nonsexual contexts. It’s nothing most older teens can’t handle, but definitely worth being aware of for those on the edge of that age range. As a first volume, Gran Familia isn’t necessarily doing anything groundbreaking, but it’s a whole lot of fun that manages to put its own touch on this blend of supernatural action and mafia-esque crime thriller. There’s humor to balance the more intense moments and a distinct cast of characters that propel each episode of the story along in a way that still manages to feel cohesive. There’s plenty here to delight readers of supernatural action manga, and the story is engaging but straightforward enough that this could be an excellent entry point for readers without much manga experience. Simply put, I had a fun time diving into this world and I hope to be there to see what trouble Leo gets himself into next.
Gran Familia By Louis Yamani Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787747135
Cocktails. We know them. Many love them. But how many of us know the long and complicated journey through history that brought us the cocktail as we know it today?
From Ten Speed Graphic, renown cocktail historian David Wondrich delivers The Comic Book History of the Cocktail along with art from Dean Kotz, Brad Simpson, and Micah Myers. Opening with some pre-history, this nonfiction journey around the world introduces the earliest known precursors of mixology from civilizations such as Rome and India. From there, the story really begins in the 1600s with the expansion of global trade and the journeying of ingredients, practices, and liquors around the globe. While cocktails are rather a niche subject, their evolution was shaped by many aspects of a changing world. Race and gender dictated who could stand behind a bar. Politics and global warfare led to booms and lulls in alcohol consumption. And social standards drastically changed consumer expectations about what a cocktail could be and where the bars that served them fit within society. With deep historical knowledge and a clear affection for mixed drinks, Wondrich and the creative team offer a detailed and engaging history of drinking which simultaneously takes us across centuries of world history, charting the ebb and flow of society before turning an eye toward the infinite possibilities of the future.
Though deeply researched and factual, this graphic history is written with a clear and engaging style that makes the subject matter entertaining and accessible. The narrative voice that drives much of the book feels quite personal, interjecting commentary on world events and suspect cocktail techniques throughout. There are also frequent interludes from two bartender characters who offer further commentary on topics from the chapters while also sharing recipes and techniques for some of the drinks referenced throughout. Rather than a history text, the book feels like a casual lesson from a friendly group of people passionate about the subject matter. The book is full of information while never feeling bogged down in excessive detail. Even with all that it presents, there is clearly so much more a curious reader could go on to discover with further reading. Indeed, Wondrich closes the books with an extensive index and bibliography of further resources for those curious, highlighting the extensive body of scholarship underlying the information presented here. If the writing has any weakness, it’s the fact that a book of this sort simply doesn’t have the space and time to dive as deep as some of these historical figures and periods deserve. On a pickier note, the dialects and historical accents of some of the historical figures rendered into written text are occasionally distracting—but even these are drawn from historical sources as accurately as possible. As an introduction to the subject which manages to effectively cover a huge span of time and history, Wondrich remarkably makes the subject matter both accessible and fun to read all along the way.
Wonderich’s extensive knowledge is made all the more engaging with art from Dean Kotz. There isn’t a great deal of sequential visual story telling here. Rather, Kotz captures an enormous range of historical figures and time periods. Illustrating each era the book covers from those uncertain times of pre-history right up through the covid pandemic and into the modern day. With heavy line work and a mix of style and realism, Kotz details bustling bars, shattered battlefields, horrific plantations, and the men and women who walked through them all. It’s an undertaking to capture chemistry and brewing practices alongside shifting societies around the globe, but every page of this book is made better through Kotz’s illustrations. Particularly of note are the double-page spreads of bars at specific periods of time, showing their evolution from small, focused establishments to the influential social spaces that they are today.
With no recommended age range and no particularly explicit content, this book is relatively safe for any reader to flip through. However, given the explicit focus of the subject matter on drinking and alcohol, it’s a read best aimed at adults, especially given that it takes a rather positive slant on the history of cocktails without more nuanced discussion of the risks drinking also poses. Nearly every page features liquor being made or consumed, and there are also digressions into serious topics such as war and the international slave trade. As such, adults with interests in areas of history and drinking will be the audience best served by this one. Additionally, it does lean more text-heavy than some comics, expecting the reader to be settled in with an attention span to match. As a final note, not only does Wonderich offer a wealth of historical information not regularly covered by more mainstream sources, he also goes out of his way to recognize the contributions of often marginalized figures throughout history. There’s a clear, individual perspective to the history, but the book is always explicit about where there is authorial commentary alongside historical fact. Furthermore, the book is upfront about any place where the historical record is murky or nonexistent. The Comic Book History of the Cocktail would be an excellent addition for any comics collection that leans toward the adult and the historical. It is a strong read on its own, and might also ignite further curiosity in the covered range of topics and intriguing historical figures.
The Comic Book History of the Cocktail Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On By David Wondrich Art by Dean Kotz Ten Speed Press, 2025 ISBN: 9781984860330
A political allegory for the rise of dictatorship all framed through the anxious lives of… some pigeons?
Street Noise Books delivers the English language edition of Pigeons! A Fable for Our Time from Marc Chalvin. The book opens boldly, introducing the reader to a vast number of hapless pigeons and the merciless crow who terrorizes and controls them.
The pigeons themselves are not known for complex thought. They eat poisoned seeds, walk in front of cars, and generally look for crow to give them instruction in every area of life. Simultaneously, the crow revels in this power, killing pigeons at will and toying with the living ones, safe in the knowledge that they will never object. Into this scene enters an idealistic seagull. She believes the pigeons are capable of more; the challenge is to convince them of that. The plan—stage democratic elections so that the pigeons can understand the concept of freedom and escape crow’s tyranny. The problem—the pigeons may prefer an iron claw to an uncertain world in which they make their own decisions.
While there is a clear narrative from start to finish, Chalvin balances story and character with a heavy emphasis on the political themes of the book. The pigeons often understand very little of what is happening around them, but the book intersperses debates between crow and seagull on topics such as democracy, control, and self-actualization which serve to bring the social and political topics to the forefront. In this way, things are a bit on the nose for readers who prefer subtler messaging. That being said, the book is far from a dry treatise on political thought. The pigeons banter and squabble, crow struggles to manage even the most basic interactions with the feathered populous, and seagull looks on in dismay as even the best intentions struggle in the face of reality. With dry humor and biting observations about humanity, Chalvin turns loose three factions in a struggle that feels immensely relevant to human history and the moment we live in today.
Chalvin’s art as well is simple, keeping the emphasis on the characters and the content over highly detailed scenes. With heavy line sketches and simple shading, there are stylistic touches of political cartoons while still allowing the book to take on its own shape and character. The wide-eyed pigeons are often indistinguishable, but Chalvin still imbues them with life amidst their fear and their naive joy as they wander their way through each new day. Most pages are broken into a simple four-panel layout while occasional scenes are given more space for detail and emphasis as key moments unfold at a larger scale. It’s a style that serves well, as Chalvin takes the simple visuals and fills them with personality and meaning.
There is some semi-graphic animal death throughout the book that is mitigated by both the style and the ironic humor that define the book. While the themes and questions are important, younger readers are likely to bounce off of this in favor of less overt political explorations. However, for older teens who are interested, and definitely for adults, Pigeons! is packed with sharp messaging and enough lingering complexity to give the reader something to contemplate once the book is done—rather than tying everything off in a bow that invites no further exploration. As a piece of social and political commentary, Chalvin delivers an excellent and tightly told fable here, and it’s a worthy addition and warning for any readership inclined to sit with it. And for any space looking to teach on the ideas the book contains, Pigeons! offers a very palatable entry point into subjects that can sometimes be dry in a purely academic context. In short, it’s not for everyone, but it’s a book well worth picking up for the right audience and an important book to see on shelves today.
Pigeons! A Fable for Our Times By Marc Chalvin Street Noise Books, 2025 ISBN: 9781951491505
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: French,
From a single line of Greek myth, acclaimed creator Felicia Day builds the story of Philonoe, The Lost Daughter of Sparta—cursed and loved by the gods themselves.
As the story opens, we meet young Philonoe, who was born with a marked face that those around her perceived as a curse, so she was raised in the wilderness. Then the day arrives when she is summoned to return home to her parents, the king and queen of Sparta. But this is not the happy reunion Philonoe has longed for. Her family does not welcome her with embraces. She is soon to be married to a harsh prince in pursuit of an alliance. Most of all—she learns that their family bears a curse, that she and her sisters are each doomed to betray their husbands. Fresh off war in Troy, fought over Philonoe’s sister Helen, the burden not to further disgrace their family looms large.
It is for this reason that Philonoe seeks out the goddess Aphrodite, who first laid this curse on the family. Begging for a chance to undo the curse and prove herself worthy to a world that has rejected her, Philonoe sets out to complete three challenges issued by the goddess. If she can do this, perhaps she can rewrite fate in a way her sisters never did. On this journey, Philonoe finds herself accompanied by and at odds with the goddess Artemis, who has her own reasons for involving herself in Philonoe’s quest. With her family searching for her, monsters and danger ahead, and the gods themselves watching to see what Philonoe will achieve, this quest for belonging will soon become a great deal more, and perhaps reshape Philonoe’s place in the world forever.
From Gallery Books, the author’s note explains how writer Felicia Day saw a passing reference to Philonoe and decided to dig deeper into the history of this little-known figure. Though little remains known about Philonoe’s original place in myth, Day writes that the story which grew from that initial discovery became one that was immensely personal, but also in line with many other modern interpretations and reinterpretations of women in Greek myth through fresh eyes. Indeed, the themes of the story are laid out plainly, but never so much that they overshadow the personal story beneath. As Philonoe navigates a patriarchal society that sees women as pawns or prey, this coming of age tale explores what it means to survive, to belong, to endure, and to choose—even when external forces would deny this agency. Day brings a clear appreciation for quest narratives to her debut graphic novel, echoing familiar tales such as Hercules alongside references to other recognizable Greek figures. Doing this slots Philonoe nicely into the broader cannon of Greek mythological retellings. At the same time, in Day’s accomplished hands, Philonoe balances naiveite, earnestness, and fire as she faces a confusing world head on in her quest to find herself and her own belonging. As small and personal as this story is in some ways, Day balances classical character against themes that feel immensely relevant, filling the book with messy fierceness and tenderness that, together, feel both timely and necessary.
Day’s writing is accompanied by art from Rowan MacColl. Almost entirely in black and white, with heavy line work and a recurring use of the color red, MacColl’s art achieves complexity without overwhelming. It feels intimate and emotive at all the right moments, maintaining the seriousness due to the subject matter without ever abandoning the wonder and fantasy of the broader story. Gods walk among humans, nations make peace and war, and through it all, MacColl brings the often familiar realms of Greek heroes to life in a way that is immediately recognizable to a familiar audience, but which retains its own distinct charm and character as readers meet Philonoe for what is likely the first time.
Given the subject matter of oppression and patriarchy—along with generalized themes of sexual violence and coercion often present in Greek myth—the book is better suited to older teen readers and adults. However, the focus of the book is clearly on Philonoe and her journey rather than lingering in trauma. Past harms are never overlooked, but neither are they lingered on. There is never any explicit detail of such assaults and any on-page violence is brief and non-graphic. With no profanity and only brief non-detailed and non-sexual nudity, the maturity of the book comes almost exclusively from themes and general subject matter, rather than any specific depictions within. It’s a good choice on the part of the creators, acknowledging realities that are fundamental to the story, but keeping the overall book accessible to a wider audience. Awareness of trauma informs the story, but does not overshadow the more immediate events and characters. By finding moments of beauty and growth rather than harm, Day and MacColl deliver a sweeping adventure, an intimate tale of growing up, and a magical world of myth and legend that nevertheless has a great deal to say about where we are today.
For readers who enjoy mythological stories, especially titles like Lore Olympus—as well as feminist and queer-friendly reimaginings of classical figures—The Lost Daughter of Sparta should offer plenty to enjoy, bringing a forgotten figure from the past boldly to life–and I expect modern audiences will be better off for having met her.
The Lost Daughter of Sparta By Felicia Day Art by Rowan MacColl Gallery Books, 2026 ISBN: 9781668010723
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
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From a single line of Greek myth, acclaimed creator Felicia Day builds the story of Philonoe, The Lost Daughter of Sparta—cursed and loved by the gods themselves.
