Welcome to 2024! How are you liking it so far? It’s still a bit early to figure out how this year is going to go, but it’s never too early to start things off right by reading some fun comics!
2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!
Bookish Goods
Superheroes Car Air Freshener, Freshener Fragrance, Novelty Car Diffusers, Super Hero Car Air Freshener by MisterMonkeyCo
Start the new year off with a clean-smelling car thanks to one of these cute little air fresheners! Just pick your favorite character and a nice scent, and you’re all set. $6
New Releases
The Poetry of Ran Volume One by Yusuke Osawa
Torue wants more than anything to be a successful bard, but she can’t seem to come up with any fresh material. That changes when she meets Ran, who hunts down people-eating monsters. What better source of inspiration could there possibly be?
Monomyth by David Hazan and Cecilia Lo Valvo
Usually, comics about magic schools depict a magical, glorious place where students can grow their abilities in relative safety. But not here! Monomyth tells the story of young people from around the world summoned to a rundown school where they will face dangers, both external and internal.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Today’s Riot Rec theme is: New York! That’s where the ball drops every New Year’s, and that’s where we’re going to explore in these comics.
The Bridge: How the Roeblings Connected Brooklyn to New York by Peter J. Tomasi and Teo DuVall
You’ve probably heard of the Brooklyn Bridge, but have you heard how it got built? Designed by a father and built by his son and daughter-in-law, the bridge’s construction turned into a real family affair and led to one of New York’s most iconic architectural achievements.
Carmilla: The First Vampire by Amy Chu and Soo Lee
In 1990s New York, unhoused queer women are going missing, and only a social worker named Athena cares enough to try to find out what’s happening to them. Her investigation takes her to a Chinatown nightclub called Carmilla’s, where she will find several truths she is not ready to hear. This comic takes the classic novel Carmilla and adds a distinctly Chinese American twist.
If you’ve set any reading goals for this year, these comics are a great way to get you started! As for me, I’m going to get to work on Thursday’s newsletter before settling down with a book myself. See you in two days!
~Eileen