Categories
The Stack

Evergreen Comics (and Maybe Other Colors, Too)

I was going to use a “spring” pun in the title, but I figured you’ve probably seen a lot of those lately. You’re welcome.

Bookish Goods

Succulent plants in pots decorated with the characters from My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro Flower Pot by ssTszKeungss

The perfect decoration for the Ghibli fan with a green thumb! Who wouldn’t want a friendly Totoro looking out for your plants? $56

New Releases

The Variants cover

The Variants by Gail Simone and Phil Noto

Jessica Jones is not known for making the best decisions. So what happens when she comes face to face with different versions of herself — versions who made different, sometimes better, life choices? Can she stay focused enough to solve the case she was working on in the first place? Or will self-loathing and grief consume her?

Children of Bathala cover

The Children of Bathala by Arnold Arre

Over twenty years ago, The Mythology Class was assembled to fight a supernatural threat. Now, a new threat looms on the horizon, and the former “classmates” may be too caught up in their own problems to handle it. This sequel to the Philippine classic promises to be every bit as epic, emotional, and exciting as the original tale!

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: green! Consider this a celebration of spring or a belated acknowledgement of St. Patrick’s Day.

Teen Titans Beast Boy cover

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

All Gar Logan has ever wanted was to be popular. Not satisfied with his own small circle of caring friends, he starts taking foolish risks to get the attention of those he so admires. While his efforts are successful at first, there is a major downside that Gar will have to confront — along with his own messed-up priorities — before he loses everything.

Tombs cover

Tombs by Junji Ito (March 28)

The master of horror manga returns this month with a story collection you will definitely want to read with the lights on. Featuring eerie tales about a town dominated by tombstones, a man whose frightening neighbor won’t leave him alone, and a lot more, new and veteran fans of Ito’s work are sure to appreciate this latest creep-tastic collection.

For everyone observing Ramadan this year, I hope you have a blessed one!

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

Great News! These Comics Have Trans People in Them!

No beating around the bush today: three of the four titles I’m spotlighting in this edition feature trans characters. Everyone deserves to have their stories told — and to tell their own stories, too! These are great picks for the Trans Rights Readathon.

Bookish Goods

Rows of all kinds of dice made with the trans pride flag colors

Transgender Flag Dice by ClickClacksDotCool

No matter what kind of game you like to play, now you can play it with (trans) pride! $13

New Releases

Friends with Benefits Vol 1 cover

Friends with Benefits Volume One by Nezkovsou

Finding romance is never easy. It’s even harder when, like Eri, you don’t fit into society’s expectations of gender and sexuality. Come along on Eri’s search for true love in this sweet collected edition of the webcomic.

Colin Kaepernick Change the Game cover

Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game by Colin Kaepernick, Eve L. Ewing, and Orlando Caicedo

You don’t have to be a football fan to appreciate this graphic memoir. Before Kaepernick had to decide how to respond to fatal racism in America, he was a teenager being pushed toward a baseball career even though football was his real passion. By staying true to himself, Kaepernick was able to achieve his dream and inspire hope in others.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: trans characters! I know Certain People have made it their mission to make trans people’s lives harder for no reason. And I know a comic won’t solve everything, but sometimes, it’s nice to just relax and forget about the world while reading stories by and about people like you.

Galaxy The Prettiest Star

Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor

With her planet all but decimated by an alien war, Taelyr is forced to take shelter on Earth — and disguise herself as a boy. For years, Taelyr is miserable, but then she makes a new friend who gives her the courage to be herself at last, no matter the risks.

Boys Run the Riot Vol 1 cover

Boys Run the Riot Volume One by Keito Gaku

Ryo is a closeted high schooler who already has enough to worry about when a new student, Jin, arrives in town. Convinced that Jin will bully him just the same as so many others, Ryo is pleasantly surprised to find they share a common interest, which in turn may give Ryo the confidence to come out to his family and friends.

If you’ve got a few bucks to spare, consider giving them to a trans-centric charity like The Okra Project, which provides free meals and other resources to Black trans/GNC folks in need, or the National Center for Transgender Equality, which fights to protect trans rights. Or find a charity in your area that does similar work!

And if you can’t spare the cash right now, that’s okay too. Remember: it costs zero dollars to treat trans people with kindness and respect.

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

A Belated Celebration of Women’s History Month

We’re about halfway through Women’s History Month, which I totally did not forget about until now! You’ll find some great comics by and about women below…which, come to think of it, isn’t all that different from every issue of the Stack. But let’s celebrate anyway!

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading? Subscribe to Book Riot’s newest newsletter, The Deep Dive, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe and choose your membership level today at bookriot.substack.com

Bookish Goods

A gold pendant shaped like Wonder Woman's logo with the name "Olivia" sitting on top of it

Custom Wonder Woman Pendant by BeautyName

This beautiful pendant is perfect for the Wonder Woman in your life — even if it’s you! Available in different colors and chain lengths. $52

New Releases

The Dragon's Betrothed Vol 1 cover

The Dragon’s Betrothed Volume One by Meguru Hinohara

Chiharu is a writer just looking for some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, he gets the exact opposite when he is forced to marry Rin, a water dragon god! At times, it doesn’t seem like such a bad fate, but Rin is still a dragon. Chiharu will have to risk everything if he wants his life to be his own again.

The Sea in You cover

The Sea in You by Jessi Sheron

What girl hasn’t dreamed of meeting a mermaid at the beach? But the creature Corinth meets is no Disney princess: Skylla’s species eats people! Instead of having her for dinner, Skylla befriends Corinth, a move that leads to the greatest love the girls have ever known — and puts them in more danger than they can possibly imagine.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: women’s history! Here are two comics about amazing women from history that you should definitely know about.

Soviet Daughter cover

Soviet Daughter: A Graphic Revolution by Julia Alekseyeva

In this loving biography, Alekseyeva tells the story of her great-grandmother, Lola, a Ukrainian Jewish woman who survived some of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, joined the Soviet Army, and eventually moved to America, where she fostered a special relationship with troubled Julia.

The Courageous Six Triple Eight cover

The Courageous Six Triple Eight: The All-Female Black Battalion of World War II by Dr. Artika R. Tyner and Cynthia Paul

The U.S. Army was still segregated in World War II, meaning that the all-Black, all-female Six Triple Eight had to deal with racism as well as sexism as they performed their all-important duties: making sure that soldiers at the front received morale-boosting mail from home.

A white-and-brown Havanese wearing a pink bandanna

This has nothing to do with Women’s History Month, but here, enjoy this photo of my dog Poppy from right after she came back from the groomer. My neighbor says she looks like Falkor from The Never-Ending Story, but I’m not sure I see it!

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

Grim Anniversary, Good Comics

This Saturday, March 11, marks the three-year anniversary of the day the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The U.S. government has decided the COVID-19 emergency will “end” on May 11, but the truth is more complicated than that. The virus is still out there, as shown by the latest infection numbers as tracked by the CDC.

Now that I’ve thoroughly depressed you, let’s sooth the hurt with a few comics that can help you either forget or process the difficulties of the past few years — whatever you prefer at the moment.

Bookish Goods

A set of face masks featuring anime characters

Anime Mask by IMaccessories

These non-medical-grade masks feature more anime characters than you can shake a stick at! $9+

New Releases

In Limbo cover

In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee

Moving to a different country can make it difficult to feel like you belong anywhere. This emotional memoir explores how the creator herself — who left Korea for America as a child — struggled with racism, depression, and loneliness to find where she truly belongs.

Mimosa cover

Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni

Best friends Elise, Chris, Alex, and Jo are all queer and all in their thirties. In addition to doing the things expected of any friendship group — supporting each other through rough times, providing relationship advice — they decide to start an event called Grind, designed specifically for thirty-something queers like themselves. It’s a fun yet sweet look at how close friendships don’t have to fade with age.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: COVID-19. It’s existed long enough now for there to be comics grappling with the pandemic — and helping us grapple with it, too.

Covid Chronicles cover

Covid Chronicles: A Comics Anthology by Various Creators

This sweeping anthology collects dozens of stories from diverse comics creators, each of whom tell stories of the pandemic that we can all relate to, from dealing with anger and sadness to learning how to homeschool the kids. Part of the proceeds go to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc).

cover of Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao; illustration of author standing between bridges in two countries

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir by a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao

When Laura first moved from China to Texas, none of her new classmates had ever heard of the city she came from, Wuhan — until, of course, the pandemic thrust it into the spotlight in the worst way possible. On top of that, Laura must also come to grips with the fact that she gets far less excited about boys than she does about girls…

Nerd friends, I am begging you to please, please, please be careful. It’s so easy to protect yourself and others — including our most vulnerable, elderly, and disabled citizens — by wearing a mask and getting your booster shots. If you can save someone else through such basic tasks, why wouldn’t you?

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

Spring Break, Woo!

For some people, at least. If you’re in the Southern hemisphere, happy autumn! Either way, the seasons are a-changing, but the good ol’ Stack stays the same!

Bookish Goods

A line of shot glasses etched with the Avengers' logos

Marvel Avengers Inspired Shot Glasses-Etched by BeJoyGifts

Enjoy your spring break drinking responsibly with a shot glass etched with your favorite Avengers logo! $10

New Releases

Muros Within Magical Walls cover

Muros: Within Magical Walls: The Case of the Cemetery Girl by Paolo Chikiamco and Borg Sinaban

This mystery thriller imagines a world where the city of Manila has only recently rejoined the rest of civilization after decades of dictatorial rule and isolation. In this environment, Caloy, a detective, must navigate dangers both mundane and supernatural as he hunts for a missing girl.

The Moth Keeper cover

The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill

From the creator of the adorable and acclaimed Tea Dragon Society trilogy comes the story of Anya, who bears sole responsibility for ensuring the safety of the lunar moths and the precious flower they make blossom. But after so many solitary nights, what happens when Anya grows desperate to see the sun and enjoy the company of someone besides her beloved moths?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: boarding school! Even though a lot of students are gearing up for spring break, I’m sending you back to the classroom with these comics set at boarding schools.

Over My Dead Body cover

Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo

Abby and her best friend Noreen are students at the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, where both the walls and the surrounding woods are reputed to be haunted. When Noreen suddenly goes missing, Abby takes it upon herself to investigate — no matter the risk and no matter the cost.

The Awakening Storm cover

The Awakening Storm by Jaimal Yogis and Vivian Truong

Grace has just moved to Hong Kong and started at a new boarding school there. That would be enough challenges for any kid, but when she acquires a dragon’s egg that swiftly hatches, Grace and her boarding school buddies find themselves on a mission to protect the little dragon from exploitative villains!

I was never much of a spring break person myself, so you can count on me to be back here on Thursday with more graphic novels and other goodies just for you!

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

And Roaring in Like a Lion, We Have…

…March! Does anyone still use that expression: “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?” Well, I do. It even inspired today’s Riot Rec theme, so let’s get to it!

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading? Subscribe to Book Riot’s newest newsletter, The Deep Dive, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe and choose your membership level today at bookriot.substack.com

Bookish Goods

A sample of a personalized manga

Personalized Custom Manga by tanukicomics

Whether you just want the cover or an entire booklet, now you can have a manga of your very own. Perfect for commemorating special occasions! $77+

New Releases

Vampire Hunter D Omnibus Vol 3 cover

Vampire Hunter D Omnibus: Book Three by Hideyuki Kikuchi and Yoshitaka Amano

Fans of this iconic series will be glad to know that it is now available in an omnibus edition! Relive the adventures of the mercenary D as, ten thousand years from now, he puts his skills and his blade to the test against a variety of terrifying supernatural threats.

Project Nought cover

Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi

For less bleak futuristic adventures, try this graphic novel on for size: Ren is an ordinary ’90s kid who suddenly finds himself transported to 2122 as part of a program to help teach 22nd-century students about the past. The program’s designers, Chronotech, seem benevolent enough, but surely there is more to their time-travel scheme than just bringing history to life…?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: kitties! I’ve done this theme before, but given the whole “lion” thing, it seemed appropriate to go for another round of kitty-themed comics. It’s not like there’s a shortage of them!

Cat + Gamer Vol 1 cover

Cat + Gamer Volume One by Wataru Nadatani

Riko’s sole interest in life is video games — until, that is, she adopts a stray cat. Now both human and kitty will have to work hard to adapt to their new reality, but they both decide it’s worth the effort in the end!

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 1 cover

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part One by Konami Kanata

Chi’s Sweet Home tells the story of little Chi, a kitten who finds herself adopted by a kind boy after becoming separated from her mother while on a walk. The only problem? The boy’s apartment building forbids pets! This book collects the first three volumes in this adorable series.

In real life, I am tragically allergic to cats. Good thing we have these cute comics that I can safely cuddle up with instead, huh?

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

Oh, the Things Comics Can Teach Us…

Another day, another newsletter, eh, nerd friends? Whether you want to learn something or just be entertained, you’re sure to find a comic to suit your needs here!

Bookish Goods

Teardrop-shaped earrings made from comic book panels featuring various female characters

Custom Superhero Earrings by ComicLetterDude

Pick your favorite from among dozens of popular characters and get a set of custom-made earrings that everyone will envy! $16

New Releases

Carmilla The First Vampire cover

Carmilla: The First Vampire by Amy Chu and Soo Lee

This inventive graphic novel reimagines Carmilla, classic literature’s first vampiric superstar, as a nightclub owner in New York’s Chinatown in the 1990s. When queer women start to go missing, Athena, a social worker, is the only one who cares — and Carmilla is her only suspect.

A First Time for Everything cover

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

Santat is now an award-winning author. But as a middle schooler, he was bullied and awkward, and he definitely was not looking forward to his school trip to Europe. As the trip progresses, Dan is able to explore all of the amazing things the world has to offer, from great food to amazing sights…and even love.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: rare diseases. February 28 is Rare Disease Day, so let’s look at some comics that show how having such an illness can affect both the body and the mind.

Cover of Stargazing by Wang

Stargazing by Jen Wang

Christine is a very sheltered girl, but her best friend Moon is not. Moon is free-spirited and confident in a way Christine can’t be, but there may be a dark side to Moon’s vivid imagination. Can Moon and Christine overcome this latest challenge and make it out the other side as friends?

Dancing After TEN cover

Dancing After TEN by Vivian Chong and Georgia Webber

TEN is short for toxic epidermal necrolysis, a condition that ultimately left Vivian Chong blind. This moving memoir shows how Chong dealt with TEN and its consequences, and how she learned to alter her artistic expression to accommodate her disability.

I hope you enjoy these fascinating comics, and the rest of your week, too!

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

You’ll Howl for These Comics

In a good way, I hope! The joke in the title will totally make sense once you get to the Riot Recs, but in the meantime, why not enjoy these other fantastic comic bookish things?

Bookish Goods

A gray t-shirt listing several superheroes and then the ordinary name "Coleman"

Custom Superhero T-shirt by ShopBlakeRuby

Got a superhero in your life? Give them this shirt to remind them of the excellent company they are in! $26+

New Releases

Skull Cat and the Curious Castle cover

Skull Cat and the Curious Castle by Norman Shurtliff

Scully is the new gardener at Le Dark Chateau, a creepy old castle supposedly haunted by all manner of supernatural creatures — creatures that have now absconded with all of Scully’s coworkers! Can he pluck up the courage to rescue them?

SCRAMBLUES cover

SCRAMBLUES by mame march

Eddie is a rock star with a stereotypically difficult reputation. Haru is the graphic artist assigned to design Eddie’s next CD jacket. As the unlikely duo spends more time together, Haru begins to realize just how the real Eddie differs from his public persona…and how much he likes what he sees behind the mask.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: wolves! They’re like really big puppies! Reading these comics is probably safer than trying to hug a wolf. Except if you get a bad papercut, those are nasty.

Snowlands A Blood Moon cover

Snowlands: A Blood Moon by Morr Meroz and Collin Fogel

As an unlucky white wolf, Feba gets the blame for everything that goes wrong with her pack, which abandons her to the elements after all of the other cubs disappear. She is reluctantly rescued by Usha, a snow leopard on the hunt for her missing son. What’s happened to the baby animals? Feba, Usha, and their friend Batu will have to find out!

squad book cover

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle

Technically, this one is about werewolves, but it still counts, right? In this YA tale, Becca is delighted to be accepted by the most popular girls at her new high school. Even after she finds out they are werewolves, she remains loyal, allowing them to turn her so she, too, can hunt down the school’s predatory male students. But how far is Becca really willing to go in the name of friendship and justice?

A Havanese in a black-and-white sweater and a small black beret

I will close with a picture of my own little wolf, who looks very stylish in my American Girl doll’s beret!

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

Step Right Up to the Stack, Folks

If you’re celebrating Mardi Gras today, I hope you have a great time! As for me, I think I’ll just kick back with a comic book…

Bookish Goods

A rectangular pink keychain with an image of Anya from Spy X Family

Embroidered key tag by EnergyHealDesign

What a cute way for Spy X Family fans to keep their keys safe. And it’s handmade, too! $30+

New Releases

Stick and Stone on the Go cover

Stick and Stone on the Go by Beth Ferry and Kristen Cella

In this delightful sequel to Stick and Stone Explore and More, best pals Stick and Stone go on a variety of adventures, secure in the knowledge that they can tackle any challenge so long as they are together! Designed for very young readers, this comic also includes an activity for them to join in on the fun Stick and Stone have.

Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Vol 1 cover

The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume One by Mamecyoro, Kazusa Yaneda, and Mitsuya Fuji

Based on the light novel of the same name, this new manga stars Princess Octavia, who agrees to get married and bear a child who will ascend to the throne — all this to help her brother and his male lover, who cannot sire an heir on their own. Despite her initial agreement, Octavia soon begins to have seconds thoughts and a desire to focus on her own happiness instead!

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: the circus! They may no longer exist as they once did — and they certainly never existed like The Greatest Showman would have you believe — but circuses still offer an intriguing backdrop for comic book stories.

Girl Over Paris cover

Girl Over Paris by Gwenda Bond, Kate Leth, and Ming Doyle

This is a fun graphic-novel addition to the “Cirque American” universe, Bond’s series of prose novels, but it can also stand alone. Jules Maroni, the show’s acrobat, has been invited to strut her stuff at an exhibition in Paris. While there, Jules meets a mysterious man with unnerving plans for her…

Lost Carnival cover image

The Lost Carnival: A Dick Grayson Graphic Novel by Michael Moreci and Sas Milledge

Comicdom’s most famous kid sidekick was born to a family of trapeze artists working for Haly’s Circus. In this graphic novel, both Dick Grayson and the audience grow bored with Haly’s brand of entertainment and find themselves enchanted by a new show, the Lost Carnival. But is there more to the carnival — and to the pretty girl Dick meets there — than anyone realizes?

Alas, we must part once again, nerd friends. I’ll have plenty more graphic novel goodness for you come Thursday!

~Eileen

Categories
The Stack

Comics are the Perfect Size to Hide Behind

Reading is often a solitary activity, making it just right for people who enjoy their own company or who just need to decompress. If you’re looking for some new material to relax with, you’re sure to find it here!

Bookish Goods

A yellow newspaper box with the Daily Planet logo

Daily Planet Newspaper Box Replica – Comic Book Stand by ImpactRack

If you’ve got some money to burn, you can own your very own Daily Planet newspaper box! What a fun and creative gift — or a way to show off your nerd status! $399

New Releases

Super Pancake cover

Super Pancake by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Abhi Alwar

Peggy Pancake is an ordinary citizen of Breakfast Town — until the day she suddenly gains the ability to fly! Now she is the only one who can save the town from the evil Dr. Breakfast Sandwich in this delightful comic for children.

The Girl That Can't Get a Girlfriend cover

The Girl That Can’t Get a Girlfriend by Mieri Hiranishi

Despite never having dated before, Mieri longs to find a butch girlfriend of her very own — preferably one who will love her back! This funny, touching memoir follows the author’s attempts to navigate romantic relationships and find the woman of her dreams.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: introverts! For those of us who prefer to stay inside with a book, here are a couple of comics about characters we can really relate to.

Komi Can't Communicate Vol 1 cover

Komi Can’t Communicate Volume One by Tomohito Oda

Komi and Tadano are the school loners. Tadano is fine with that, but Komi longs for friendship and human interaction: she just can’t talk to others. When Tadano realizes this, he decides to help her out in a most unusual way: by finding her one hundred friends!

Noise cover

Noise by Kathleen Raymundo

Short but sweet, this comic follows Cathryn, a shy girl trying to get through her first day of seventh grade. While she would really rather be left alone, another boy at school has different plans. Can he coax Cathryn out of her shell?

A white Havanese in a gray sweater, surrounding by toys and blankets

Well, that about wraps it up — time for a nap, I think. Poppy has the right idea: she is in her nighttime sweater, all snuggly warm!

~Eileen