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Super Comics About the Supernatural

Welcome back to the Stack! You’ve almost made it through your first week of 2024 — congratulations! Let’s celebrate with some new comics and comic-related goodies…

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

Two blond children with their backs to the camera, showing off their multi-colored superhero capes with their initial in the middle. They also wear matching masks and cuffs.

Personalised Superhero Cape and Mask Set by WildThingsDresses

Got a little superhero in your life? Make it official with one of these colorful capes! $47+

New Releases

Choosing Sides cover

Sweet Valley Twins: Choosing Sides by Francine Pascal and Claudia Aguirre, Adapted by Nicole Andelfinger

In the third entry in this ongoing series, twins Elizabeth and Jessica face a new dilemma: Elizabeth’s friend Amy wants to join the school cheerleading squad, but the squad — including Jessica — wants nothing to do with her! What will Elizabeth do?

Marriage Toxin Vol 1 cover

Marriage Toxin Volume One by Joumyaku and Mizuki Yoda

Gero is a ruthless assassin — and he needs a wife, stat. If he doesn’t get married fast, his sister will have to give up her happy life with her girlfriend in order to bear the new heir to their clan. Desperate to learn about romance, Gero turns to a “marriage swindler” for advice, and that’s when things get really exciting…

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: the supernatural! No, not the franchise that refuses to die. So what if Halloween is ten months away? It’s always the right time of year to enjoy some ghostly, ghoulish comics!

Ghoster Heights cover

Ghoster Heights by Corey Lansdell, Kelly Mellings, Lisa LaRose, and Becca Carey

After a terrible tragedy, Ona is forced to stay with her grandmother in the Goesher Heights apartment complex. She isn’t there long before she makes a new friend: a ghost hiding in the boiler room. With the ghost’s assistance, Ona helps the building’s other residents deal with past trauma — and confronts her own.

Muros Within Magical Walls cover

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

Set in an alternate universe where Manila has spent decades cut off from the world on the orders of a dictator, a detective named Caloy accepts a missing person’s case. But with all manner of not-so-mythical creatures roaming around, his job isn’t going to be easy…

If you’re celebrating Three Kings Day/Epiphany this weekend, have a nice time. I know I will!

~Eileen

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The Stack

Start Spreading the News(letter)…

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

Small air fresheners, shaped like stylized images of popular Marvel heroes, clipped to a car's air conditioner

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

Poetry of Ran Vol 1 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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

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The Stack

Happy Impending New Year, Comics Fans!

You made it through another year, and given the kind of years we’ve been having, that’s not nothing. Let’s celebrate the good parts of 2023 — namely, the comics we got to read!

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Bookish Goods

An image of several blurry manga covers overlaid with the words "mystery manga boxes!!!"

Used English Manga Mystery Box by TheMagesEmporium

Why not end the year by giving some gently used books a home and going on a date with some manga? $20

Eileen’s Favorite Reads of 2023

That’s right, instead of spotlighting new releases or themed Riot Recommendations, I’m going to share with you four of my favorite comics that I read this year. To be clear, these weren’t published in 2023; I just happened to read or reread them this year and wanted to share (or re-share) them with you!

the cover of Check, Please! volume one

Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

I read the entire webcomic online years ago, but this was the year I finally bought the second volume after leaving Volume One languishing alone on my shelf for too long. I am delighted to report that this comic, about a figure skater joining his college hockey team and falling in love with its troubled captain, remains disgustingly adorable.

Measuring Up cover

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte and Ann Xu

How is this so cute! How! Cici is a little girl who has just moved from Taiwan to America and is having trouble fitting in. She wants more than anything to celebrate her grandma’s birthday together, but how can she earn the money for her grandma’s plane ticket? Enter a cooking contest, of course! I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, but other than that, flawless.

Cover of Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin

Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell

I originally read this on DC Universe Infinite and was so blown away by the characters, the art, the world-building, and the complex murder plot that I was compelled to buy a physical copy. Introducing Jo Mullein as a badass new Green Lantern, Far Sector is how all superhero comics should be.

Miss Quinces cover

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

Finally, this is another adorable comic that highlights another culture. The last thing Sue wants is to have a quinceañera celebration, where she has to wear a poofy dress, dance, and give speeches. But when her mother says she will finally let Sue go to camp with her friends if she goes through with it, Sue reluctantly does so and ends up learning a lot about tradition, family, and herself.

A white Havenese lies in a blanket-covered dog bed chewing on a toy shaped like an ear of corn

Most of my faves this year were pretty bright and happy, and I hope they cheer you up a little too as we close out the year. If the comics aren’t your bag, I hope this picture of my dog Poppy nomming on one of her favorite toys will do the trick. Catch you next year, nerd friends!

~Eileen

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The Stack

Happy Kwanzaa, Nerd Friends!

Today marks the first day of Kwanzaa, so if you celebrate, I hope you have a good time! And if you’re spending your Tuesday at work or cleaning up after Christmas, well, these comics make a nice consolation prize.

Need a belated gift? TBR to the rescue. We’ve got three levels of personalized reading recommendations — recs-only, paperback, and hardcover — and you can gift a full year or one time, so there are options for every budget! Get all the details at mybtro.com/gift.

Bookish Goods

A rectangular rug on a wooden floor. The rug is black and red and features an image of Miles Morales as Spider-Man, squatting amid a red web pattern

Spiderman Rug by CustomTowelandMats

This is the perfect rug to jazz up your room! But maybe don’t practice your spider-moves on it… $94

New Releases

Vampire Slayer Vol 4 cover

Vampire Slayer Volume Four by Sarah Gailey and Various Artists

Calling all Buffy fans! The Vampire Slayer series concludes with this fourth volume, which sees Buffy and Giles trying to repair their relationship as Willow tries to regain control over her magic so she can use it to help people once again.

Protect me Shugomaru Vol 1 cover

Protect Me, Shugomaru! Volume One by Daiki Ihara

As a wealthy heiress, Sanagi has little hope of ever living a normal life. Not only is she constantly threatened by assassins, the bodyguard assigned to keep her safe is an overenthusiastic ten-year-old! Both Sanagi and Shugomaru will have to learn how to navigate the people and challenges at her school if they want to be happy.

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: fat characters! I know that losing weight is a popular New Year’s resolution, but let’s try to end the year on a body-positive note, hey?

Faith Deluxe Edition cover

Faith by Jody Houser and Various Artists

This deluxe edition is the perfect introduction to Faith Herbert: orphan, reporter, and aspiring superhero! It includes all of her earliest adventures, in which she establishes her own identities and takes on a variety of threats, plus a whole lot of bonus material.

Chunky cover

Chunky by Yehudi Mercado

When his well-meaning parents push him to lose weight by playing a sport — any sport, just pick one! — Hudi is miserable, until his imaginary friend Chunky shows up to offer support. Together, Hudi and Chunky will navigate all of the obstacles life throws at them and even help Hudi pursue his true passion.

There’s only one 2023 newsletter left! I’ve got something special planned for Thursday, so be sure to check back in!

~Eileen

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Comics for a Winter’s Night

Solstice is upon us, which means it gets dark really early these days, but don’t worry: just switch on the light and keep on reading those comics!

Related: we have a new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.

Bookish Goods

Three different angles of a tumbler featuring a full-color image of Ryan Reynold's Deadpool against a backdrop of black-and-white comic book panels

Deadpool 20 oz Skinny Tumbler by TranquilTreasures101

Getting your mouth that close to the real Merc with a Mouth is probably unsanitary, but this tumbler should be safe, and it looks great besides! $30

New Releases

Great Yokai War Guardians Vol 1 cover

The Great Yokai War: Guardians Volume One by Yusuke Watanabe and Sanami Suzuki

The Yokai are Japan’s guardian spirits, but even they can do nothing against the invading kaiju. Instead, they turn to Kei, a descendant of a successful monster hunter, to save the day. If you enjoyed the movie of the same name, you’ll probably get a kick out of this manga, too!

Dark Knights of Steel Vol 2 cover

Dark Knights of Steel Volume Two by Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri

It’s the DC universe, but not the one you know! On an alternate Earth, set in medieval times, the arrival of a mysterious spaceship (betcha can’t guess whose) spells trouble for three kingdoms. Our heroes will have to fight (with swords!) for their lives and their beliefs in this continuation of an exciting Elseworlds story.

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: ice skating! Winter will officially be upon us starting tomorrow. In other words, it’s the perfect time to do, or at least read about, a little skating.

Knight of the Ice Vol 1 cover

Knight of the Ice Volume One by Yayoi Ogawa

Kokoro is one of the most successful figure skaters in the world…but only because his best friend Chitose always recites a spell from his favorite anime to help him focus before each competition! Everything is going fine until Chitose’s career takes her out of town right before a big event. Can Kokoro perform without her presence and support?

book cover spinning by tillie walden

Spinning by Tillie Walden

What do you do when you realize that the one driving passion of your life isn’t really what you want to be doing? That is the question Walden had to grapple with when, after a decade of competitive figure skating, she discovered that there were other places where she might fit in better. Making the switch was difficult but, in the long run, right for her.

A white Havanese curled up in a dog bed with a Lamb Chop toy under her head. The bed is covered in a Christmas-themed blanket, and her eyes are half-closed.

I leave you with this picture of my dog Poppy all cuddled up and waiting for Santa Paws. Have a great Christmas, a great Festivus, a great solstice, and/or a great week!

~Eileen

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Mom Said It’s My Turn to Read the Comics Now

Less than a week to go before Christmas, nerd friends! If you celebrate, you’re probably looking forward to it, and if you don’t, you’re probably just as excited about everyone finally shutting up about it! Either way, please enjoy this humble offering from your friendly neighborhood comics fan.

Are you looking for the perfect gift for that bookish special someone in your life this holiday season? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! Here at TBR, we pair our customers with a professional book nerd (aka bibliologist) who just gets them. They fill out a survey and then sit back and relax as we pick books just for them. We’ve got three levels — recs-only, paperback, and hardcover — and you can gift a full year or one time, so there are options for every budget! Get all the details at mybtro.com/gift

Bookish Goods

A grouping of small round pots, each a different color and containing different colored plants and kittens that reflect a different One Piece character

One Piece Cat Potted Terrariums by PreciousTouchByMia

The cutest possible way for a manga fan to add a little color to their bedroom, work desk, or anywhere else! $35

New Releases

Black Solstice cover

Black Solstice by Martin Desmond Roe, Travon Free, and Aremo Massa

For just one day, during the winter solstice, every Black person, including the Wallace siblings, gained their own superpower. Back then, no one expected such a strange occurrence. Now, with the solstice approaching again, the Wallaces have plans for when — or if — their powers return.

Heartstopper Vol 5 cover

Heartstopper Volume Five by Alice Oseman

The beloved series continues — what a nice Christmas present for fans! Charlie and Nick have finally admitted their love and are happy together, but with Nick about to head off to university, how will their relationship change? And what other challenges will they face in the meantime?

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: sibling rivalry! No matter how much you love ’em, sometimes you just want to punt their favorite toy down the stairs. Let’s see how these comic book siblings deal with that urge.

Twin Cities cover

Twin Cities by Jose Pimienta

Fernando and Teresa have always gotten along fine, but when Teresa decides to go to school in America rather than stay with Fernando in Mexico, cracks appear in their “perfect” relationship. With Teresa overwhelmed by schoolwork and Fernando falling in with bad company, they will have to relearn how to rely on each other.

Sweet Valley Twins Teacher's Pet cover

Sweet Valley Twins: Teacher’s Pet by Francine Pascal and Claudia Aguirre, Adapted by Nicole Andelfinger

Elizabeth and Jessica both love ballet, but Jessica is far better at it — a fact their teacher refuses to acknowledge by giving preference to Elizabeth for no apparent reason! Can the twins work together to make ballet class fairer for both of them or will their newfound rivalry tear them apart? This comic is part of a series.

‘Tis the season to put up with relatives you don’t normally see or necessarily like. Fun it is not, but just remember that it won’t last long, and soon you can go back to hanging out with the people you like best!

~Eileen

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Embrace the Magic of…School?

Wait, that’s not right — or is it? Check out today’s Riot Recommendations to find out!

The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.

Bookish Goods

a Batman Christmas ornament with the text "For the record, I do not smell"

Batman Ornament by PlymouthCustomDesign

Batman has a very important announcement to make this Christmas, so be sure to place this ornament in a prominent place on your tree! $18

New Releases

I Married My Female Friend Vol 1 cover

I Married My Female Friend Volume One by Shio Usui

Best friends Rumiko and Kurumi promised to marry each other if they were both still single in five years’ time — and the five years are up! Now that they’re married, they fully intend to go on being best friends and simply live together as roommates. But of course, that’s not quite how things unfold…

Thunderbolts Uncaged Omnibus

Thunderbolts: Uncaged Omnibus by Various Creators

At the moment, Marvel’s Thunderbolts is scheduled for release in mid-2025, so you’ve got plenty of time to catch up on this group and its history. This 1000-plus page omnibus includes plenty of adventures starring the team that went from undercover criminals to real heroes in their own right!

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: magic schools! Who doesn’t love a comic set in a school where magic exists and young people learn to wield their powers for the forces of good?

The Black Mage cover

The Black Mage by Daniel Barnes and DJ Kirkland

St. Ivory Academy (appropriate name is appropriate) has never admitted a Black wizard into its ranks — until now, when a Black student literally named Tom Token is allowed to enroll. But a school with such a long history of exclusion and segregation is bound to have some dark secrets…secrets that Tom will risk his safety to bring into the light.

basil and oregano book cover

Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione

As seniors at the Porta Bella Magiculinary Academy, Basil Eyres and Arabella Oregano are both determined to be the best in their class. Rather than competing, these two lovebirds team up to wow their teachers at the year-end festival. But Arabella has been keeping something big from Basil, and that something may come between their love and their ambitions for the future!

Okay, so maybe your school or workplace isn’t as enchanting as the ones featured here, but the world still holds plenty of amazing things, if you know where to look. Just look at these cool dinos we learned about this year! Neat, huh? Till next week, keep that child-like wonder burning bright, nerd friends.

~Eileen

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Comics are Red and Also Blue (and Yellow and Brown and…)

How are we doing this Tuesday, nerd friends? Stressed about the holidays? Or looking forward to all the fun? Both? Perfectly understandable! Take a few minutes to relax with these comics: we’ve got some nice, mellow titles for you today!

The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.

Bookish Goods

Six pairs of socks, each featuring a different anime character

Anime Socks by CarnavalSocks

Now your favorite anime characters can keep your feet toasty this winter season! $43

New Releases

The Secret of Friendship cover

The Secret of Friendship by Kazune Kawahara and Aiji Yamakawa

Moe and Eiko are the best of friends despite their differing personalities. They are so close, in fact, that Moe refuses to date any boy who doesn’t treat Eiko with the same respect and regard that she does. Will such a boy ever be up to the task? And what happens to their friendship if one is?

Mika and the Gurgler cover

Mika and the Gurgler by Agata Loth-Ignaciuk and Berenika Kolomycka

Mika’s adorable adventures continue in this series for very young comics readers. For Mika, her entire house is full of new, exciting, and sometimes scary creatures, including one that has eaten her stuffed frog! Can she figure out what the gurgler is and get her frog back?

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: poetry! Comics are often seen as unsophisticated and childish, while poetry looks inaccessible by comparison. These comics show that it’s possible to combine the two with no problem!

Remarkably Ruby cover

Remarkably Ruby by Terri Libenson

Part of the “Emmie & Friends” series, this comic focuses on Ruby, a shy girl who loves writing poems. At the same time, she has to deal with drifting apart from her best friend, Mia, who loves attention and popularity much more than Ruby does. Can poetry help Ruby cope and express herself?

The Prophet graphic novel cover

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and Justin Renteria, Adapted by A. David Lewis

Gibran’s work, now just over a hundred years old, is one of the most famous books of prose poetry ever published. This illustrated edition of the story of the prophet Almustafa is sure to help you appreciate his words of wisdom — which cover everything from marriage to proper appreciation of food and drink — in a whole new way.

You did it, you’ve made it to the end of another newsletter! I’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday with more fun stuff!

~Eileen

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The Stack

Chag Chanukah Sameach, Comics Lovers!

Chanukah starts tonight! If you’re celebrating, I hope you have a good time. The comics in today’s Riot Recs are a fun way to relax during this holiday or any other season — or, if you are not Jewish, for expanding your horizons!

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Bookish Goods

A pin shaped like an old-fashioned price box from a Fantastic Four comic, including the heads of each of the FF and a full-sized Thing above them

Fantastic Four 3″ Enamel Pin Classic Marvel Price Box! by GeoffreysComics

Who doesn’t love those price boxes from old-timey Marvel comics? Now you can wear one whenever you like! $13

New Releases

Oni Ronin cover

Oni Ronin by Mack Flavelle, Tatsubi, and Kohei Nagamine

Sarobei is a coward, but he is determined to change that by going on an epic quest across feudal Japan. Along the way, he encounters obstacles, both historical and fantastical, as he pushes himself toward self-discovery and redemption.

Tasty cover

Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments by Victoria Grace Elliott

Learning how to cook is great and all, but what about the history of the food you’re making? In Tasty, a group of food sprites will teach you about both! From learning how to make pickles to uncovering the real history behind macaroni and cheese, this delicious graphic novel is sure to whet your appetite for both food and knowledge.

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: Bar/Bat Mitzvahs! Because today seems like an appropriate time to talk about comics that celebrate Jewish traditions.

The Rabbi's Cat cover

The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar

One day, a cat belonging to a rabbi and his daughter eats the family parrot — and starts to talk. Before long, the cat is insisting on having his own Bar Mitzvah, despite some people claiming that cats cannot be Jewish! Set in 1930s Algeria, this charming historical comic is both witty and adorable.

The Unfinished Corner cover

The Unfinished Corner by Dani Colman and Tuna Petrovicz

Miriam’s Bat Mitzvah is coming up, but she’s not sure she wants one — or if she wants to be Jewish at all. Her faith is put to the ultimate test when she and her friends are spirited away to the Unfinished Corner, an area of the universe that God is alleged to have left incomplete. Can Miriam defeat the monsters there and finish the Unfinished Corner?

Whatever your plans are for the next eight nights, may they go just how you want them to!

~Eileen

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Celebrating Diversity Through Comics

Happy Tuesday, and happy December while we’re at it! I know there’s a lot going on this month, so let’s dive right into the comics so you can get back to what you were doing. (If you were procrastinating, well, read this slowly.)

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Bookish Goods

A Hawaiian shirt and matching shorts that feature images from vintage Spider-man comics

Spider-Man Hawaiian Shirt by JoyunboundStore

Missing the warm weather? Planning a midwinter trip to Australia, where summer has just begun? This shirt (and optional shorts) might be for you! $37

New Releases

Neighborhood Story Vol 1 cover

Neighborhood Story Volume One by Ai Yazawa

Mikako and Tsutomu have been friends since childhood, so they’re happy that they both got into the same art school. At first, Mikako is focused on becoming a fashion designer. But when Tsutomu becomes an unexpected hit with the ladies on campus, she starts to experience some not-so-platonic feelings about her platonic best friend!

The Great British Bump-Off cover

The Great British Bump-Off by John Allison and Max Sarin

Fans of murder mysteries and baking shows will appreciate this fun mash-up! Shauna is determined to win a national baking contest, but there’s something bigger afoot: one of her fellow contestants was just poisoned! Can Shauna get to the bottom of things without ruining her own baked goods — or being poisoned herself?

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: Muslim characters! The world continues to be upsettingly Islamophobic, so it’s nice that we have comics like these where we can have a few minutes of escape with some fun Muslim characters just living their lives.

Ms. Marvel No Normal cover

Ms. Marvel Volume One: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona

This is the one that started it all: the book that became a New York Times bestseller, made Kamala Khan a household name, and eventually led to her integration into the MCU. This modern classic recounts Ms. Marvel’s origin story and her early attempts to reconcile her faith with her dreams and goals.

huda f are you book cover

Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy

Before her family moved to Dearborn, Huda based much of her identity on being a Muslim girl in a non-Muslim community. Now that she’s surrounded by Muslims, she will have to find a new way to make friends and relate to others (and herself!). And be sure to check out the follow-up book, Huda F Cares?, available now!

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: comics, no matter how great, can’t fix everything. But they are a good and comforting start, whether you are looking to escape or for a reminder that our differences are what make us interesting and valuable as people.

~Eileen