It seems like both the quantity and quality of graphic novels and graphic nonfiction just keeps increasing every year. This is great news for readers but it can feel a bit overwhelming when trying to find your next great graphic read. Luckily, our librarians read hundred of titles this year did a fantastic job sorting through the wealth of 2021 offerings. Here are some of our favorites:
If you are looking for warm fuzzies:
Our Dining Table by Ori Mita
Salaryman Yutaka loves to cook (and is no slouch in the kitchen), but unhappy childhood memories prevent him from sharing meals with anyone but himself. When he meets charming young Tane and his much older brother, Minoru, Yutaka finds that sharing meals is not only a wonderful experience, but can lead to much more than just friendship.
The Thud by Mikaël Ross
When his mother suffers a stroke, Noel is at a complete loss. With no other family and unable to live independently, Noel becomes the newest resident at Neuerkerode, a village predominantly run and inhabited by people with developmental disabilities. Translated from the original German, this fictional story set in a real location follows Noel from his initial loss to gradual acceptance to ultimately thriving in his new life.
The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Oono
Technically, this shouldn’t make the list as the series launched in 2019 but it’s just so delightful, and Volume 5 and Volume 6 were published in 2021, and we love it so much that it gets to stay. A retired yakuza member hangs up his weapons and becomes… a house husband? Situational comedy at its best with a cast of priceless neighborhood characters.
If you like superheroes:
BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves
Yes, Keanu Reeves wrote a graphic novel, and it’s great! A demi-god known as B must take a job working for the US government as a soldier for hire if he wants to learn the history behind, and thus to secret to ending, his ultra-violent existence. Fast paced and heavy on the action, this is a fantastic start to the new series.
The Joker by James Tynion IV
The Joker has become the world’s most wanted criminal, and now he’s left Gotham City behind in favor of far-flung locations in an effort to elude capture. James Gordon had been looking at retirement, but he can’t simply let the Joker run free; capturing him would be the capstone of Gordon’s career. But does the Joker have one final trick up his sleeve?
Wolverine. Volume 1 by Benjamin Percy
Horror and sci-fi writer Percy breathes new life into this classic character. Wolverine, having survived just about anything and everything a mutant every experience, can finally take a break. But when you gain everything you’ve ever wanted, you suddenly have so much more to lose.
Memoirs:
Crude: a Memoir by Pablo Fajardo
A lawyer and activist from Ecuador, Fajardo has dedicated his life to prosecuting a case against oil companies and their exploitation of natural resources and oil in the Amazon. Hard hitting and deeply compelling, this story of one man’s efforts to fight against Big Oil is astounding.
The Contradictions by Sophie Yanow
A young queer college students applies to study abroad in Paris. Out of her comfort zone, she struggles to find a sense of community until she meets Zena, who is outgoing and self-assured in all the ways Sophie is not, but a hitch-hiking adventure gone awry begins to strain their new relationship. Sophie’s formative time in Paris will resonate with any reader who struggled to find their place.
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
Bechdel explores aging, the limits of the human body, and the connections between human physicality and nature. Playful, amusing, and contemplative, this deep dive into how sports have impacted Bechdel’s life is as surprising as it is delightful.
Nonfiction:
Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness by Kristen Radtke
Compelling, haunting, and deeply resonant, Radtke expertly winds together several seemingly disparate threads to explore a variety of loneliness and isolation that is distinctly American. Radtke excels at combining images and text for maximum impact, and her latest is no exception.
Secret Seattle: An Illustrated Guide to the City’s Offbeat and Overlooked History by Susanna Ryan
Local cartoonist Ryan, the creator of Seattle Walk Report, takes readers through Seattle’s quirky past. Coal chutes! Secret pocket parks! Historical architectural remnants! They are all here in this handy guide to the weird and wonderful historical treasures our city has to offer.
Need even more suggestions for graphic novels? Our Staff Picks: Graphic Novels and Comics list has plenty to choose from.
~Posted by Summer H.
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