Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2021

10

Just Pretend by Tori Sharp

Part memoir, part foray into fantasy worlds created in childhood, Just Pretend was a fun read with relevant topics for contemporary kids like navigating parents' divorce and fraught sibling relationships. A post-publication autism diagnosis reveals that the memoir is actually that of someone neurodivergent, which is great to have on the shelf. Illustrations are cute, although I had a hard time getting accustomed to Sharp's tendency to use horizontal lines to indicate face shape; it reminds me a bit of a sketch line that should have been erased. Hopefully we'll see more from this author, and perhaps everything will get a bit more polished as she continues her career.

9

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

I always feel like the lower end of my top ten ends up being books I was especially excited for and felt let down by; admittedly, this is probably more my fault for 'judging a book by it's cover' (/reviews/author/etc.). Garlic was one that I had high hopes for and ended up not enjoying as much as anticipated; perhaps because it's for a more juvenile audience than I expected. Nevertheless, the story is sweet, and has great messages about friendship, anxiety, and, ironically, not judging books by their covers. Would definitely recommend, and would love to see something aimed at an older audience from this author; I think her art style would lend itself to something darker and more mature.

8

Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

Ostertag's first graphic novels, the Witch Boy series, was a favorite of mine, and Girl from the Sea explores similar themes with different magical elements. A young protagonist is beginning to come of age and come to terms with her sexuality, and has to make an unexpected sacrifice in the process. I enjoy the exploration of a lesser-discussed mythological being, the selkie.

7

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, Ann Xu

What a fun read! A young girl with culinary interest comes into her own through entering a cooking competition and making new friends. It's a cozy tale that made me want to cook every recipe mentioned in the story.

6

The Hazards of Love by Stan Stanley

Darker fantasy than what I'm usually drawn to, The Hazards of Love (Book 1) paints an intriguing picture of 'Bright World' an alternate dimension populated with mysterious characters. Our protagonist is bent on returning to their normal life, while in the normal world, people are only somewhat aware that they're even missing. Looking forward to more titles in the series.

5

Wynd by James Tynion III, Michael Dialynas

One of the more traditional fantasy titles on this list, the world of Wynd reminds me a bit of Lightfall mixed with the sort of controversy/characters found in the adult sci-fi series Saga. I don't read a lot of titles that are originally published as traditional, periodical comics, but this is one I'd love to keep reading and will be disappointed when I'm fully caught up.

4

Delicates by Brenna Thummler

This sequel to 2018's Sheets surprised me; I ended up liking it better than the original novel. Thummler's art has never failed to impress me, beginning with her illustrations for the graphic adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. Her color palette inspired by the late 80's/early 90's is so pleasant, and her characters are sweet and relatable. Delicates perfectly captures the struggles of the middle school social hierarchy, and would comfort any reader stuck in the middle of it, and make older readers especially grateful to be out of it.

3

Salt Magic by Rebecca Mock, Hope Larson

This book flew under my radar for too long, considering I'm a fan of the team's previous Four Points series. Super interesting storytelling; historical fiction meets a creative take on fantasy/witchcraft. There's nuance that younger audiences may not fully comprehend, but I appreciate that the author includes these more mature themes despite it being a middle grade book. The characters and themes make the story relatable, even if the setting isn't similar to our modern world. Would love to see a companion book with different characters and an exploration of other types of witchcraft.

2

The Golden Hour by Niki Smith

A really lovely book from the author of The Deep & Dark Blue. Though I was hoping for a sequel to her first middle grade comic, I was so pleased to see another story of a similar calibre (in a different genre, to boot!). The art so serenely reflects the quiet countryside, and the visual interruptions when the protagonist suffers from panic attacks offers perfect contrast to those more peaceful scenes.

1

Incredible Doom by Matthew Boggart, Jesse Holden

As usual, I'm surprised by the order that books end up falling in, and this year's number one is especially exemplary of this. Perhaps this is also the phenomena that happened at the end of the list this year, but my expectations compared with how much I ended up enjoying it are probably partly to blame for how well this title fared. As far as creativity goes, I've really never seen anything like this book. It was recommended for fans of "Stranger Things", and while I can appreciate similarities with nostalgia and friendships, I also appreciate unique elements, like the early-Internet adventures. The characters all have depth and backstories that feel impressive to have accomplished in a comic format, and (like most other series titles on the list), I'm looking forward to more.

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