While I’ve always been a devoted reader and a fan of fiction, for the past several years I’ve found more and more of my reading time spent with graphic novels. Now, this I Love to Read Month, I am happy to say that they are some of the books I look forward to reading most each year, as my list of can’t-miss authors and illustrators grow longer and longer. While many just think of graphic novels as superhero comics and manga, there are a wide range of stories being told in modern comics, often by indie authors and publishers. I’ve realized that there’s a number of reasons why I like reading indie comics over traditional novels:
1. Beautiful art
Once you dive into the world of comics this point will speak for itself. Some of the full page spreads from books like The City of Belgium by Brecht Evens or Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki have made me completely stop in my tracks while reading to take in every detail – a feature you can’t get from traditional novels.
2. Unique themes
Are you a reader who likes to be challenged by complex and unique themes but doesn’t always have the stamina for contemporary fiction? Join the club! Seriously though, I think graphic novels are great for this, especially those with heavy themes. Often a story that wouldn’t normally interest me can work really well in the graphic novel format.
3. Canadiana
Michael DeForge, Kate Beaton, Seth, Guy Delisle, Jeff Lemire, Mariko Tamaki, and Jillian Tamaki. Some of my favourite comic authors and artists are Canadian, and many of these are published by my favourite Montreal-based comics publisher, Drawn & Quarterly.
4. Shorter for Goodreads Goals
Okay, this one is a bit of a joke, but as someone who tracks my reading on Goodreads, graphic novels usually count for about half of the books I read each year. They also take much less time to read on average. People may judge me for this, but it’s like we tell kids in the library…reading comics totally counts as reading!
Despite these positives, a challenge with graphic novels can be the price tag, especially for those of us who frequently find themselves reading through a couple of them on a weekend. Hence why taking out these books from the library is the perfect fit! What follows is a list of recommended indie graphic novels that are currently available at branches throughout the Winnipeg Public Library.
The Delicacy by James Albon
Two brothers, seeking success and independence from their controlling mother, open a new restaurant focused on bringing a fresh, farm-to-table dining experience to the big city. Their initial struggles take a turn when they discover a one-of-a-kind mushroom that people find irresistibly delicious. But can they keep up with the demand of a hungry city, as well as their produce’s secret origins? Come for the intriguing premise, stay for the gorgeous full-page painted illustrations in this macabre spin on the high cost of fame, ambition, and fine dining.
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed
The book’s title – in Arabic, a fairy-tale rhyme meaning “your wish is my command” – sets the stage for a modern world in which wishes are real and literally for sale. Shubeik Lubeik follows the lives of three people in Cairo who become linked in the sale of three “first class wishes”. Covering a range of topics including social inequality, mental health, religion, and more, this book’s fantastical spin on contemporary issues really resonated with me. While longer than the other titles on this list, there is good reason why it is being lauded as one of the best graphic novels released last year (in English, as it was originally published in Arabic from 2017-2021).
Waves by Ingrid Chabbert and Carole Maurel (illustrator)
With dream-like art and poetic language, this moving graphic novel tells the very personal story of a young couple’s challenges in trying to have children. This is a beautiful and short read that could easily win an award for leaving you the most emotionally drained in the fewest number of pages. As I said earlier, a topic that might be challenging in a full-length novel can become an eye-opening and insightful read in comic format. A recommended entry point for those who like emotional stories and are curious about graphic novels.
Acting Class by Nick Drnaso
Like your books to be a bit…weirder? In this title, a group of bored and isolated strangers join a free introductory acting class at a local community centre. As the class’s charismatic and enigmatic teacher leads them through intense improv exercises, the lines between the students’ real lives, the characters they play, and their imaginations begin to blur as they become more intertwined in each others’ stories. While Drnaso’s illustrations might not work for everyone, they do a great job of bringing out the anxieties of the characters and the eeriness of the story.
Have I piqued your interest yet? Then head over to the Winnipeg Public Library’s online catalogue to check out these and many other titles from our fantastic adult graphic novel collection. Warning, reading graphic novels may become habit forming!
– Austin
Readers' Salon 