VOID

Community => spit spat, time to chat => Reviews => Topic started by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on May 22, 2021, 07:30 PM

Title: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on May 22, 2021, 07:30 PM

Howdy howdy, Void!  It's your local critter, Pita.  If I'm not making comics, I'm sure as heck reading them.  So, I figure I can take advantage of the forum space and list comics I've read in the past with a short blurb.  Volumes in a series will just get the one post, and if I can think of some similar reads, I'll include them in my blurbs.  Hopefully you'll find something new and interesting, and feel free to start a conversation with me!

Titles Recommended by Pita (and you!)
About Betty's Boob (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254727.html#msg254727)
Check, Please! (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254756.html#msg254756) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
Criminy (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254720.html#msg254720)
Flamer (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254755.html#msg254755) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
Giant Days (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254726.html#msg254726) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
Lackadaisy (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254736.html#msg254736)
The Magic Fish (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254754.html#msg254754) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
The Ogre Gods (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254752.html#msg254752)
Pluto (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254724.html#msg254724)
Poppy (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254701.html#msg254701) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
The Prince and the Dressmaker (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254753.html#msg254753) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
Scud the Disposable Assassin (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254725.html#msg254725)
Snapdragon (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254730.html#msg254730) (https://images.emojiterra.com/google/android-nougat/512px/1f3f3-1f308.png)
Superman Smashes the Klan (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254721.html#msg254721)

Other discussed titles
My Boyfriend is a Bear (https://entervoid.com/index.php/topic,13601.msg254757.html#msg254757)

Here's to more reading!

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on May 22, 2021, 07:50 PM

Title: Poppy O'Possum
Comic Type: Webcomic (https://www.poppy-opossum.com/)
Author: I.S. Everett aka "Morbi"
Target Audience: Preteens and up
Status: Cancelled

(https://www.poppy-opossum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CROC-768x1024.png)

I have to start with this one purely because it stars an opossum.  It's actually the thing that convinced me that opossums were badass, and they quickly became my favorite animal.

The gist of it is that the world is inhabited by sentient animals, they all have magic, but opossums have a brand of anti-magic due to some divine shenanigans.  But that's not the center of the story.  What this is really about someone trying to live a quiet life and the world just not letting her.  Technicolor-yawn described it to me as like if someone had the fighting capacity of Monkey D. Luffy but was also a mom.

(https://www.poppy-opossum.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-11-12-page01BlackCat.png)

Sadly, this was one of those projects where you know the creator had a big idea they wanted to execute and then just ran out of steam.  The good news is that the entire archive is available for you to read.  The even better news is that Morbi is starting up a more serialized gag comic on Twitter starting this June (https://twitter.com/MerrilAndBrowne).

Similar Reads: Tamburlane by Caytlin Vilbrandt, Digger by Ursula Vernon

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Kozispoon on May 28, 2021, 07:12 AM

Yes! I am all about sharing more comics and finding new content to read. What a great idea :D

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 02, 2021, 05:08 PM

Quote from: Kozispoon on May 28, 2021, 07:12 AM

Yes! I am all about sharing more comics and finding new content to read. What a great idea :D

Heck yeah!

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 02, 2021, 05:17 PM

Title: Criminy
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Ryan Ferrier and Roger Langridge
Illustrator: Roger Langridge
Target Audience: All Ages
Status: Complete; available through Dark Horse Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537914065l/42070255._SY475_.jpg)

Criminy follows a family of five who leave their home after a band of marauders attacks. What follows is an adventure that leans upon a style reminiscent of Carl Barks and Floyd Gottfredson mixed with allegory relevant to the latter decade of the 2010s.  At its' core, this is a refugee story. Each island they visit gives insight into the immigration experience, either through the Criminy family itself or the characters they observe. That's not to say this comic's a bummer, it's all presented in a light-hearted coat of paint.

And I loved it.
 
Similar Reads: Carl Barks and Floyd Gottfredson's comic library

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 02, 2021, 05:29 PM

Title: Superman Smashes the Klan
Comic Type: Comic book arc
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Illustrator: Guruhiru
Target Audience: Tweens and up
Status: Complete; available through DC Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585957683l/49214138.jpg)

I've read a good chunk of Gene Luen Yang's work, and the writing job for this story was actually touched upon in his memoir-biography graphic novel Dragon Hoops.  It was a gamble to leave a steady teaching job to go fully into making comics, but I think with a work like this, he made a good choice.

I don't usually read mainstream comic canons like Marvel and DC because I'm intimidated by the sheer scope of backlog and the entangled storylines.  I also haven't been that interested in superhero stories after the MCU burnout.  But, I didn't need to know anything about Superman's previous lore to enjoy this book.  It takes place in an earlier part of Clark's career as Superman back when he was still passing for human, but it also tells the story of the Lee family moving to Metropolis and the rocky situation imposed upon them as they try to settle down.

(https://comicyears.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Superman-Smashes-KKK-2.jpg)

In short, a stand-in for the Klan tries to intimidate them into leaving the city because they're Chinese.  Allies come out of the woodwork to stand by their side, including Clark Kent, who must revisit some buried memories to overcome some of his personal demons.  It's good lit, y'all.

Similar Reads: If you like the social issue angle, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.  If you like the superhero angle and the art, check out the first four Avatar comic arcs, also written by Gene Yuen Lang and illustrated by Guruhiru.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 03, 2021, 05:09 PM

Title: Pluto
Comic Type: Manga
Author: Naoki Urusawa and Takashi Nagasaki
Illustrator: Naoki Urusawa
Target Audience: 16+
Status: Complete; available through Viz media
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554094302l/4192261._SX318_.jpg)

Hey, y'all know about Astro Boy, right?

(https://images.gamebanana.com/img/ico/sprays/astro.png)

Next to Sailor Moon and Son Goku, he's one of the most recognizable characters in anime.  One of the most popular of his stories is "The Greatest Robot on Earth," and it has been reimagined in Pluto.  The laconic version is this: the seven most powerful robots are being eliminated by an unknown force, and it's up to our superboy Astro to stop it.  The change in Pluto is the shift of focus, with everything being conveyed through the perspective of the victims of these attacks and a Europol officer investigating the mystery.

I would recommend this to anyone who's a fan of science fiction and the existential prodding that comes with robots fighting for their autonomy.  I especially recommend this series to readers hesitant to dip into Astro Boy because, I get it.  It was a series made in the late 50s and the style's not everyone's cup of tea.  I get that.  But, the heart of those stories is present in this adaptation, and if anything else, that's the main thing I want people to take away from reading Pluto--it shares Tezuka's thesis.  It just has some killer visuals to go along with it.

Similar Reads: I'm taking a gamble because I only know of The Legend of Dororo and Hyakkimaru and haven't read it, but it's another reimagining of a Tezuka property.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 03, 2021, 05:20 PM

Title: Scud the Disposable Assassin
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: Rob Schrab, Dan Harmon
Illustrator: Rob Schrab
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Complete; available through Image Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303739136l/1252669.jpg)

Scud reads like a Saturday morning cartoon if that cartoon was aimed specifically for GenX and elder Millennials. It's a time capsule of an older work by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, and with that in mind, plenty of content that was okay at the time is in this comic. You're gonna need to be okay with the occasional emasculating insults and there being only, like, one body type for women.

You know the one.

That being said, I had a lot of fun reading this collection. I understood a good portion of the references (the one that kills me is the name of Scud's assassin-spy girlfriend. That song is gonna be stuck in my head for a while), and the story reads like one wild ride. Strap in if you wanna try this one out!

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 03, 2021, 05:30 PM

Title: Giant Days
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: John Allison
Illustrator: Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Complete; available through BOOM! Box

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460527275l/29907803._SY475_.jpg)

This is a coming-of-age story starring three girls bound for uni, and it's fucking hilarious--some of the wildest school-related scenarios I've ever seen.  And the expressions once Max Sarin started drawing for the series are my favorite things.  I want to draw faces like Max Sarin can draw faces.
(https://doomrocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GiantDays_027_PRESS_6-1-666x1024.jpg)

If you like college stories where stupid shit happens and you sometimes get misty eyed over the growing pains of becoming an adult, read Giant Days.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 03, 2021, 05:48 PM

Title: About Betty's Boob
Comic Type: Bande Dessinée
Author: Véronique Cazot
Illustrator: Julie Rocheleau
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Complete; available in English through Archaia

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519610492l/35606609._SX318_.jpg)

A mostly wordless story of Betty's life after receiving a single mastectomy.  She's lost not only her breast from cancer, she's been dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job.  What she didn't know was that this was a single greatest thing to happen to her, and her life was about to take a turn for the incredible.

(https://branchesculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/betty-boob-vero-cazot-julie-rocheleau-sassume.jpg)

You like burlesque?  You like a variety of bodies in your women folk?  You like your subtle Betty Boop nods?  This is a good book for you.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: TheCydork on Jun 04, 2021, 05:36 AM

This is such a great idea!! I’m already Looking at some of these suggestions. If I read any of them I’ll be sure to comment again.

Btw, can we also share comic recommendations?

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 05, 2021, 04:20 AM

Quote from: TheCydork on Jun 04, 2021, 05:36 AM

Btw, can we also share comic recommendations?

You absolutely can!  The idea behind this was to start talking about comics we've read and would recommend to others.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 05, 2021, 09:45 AM

Title: Snapdragon
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Kat Leyh
Illustrator: Kat Leyh
Target Audience: All ages
Status: Available through First Second

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562010523l/44280844.jpg)

When Snap asks the local "witch" Jacks to help care for a litter of opossum joeys, she ends up learning more about the reclusive old woman and the mysterious ties she may have to Snap's family.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3P4Lp-bjIg/YMIu5vFm25I/AAAAAAAAJGc/1duyaQOnHPUv18_fVL8gC_Nq9oPxQf3lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s921/Snapdragon_42.jpg)

This has a lot of things that I enjoy--kickass old women, opossums, pitbull dogs, and some of that good gay shit.  If you know about Supercakes, it's the same author as that.  Please read this book if you can.  It left me feeling ridiculously happy.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 07, 2021, 03:33 PM

Title: Lackadaisy
Comic Type: Webcomic (https://lackadaisy.com)
Author: Tracy J. Butler
Illustrator: Tracy J. Butler
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Ongoing; updates sporadically

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378902835l/7362781.jpg)


Cats in Prohibition-era St. Louis!

I've been following this story since the late 2000's, and the art's only gotten better in that time.  It's a real testament to the comic's quality when Tracy spends weeks on a single update for her story to get the visuals this jaw-droppingly stellar.

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1569855936i/28223136._SY540_.jpg)

She also invests much of that time researching the Prohibition era to maintain historical accuracy (ex. the commonplace presence of paper napkins).  While that level of detail isn't necessary to tell the story, that amount of care given is commendable.

The writing's plenty sharp, too.  Even the supplemental stuff that she does to answer fan questions.
(http://www.lackadaisy.com/gallery/1314042112.jpg)

Just--just go read Lackadaisy if you already haven't been.  It's the cat's pajamas for sure!

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 14, 2021, 07:44 AM

The Ogre Gods
Comic Type: Bande Dessinée
Author: Hubert
Illustrator: Bertrand Gatignol
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Ongoing; Available in English through Lion Forge Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534787718l/41292676._SX318_.jpg)

In a land where man-eating giants rule over humanity, a miniscule son is born to the giantess queen--a sure sign that the royal family is declining.  His father wants him eliminated, but his mother sees hope in her son renewing their lineage like their ancestor who initially founded their line.

(https://i0.wp.com/www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/http3A2F2Fwww.lionforge.com2Fwp-content2Fuploads2F20182F122F004-Petit-e1544126970928.jpg.jpeg?resize=624%2C545)

I haven't read or watched Game of Thrones, but what I've learned through osmosis leaves the impression that fans of that series may like this.  It's one of those rare books that combines comic pages with prose, and it's done deliberately--things happening within the main character's lifetime are drawn, and historical events pertaining to the world's history are presented in the written chapters.

Each subsequent volume in this series goes beyond the perspective of the small giant Petit and further expands the inner workings of this world.  Half-Blood gives us the Machiavellian nobleman Yori, The Great Man focuses on the rebel leader Lou, and the upcoming translation of First Born will detail the history of Bragante.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 14, 2021, 07:56 AM

Title: The Prince and the Dressmaker
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Jen Wang
Illustrator: Jen Wang
Target Audience: Preteens and up
Status: Available through First Second Books

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494400495l/34506912.jpg)

This book reads like a fairytale, and it's such a lovely one at that.  A dressmaker is commissioned to secretly create tailor-made dresses for the crown prince, whose fascination with wearing them allows him to undertake the persona of Lady Crystallia and enjoy life without royal constraint.  It's a delightul romance between the genderqueer royal and the seamstress whose dresses strengthen their arrangement, and all the dresses are stunning to behold.
(https://thelibraryladiesdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/princedressmaker2small_by_jayalaw-db9gyyn.jpg?w=640)

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 15, 2021, 08:36 AM

Title: The Magic Fish
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Trung Le Ngyuen
Illustrator: Trung Le Ngyuen
Target Audience: Preteens and up
Status: Available in English through Random House Graphic

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595820022l/50308041.jpg)

Tiến and his mother love to read fairytales--it's a way for them to bridge the gaps in their communication skills.  But Tiến has something he needs to tell his mother, and he's not sure how.

This book about a closeted boy in the 1990s struck a chord with me with its breathtaking style and historical context.  Not only do you read the experience of a young teenage boy in a private Catholic school, you see glimpses of his mother's past as she fought to immigrate from Vietnam in the 1970s.  The fairytales in this book are also beautifully told, and they play as a fine complement to Tiến's inner conflict.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 15, 2021, 08:48 AM

Title: Flamer
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Mike Curato
Illustrator: Mike Curato
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Available in English through Henry Holt and Co.

Content warning: homophobic language and attempt of suicide
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595451673l/52751434._SX318_.jpg)

I'm struggling to give a clear synopsis about this book, but it focuses on Aiden and him trying to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, outer and inner homophobia, and the fear of rejection should he decide to be open about his identity.  It culminates into a rather difficult scene where, at his lowest point, he reaches an epiphany that I can't show but will only describe as poignant and beautiful.

And it's a summer camp book.  This takes place at summer camp.  I have a couple other books taking place at camp that I could recommend here, too.  We'll get to those at some point.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 15, 2021, 10:37 AM

Title: Check Please!
Comic Type: Webcomic; http://checkpleasecomic.com/
Author: Ngozi Ukazu
Illustrator: Ngozi Ukazu
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Complete; print edition available in English through First Second

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589341298l/37534577._SX318_.jpg)

Similarly structured as Giant Days, this is another college story focusing on the growing pains of new adults.  Especially Eric Bittle, a Georgia peach of a vlogger with a passion for baking and Beyoncé.  Bittle's attending a private university on a hockey scholarship, which means he's required to participate in the sport if he wants to stay enrolled.  But there are some obstacles he has to overcome--like checking, the rest of the team, and especially the captain's aloofness.

This series as a level of research in it akin to Lackadaisy, but in hockey in lieu of 1920s Missouri.  The voice in this title is remarkable, too.  Ngozi Ukazu knows how to write hockey jocks and the relationships they have with each other.  These boys are alive, and that's the most important thing to have in your sports story--a comradery in the team.
(https://static.tumblr.com/9c28238d9271c8f21c1c5e4315d882ae/eqjiwfu/Xzuo4xj3r/tumblr_static_awm9x6szy8wkc48k84koksc0w.jpg)

It's also a cute as hell love story--as if having a team that gels wasn't great enough!  I won't reveal who the couple is, but it's a legitimately sweet story.  I recommend Check, Please! for anyone who likes their sports with romance and can laugh along with the hijinks of these college boys.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 15, 2021, 12:45 PM

Title: My Boyfriend is a Bear
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Pamela Ribbon
Illustrator: Cat Farris
Target Audience: I honestly don't know
Status: Available through Oni Press

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503337543l/35500976.jpg)

So far I've written about comics I would recommend to y'all.

This is not one of those books.
In fact, I hate this book.

It's a romance between a 20something woman and a 500 pound black bear.  I'm not kidding, that's the premise.

You know what would have made this fun?  What would have made this an engaging, interesting, and cute read?

If the bear was a person in a suit.  Maybe they entertain in costume.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/de/39/fb/de39fb01f724b93b8585c9042d840a1f.jpg)

And then Nora would have to explain that yeah, her partner is different but they're still a valued partner in the relationship, and everyone gets hung up on the fursuiting hobby because it's something that's way out there compared to her exes' interests.

But no, she starts a relationship with a feral bear because her dating history was twenty-something hipsters or meatheads with no understanding of a woman's needs.  The problem isn't that guys are terrible, it's that her choice in guys is terrible.  She cannot disregard the human species as a whole just because her track record of shitty boyfriends is reflective of her desperation and fear of being alone.

I'm legit angry that it wasn't a romance with a fursuiter.  This is what we get instead.
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1526945799i/25577169._SY540_.jpg)

And I understand the presentation is meant to be charming and sincere, but I just can't shake the thought that the couple I'm meant to root for is a young woman coupling with a literal black bear.  No exaggeration, they touch upon the sex angle of the relationship.  And y'all know my track record of favoring animal characters, so it could be argued that I'm protesting too much, but this ain't it.  This is a bear, not a bear man.  There's a shot of him relieving himself during hibernation.  I didn't ask for this.
(and I'm not supplying a picture because I value your eyes)

If you want to address the frustration of straight women trying to find an adequate partner, that's absolutely fine, but I don't agree with this direction.  I don't know who this is meant to be for.  Maybe y'all will have a better understanding and appreciation for this one, but I just don't.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 16, 2021, 09:19 AM

Title: Wuvable Oaf
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: Ed Luce
Illustrator: Ed Luce
Target Audience: Adults
Status: unknown; print editions available through Fantagraphics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413928085l/22405660.jpg)

This bear's just lookin' for love!

Oaf is an adorable protagonist, lemme say that first and foremost. He's dedicated to his interests, he's unashamed about liking Morrissey when his previous dates chided him about it, and once I got to understand the logic behind the creation of his hair-stuffed dolls, I thought the sentiment was sweet.
He's a retired wrestler with a Devil motif whose horns would rain down fake blood, and that's metal as hell. He's got a cute lil' dad who he can talk with in sensible and sometimes playful manners.
And Oaf's the ultimate cat dad. Look at all the cats on that cover and tell me I'm wrong.

The first half of the first volume focuses on Oaf trying to land the man of his dreams--a singer in a metal band!  Following it are some short stories that read like a day-to-day capturing of the character's lives.  The second (and currently final) volume details Oaf's wrestling career before his retirement.

This is unequivocally a comic intended for gay men.  I made a huge mistake to read this in public and I wasn't prepared for all the crotch shots and occasional erections.  This comic wears its identity on its sleeve, much like Oaf and who he is.  If you are interested in reading this book, please do so with your best discretion.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 16, 2021, 01:28 PM

Title: The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal
Comic Type: Webcomic; https://www.tjandamal.com
Author: E.K. Weaver
Illustrator: E.K. Weaver
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Complete; print edition available in English through Iron Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444549864l/27111324._SY475_.jpg)

It's a bit of historical fiction, taking place in the last year of Bush's presidency, way before the Marriage Equality Act was signed and marijuana was illegal in most states.

In the span of a single day, Amal had broken off his engagement, came out to his family, and made a pact with a stranger in a bar to go to Providence to attend his sister's graduation.  The arrangement's simple enough: Amal drives the car, TJ takes care of the finances.  They embark on a road trip where they smoke weed, get kicked out of a Waffle House, and fall in love on the way to Rhode Island.

This is one of my favorite comics when it comes to grounded dialog.  The conversations play out like I'm in the car with them.  It's the comic that showed me that expositing information didn't have to read like standard exposition.  While that's not a new thing these days, it was new to me back in 2011.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ff/0d/eb/ff0debcf03c7544e1059fade029db39f.png)

It's also one of those adult stories where the sex scenes enhance the plot, and it's drawn in a way that doesn't feel exploitive, to which I am very grateful.  Baby college me had been exposed to yaoi-flavored doujins before reading this, and I absolutely hated how they handled the emotional side of sex.  TJ and Amal is about as far from yaoi as you would expect when it comes to pandering, like a breath of fresh air.

(https://thecurryrestaurantattheendoftheuniverse.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/tj_amal.png?w=640)

God, I gotta read this again.  I love these boys so much.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 22, 2021, 08:28 AM

Title: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
Comic Type: Graphic Novel
Author: Mariko Tamaki
Illustrator: Rosemary Valero-O'Connell
Target Audience: Teens and older
Status: available through First Second Books

content warning: abuse tactics (gaslighting), medical abortion
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539096588l/40864841.jpg)

Freddie's relationship with her on-again/off-again girlfriend has been causing a rift with her other friends.  She feels her only hope for a solution is to reach out to an advice columnist, especially when her loyalties are tested to their extreme.

(https://theafictionado.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laura-dean-1.jpg?w=1024)

Mariko Tamaki has written a couple other books I would recommend reading depending on your tastes, but this is one for the books for how shitty this relationship is.  Of course there are plenty of fluffy wlw books I either have or will share in this thread, but this isn't one of them.

I think the most difficult and poignant part of this book is Freddie's friendship with Doodle.  During the whole conflict, Doodle's experiencing things that would even make adults hesitate, and having the support of her friend would be beneficial if she wasn't so wrapped up in Laura Dean.  It leads to one of my favorite panels in the whole story.  No words, the visuals tell you all you need to know about the emotional state of these friends.
(https://static2.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-with-me-2.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&h=370&dpr=1.5)

And let's not forget about the dynamic that started this whole thing.  We have a couple of teens in a rocky relationship where the imbalance is palpable, and you gotta feel for these girls.  Laura Dean is charismatic but self-centered, Freddie is loyal to her social circle but also puts her girlfriend on a pedestal.  And this is a good thing to see in fiction because it's a queer experience that needs to be told.  To generalize all experiences to be The One Experience would be grossly incorrect.  Come for the beautiful visuals, stay for the messy adolescence.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 22, 2021, 12:28 PM

Title: Venus Envy
Comic Type: Webcomic; http://www.venusenvycomic.com/
Author: Crystal Frasier*
Illustrator: Crystal Frasier*
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Cancelled

content warning: transphobia

(https://s3.amazonaws.com/comicgeeks/comics/covers/large-4805982.jpg?1463575654)

Sometimes it's important to see how far we've come.  Venus Envy started in 2001, when transgender representation was scarce; even more so representation that didn't treat them as a punchline.  And this comic was an excellent starting point for me when I was first introduced to the concept many years ago.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/V0GvzlLuPDnVupdCoUUeCXTnXlG5eEH9wBIkMkGNOHmpKMyHF-5uEKyFvFx_J_fsEWuTu22_fGt0qSfGn57EbOjbRFvRh7aeBA)

The comic chronicles Zoë's transition, her growing pains of dealing with adolesence and trying to have her parents understand her identity, and how she fits into her community.  My memory is vague about any further details of the plot, but I do remember the main character was treated with the utmost respect and grace from her creator, an intersex transwoman.  It gets wild at the end of the archive, and I doubt it's going to be updated again.  If anything, consider this a time capsule.

_{*as of the writing of this post, the website credits Crystal as "Erin Lindsey"}

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 22, 2021, 12:32 PM

Title: Lady of the Shard
Comic Type: Webcomic; https://gigidigi.itch.io/lady
Author: Gigi D.G.
Illustrator: Gigi D.G.
Target Audience: Older teens and up
Status: Complete

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1465593381l/30517162._SX318_.jpg)

An acolyte is smitten for the goddess protecting the galaxy, and space drama happens.  It's very much a Gigi D.G. joint, if less comical than their Persona and Metal Gear comics and Cucumber Quest.  The bulk of the comic is done with what looks like a binary or pixel pen on a single colored background, and the choice of color has a deliberate meaning--black for space, red for high energy shots, pink for others, etc.  There's no painting or color play here, everything is defined with the linework.  It's a different take than what I've seen in their previous work, and it's a marvelous little story of space sapphics.

(https://indiepixelsblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/ladyoftheshard.png?w=640)

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 24, 2021, 01:15 PM

Title: Deadendia
Comic Type: Webcomic/ Comic series; first volume available https://deadendia.tumblr.com/
Author: Hamish Steele
Illustrator: Hamish Steele
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Ongoing; print editions available through Nobrow

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527326638l/38118333._SX318_.jpg)

If paranormal summer jobs is your forte, then Deadendia could be the book for you!  Soon to be a Netflix series by the time of this post, Deadendia tells the story of Barney and his friends who are trying to keep their jobs at the local haunted theme park.  Not only will he need to handle ghosts, demons, and other supernatural oddities, he's got to balance his life beyond the gates of the park.

Deadendia has a vibe similar to works like Adventure Time, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Finn and Jake's escapades.  I think it's the only comic I've read so far with a transman lead--and he is adorable?  I want to pinch his cheeks.
(https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/yayomg-deadendia-fun-facts-4.jpg)

Seriously, if y'all know any other comics or other books with transmen leads, please hit me up.  I need to expand my palette.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 24, 2021, 01:34 PM

Title: Crowded
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: Christopher Sebla
Comic Team: Ro Stein (Artist), Ted Brandt (Artist), Triona Farrell (Color Artist), Cardinal Rae (Letters)
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Ongoing; available through Image Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539956431l/40629270.jpg)

In a future where the gig economy is king, the world's lowest rated bodyguard has been hired on the cheap to protect the most crowdfunded hit.  It's gonna be 30 days of avoiding death, taking care of a stolen dog, and maybe falling in love?

This shit gets wild, y'all.  It's like the premise of The Bodyguard but you also put in scores of money-hungry people, cynical jokes about the Millennial job market, and you make the leads sapphic.  And the target (Charlie Ellison) is actually a shitty person but she's cute so it's probably okay.
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1563034413i/27822511._SX540_.jpg)

The biggest thing aside from the stress-induced relationship really is the chases.  When people get a whiff of Charlie in the vicinity, they come guns a-blazing and mouth foaming for that million dollar bounty.  She's worth that much.  And it's fun to see just how much property damage is done when she and her bodyguard try to get the fuck out of there.  Special shout out to how they treat the library.

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1578410124i/28731249._SX540_.jpg)

God bless the library.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jul 01, 2021, 01:09 PM

Title: Tree Mail
Comic Type: Graphic novel
Author: Brian Smith
Illustrator: Mike Raicht
Target Audience: All ages
Status: available through Dark Horse Comics
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457290073l/29236401.jpg)
Rudy's got a dream, y'all--to be the best postman he can be!  It doesn't matter if the job specifically asks for birds and not frogs; he'll do whatever it takes to prove he'll get that mail in on time!

This is a seriously fun and cute comic.  You care for Rudy with his sunshine personality, the friends he makes on the way, and all the ways the birds try to sabotage his success only for it to backfire on them.  It also has a couple sequentials that I can only describe as delicious--check this movement out!
(http://theslingsandarrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tree-Mail-int.jpg)

If you can, definitely check this one out.  It's a blast.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jul 03, 2021, 08:30 AM

Title: Ice Cream Man
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: W. Maxwell Prince
Illustrator: Martín Morazzo
Target Audience: Older teens and up
Status: Ongoing; available through Image Comics

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558869649l/36992226._SY475_.jpg)

You ever just wanna get fucked up existentially?  Ice Cream Man can give you your fix, lickety-split!  This series reads like an anthology of people's experiences with, well, a lot of things, and the Ice Cream Man is the connecting thread to them all.  Whatever story you encounter in this collection, his hand is all up in it; a true force to be reckoned with.  What does he want?  Why is he here?  Hell if I know.  I think he just wants to sow chaos in his wake.

(https://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/4988927.jpg)

I honestly read the fifth issue first, and I had no idea what the hell was going on.  Then I read the first volume a couple of times, and it clicked.  It reads like an anthology, but it really isn't.  There's an ongoing story, and if you're real observant, you can sniff it out before you get to issue 9, the game-changer for the whole series.

I can't in all honesty show you the best bits because they include funny jokes and gruesome images.  Real visceral stuff.  You can skip this if bodily gore isn't your forte, but if you crave that flavor, order a scoop!

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jul 07, 2021, 01:24 PM

Title: Upgrade Soul
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: Ezra Claytan Daniels
Illustrator: Ezra Claytan Daniels
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Complete; available through Oni Press

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523660792l/39279780.jpg)

Did you like Ice Cream Man?  Do you want more existential horror?

Hank and Molly Nonnar have decided to do something special for their 45th anniversary--a procedure that would guarantee them a longer, rejuvenated life.  And it works.  It works too well, actually.

(https://i1.wp.com/www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Upgrade-Soul_1.jpg?resize=800%2C641)

I would really like for y'all to go into this one blind, but it tackles the philosophical question of what makes "you".  Is it your body?  Your mind?  A combination of both?  And how far would you go to preserve "you"?

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jul 07, 2021, 01:43 PM

Title: The Fox
Comic Type: Bande Dessinée
Author: Frédéric Brrémaud
Illustrator: Federico Bertolucci
Target Audience: preteens and up*
Status: available through Magnetic Press
(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482519959l/33553073._SX318_.jpg)

This book is part of a series titled "Love," where the author states that the love between animals and nature is different from what humanity shares, and such a bond can be observed but not understood.  Contrary to that, this volume is my favorite because it appeals to a bond we can experience.  The Fox takes place in the Kodiak Archepelago, where the forest quickly catches fire.  While the rest of the fauna hurry to escape the flames, a single fox actually jumps into the danger.

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1438433303i/15705967._SY540_.jpg)

Love is absolutely gorgeous to look at, and The Fox plays around with the orange/blue complementary palette in a way that feeds my soul.  The lack of dialog allows you to drink in the visuals and really take in the context for this story.  It's like a gorgeous nature documentary.

_{*other volumes in the Love series are a sliding scale of who they may appeal to.  There's animal violence and more mature situations that may not sit well with readers.  Use your best discretion.}

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jul 21, 2021, 08:55 AM

Title: Rat Queens
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe
Illustrators: (rotated throughout the comics run) Roc Upchurch, Stjepan Šejić, Tess Fowler, Owen Gieni, Priscilla Petraites, Marco Lasko, Moritat, Casey Silver
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Ongoing

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489284113l/20299683._SY475_.jpg)

We just finished hosting the Dungeon Master of Disaster event, and you maybe want to read more comics along the vein of crazy things happening to a group of adventurers.  I gotchu covered.

Rat Queens is a high fantasy that focuses on a group of heroines who, um--

Okay, they're not actually heroines.  More like mercenaries?  They're maidens for hire who will do anything and everything for profit.  You have Hannah the elven rockabilly-themed mage, Violet the dwarven fighter who's shirked all traditional presentation of her culture, Dee the cleric who has no faith in her god, and Betty the halfling who loves to steal and smoke suspicious substances.  Very much a group that butts heads and keeps things crass.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/68/1e/9a681ee3a3ab64ea797e86849dc51de0.jpg)

In a nutshell, it's kind of like a group of people fucking around in a tabletop campaign, and you're reading the end result.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jul 22, 2021, 01:20 PM

Title: Sakana
Comic Type: Webcomic; https://www.sakana-comic.com/
Author: Madeline Rupert
Illustrator: Madeline Rupert
Target Audience: Teens and up
Status: Ongoing; print editions available through Hiveworks

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404017428l/22600836.jpg)

You ever just want to read about a slice of life/romcom set in Japan without the manga-flavored melodrama?  I sure do, and I'm glad Sakana exists to fill that space.  Focusing on a group of young adults working in the Sakana fish market, you got some shenanigans afoot!  The bulk of the humor in this comic comes from the situations these characters find themselves in, mostly concerning how they look in front of people they have crushes on.  It's not really "manga" humor as it is wacky rom-com humor, and it's a nice change of pace.
(https://www.sakana-comic.com/comics/1435775661-020.jpg)
_{check out the GLOW UP!}
(https://www.sakana-comic.com/comics/1481347011-SAKANA%20401%20small.jpg)
(https://www.sakana-comic.com/comics/1481695089-SAKANA%20402%20small.jpg)

This comic has been ongoing since 2010, and you see Madeline's style develop over that period of time.  And when you start witnessing her current level of work--ooh, it's a treat.  The crisp inked scans are so good.  She draws my favorite hands.  It's such a good title, y'all.
(https://www.sakana-comic.com/comics/1513653826-SAKANA%20487%20small.jpg)
_{Give him a break, Japanese is his third language XD}

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Sep 29, 2021, 08:24 AM

Title: Saga
Comic Type: Comic series
Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrator: Fiona Staples
Target Audience: Adults!
Status: Currently on hiatus; available through Image Comics

content warning: Saga covers a lot of subject matter that may not jive with you.  I've marked the whole list under spoilers--

Spoiler: ShowHide

Post-war trauma, war violence and murder, domestic abuse, drug addiction, pregnancy loss/surgical abortion, transphobia, homophobia, child sex trafficking, explicit sex scenes*, varying degrees of nudity from casual to sexual

and there's an auto-fellating dragon in here somewhere.  Just a head's up.

*_{I need to stress with the utmost importance that there are no sex scenes involving a child.
 All sex scenes currently shown in Saga are between consenting adults.}

(https://wp.dailybruin.com/images/2017/01/web.ae_.saga_.review.jpg)

If you haven't read Saga, you've probably heard of it.  If you haven't heard of it, the laconic version is this:
Saga chronicles the struggles of one family in a galaxy that holds everything against them.  Because when you're from opposing sides of the longest running war, no one wants to see enemies "get along," let alone have a loving union or a wanted child.
(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58c35f74d1758e424ee76710/1576609929177-K048OPSPA7LNE5RHU2VB/image-asset.png)

I don't care for Brian K. Vaughan's earlier work, but Saga is something I really enjoy reading.  Since the story is currently on pause, I reread the whole series so far, and it's pretty solid.  The best way I can describe its appeal to me is that, despite all the intergalactic politics and conflict going on in the universe, the story really is about families--ones made from unexpected bonds, bound by blood or adoption, and throughout all the joy and the tragedy, they still lean on one another to get to the next stop in their journey for a peaceful life.

I mean, unless you're The Will.  Then you've got a long road to walk alone, buddy.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3d/63/75/3d63753c4fb45db38383554d10884e8d.jpg)

And it's difficult to keep this post so compact because I'm only showing you the more ordinary looking designs.  We got robots with TV heads, at least one cyclops, a seal-man with a walrus steed, bug people, mammal people, centaurs, two-headed persons, a giant sphynx cat--so many different walks of life in this comic, and I adore the amount of care Fiona Staples puts into each idea.  It's a real treat to see them on the page.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Sep 29, 2021, 11:45 AM

Title: The Adventure Zone
Comic Type: Graphic novel
Author: Clint, Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy
Illustrator: Carey Pietsch
Target Audience: Not for Kids*
Status: Ongoing; available through First Second
_{*which I only mention so you babies will know just how cool you are for reading.  What's up, you cool baby? B)}

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507691828l/35684941.jpg)
The Adventure Zone is an adaptation of a podcast where three brothers and their dad play a tabletop campaign.  Jokes and improvisational acting ensue, and it's a fun ride.

This series is based on their most popular "Balance" campaign, where three men are hired to locate and destroy dangerous artifacts to prevent world-ending tragedy.  And I have to say the first book is not the best one.  It's fine, but it's not the best one.  The Balance series really starts getting good around the second and third arcs with the introduction of more long-standing characters and the unfurling overarching plot.  And it's funny and heartfelt and heartbreaking.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dh_knf-XUAAij36?format=jpg)
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/68810942560a45b668a937b20141d396/tumblr_inline_pmmm35pXQO1ud1ukx_1280.jpg)
(https://www.syfy.com/sites/syfy/files/styles/syfy_image_gallery_full_breakpoints_theme_syfy_normal_1x/public/taz8.jpg)
(https://i0.wp.com/www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TAZ04_125-1-scaled.jpg?ssl=1)
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/489edab0a1e335ee335caf73c28a7b57/b0ff13bd785b394d-6b/s2048x3072/06f8f6e72dbd90bba132d91f4da7479d398ce748.jpg)

What's stellar about this adaptation is the tweaking of plot points and character writing.  If you've heard the podcast and expected this to be a 1:1 adaptation, you're gonna be surprised.  Of course, locations and characters needed to be renamed because of copywrite, but The Boys are written to be more consistent from the get-go and important scenes are either recreated or made special for this comic's run.  Petals to the Metal is currently the best example of this

Spoiler: ShowHide

by maintaining the tragedy of Sloan and Hurley's sacrifice without accidentally evoking the Bury Your Gays trope, a criticism brought up when the arc initially ended

.

It also slips in some fun nods to other McElroy jokes if you're familiar with the family's work.  If you're not, I encourage you to listen to some of the scenes that didn't quite make it into these books.  Like the buck wild way they got (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56QZc-zHiBs) the Philosopher's Stone in The Crystal Kingdom (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_bfDZbxuI).

And I'm writing this before The Eleventh Hour's publication, to which I say y'all.  Brace yourselves.  That's a ride and a half.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 04, 2022, 07:28 AM

I'm BACK in time for Pride Month, so let's make this whole dang topic GAY

Title: Long Exposure
Comic Type: Webcomic; http://longexposurecomic.com/
Author: Kam Heyward
Illustrator: Kam Heyward
Target Audience: Older teens and up
Status: Complete

Content Warning: Long Exposure contains drug and substance use, harsh language and slurs, verbal and physical abuse, general violence, and sexual situations.

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1514270617l/37688590._SY475_.jpg)

If you haven't read this comic, but you like:
- Paranormal happenings like in Stranger Things, but something more grounded in reality
- A good soft boy and a tough beanpole boy falling in love
- Realistic teen dialog
- Realistic depictions of tougher subjects like homophobia and related slurs, physical abuse, eating disorders, and drug use
Then this might be a comic for you.  It was good pacing, the characters are beautifully human, and I just love these boys.

Like, they go from THIS
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0c2ea088aeb9007360b4961c44cabeaf/tumblr_ofdkwnW5zq1vdkga9o1_1280.png)

To THIS
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/371e610d96fa7de3b546b4489d8bb53d/tumblr_oylri3EHFR1vdkga9o1_1280.png)
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/389da03cea02085661be2f7b8f577149/tumblr_oylriw01mH1vdkga9o1_1280.png)

And I grabbed some relatively spoiler-free pages so you get the gist of the progression without knowing too much about the plot.
Give it a whirl, see if you like it.  I definitely did.

Title: Re: The Bibliopossum's Library
Post by: Pita (Slowly getting back into it) on Jun 04, 2022, 07:50 AM

Title: A Woman's Voice
Comic Type: Bande Dessinée
Author: Aude Mermillod
Illustrator: Aude Mermillod
Target Audience: Adults
Status: Complete; available in English through Europe Comics, can be checked out at hoopladigital.com

(https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632855731l/59109830._SX318_.jpg)

Based on Martin Winckler's novel of the same name, A Woman's Voice dives into women's health from the perspective of a medical student hesitantly doing her final residency in a gynecological department.

This is a very clinical description of this book, but it's quite an emotional story and the only comic I've read to state to have an intersex character.  You learn about the trauma these patients endured through their dialog, and every story element is treated with the utmost care.  It has a gentle approach to heavy topics, and it's a book I would recommend to people unafraid to face these issues.

No page previews, unfortunately.