Best Comics of 2019 So Far

Comics are for everybody. No matter who you are, there's a comic for you! And odds are you can find that comic at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. Whether it be on our shelves, in digital collections like hoopla or through our partner libraries on SearchOhio or OhioLink, there's bound to be something you'll find interesting.

Since we're at the midway point of 2019, now is a great time to look back at some of the best comics that have been published over the past six months.

Best Comics and Graphic Novels from the First Half of 2019

A Fire Story by Brian Fies

A Fire Story recounts the personal experience of writer and illustrator Brian Fies as he and his wife flee their California home due to an October 2017 wildfire. Waking up in the middle of the night to an orange glow outside their window, they quickly gather belongings with the assumption they’ll return home within a day, but in just a few hours most of their neighborhood succumbs to the blaze. This is an expertly told story of loss, grief, and recovery after a random tragedy and is an important graphic novel that provides a window into an uncertain era of wildfires in the American West.

Superman Vol. 1: The Unity Saga: Phantom Earth; written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Oclair Albert

Comics veteran Brian Michael Bendis' move to DC is off to a great start with his double feature work on Action Comics and Big Blue's titular book. In this volume, the Boy Scout has been separated from his wife Lois and son Jon and finds that the entire Earth has been transported into the Phantom Zone. On top of all this Supes must battle the alien Rogol Zaar, who claims to be responsible for destroying Krypton. All of it makes for the perfect summer comic blockbuster and fun sci-fi romp full of incredible outer space battles.

Hobo Mom by Charles Forsman and Max de Radiguès

Hobo Mom is a short graphic novel, easily read in one sitting and well worth the effort to do so. Read this on a park bench during lunch break. Being outside might be the perfect setting to read a comic about a woman who lives her life on the rails.

Natasha is the "hobo mom," moving from town to town in fits of restlessness. Suddenly she decides to insert herself back into the life of her daughter, though she just as quickly flits back out of it.

This comic might feel shallow in terms of its length, but there are strange depths in its clean lines and brief segments of dialogue. You'll feel the pull of a carefree life while also being outraged at the pain such a life can bring to a family.

Off Season by James Sturm

Almost nobody wants to rehash the 2016 presidential election, but James Sturm takes the topic on by making the political personal.

Mark, a blue-collar builder, and his wife Lisa are both Bernie Sanders supporters. But when Bernie loses the nomination to Hillary Clinton, Mark can't bring himself to vote for Clinton or Trump, while Lisa goes all in and volunteers for Hillary. Their marriage suffers for it, they go through a divorce and what's left is the sparsely plotted Off Season.

But this book isn't just about election politics. It tackles issues of masculinity, the struggle of trying to make a living and all the other things that make adulthood so unnerving.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Jerry Craft's New Kid is a near perfect middle-grade graphic novel that practically any person age 8-12 will love, especially if they've been the "new kid" in school.

The book follows Jordan, who starts his first year at a suburban private school, having previously attended school in New York City. Needless to say, Jordan doesn't quite fit in among the prep school crowd with their designer clothes, newest video games, and luxury cars.

There are a few cultural references that kids might not understand, like chapter titles that channel Fight Club and Mad Men, but there are important lessons that will hit home with young people, such as those dealing with race, bullying, and friendship.

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisely

Lucy Knisely (Relish, French Milk) delivers a must-read comic about childbirth that is both personal and universal. Exploring topics of women's health, the history of reproductive medicine and her own pregnancy experience, this is an intimate look at motherhood and the pressures women face when it comes to pregnancy.

Knisely is never one to shy away from difficult topics — like her doctor dismissing signs that she had preeclampsia — and she deftly dispels common pregnancy superstitions with humor and resolve.

Whether you are searching for the next comic to read, romance novel, movie or tech tool, you can find it all at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library!

First Published July 8, 2019, 4:00 a.m.