Journey into the deepest corners of your soul with our Fresh Friday Features as your guide. These introspective comics feature tales of authors and characters looking deep within, overcoming (literal) demons, fierce storms, and the ghosts lurking in their pasts to become better, stronger people. Learning more about yourself, and thus coming out stronger, there's nothing you can't do!
- Comic - Gender Queer: In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Then e created Gender Queer.
- Graphic Novel - Follow Me In: Kat had no responsibilities and nothing to tie her down. But she had graduated university with no plans. She was an artist who hadn’t drawn in five years. She was lost. What’s more, she’d been avoiding admitting to herself something that all of those around her knew...
- Manga - Snow Fairy: When famous wildlife photographer Narumi comes to Hokkaido to take photos of the elusive "snow fairies," he ends up stranded in a snow storm. After being rescued, he takes up residence in local farmer Haruki's house for the winter.
- Webcomic - Heaven Help Us: When Mylo, a devout priest and exorcist, believes he has reached his lowest point, a deadly omen seems to prophesy his death, sparking his will to live once more and opening up a whole new world of difficult questions and choices.
Gender Queer, 258 pages - Published by Oni Press, (cc/ @GCpartnerships)
In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Then e created Gender Queer. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fan fiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: It is a useful and touching guide on gender identity.
Story and Art by Maia Kobabe and Phoebe Kobabe
Thank you so much to Maia for eir passion and bravery to put this book into the ether, and thank you to Oni Press for uplifting it! Reading this book was an incredibly cathartic experience for me as someone who is also non-binary asexual and seeking gender-affirming care. Maia shares eir transformation journey through all its twists, turns, detours, and successes. I'm so thankful to see this book on platform, especially due to its history as a banned/challenged book. Maia's book is incredible, and it's vital we ensure these voices be heard.
Follow Me In, 128 pages - Published by Avery Hill Publishing, (cc/ @AveryHillPublishing)
Kat had no responsibilities and nothing to tie her down. But she had graduated university with no plans. She was an artist who hadn’t drawn in five years. She was lost. What’s more, she’d been avoiding admitting to herself something that all of those around her knew; that her boyfriend, Richard, had some serious problems with alcohol. Looking for a fresh start, the two of them quit their jobs and embarked on a journey to Mexico for what what they expected to be an adventure of a lifetime.
Story and Art by Katriona Chapman
What an incredible book! Those with a love of travel should definitely read this book. A story of a traveling couple struggling to overcome addiction and enjoy their lives, while making sure they have enough to survive. It's a beautiful story of how things can go horribly wrong, but still come out positive if you can persevere. Life is hard and challenges can be unexpected, but it can still be a transformative and wonderful experience. I would love to do something like this if I visit other countries!
Snow Fairy, 226 pages - Published by TOKYOPOP, (cc/ @GCpartnerships)
When famous wildlife photographer Narumi comes to Hokkaido to take photos of the elusive "snow fairies," he ends up stranded in a snow storm. After being rescued, he takes up residence in local farmer Haruki's house for the winter. As polar opposites, sophisticated and outgoing city slicker Narumi and country boy Haruki have a lot to learn from one another. After Haruki shows an interest, Narumi teaches him about photography... and before he realizes it, he finds himself the sole subject of...
Story and Art by Tomo Serizawa
A tale to warm your hearts on the coldest of nights! A very cute and playful "opposites attract story" and the artwork is simply stunning! As someone who also has had an interest in photography, it was also a cool manga to read from that angle as well. I can imagine how hard it would be to be in Narumi's situation, but I was happy to see it end so well. Adorable book!
Heaven Help Us, 21 pages - Published by CatRoulette, (cc/ @CatRoulette)
When Mylo, a devout priest and exorcist, believes he has reached his lowest point, a deadly omen seems to prophesy his death, sparking his will to live once more and opening up a whole new world of difficult questions and choices. Guided or manipulated by unexpected forces, he must navigate the tumultuous waters of his uncertain future. A sometimes dark, atmospheric, queer story, this was written for an adult audience and explores humanity, death, loss of faith and finding of self.
Story and Art by CatRoulette
It must be a sad and lonely existence to see all of your fellow exorcists lose the battle over time, then seeing your own ill-fated omen. I can't possibly think about what Mylo must be going through. What I really enjoyed though, was the light-hearted moment in such a heavy solemn scene. Usually I might be perturbed, but it felt good, and it felt very natural given the situation. Well written, and fairly new to GC, I'm looking forward to more!
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section and add them to your Library for future reading!
Check out more amazing stuff from @ArtCrumbs below.
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