Comic Crush Saturday: December 21st, 2019 – Favorite Reads & Giveaway!

Welcome to Comic Crush Saturday, our bi-weekly feature focused on the graphic elements of the book world. Comics became a huge part of my life a few years ago when I started reviewing them (and comic related TV shows) on Forever Young Adult. I’ve maintained a pull list through my local comic shop, Isotope Comics, and even got Kelly to start one ;). You’ll find mini-reviews, what we’ve read recently, and more so check it out!

Fav Graphic Novels Read in 2019

When the year ends, I’ll have read more than 270 books, with 25% of them being graphic novels, singles, manga, and webtoons. In 2018, I made goals around reading graphic novels and this year it just became part of who I am. I read some FANTASTIC picks this year so it’s hard to pick favs but here we go….

• My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol 1 – Hideyuki Furuhashi, Betten Court (Illustrator), Caleb Cook (Translator)
• Man-Eaters (the whole series) – Chelsea Cain + various artists
• Iceman: Thawing Out, Vol 1 – Sina Grace, Alessandro Vitti (Illustrator), Edgar Salazar (Illustrator)
• Let’s Play – Mongie
• Bloom – Kevin Panetta, Savanna Ganucheau (Illustrator)
• Runaways: That Was Yesterday, Vol 3 – Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka (Illustrator), David Lafuente (Illustrator), Takeshi Miyazawa (Illustrator)
• Heartstopper – Alice Oseman
• My Brother’s Husband – Gengoroh Tagame
• I Hear the Sunspot – Yuki Fumino
• Princess Princess Ever After – Katie O’Neill
• West Coast Avengers: City of Evils, Vol 3 – Kelly Thompson (Writer), Daniele Di Nicuolo (Illustrations), Gang Hyuk Lim (Illustrations), Moy R. (Illustrations)
• Pumpkinheads – Rainbow Rowell, Faith Erin Hicks (Illustrator)
• Stranger Things: Six – Jody Houser
• Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me – Mariko Tamaki, Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (Illustrations)
• Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass – Mariko Tamaki, Steve Pugh (Illustrator)
• The Cardboard Kingdom – Chad Sell + various artists
• Ghosted in LA, Vol 1 – Sina Grace, Siobhan Keenan (Illustrations), Cathy Le (Colorist)

Goodreads Best Of Graphic Novel Challenge

As you likely know, Goodreads announced the best of pick of 2019 across many categories, including graphic novels. I had already read 7 of the 15 choices that made it to the final round and have decided to read all of the others (provided they are not in the middle of a series I have not started – this leaves 5 off the list).

I kicked off this challenge with Die, Vol 1. It meets D&D with a side of Stranger Things. I definitely would not have picked up this book otherwise and t unexpectedly became a fav! I immediately grabbed the singles from volume 2 and can’t wait to dive in!

Die, Vol. 1: Fantasy Heartbreaker

by Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans
Published by: Image Comics
on June 5, 2019
Genres: Graphic Novel
Pages: 184
Goodreads

The Wicked + The Divine writer Kieron Gillen teams up with artist supernova Stephanie Hans (WicDiv, Journey Into Mystery) for her first ongoing comic. Die is a pitch-black fantasy where a group of forty-something adults have to deal with the returning, unearthly horror they only just survived as teenage role-players. If Kieron's in a rush, he describes it as "Goth Jumanji", but that's only the tip of this obsidian iceberg.
Collects issues #1-5 of Die.

What We Can’t Wait For

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Just popping by to share the full cover of Heartstopper Volume 3 including the back and spine!! I hope you like it! And pre-orders are still available for the signed/doodled edition at Waterstones.com ?

A post shared by Alice Oseman ?✨ (@aliceosemanart) on Nov 22, 2019 at 8:56am PST

I don’t want to live in a world where there isn’t more Heartstopper.

Best News of the Week

Look at this dream team!

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There’s a new girl in town and everyone’s obsessed, even Archie’s girlfriend Sabrina! #KatyKeene makes her return to comics this January in ARCHIE #710 (ARCHIE AND KATY KEENE PART 1) from @marikotamaki, @kevinpanetta, @laura_braga.art & @matt_herms! How will Archie cope with no longer being the center of attention in #Riverdale? Guess we’ll find out! #archiecomics #comicbooks #comics #archie #sabrina

A post shared by Archie Comics (@archiecomics) on Dec 16, 2019 at 1:03pm PST

We loved Teen Titans: Raven and can’t wait to see this team take on Beast Boy!

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Thanks again for making #TeenTitansRaven a NY Times Bestseller! Now for some ? NEW ? news! @_picolo and I are thrilled to announce #TeenTitansBeastBoy is now available for pre-order. Take a look at this sneak peek and order your copy at the link in my bio ???

A post shared by Kami Garcia (@kamigarcia) on Dec 12, 2019 at 9:30am PST

Did someone say DOG GRAPHIC NOVEL?

I GET TO DO NOT JUST A GRAPHIC NOVEL! BUT A DOG GN! And with my Relentless Editor @Brian_Geffen and the awesome team at @MacKidsBooks ! ?????? https://t.co/v2WuDgn478

— Remy Lai (@Remy_Lai) December 10, 2019

THIS JUST IN: Primer, new DC superhero, will make her entrance into the universe in summer!

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It’s not every day you get to create a brand new-standalone character in the DC universe. Except today. Created by me and @krajewski_tom, art by @gretlusky, all thanks to @DCComics and @m_is_for_michele. Hope you’ll love her as much as we do. Drops June 23rd. #Primer #GraphicNovel #DCComics #DCPrimer https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/primer

A post shared by Jennifer Muro (@officialjennifermuro) on Dec 3, 2019 at 10:40am PST

I want to wallpaper my walls.

Yep I sure have! ?? https://t.co/6wQiMNlsvK pic.twitter.com/c1ZyXj95Bx

— Jen Bartel (@heyjenbartel) December 1, 2019

Wonder Woman: Warbringer is coming to graphic novel and it has a fabulous book trailer to match!

And for your younger Wondie fans, check out Diana: Princess of the Amazons!

GIVEAWAY

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