It’s time again to look at my favorite graphic novels for 2024.
Like last year, my trend toward mainly reading webcomics over graphic novels and trade paperbacks has continued. However, I’ll list what graphic novels I did read that stood out, along with webcomics with book collections.
See here for my favorite webcomics of 2024.
Adulthood is a Gift!: A Celebration of Sarah’s Scribbles
Written/art by Sarah Andersen
Andrews McMeel
“Sarah’s Scribbles” is a comic strip focusing on the cartoonist’s various thoughts about adult life. This volume also features a “behind the scenes” look at the strip’s creative process.
The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries, vol. 4
Written/art by: Various
DC Comics
Another volume in the series of team-ups between Batman and Mystery, Inc. One story in this volume sees a return of Crystal Cove (and its sheriff) from “Scooby-Doo: Mystery, Incorporated” as the gang’s hometown. Another story sees an extensive appearance by Barbara Gordon as Oracle.
Big Dweeb Energy: A FoxTrot Collection
Written/art by: Bill Amend
Andrews McMeel
April saw the release of the latest collection of the long-running newspaper strip “FoxTrot.” The book, “Big Dweeb Energy,” consists of color Sunday strips, since “FoxTrot” has been Sundays-only since 2007.
Boyfriends., Volumes Two and Three
Written/art by: Refrainbow
Webtoon
Two collections of this popular Webtoon webcomic were released in 2024: volume two in April, and volume three in December. The strip centers around a polyamorous relationship between four male college students, who’re only called by their archetypes: Goth, Prep, Jock, and Nerd.
It’s the Great Storm, Tom the Dancing Bug!: Tom the Dancing Bug, vol. 8
Written/art by Ruben Bolling
Clover Press
Published in August, this volume of the long-running political cartoon “Tom the Dancing Bug” covers 2020 to 2023, including the January 6 Capitol building attack. If wondering about the title, several strips parodied the “Peanuts” cast as far-right extremists and Trump loyalists (save for a bewildered Charlie Brown).
The Poorcraft Cookbook
Written/art by Nero Villagallos O’Reilly
Iron Circus Comics
This is the third entry in the “Poorcraft” series of graphic novels about how to do things frugally; volume one was general advice, while volume two focused on travel tips. This volume focuses on cooking tips, expanding on the section in the first volume about such.
i bought this book during a Black Friday sale Iron Circus Comics held, but I haven’t fully read through it as of this writing. Also bought at the same sale (but not yet read): volumes two and three of “Letters for Lucardo,” a series about a romance between a Black vampire and his elderly male human assistant.
Photo by Classroom Camera (Cascade Canyon School) (Flickr / CC BY / cropped from original)
