We're heading towards the end of the year, and that means shortlists, longlists, and everything in between to celebrate the best comic books of 2020.
Graphic novels, comics and art as a whole have had a big impact this year as we've all needed something that connects us to ideas and feelings outside of ourselves. Whether it is through good art, other people, or new experiences, comics have anchored many of us during a time of great upheaval, stress and isolation. We may not know what the future holds, but we do know that some excellent graphic novels and comics have been made this year, be it online or in print.
Our November roundup podcast is out now on Apple Podcasts. In this edition we discuss the big year that comics have had on Kickstarter, the upcoming graphic novel based on Anthrax's classic Among the Living album with an incredible line up of creators and the Ledger Awards' shortlist for best Australian comics. The team also highlights their favourite picks for the month.
Below, we have collected some great end-of-year lists,
shortlists and other comic book highlights from 2020, including the Ledger Awards Short List, which will be decided from over fifty Australian comic creators, as well as recommendations from American orgs such as the American Library Association and the Young Adult Library Services Association for you to check out. We have also included some thoughts, resources and how-tos to get you (or others in your library) making,
creating and having fun with comics. Enjoy!
News
The 2020 Ledger Awards Short List for excellence in Australian comics has been announced. The list is longer than ever which shows the increasing number and quality of Australian comics.
The Beat reports that comics have had their biggest year on Kickstarter in 2020.
Gene Luen Yang published a great article on the New York Times: Kids’ Graphic Novels That Turn the Superhero Genre on Its Head.
Cartoonist Peter Bagge returns to his indie comics roots and to Buddy Bradley, one of his most enduring characters, when Fantagraphics publishes The Complete Hate, a three-volume collection of Bagge’s fictional chronicle of the gruff, politically incorrect, heading nowhere fast, New Jersey slacker.
Heavy metal band Anthrax are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a special graphic novel inspired by their 1987 album, Among the Living. Contributors will include Corey Taylor, Grant Morrison, Gerard and Mikey Way, Rob Zombie and more.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing will introduce two new graphic novel lines aimed at emerging readers next year: Little Simon Graphic Novels, created for readers ages five to nine.
Ta-Nehisi Coates will be back to write more Black Panther starting February 2021.
The first part of Johns Ridley’s ‘The Other History of the DC Universe’ released Tuesday Nov 24 in the US.
Collections and PD
YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is always worth checking. As the year comes to an end, this could be a good time to check their current list and the Top Ten 2020.
The ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable has started a list of Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List. This is their first year doing this and the list is worth checking.
School Library Journal has published a list of 18 Superb Graphic Novel Adaptations for Kids and Teens.
If you missed out on Library Con Live, the good news is that the on demand archive will be available until February 5, 2021. The registration page is here.
If sales charts are your thing, this is what graphic novels sales were like for October: Top 20 graphic novels, top 20 Manga, author and superhero, top 20 kids graphic novels, top 20 adult graphic novels.
YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is always worth checking. As the year comes to an end, this could be a good time to check their current list and the Top Ten 2020.
The ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable has started a list of Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List. This is their first year doing this and the list is worth checking.
School Library Journal has published a list of 18 Superb Graphic Novel Adaptations for Kids and Teens.
If you missed out on Library Con Live, the good news is that the on demand archive will be available until February 5, 2021. The registration page is here.
If sales charts are your thing, this is what graphic novels sales were like for October: Top 20 graphic novels, top 20 Manga, author and superhero, top 20 kids graphic novels, top 20 adult graphic novels.
Media and resources
Noe's Comics Nook: Graphic Novel Reviews for Schools and Libraries. Matt Noe is the Lead Collection & Knowledge Management Librarian at Countway Library, Harvard Medical School, and a part-time instructor at the University of Kentucky. He will be publishing graphic novel reviews and lesson plan ideas through Diamond Bookshelf.
Cathy G. Johnson has published a video showing her whole process of creation in the making of The Breakaways, from brainstorming, sketches, script, penciling, inking and coloring!
James Foley has shared a great video on Youtube on how to draw Chickensaurus Rex - the terrible chicken-lizard from his latest graphic novel of the same name.
Polygon has published a great review here of Dune: The Graphic Novel along with a few excerpts to whet your appetite.
Noe's Comics Nook: Graphic Novel Reviews for Schools and Libraries. Matt Noe is the Lead Collection & Knowledge Management Librarian at Countway Library, Harvard Medical School, and a part-time instructor at the University of Kentucky. He will be publishing graphic novel reviews and lesson plan ideas through Diamond Bookshelf.
Cathy G. Johnson has published a video showing her whole process of creation in the making of The Breakaways, from brainstorming, sketches, script, penciling, inking and coloring!
James Foley has shared a great video on Youtube on how to draw Chickensaurus Rex - the terrible chicken-lizard from his latest graphic novel of the same name.
Polygon has published a great review here of Dune: The Graphic Novel along with a few excerpts to whet your appetite.
New Releases
Junior & YA
- 7 Good Reasons Not to Grow Up - Jimmy Gownley (Scholastic)
Alienated - Simon Spurrier, Chris Wildgoose (BOOM!)
Archie & Katy Keene Vol. 1 - Mariko Tamaki, Kevin Panetta, Laura Braga, Matt Herms, Jack Morelly (Archie Comics)
Blue Giant Volumes 1-2 - Shinichi Ishizuka (Seven Seas)
A Cat Story - Ursula Murray Husted (Harper Collins)
Dungeon Critters - Natalie Riess, Sarah Goetter (Roaring Brook Press)
Geronimo Stilton: The Sewer Rat Stink (Graphic Novel #1) - Geronimo Stilton, Tom Angleburger (Scholastic US)
Ichiro - Ryan Inzana (Houghton Mifflin)
King of the Birds - Elise Gravel (Harper Collins)
Last Pick: Rise Up : Volume 3 - Jason Walz (Roaring Brook Press)
Logan Likes Mary Anne! (the Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel #8) - Ann M Martin & Gale Galligan (Scholastic - Graphix)
Lumberjanes: True Colors - Lilah Sturges, Polterink (Boom!)
The Odds #1 - Matt Stanton
Odessa - Jonathan Hill (Oni Press)
Queen of the Sea - Dylan Meconis (Candlewick Press)
Song of the Court - Katy Farina (Sterling Children’s Books)
Super Potato and the Castle of Robots: Book 5 - Artur Laperla (Lerner Publishing Group) (7-8 yrs)
Teen Titans Go!: Roll With It! - Heather Nuhfer, P. C. Morissey, Agnes Garbowska, Sandy Jarrell (DC Comics)
Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story - Lauren Myracle, Isaac Goodhart (DC Comics)
The Witches : The Graphic Novel - Roald Dahl, Penelope Bagieu (Scholastic Australia)
Adult General
Batman: Three Jokers - Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok (DC Comics)
Billionaire Island - Mark Russell, Stee Pugh (Ahoy)
Blue in Green - Ram V, Ananda RK (Image comics)
Breakwater - Katriona Chapman (Avery Hill)
Gideon Falls Vol. 5 : Wicked Worlds - Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino (Image Comics)
Mass Effect: the complete comics - Mac Walters (Dark Horse)
Mirka Andolfo’s Mercy - Mirka Andolfo (Image Comics)
Negalyod: The God Network - Vincent Perriot (Titan Comics)
Sapiens: Volume 1 - Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, Daniel Casanave (Harper Collins)
Reaver Vol 2 - Justin Jordan, Niko Henrichon (Image Comics)
Titan - Francois Vigneault (Oni Press)
To Know You’re Alive - Dakota McFadzean (Conundrum Press)
X-Men Vol 2 - Jonathan Hickman, Leinil Francis Yu, Mahmoud Asrar (Marvel Comics)
