If you’re looking for a little dose of humor in your life, I’ve got some comics for you today. I’m branching out beyond the typical Peanuts, Garfield, FoxTrot, and Calvin & Hobbes to bring you some of the newer, lesser known, or up and coming comics today. You can find many of these comics online, but the books often contain a few that are never posted digitally.
Birding Is My Favorite Video Game by Rosemary Mosco
A collection of comics about the natural world that combine real information and touches of humor.
Target Readers:
Bird Lovers, Curious Readers, Random Fact Sponges, Comic Readers, Adult Readers (though approachable for middle grade on up)
Book Love by Debbie Tung
A collection of comics that express the sentiments of a quintessential bibliophile.
Target Readers:
Book Lovers, Adult Readers (though approachable for middle grade on up)
Cat’s Café by Matt Tarpley
A collection of comics about Cat who runs a café, provides for the caffeine needs of others, but more importantly provides a safe place where everyone can be real, get emotional support, and connect with others.
Target Readers:
Coffee Addicts, Feel Good Comic Fans, Emotional Health Comic Fans, Animal Lovers, Cute Art Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers on up
Copper by Kazu Kibuishi
Copper is an adventurous human and Fred is a cautious canine. Together they have all sorts of adventures, both mundane and out of this world. This is a collection of a bunch of short comic adventures, the longest only being a few pages long. The end of the book also has a step-by-step look at the way Kibuishi creates comics from rough sketched idea to digital files.
Target Readers:
Dog Lovers, Adventure Fans, Imaginative Readers, Middle Grade Readers on up
Heart and Brain (Heart and Brain, #1) by Nick Seluk
Brain is the down to earth realist who knows what needs to be done and what should be done, while Heart is the dreamer and follows his emotions. Heart may get Brain in trouble sometimes but also tries to get Brain to let go of his worries a little more. Together, they're a delightful comic duo. And other organs of the body make cameo appearances.
Target Readers:
Emotional Health Comic Fans, Human Anatomy Humor Fans, Personality Humor Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable for middle grade on up)
Hey Sodapop, by James Point Du Jour
A collection of comics about Sodapop, a French bull dog, Em, the woman who rescued him from the shelter, and their life together.
Target Readers:
Pet Owners, Dog Lovers (especially French Bull Dog fans), Fans of Garfield or Mutts or Peanuts Looking for More Comics, Humor Fans, All Ages of Readers
Loading Penguin Hugs: Heartwarming Comics from Chibird by Jacqueline Chen
A collection of one page comics that will help brighten a bad day, add a little cuteness in your life, encourage you to grow or enjoy the little blessings in life, motivate you, give your perfectionistic or procrastinating tendencies some redirection, give your self-esteem a little pick me up, or just encourage you to keep working hard.
Target Readers:
Motivational Comic Fans, Emotional Health Comic Fans, Feel Good Comic Fans, Cute Art Fans, Those Needing an Emotional Boost, All Ages of Readers
Ozy and Millie by Dana Simpson
Dana Simpson’s Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics are wildly popular in our school and around the world judging by how it is now on its 12th book. (And for good reason. If you haven’t read any of those go do yourself a favor and pick up a collection.) But did you know Dana Simpson has another comic? Ozy and Millie is a collection of comics featuring two young school-aged foxes, Ozy and Millie. The two are self-avowed nerds, often have philosophical discussions but usually digress into silliness, and are set straight from their questionable ideas by Ozy’s adopted father who is a dragon, Millie’s mother, and their teacher Ms. Sorkowitz.
Target Readers:
Calvin & Hobbes or FoxTrot Fans Looking for More Comics, Humor Fans, Middle Grade Readers on up
Sad Animal Babies by Brooke Barker
A collection of quick factual comics about baby animals. In the back of the book is further information about each sad animal baby fact.
Target Readers:
Curious Readers, Animal Lovers, Random Fact Sponges, Middle Grade Readers on up
Strange Planet (Strange Planet, #1) by Nathan W. Pyle
A collection of comics about everyday life from the viewpoint of aliens using creative vocabulary. It's kind of amazing how just using creative vocabulary to describe everyday experiences can give you some poignant realizations and a new perspective. As well as some good laughs. Trying to describe these comics won't do them any justice. Go find some and enjoy. It's safe for all ages, and will build vocabulary and help you practice using semantics and pictorial context clues to find meaning.
Target Readers:
Puzzle Lovers, Everyday Experience Comic Fans, Humor Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable for middle grade on up)
Wallace the Brave (Wallace the Brave, #1) by Will Henry
A collection of comics featuring Wallace, a precocious and imaginative boy somewhere in between 8 and 12. He lives with his parents in a house on stilts in the seaside town of Snug Harbor. He has a slightly disturbing little brother named Sterling with a predilection for eating insects. His best friend is Spud, a much more cautious child who provides Wallace with a much-needed straight man. Spud is head over heels in love with the daring and somewhat intimidating Amelia who is more likely to give someone a rock in the face than a kiss. Together they entertain the masses with their daily escapades.
Target Readers:
Peanuts or FoxTrot or Calvin & Hobbes Fans Looking for More Comics, Humor Fans, Imaginative Adventure (and Misadventure) Fans, Middle Grade readers on up
