Honestly, this is the only graphic novel that matters right now.
This year the #1 book was Final Cut by Charles Burns, published by Pantheon. Through and through, this is such a masterfully done work. You can read my review here. It was a delight to read, especially with a good deal of understanding and appreciation of previous work. But, the beauty of this is that you really could come to it without even knowing a thing.
Another title in a similar vein, you could call it the #2 book after Burns, has got to be Naked City by Eric Drooker, published by Dark Horse Comics. Again, you have a masterful artist at the height of his powers. You can read the Comics Grinder review by Paul Buhle here.
If we follow this train of thought, another book by a legendary cartoonist that deserves a shout out is My Time Machine by Carol Lay. I think we can all relate to a good time travel story. My review here.
Another title that truly stands out is Blurry by Dash Shaw. Same thing going on here too in that we have a seasoned artist with an impressive track record who, once again, hits the ball out of the park. You can read my review here.
Continuing with the auteur cartoonist model, Einstein in Kafkaland by Ken Krimstein, published by Bloomsbury, must be on any best-of-year list. I don’t rate this book in terms of its educational value alone. I am not expecting any graphic novel to explain to me the theory of relativity in any significant way. I rate this book mostly in terms of its enthusiasm and playfully delivering on its scenario, the possible meeting between Einstein and Kafka. Paul Buhle’s review here.
Death of Comics Bookcase (stories by Zack Quaintance) is a remarkable comics anthology that unleashes a whole new world of possibilities for its editor and writer Zack Quaintance. Much like a comic book version of Rod Serling, here is a collection of stories by show runner Quaintance focusing on what has come to be my favorite kind of writing, that with “a touch of strange.” My review here.
Volume 1 collects Issues 1-6.
Hands down, The Last Mermaid by Derek Kirk Kim, published by Image Comics, is another must-read. The story just keeps getting better and better as it unrolls. This is by one of the best in the business. My review here.
Hurricane Nancy by Hurricane Nancy, published by Fantagraphics, needs to be on our best-of-year list. This is the first collection of this underground legend’s work going back to the early lean years on the Lower East Side in the 1960s all the way to the present. Read my review here.
Delights: A Story of Hieronymous Bosch by Guy Colwell, published by Fantagraphics is a rare treat as you have one of our great underground artists focusing on the one of the great painters of all time. Paul Buhle review here.
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Book Two by Emil Ferris, published by Fantagraphics. A monumental work in comics gets a fitting sequel. Nick Throkelson review here.
Advocate by Eddie Ahn, published by Ten Speed Press, is a unique book in how in manages to inform on so many things in so many ways. Keep up with its spirited pace and learn a few things about family and our environment. My review here.
Eventually Everything Connects by Sarah Firth needs to be on everyone’s list for 2024. Without a doubt, this is an extraordinary effort on all fronts from its concise use of imagery and text to its thoughtful and engaging themes. My review here.
Fall Through by Nate Powell, published by Abrams, is a tour de force graphic novel following the development of a Southern Gothic punk band. Meet the band members: Diana, Napolean, Jody and Steff. Powell delivers once again as only he can, taking note of the ephemeral.
Palestine by Joe Sacco, published by Fantagraphics, is one of the great landmark works in comics. It received a special edition release in 2024 and is certainly of great relevance today. Paul Buhle review here.
I wish you all a Happy New Year. As we have all gathered, 2025 is going to test us in more ways than one. I am so grateful to all my loyal readers who keep Comics Grinder rolling along. Of course, I am also grateful to my friend and colleague in comics, Paul Buhle, for all his amazing contributions. As I began to hint, this new year ahead is going to challenge us and I know that comics alone won’t save us but comics can still educate, entertain and inspire us and that means a lot. So, don’t despair for the times ahead as everything runs in cycles and nothing lasts forever. We have to keep an eye on the future, learn from the past, and make the most of the present.
