Celebrate Free Comic Book Day on May 3 by reading manga and comic books from FPL. See staff favorites below!
Lauren: One of my absolute favorite is Blue Period. You can’t help but root for Yatora as he rediscovers his love for art. There’s something moving and nostalgic about the emotions he feels while painting. I also really love the artwork in the book and appreciate the way that real works of art have been woven into the storyline. (For Teens)
Blue Period, opens a new window
I also love The Tea Dragon Society series by K. O’Neill. It’s such a cozy read, and I think it’s due to the soft colors and the relaxing way they tell their stories. This was also one of the first times I came across a deaf/hard of hearing character being portrayed in a comic and thought that the way they wove sign language into the series was so cool. (For Kids)
The Tea Dragon Society, opens a new window
Lee: I love Calvin and Hobbes. Reading it as a young man I was struck by the blend of sharp wit, philosophical depth, and childhood wonder written and illustrated in a way that felt timeless and so relatable. (For Kids)
Calvin and Hobbes, opens a new window
Adam: I love the Zits comic strip collections. In addition to the artwork, I love the sense of levity this strip brings to the daily struggle of teen life (and life with a teenager). (For Teens)
Dance Like Everybody's Watching, opens a new window
Libby: I really enjoyed In. by Will McPhail. It is funny, heartbreaking, and experiments with the comic form in a way that makes you want to read it over and over. (For Adults)
Arcelia: The Many Deaths of Laila Starr. Truly one of the most visually stunning graphic novels I've ever read. Illustrator Filipe Andrade pours his characters onto the pages and sketches lines around them so they become rivers, flowing onward to an unending sea. It has a slight tendency towards navel gazing, but it is also sincere and beautiful and that is why I love it. (For Adults)
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, opens a new window
Eat the Rich. I love campy horror. It takes a tremendous amount of skill to make a predictable ending so satisfying. If you like good, kitschy fun with a bit of a bloody twist, this is the book for you. (For Adults)
Eat the Rich, opens a new window
John: I liked Snoopy as a child because I could trace the characters and make my own comics. (For Kids)
Lilith: I love Daredevil because I feel like it has a unique plot. I think it’s really cool that he’s blind and kicks butt. (For Adults)
Man Without Fear, opens a new window
Jasmine: A favorite is Steven Universe because it’s a beautiful series that teaches relationship and coping skills, along with gorgeous artwork and fun characters. (For Kids)
I also love Sailor Moon because it's a classic girl-power epic about the power of friendship. (For Teens)
Steven Universe, opens a new window
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, opens a new window
Amy: High School Debut. Yoh and Haruna might be my favorite fictional couple. It's an opposites attract kind of situation, but where both protagonists are genuinely kind people. I love everything about this series, from the protagonists and side characters to the absurd plot. The series is told with humor and a lot of heart that keeps you coming back for an update on your favorite characters. (For Teens)
High School Debut, opens a new window
One of the reasons I've always loved Kingdom Come is that you get to see some of your favorite superheroes living ordinary lives and dealing with the same complexity of emotions and messiness of relationships that the common person experiences. You also get to explore how aging as a superhero affects these larger than life figures. It takes these heroes off of their pedestals and asks the reader to see them as people first and heroes second. (ForAdults)
Kingdom Come, the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, opens a new window
Click Free Comic Book Day, opens a new window for more info and to find the nearest comic book shop participating in the festivities!
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