No Kids’ Stuff: Graphic Novels That Hit HardLike this list

21 items

• Simplicity

  a Novel

  Lubchansky, Mattie,

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  A surreal and unsettling glimpse into a future shaped by rewritten histories and ritualized control. Beneath vibrant colors and communal calm lies a creeping dread, where truth is buried, danger wears purple, and the past is anything but settled.

• Spent

  a Comic Novel

  Bechdel, Alison, 1960-

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  A sharp, self-aware exploration of creative pressure, personal ambition, and the chaos of modern life. With biting humor and emotional honesty, this layered narrative captures the struggle to balance art, activism, and identity in a world that never…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Girl Who Flew Away

  Dean, Lee,

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  A lush, emotionally rich portrait of a young woman finding her voice in 1970s Key West, this story traces a journey from dependence to self-discovery, where art becomes both refuge and revelation.

• Gilt Frame (2024)

  Kindt, Margie Kraft • Kindt, Matt

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  A delightfully twisted art-world mystery wrapped in wit, charm, and murder. With dollhouse dioramas, antique intrigue, and a quirky amateur sleuth duo, this stylish whodunit blends visual flair with clever storytelling—and leaves you eager for the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Helen of Wyndhorn

  King, Tom, 1978-

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  A tale of grief, legacy, and the power of stories—where fantasy and reality blur inside a haunted house of memory.

• Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales from Lands Unknown

  Mignola, Mike

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  A darkly whimsical collection of eerie tales—featuring cursed games, devilish deals, and a sorcerer’s lost heart—set in a strange new world that’s pure Mignola magic.

• How Could You

  Strapp, Ren,

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  College senior Molly is ready to move on from her ex—until social media makes it impossible to forget. As she and her friend Lou dive into rebound plans, their exes explore new beginnings abroad. Amid springtime discoveries and shifting feelings,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• We Called Them Giants

  Gillen, Kieron,

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  A fast-paced, emotionally charged survival story set in a world emptied of people and filled with danger. As monstrous threats close in, one girl’s journey through grief and trust reveals the quiet strength of compassion in the face of chaos.

• Dog Days

  Gendry-Kim, Keum Suk,

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  A quietly devastating story of love, loss, and resistance told through the lives of three dogs and the humans who care for them. With stark, expressive art and deep compassion, it’s a powerful call to see—and protect—the animals around us.

• The Deviant

  a Christmas Story. No. 1

  Tynion, James, IV,

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  A chilling, psychologically layered horror story that blurs the line between identity and monstrosity. As a writer investigates a decades-old murder case tied to his own past, a new killer emerges—forcing him to confront the dangers of societal fear…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Big Jim and the White Boy

  An American Classic Reimagined

  Walker, David, 1968-

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  A reimagined Huckleberry Finn with Jim as the central hero—an empathetic man on a mission to rescue his family.

• Final Cut

  Burns, Charles, 1955-

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  A surreal, emotionally charged portrait of teenage obsession and artistic escape, this graphic novel captures the confusion of youth, the ache of unrequited love, and the thin line between creativity and delusion—with haunting visuals and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees

  Horvath, Patrick (Filmmaker),

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  In a charming woodland town, a cheerful bear with a dark secret must protect her double life when a rival killer threatens to expose her. Equal parts cozy and chilling, this twisted tale blends adorable visuals with razor-sharp horror.

• Loving, Ohio

  Erman, Matthew

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  In a quiet Midwestern town where teens are vanishing and a cult holds sway, a group of friends uncover a chilling conspiracy tied to grief, belief, and a supernatural terror. A haunting, slow-burn horror that lingers in the shadows of the everyday.

• My Favorite Thing Is Monsters. Book Two

  Ferris, Emil,

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  In this much-anticipated conclusion, a young girl navigates grief, identity, and political unrest in 1960s Chicago while uncovering the final secrets behind her neighbor’s mysterious past. A richly illustrated, emotionally resonant finale that…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Monica

  Clowes, Daniel,

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  Told through nine interwoven stories, this genre-blending graphic novel follows one woman’s search for truth through family secrets, cultural chaos, and surreal twists. A richly detailed, mind-bending narrative that rewards close reading and lingers…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Earthdivers. Volume One, Kill Columbus

  Jones, Stephen Graham, 1972-

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  In a dying future, a time-traveling mission to stop Columbus before he lands in the Americas spirals into a tense, character-driven thriller. Blending sci-fi, horror, and Indigenous resistance, this bold debut explores vengeance, history, and the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Love Everlasting. Vol. 1

  King, Tom, 1978-

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  Trapped in a cycle of doomed love stories across time and genre, one woman fights to break free from a mysterious force rewriting her life. A gripping, genre-bending mystery that twists romance tropes into something thrillingly original.

• Wash Day Diaries

  Rowser, Jamila,

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  Through five interconnected stories, four friends in the Bronx share life, love, and sisterhood—one wash day at a time. With vibrant art and intimate storytelling, this heartfelt collection celebrates Black womanhood, friendship, and everyday care.

• Mirka Andolfo's Sweet Paprika, Volume 1

  Andolfo, Mirka

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  A tightly wound businesswoman and a carefree delivery boy collide in this steamy, offbeat romance about vulnerability, desire, and emotional growth. A stylish, sensual tale of opposites attracting—and unraveling.