Tag Archives: graphic novels

Graphic Book Club: A Change Of Plans

Matthew Klein and Alex K Cossa join for the latest audio offering from Graphic Policy, the Graphic Book Club!

Join us for the seventh episode where we have a spontaneous recommendation thread.

We spend a bit of time talking about the book, getting into a few related side topics before finally picking the next read: See below for more information on the next read.

Join the conversation!

Matthew and Alex on Bluesky @matthewklein316.bsky.social and @karcossa.bsky.social.
Matthew’s on Instagram @macktheknife1116.

Matthew’s book Crashing is available now through IDW Publishing. His webcomic The Rhyme Scheme is available for free here. You can also find his podcast, Comics For You via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.


Book cover of 'The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe' featuring a raven perched on a branch against a red background and a large, silver moon.

Revel in the sumptuous language of Edgar Allan Poe’s best works in this elegantly designed hardcover edition. 

The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe features the spine-chilling short stories and melodious poems of the famous Gothic American writer, spanning from 1827 to his death in 1849.

This collectible edition features:

  • A handsome faux-leather cover with foil-embossed designs
  • 21 short stories, including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”
  • 10 classic poems, including “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee,” and “The Bells”
  • An introduction by Daniel Stashower 
  • An index of first lines
  • A timeline of the life and times of Edgar Allan Poe

Every literature buff and fan of Gothic horror should have this indispensable volume in their home library.

Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, these deluxe classics editions include beautifully presented works from some of the most important authors in literary history. Other deluxe classics from Chartwell include Little WomenAlice’s Adventures in WonderlandAnne of Green GablesThe InfernoDraculaThe RepublicThe IliadMeditations, and Irish Fairy and Folk Tales.Revel in the sumptuous language of Edgar Allan Poe’s best works in this elegantly designed hardcover edition. 

The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe features the spine-chilling short stories and melodious poems of the famous Gothic American writer, spanning from 1827 to his death in 1849.

This collectible edition features:

  • A handsome faux-leather cover with foil-embossed designs
  • 21 short stories, including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”
  • 10 classic poems, including “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee,” and “The Bells”
  • An introduction by Daniel Stashower 
  • An index of first lines
  • A timeline of the life and times of Edgar Allan Poe

Every literature buff and fan of Gothic horror should have this indispensable volume in their home library.

Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, these deluxe classics editions include beautifully presented works from some of the most important authors in literary history. Other deluxe classics from Chartwell include Little WomenAlice’s Adventures in WonderlandAnne of Green GablesThe InfernoDraculaThe RepublicThe IliadMeditations, and Irish Fairy and Folk Tales.

The book is available in multiple different formats from your favourite local retailer.

Purchase: BookshopAmazon

Get a first look at Heat of Fashion, coming this Winter from Maverick!

This winter, ​​Maverick, the young adult imprint of Mad Cave Studios, presents Heat of Fashion, a trans and queer-friendly YA romantic comedy from writer Lilah Sturges, artist Natalie Nardozza, colorist Diana Tsai Santos, and letterer Rob Jones.

When Haring Arts and Design Magnet School royalty Ben Wilcox is assigned to work with maverick and outsider Annie Jacobs, he’s enthralled by her talent and her charms and does whatever it takes to get her to like him, including lying about his dating history. They fall in love while working on their final senior project, but when Annie discovers Ben’s lies, it doesn’t just damage their relationship: it threatens to sink their senior project as well!

The writer of numerous comics, including Girl HavenThe Science of Ghosts, and Public Relations, as well as titles from DC, Marvel, IDW, and other publishers, Lilah Sturges uses the romantic comedy setup to dig into trust, identity, and the mess people create when they try to become what someone else wants. The story brings queer and trans characters into a funny, complicated look at romance, friendship, and the pressure to get everything right before graduation.

Nardozza is a Montreal-born comic artist and writer whose recent work includes projects for Archie Horror and DC, alongside her own graphic novel series adapted into vertical-style comics online. Inspired by Barbie fashion and Sailor Moon, her colorful artwork brings the high-pressure halls of Haring Arts and Design Magnet School to life.

Set against the creativity, competition, and social pressure of fashion school, Heat of Fashion brings queer and trans characters into a YA romantic comedy about attraction, trust, and the increasingly complicated consequences of trying to become the person someone else wants.

Heat of Fashion goes on sale December 8, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545836194 | $16.99), hardcover (ISBN: 9781545836187 | $21.99), and digitally through Comixology.

Cover of the comic 'Heat of Fashion,' featuring two young designers, a man with curly hair and a woman with blonde hair, engaging in a friendly pose. The title and subtitle highlight themes of rivalry, romance, and inclusivity in fashion.

Jared Cullum’s Kodi: A Place to Call Home is another amazing entry in the graphic novel series

Stunning watercolor artwork, a headstrong young girl, and a huge bear with a gentle heart — all return for an emotional new adventure in this stunning sequel!

After being reunited, Katya and Kodi are settling into their fast-paced new life together in the city. But as Katya starts to fall behind in school and Kodi struggles to find his place in this noisy new world, everything is put at risk by a greedy zookeeper who aims to break them up for good. Now, Katya and her unusual family must venture back into the wild, face their fears, and learn to trust new friends, as they fight to find a place to belong.

In Kodi 2, painter/cartoonist Jared Cullum returns to his award-winning graphic novel series for an incredible new adventure, full of gorgeous outdoor vistas, amazing animals, lovable and hateable new characters, roaring rivers, thrilling dangers, and tender moments.

Story: Jared Cullum
Art: Jared Cullum

Get your copy now!

Bookshop
Amazon


Top Shelf provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Jared Cullum’s Kodi is absolutely amazing, a magical graphic novel with beautiful art

The gorgeous story of two friends separated by everything in the world — except love. Readers and animal-lovers of every age will want to relive this journey over and over again.

Katya and her Meema are spending another summer at their cottage in Alaska, when a chance accident leaves Katya face-to-face with the biggest creature she’s ever seen… an enormous kodiak bear with a gentle heart and a knack for fishing. But when Katya must suddenly return home to Seattle, the two are torn apart, leaving Kodi to do whatever it takes to reunite with his fragile human friend. It’s a wild journey packed with breathtaking views, brave new companions, and adventure around every turn.

Story: Jared Cullum
Art: Jared Cullum

Get your copy now!

Bookshop
Amazon


Top Shelf provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Sashimi and the Field Trip of Doom is a lot of fun. A perfect graphic novel for the whole family.

Sashimi is going on a field trip! Except he didn’t get his permission slip signed. And he accidentally boarded (and quickly got kicked off of) the wrong bus.

Uh-oh… is Sashimi… missing?

Sound the alarm! A child without a signed permission slip is on the loose!

It’s only a matter of time before Sashimi is able to find his way home. But not before he stirs up a lot of trouble first!

Story: Dan Santat
Art: Dan Santat

Get your copy now!

Bookshop
Amazon


Roaring Brook Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Nat Again is a perfect graphic novel for the time teaching about fake information

The most popular girl in school is throwing the biggest party of the year, and everyone is invited but Nat. Gasp! As Nat wonders why, she becomes tangled in her own “thought traps” — the false stories she’s created in her mind. Did she say something hurtful or do something wrong? Maybe she’s just too uncool to be included? Before jumping to conclusions, can Nat get out of her own head long enough to find the truth?

Story: Maria Scrivan
Art: Maria Scrivan

Get your copy now!

Bookshop
Amazon


Graphix provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Skull Cat and the Vampire’s Amulet is a solid graphic novel for younger readers

Scully is starting to like his job at the spooky castle… but when he tries to show his dad there’s nothing to fear, everything goes wrong!

Scully Catterson doesn’t understand why his father is so worried about Scully working at Le Dark Château, an eerily blood-red castle that’s rumored to be the home of a pair of vampires. Giving him a tour of the castle’s beautiful gardens might have started to change his mind…if he hadn’t been abducted by a flying pirate ship! Now it’s up to Scully to save the day again, joined by a grumpy goblin and a disgruntled vine dragon. But will this clumsy team catch up with the villains before the secrets of the Vampire’s Amulet are revealed and the Ultimate Power is unleashed? And will Mr. Catterson learn to trust his son, so Scully can become the hero he’s destined to be?

Story: Norman Shurtliff
Art: Norman Shurtliff

Get your copy now!

Bookshop
Amazon


Top Shelf provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Shaun Tan’s Hometown features beautiful art and very engrossing story

If a stranger arrived and told you that the world you knew-your community, your family, and your hometown-wasn’t really where you belonged, would you follow them and leave it all behind?

Imagine living in a perfect world. You have a loving family, a beautiful home, awesome friends and about three hundred loyal pets.Everything is just as it should be. Until one day, when a stranger arrives. A stranger who looks just like you. A stranger with a very disturbing message . . .

Hometown is a visually gorgeous, emotionally stunning (and frequently funny) meditation about what it means to belong, and what makes us who we are. From the singular mind and brush of Shaun Tan, creator of The Arrival, Tales from Outer Suburbia and The Lost Thing.

Story: Shaun Tan
Art: Shaun Tan

Get your copy now!

Bookshop
Amazon


Levine Querido provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Preview: Skull Cat and the Vampires Amulet

Skull Cat and the Vampires Amulet

by Norman Shurtliff

Scully is starting to like his job at the spooky castle… but when he tries to show his dad there’s nothing to fear, everything goes wrong!

Scully Catterson doesn’t understand why his father is so worried about Scully working at Le Dark Château, an eerily blood-red castle that’s rumored to be the home of a pair of vampires. Giving him a tour of the castle’s beautiful gardens might have started to change his mind…if he hadn’t been abducted by a flying pirate ship! Now it’s up to Scully to save the day again, joined by a grumpy goblin and a disgruntled vine dragon. But will this clumsy team catch up with the villains before the secrets of the Vampire’s Amulet are revealed and the Ultimate Power is unleashed? And will Mr. Catterson learn to trust his son, so Scully can become the hero he’s destined to be?

Cover of the comic book 'Skull Cat and the Vampire's Amulet' featuring a cartoon cat character falling while reaching for an amulet, surrounded by swirling vines.

Exclusive: Fanbase Press’ Shrub: The Collected Edition features an all-new resource guide on processing grief by Dr. David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP

Dr. David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Dr. David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP

Shrub: The Collected Edition, Fanbase Press‘ latest Kickstarter campaign, collects the Graphic Medicine series exploring grief and connection, featuring all-new contributions from some of the biggest names in entertainment and the field of mental health. We have the exclusive reveal that  Dr. David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP (Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles) will be contributing an all-new resource guide on processing grief.

In this middle grade adventure, readers will join Shrub who is, well… a shrub… for a cross-country road trip to Hollywood! Join Shrub and a grieving brother and sister as they head out in search of connection. On their journey, pit stops, wacky plant enthusiasts, uprooting, and re-routing abound.

The series was created and written by Emmy Award nominee Shane Portman, illustrated by Andy Alves, colored by Sophia Du and Celia FitzGerald, lettered by Oceano Ransford, and with consultation from comics librarian Moni Barrette.


Shrub explores the various ways that we allow grief to take root, inspired by writer Shane Portman’s experience with the loss of his father. The series features “Letting Grief Take Root” essays written by individuals with a personal and/or professional connection to grief who relate Shrub’s story to their own lived experience. Essayists include Shane Portman and his family, as well as grief doula Kat Primeau and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Ariel Landrum (Geek Therapy).

Additionally, every issue of the series includes a fold-out page within the story’s narrative.

Striving to destigmatize loss and promote understanding of the diverse ways that people of all ages grieve, the expanded print edition will also feature a study guide by literacy advocate Creators, Assemble! Inc., an informational essay by clinical psychologist and media consultant Dr. Drea Letamendi, and much more.

Check out a preview of Schrub: The Collected Edition below and back it on Kickstarter today!

  • Cover of the comic book 'Shrub' featuring a stylized green shrub in the foreground, a road with a gas station and a truck in the background, and various signage on the side of the road.
  • A comic panel showing a startled girl at her front door, encountering a bush with a surprised face. She apologizes for scaring it.
  • A comic strip featuring a character researching baby bird care on a smartphone, expressing concern about not having a dog, and discussing suitable food options with a friend.
  • A comic strip featuring a character named Cleopatra discussing food with a plant-like creature called Shrub. The characters are depicted in a cozy living room setting, with humorous dialogue about caring for plants and their needs.
  • A cartoon comic strip featuring a smiling girl with glasses discussing her new friends, who are a plant character and a bush-like creature, while eating snacks and sitting on a couch.
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