Task 17: Read a Non-Superhero Comic That Debuted in the Last Three Years

[Varsha]

Planning to read The Encyclopedia of Early Earth.

[Rebecca]

I have already read Everything Is Teeth this year... I hope this counts? I'm not entirely clear on what's a comic vs. graphic novel. I would say it's a graphic novel, and I would normally define a comic as something like Beano! But judging from the other books mentioned here I think Everything should be okay?

[Jennifer]

I read March: Book One by John Robert Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell. It was fantastic.

[Katy]

I think I will read Sally Heathcote: Suffragette for this, as my daughter read it and enjoyed it.

[Jo]

I usually say comic for single issue, but here I think it's used interchangeably with graphic novel/trade paperback etc.

[Ramona]

I read Rollergirl by Victoria Jamieson. It's absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend if you've played roller derby or have an interest in it. I also think it would be great for young girls who could use life lessons about friendship, family, hard work and perseverance. Some of the panels were so sweet it was hard to look away!

[Sydney]

Sandra wrote: "I'm thinking of reading An Age of License: A Travelogue. I haven't read many graphic novels. Has anyone else read this? Is it good?"

I read this last year and liked it quite a bit. I've read a few of Lucy Knisley's books and have liked them all.

But I am a little confused by this challenge: does it have to be a comic, like Sandman or Walking Dead with something like an ongoing storyline? But if a single volume graphic novel would work, I just read The New Deal by Jonathan Case, which I would use for this challenge. It was pretty cool.

[SibylM]

Autostraddle recently posted a column on new feminist/queer comics, and I think several would meet the criteria for this task:
Autostraddle post: http://www.autostraddle.com/drawn-to-...

[Sophia]

Get Jiro: Blood and Sushi was my choice for this task. This is actually a prequel to the first volume (Get Jiro!), which I haven't read as I haven't been able to get a hold of a copy. But this on it's own was fun.

[Bonnie G.]

Sophia wrote: "Get Jiro: Blood and Sushi was my choice for this task. This is actually a prequel to the first volume (Get Jiro!), which I haven't read as I haven't been able to get..."

Thank you for letting me know this exists! I just put it on my library wish list. I am not a comics/graphic novel reader, but I think I am going to love this. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is one of our favorite family movies.

[Elle]

Sophia wrote: "Get Jiro: Blood and Sushi was my choice for this task. This is actually a prequel to the first volume (Get Jiro!), which I haven't read as I haven't been able to get..."

Echoing @Bonnie - thank you for letting me know this exists! As a chef and caterer, this has naturally been added to my TBR list. It sounds like a lot of fun (with some restaurant/food industry truth woven in.)

[Sophia]

Bonnie and Elle, I hadn't heard of it until last year myself! I'm hoping I'll get a chance to read the first volume at some point.

And Bonnie, Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a great movie!

[Lauren]

I was thinking about reading The Fade Out, Vol. 1: Act One!

[Henriette]

For this challenge I read 'Munch' by Steffen Kverneland. A deeply brilliant, but also weird and challenging graphic novel. (It is also a biography, so I can mark that challenge to)
Munch

[Katy]

Read and really enjoyed "Nimona" by Noelle Stephenson for this challenge.

[April]

I highly recommend Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine for this one. I've already read it so I'm going to finally read The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act for this category.

[Nikki]

Like many others, I read Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy for this task. I've been wanting to read it for a while and this gave me the perfect excuse to finally dive in. Definitely worth it. It's really good and has so many great elements to it from the characters, the mystery, the humor, and the lessons with teamwork. I have through issues #20 and plan to keep reading.

For those still looking for something that fits in the "middle grade" task, I think this would work there as well. (This comic was available in the 'Humble Kids Comic Bundle', to further verify the thought.)

[Viv]

I second April on Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine especially if satirical, feminist, dystopian sci-fi is your thing (though it's not for the easily offended)! I've never really read comics and hadn't realised there was so much variety out there (and so many suggestions on this thread to look into!)
I am loving this challenge :-)

[Mary]

I read EI8HT, Vol. 1: Outcast by Rafael Albuquerque.

[Hebah]

Bea wrote: "I was second guessing my choice of Roller Girl, since I was the only one to mention it. However, I read it because my niece has recently taken up roller derby as a sport. It was gre..."

I read it this year (but didn't realize it would fit in this category). I absolutely loved its girl-positive story and wish I knew more middle schoolers to recommend it to :).

[Hebah]

Well, my hold for Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine came in, so I figured I'd use it to fulfill this category--and I loved it! Feminist dystopic satire? Yes, please! I'll have some more.

[Elle]

Hebah wrote: "Well, my hold for Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine came in, so I figured I'd use it to fulfill this category--and I loved it! Feminist dystopic satire? Yes, please! I'll h..."

Because of all of the positive mentions many of you have given Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine, I just placed a hold on it at my library. Satirical. Feminist. Dystopian. Sci-fi. I have to experience this wonderfulness for myself!

[Bingeing & Books]

We are reading Revenge: The Secret Origin of Emily Thorne

[Teresa]

Bitch Planet is super popular; I had to put a hold on it at my library, too.

[Britany]

Finished by Noelle Stevenson-- 3 Stars.

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Louise]

Do you think that one of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics would fulfill this challenge or does she count as a superhero? If in the Marvel/DC frame of mind I think she doesn't. Thoughts?

[Elle]

Louise wrote: "Do you think that one of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics would fulfill this challenge or does she count as a superhero? If in the Marvel/DC frame of mind I think she doesn't. Thoughts?"

I think they would satisfy the "non-superhero comic" part of the task but not the "that debuted in the last three years" part. I ran into this problem while researching this task - there were so many interesting comics and graphic novels that I wanted to pick but they debuted before 2013. They ended up on my TBR list though! : )

[Renee]

I just finished a charming graphic novel, called Little Robot by Ben Hatke. I just went to my overdrive app signed in and looked for graphic books, double checked publishing date, and another challenge checked off.

[Elle]

Renee wrote: "I just finished a charming graphic novel, called Little Robot by Ben Hatke. I just went to my overdrive app signed in and looked for graphic books, double checked publishing date, and another chall..."

I read Little Robot last year and loved it! I'm now known to exclaim "Zom!" when things frustrate/irritate me. Ben Hatke's books are great.

[Louise]

Elle wrote: "Louise wrote: "Do you think that one of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics would fulfill this challenge or does she count as a superhero? If in the Marvel/DC frame of mind I think she doesn't. Tho..."

Oh, that's true. I might go with Bitch Planet or maybe Lumberjanes :)

[Megz]

Had a look at Nimona and I'm confused... is it superhero or non-superhero?

[Karena]

Megz wrote: "Had a look at Nimona and I'm confused... is it superhero or non-superhero?"

Nimona is not a superhero.

[Leigh]

I read Lumberjanes #1. So cute and such a quick read. Thanks for the recommendation everyone!

[Tam]

When Anxiety Attacks
Choose When Anxiety Attacks for non-superhero comic

[Tam]

Choose When Anxiety Attacks

[jen]

Kathryn wrote: "Star Wars: Princess Leia"

Really good! But isn't she a hero? I mean she has always been a hero to me. What about the Vader series that just came out? And Shattered Empire? Both really good and exciting.

[Brittany]

JEn wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Star Wars: Princess Leia"

Really good! But isn't she a hero? I mean she has always been a hero to me. What about the Vader series that just came out? And Shattered ..."

She's a hero, but not a "superhero."

[jen]

If anyone is into Star Wars there are a few new releases from last year. Star Wars: Shattered Empire
and Star Wars: Darth Vader, Vol. 1: Vader
Also I think this series is Amazing, but I am not sure on the release date Southern Bastards, Vol. 1: Here Was a Man
I spent the last year reading graphic novels like crazy. I am going to check out some of these other readers suggestions as well. Also if you haven't read these, they fit a couple of the categories.
Wool: The Graphic Novel 2014
andSnowpiercer: The Escape, this is a graphic novel.

[Liz]

I read The Story of My Tits. It was ok, but too long.

I've read two other graphic memoirs that I really liked - Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened and Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

I read Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy. I was so excited to read it (nearly three months on hold at the library!) but I found it extremely disappointing. I usually love it when books jump in without a lot of exposition, but I thought this needed a huge dose of extra world-building. 2/5 stars.

[Katie]

I'm going to read the Wool graphic novel that was made from Hugh Howey's fantastic dystopian novel (two birds, one stone). Read the normal book before and I highly recommend it!

[Elle]

Katie wrote: "I'm going to read the Wool graphic novel that was made from Hugh Howey's fantastic dystopian novel (two birds, one stone). Read the normal book before and I highly recommend it!"

I'm reading Wool Omnibus for the Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic task in this challenge and a challenge in another group in April. Now that I know it exists, I will be checking out the graphic novel version afterward. Thank you!

[Julia]

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson is not a superhero, but the book about her is delightful. It could also work as a MG book.

[Lauren]

Read March: Book One for this challenge - great biography comic of Congressman John Lewis and his involvement in the Civil Rights movement.

[Kathy]

I just finished An Age of License: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley for this task. I enjoy her work. It's also a very quick read about travel in Europe.

[Tami]

Kristin wrote: "Cheryl, "Jane, the Fox, and Me" is so, so good! I absolutely loved it!"

Thanks for the recommendation! I just read the description and it seems right up my alley. I love Jane Eyre.

[Julia]

Kathy, I just finished An Age of License: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley for this task. I enjoy her work. It's also a very quick read about travel in Europe.
Does she also write about the food she eats? She did that a lot in French Milk and Relish: My Life in the Kitchen, which would be great for #22 read a food memoir, if you are multitasking.

[Spynonu]

Jo wrote: "I read Descender vol.1: Tin Stars for this, and it's very good - also if you're doing the Panels Read Harder challenge, it's done in watercolours, so could count for that task."

I loved Descender! I wasn't sure if it counted as a comic book or a graphic novel

[Spynonu]

Trinasum1 wrote: "I'm thinking Low Vol 1 since my daughter has it. I don't think it has super heroes, does anyone know?"

Low has no super heroes in it.

[Carol]

So . .I'm a bit confused by this Challenge. I understand it to require that the source is a comic, e.g., a serial work published in comic book form. Many commenters are meeting this challenge by reading graphic novels, which aren't comics to my mind. What say you? Will a graphic novel meet this challenge? Are graphic novels and comics interchangeable terms?