Before the pandemic BF’s Staff Picks feature had run for many years, with members of the team giving a weekly overview of recommended new releases. Now, retooled and re-imagined to fit the site’s current ethos, it has returned as a monthly series designed to spotlight just a few key releases that appeal to us. This is not, then, intended as a comprehensive, exhaustive or extensive round-up but rather to point you in the direction of some top projects that caught the eyes of BF contributors. Please also remember these aren’t intended as reviews and full coverage of the comics/books below may follow in due course!
Drome (23rd St)
I know no more about Drome‘s premise as a graphic novel than I have ascertained via the advance solicitations for the book. Apparently it’s a “creation myth for the modern age”, an allegorical epic exploring the birth of civilisation, cycles of violence and with the odd demigodess thrown in for good measure.
None of that is what grabbed my attention when it comes to Drome however. Its pull for me is centred on its creator Jesse Lonergan. From Hedra to Man’s Best I’ve been in awe of Lonergan’s command of the form over the last few years. This is an artist who doesn’t just speak the language of comics. He speaks all the languages of comics and does so with perfect fluency. This is your absolute must-look-out-for comics offering this month.
– Andy Oliver
Peanuts All Year-Round Mini Collection (Fantagraphics Books)
There’s something so timeless and comforting about the world of Peanuts, and this gorgeous mini-collection is like a nostalgic hug in a box. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz’s iconic strip, this set brings together five of the most beloved seasonal stories; from Valentine’s Day heartbreaks to the Great Pumpkin’s elusive arrival, every mini-volume captures the magic and charm of childhood (and adulthood!) with a sharp eye for life’s little ups and downs.
Whether you’re a lifelong Peanuts fan or new to the gang, this little slipcase looks like pure joy, and of course, is a lovely way to celebrate 75 years of Schulz’s legacy.
– Lydia Turner
This Place Kills Me (Abrams)
Lots of Eisner mentions for the creative team of this one with its writer Mariko Tamaki being a winner of that prestigious accolade and artist Nicole Goux having been a nominee. This YA graphic novel follows transfer student Abby Kita as she investigates the mysterious death of popular classmate Elizabeth Woodward at the Wilberton Academy.
We’re told that this story won’t just be told in comic strip form but also in letters, diary entries and news articles. Plenty of opportunity then for Goux, one of the most exciting rising stars of the last few years to flex her artistic muscles.
– Andy Oliver
Cry Wolf Girl (Silver Sprocket)
The art in this one admittedly has me slightly in awe. Cry Wolf Girl is a dark, lyrical reimagining of ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’, instead focusing on Dawa, a girl haunted by loss and loneliness, who stumbles into a life of trickery.
Originally released in the ShortBox comics fair and now beautifully reissued by Silver Sprocket in a deluxe hardcover, this edition is packed with extras, including an insightful afterword from the creator Ariel Slamet Ries. It also won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic! If you’re drawn to fables with a sharp edge, stories about grief and transformation, or just love stunning indie comics, this one’s an absolute must-read.
– Lydia Turner
The Moon Prince
We’re promised that Kevin Fraser Mutch’s graphic novel The Moon Prince will blend fantasy storytelling with an important social message which immediately gives it prominence in these quarters. It’s the story of Molly and Max, bi-racial orphans, who are about to discover their destiny and heritage via a trip to the moon.
With promises of sky pirates, monkey mechanics, singing spiders and bat-people our interest is immediately piqued. No wonder Fantagraphics are describing it as a “star-spanning, page-turning epic for the ages.”
– Andy Oliver
Partisans: A Graphic History of Anti-Fascist Resistance (Between the Lines)
Stick the term “anti-fascist” into the title of your comics work and you are pretty much guaranteed at least a mention here at Broken Frontier. Eleven stories by different creative teams chart key moments in anti-fascist resistance in these pages. Edited by Raymond Tyler and Paul Buhle this book could not be more timely and relevant right now.
– Andy Oliver
Laser Eye Surgery (Fantagraphics Books)
A big month for key releases from Fantagraphics (isn’t it always?) includes this graphic novel debut from New Yorker cartoonist Walker Tate. It’s the tale of an unnamed protagonist whose corrective ocular surgery gives him a whole new outlook on reality. This sounds like it’s going to use the form to play with ideas of perception and reality. Just the kind of work we love to check out at BF.
– Andy Oliver
