Calvin and Hobbes

Bill Watterson

I don't really know what I could possibly say about C&H that hasn't been said. It's a classic. I think this is the one work which had the biggest influence on me as a kid. When I started reading it, I was around Calvin's age, and didn't understand a fair amount of the words in it. Every time I read it, I gain more appreciation for the art.

The Color of Earth

Kim Dong Hwa

This is actually a trilogy-- The Color of Earth, The Color of Water, and the Color of Heaven. This is a coming-of-age manhwa about a girl growing up in rural Korea (probably early 1900s?). There is some sexual content and I think the publisher marked it as appropriate for ages 14 and up.

American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang

Possibly my favorite graphic novel ever. Three interweaving stories exploring being a second-generation Chinese American and the experience of wanting to transform one's identity. Gene Luen Yang is a genius: every element of the storytelling and art is so very intentional and clean. Pretty much everything about this has taken up permanent residence in my head.

Fun Home

Alison Bechdel

Scrooge McDuck comics

Don Rosa

There's a lot of Scrooge comics out there. The original master was Carl Barks, whose work is also excellent, but something about Don Rosa's stories and art just gets me every time. He's responsible for the entire collection The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, as well as several other great works.

A Contract With God

Will Eisner

THE Will Eisner. One of the first things that could be called a 'graphic novel' and one of my favorite works of Jewish fiction.

Nancy

Ernie Bushmiller

Super classic. The source of infinite memes. But also, Bushmiller had a very classic and simplified style that was revolutionary. Everything was in the service of the gag! And the gags were amazing.

Nancy

Olivia Jaimes

Yes, the same Nancy. Everything between Bushmiller and Jaimes was awful. New Nancy has a lot of the spirit and humor of the original, but now Nancy takes robotics classes and there's even more meta gags.

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