‘Tis the season! Spread joy with great books from Fantagraphics. Explore our curated selection for comic fans, art lovers, and bookworms. Find something for everyone in our holiday gift guide. Dive into a treasure trove of titles!
Discover literary gems and artistic wonders in Fantagraphics’ holiday gift guide. From classic comics to graphic novels and art books, we’ve got it all. Share the gift of creativity this holiday season. Happy reading!
Original Graphic Novels Contemporary Comics:
Monica by Daniel Clowes weaves nine interrelated stories into a tale of curiosity, corruption, and humanity’s addiction to significance. Featuring intersecting narratives around a woman named Monica and her quest to understand her mother, Clowes combines cultural criticism, philosophy, and pulp in a classic yet modern comics aesthetic.
The Werewolf Jones & Sons Deluxe Summer Fun Annual is a satirical, offbeat hardcover filled with humor, absurdity, and questionable parenting by the character Werewolf Jones from the Megg, Mogg, & Owl comics series, brought to life by Simon Hanselmann and Josh Pettinger, making it an entertaining and unconventional read for adults.
Discover the history of hip-hop through Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus by Ed Piskor. This comprehensive volume chronicles the cultural phenomenon from its roots to its global impact.
In Cathy Malkasian’s allegorical graphic novel The Heavy Bright, a queer young woman embarks on a mission to combat greed and toxic masculinity in a fantastical world consumed by the corrupting influence.
Macanudo: Optimism Is for the Brave by Liniers is a collection of comics that celebrate the humor and absurdity of everyday life. Its witty observations and charming characters will delight even the most reluctant readers.
Katie Skelly’s The Agency is a fun and slightly erotic short story collection featuring confident agents in various fantastical and sexual situations offering readers an engaging and entertaining experience.
Salome’s Last Dance by Daria Tessler is an absurdist and psychedelic graphic novella that delves into the bizarre world of The Astounding Magnus, his dancing dog Salome, and their encounter with sinister forces.
Eden II by K. Wroten is a scathing critique of digital media and consumer culture, delving into the lives of disaffected young characters who create an immersive virtual reality game, only to have it sold to a mysterious corporation, leading to a blurred line between fantasy and reality.
Alison is a graphic novel by Lizzy Stewart that follows the life of Alison Porter as she escapes her quiet life in Dorset to pursue her passion for painting in 1970s London, exploring themes of love, coming-of-age, friendship, empowerment, and the challenges women face in male-dominated spaces.
Graphic memoirs and biographies:
In sensuous colored pencils, Anaïs Nin: A Sea of Lies by Léonie Bischoff offers an impressionistic graphic biography of the iconic author Anaïs Nin, delving into her complex life, affairs, and artistic journey.
In Briana Loewinsohn’s debut graphic novel Ephemera, she poetically explores themes of memory, mental illness, and the complex relationship between a daughter and her mother through a dreamlike blend of memoir and magic realism.
In the hagiographic biography Evita: The Life and Work of Eva Perón by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Alberto & Enrique Breccia, Eva Perón’s remarkable life and achievements, from her humble beginnings to her influential role as Argentina’s First Lady, are presented with a breathless, urgent narrative and powerful expressionist artwork.
Time Under Tension is a candid and humorous graphic memoir by M.S. Harkness, chronicling her search for dignity and agency in adulthood while facing family issues, career uncertainties, and unconventional ways of making money.
In their graphic biography Ms Davis, the acclaimed French writer and artist duo Sybille Titeux de la Croix and Amazing Ameziane presents the compelling life story of Angela Davis, a prominent Black activist, professor, and prison abolitionist, highlighting her civil rights activism, imprisonment, and enduring commitment to justice.
Dear Mini by Natalie Norris is a vivid debut graphic memoir that candidly depicts adolescent resiliency in the face of trauma, with a focus on the author’s journey from a wayward wild-child to harnessing her adult voice after nearly a decade of silence.
Manga:
Okinawa, a heartbreaking manga by award-winning cartoonist Susumu Higa, explores the history of Okinawa, its military occupation, and the impact of World War II on the region, offering a deep reflection on the island’s spirituality, modern realities, and the consequences of war in a compelling narrative presented in English for the first time.
Originally serialized in the underground/alternative manga magazine Garo in the 1980s, Minami’s Lover by Shungiku Uchida is a moving and funny manga for adults, depicting the romantic relationship of high school students when one of them inexplicably shrinks down to six inches tall, and it examines themes of love, adaptation, and gender dynamics, and intimacy.
International graphic novels in translation:
A Christmas Bestiary by John Kenn Mortensen is a horror-filled exploration of mythical creatures associated with the holiday season. Delight in the magic and terror of these scary tales.
In Spa, a nightmarish debut graphic novel set in a luxurious spa and conference hotel, Erik Svetoft offers a biting critique of consumer society and the wellness industry, evoking the eerie atmospheres of David Lynch, Lars Von Trier, and the horror manga of Junji Ito.
Listen, Beautiful Márcia by Marcello Quintanilha is a gripping, suspenseful graphic novel that explores a family pushed to the brink in a Brazilian shanty town.
We’re All Just Fine by Ana Penyas is a heartfelt graphic biography that pays tribute to the artist’s grandmothers and the generation of women who quietly endured over forty years of Fascist rule in Spain, revealing their resilience and untold stories amid the dramatic political and cultural shifts of the late 1970s and ’80s.
Daughters of Snow and Cinders by Núria Tamarit is a gritty ecofeminist adventure that follows a young woman’s journey in a strange land, featuring vibrant colored pencil illustrations and a message about environmental stewardship.
A Book to Make Friends With is a visually explosive graphic novel by Flemish cartoonist Lukas Verstraete, blending psychedelic aesthetics and a frenetic narrative as it follows a heist that transforms into a surreal adventure featuring shapeshifting, soul possession, and an epic battle between good and evil.
Disney:
The Atlas Comics Library: Adventures Into Terror Vol. 1 is a collection of classic Marvel horror comics that will send shivers down your spine. Immerse yourself in tales of suspense, mystery, and the supernatural.
In Walt Disney’s Donald Duck: Donald’s Happiest Adventures, acclaimed French cartoonists Lewis Trondheim and Nicolas Kéramidas create a mind-bending graphic novel set in Duckburg where Donald embarks on a treasure hunt for happiness itself, with help from Professor Ludwig Von Drake, bringing wit and humor in the Carl Barks tradition.
In Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies 1932-1935 experience the wild adventures of Disney’s first original comic strip star, Bucky Bug, and Donald Duck’s hilarious funny-page debut in this classic comics collection, featuring tales of daring escapades, mayhem in Mother Goose Land, and other golden age Silly Symphony cartoon stars.
In Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck in Les Miserables and War and Peace, classic stories are reimagined. You’ll witness the beloved Disney characters navigate the pages of “Les Miserables” and “War and Peace.”
In Walt Disney’s Mickey and Donald: “For Whom the Doorbell Tolls” and Other Tales Inspired by Hemingway, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and other beloved characters embark on adventures inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s works, offering a whimsical and cinematic twist on classic tales.
Relive the joy of Saturday morning cartoons with Disney One Saturday Morning Adventures. This collection is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, featuring beloved characters and heartwarming stories.
Art Books and Historical Collections:
The groundbreaking feminist underground comix anthology, Tits & Clits, originally created by Joyce Farmer and Lyn Chevli in 1972, is now collected in a single volume, showcasing the work of various women cartoonists who addressed sex, sexuality, and abortion in a satirical and provocative manner, challenging societal norms.
All One Life by Jon Strongbow is a meditation on the interconnectedness of all living beings. Through its stunning 3D visuals, it reminds us of the beauty and fragility of life.
Embark on a mystical journey with An Alchemical Journey Through the Major Arcana of the Tarot by Nina Bunjavec. This visually stunning book and accompanying tarot deck offer insights into the symbolism and meaning of the Tarot.
Explore the genius of Ernie Kovacs with this captivating collection. Ernie in Kovacsland offers a glimpse into the creative mind of a television pioneer.
Out of My Head: The Imaginary Creatures of Josep Baqué unveils the secret world of a Barcelona police officer who created 1500 imaginary creatures during World War II and explores the power of imagination in overcoming oppression.
Trigore Labyrinth is a psychedelic, heavy metal mix-and-match art book featuring monsters and mythical creatures created by Matt Furie, Skinner, and Will Sweeney, making it an ideal gift for fans of lowbrow art and unique interactive books.
