Raise your hand if you started reading comics when you were just a kid.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Most of us fell in love with the medium a long time ago and we have to celebrate that!
I’ve mentioned this before, I learned how to read with comics. Every week I went to the library with my mom and took pride in reading almost every comic they had. I also learned English with comics - I’m telling you, comics are the perfect medium to learn another language.
Since kids are mostly not doing anything right now due to the current situation, you might want to find new and different ways to occupy their minds. That’s why I wanted to share with you a little list of comics I particularly enjoyed (as an adult) that I think your kids will enjoy too!
Persephone (Boom Studios/Archaia)
This book by French author Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky is a beautiful tale full of magic and intrigue. As you would suspect from the name, it is a story strongly inspired by Greek mythology. He created a world full of wonders revolving around the Goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Beautiful life lessons, about self-acceptance and believing in ourselves. There are however battle scenes (good character vs bad character) but nothing gory, so just be aware of that.
You can find a free preview on Boom Studios website: http://www.boom-studios.com/series/persephone/
Here’s the solicit:
Persephone may be the adopted daughter of the famous magician Demeter, but she struggles to find her place alongside such a force of nature. Persephone’s desire to find out where she belongs takes her on an epic adventure deep into the Underworld, where she’ll discover who—or what—she is.
Nuclear Winter (Boom Studios)
Originally published in French by Catherine Beaulieu aka CAB (from Montreal!), Nuclear Winter is an incredibly fun Sci-Fi story I finished reading recently.
This series takes place in Montreal and it’s always fun for me to be able to identify and imagine the different places pictured in a book. It will definitely please a large public thanks to the fun humor, sarcasm, and cool characters. CAB is certainly full of imagination and creativity and it shows in this super awesome comic!
See for yourself with the free preview available on Boom Studios website: http://www.boom-studios.com/series/nuclear-winter/
Here’s the solicit:
It’s been nine years since an accident at a nuclear power plant plunged Montreal into an eternal winter; the city is now blanketed 365 days a year in radioactive snow. Life goes on for folks like Flavie Beaumont, a mail courier on snowmobile who’s carved out a pretty normal life for herself despite mutant rivals, eclectic urban wildlife, and unrelenting meteorological events of unprecedented force. It turns out surviving nuclear winter is hard… but surviving your twenties is even harder!
Avatar The Last Airbender/The Legend of Kora (Dark Horse)
This was a big part of my childhood (....and adult life. I’m not ashamed to say it). I used to watch the tv show every time I was able too! These books are great when you are looking for a complete universe. Lots of magic, lots of action, lots of cute creatures and lots of love stories (all kinds of love!) with just a perfect touch of life lessons and humor.
You can read more about both series on Dark Horse website:
Some of them are even free!
Lumberjanes (Boom Studios/Boom Box!)
If you are looking for a comic for a young reader that includes diversity and inclusivity, Lumberjanes might be a great choice for you. It’s a fun series full of epic adventures and fantastic, magical mysteries. It also won two Eisner Awards in 2015 for Best New Series and Best Publications for Teens.
You can find the free preview on Boom Studios website: https://www.boom-studios.com/series/lumberjanes/
Here’s the solicit:
At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way!
Norroway (The Black Bull of Norroway) (Image Comics)
This story is based on an old Scottish fairytale, this is a story of prophecies, magic and the correlation between man and beast, human and monster. It is really simple and different from other classic fairytales that we are used to. It’s a nice little book that might prove a little more difficult to read for a younger reader: there is no chapter. It’s a long story with no breaks so it might be a little confusing to process all the information. The artwork is cute and fun and would definitely please a young eye! It was also nominated for an Eisner Award in 2019 for best publication for teens.
Here’s the solicit:
Sibylla has always craved adventure, but she never guessed it would finally arrive in the form of a giant, magical bull. Is he a man, or a monster? And who knew a prophecy could be so literal? With this first book in a new series co-created by sibling writer/artist team CAT SEATON and KIT SEATON, the adventure of a lifetime begins.
Other honorable mentions that you should check out:
Middlewest (Image Comics)
“The lands between the coasts are vast, slow to change, and full of hidden magics. The town of Farmington has been destroyed, sending an unwitting adventurer and his vulpine companion in search of answers—and to quell a coming storm that speaks his name.”
Giant Days (Boom Studios)
“Susan, Esther, and Daisy started at university three weeks ago and became fast friends. Now, away from home for the first time, all three want to reinvent themselves.”