The Best Comics & Graphic Novels of January 2018

Saga, Vol. 8, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Sweet Fruit Stripe Gum, what else is there to say about Saga? Eight volumes in, it hasn’t slowed down a bit, and it remains one of the most flat-out entertaining books on the racks: frenetic, funny, weird, heartfelt, heart-wrenching, thrilling. This one begins with the fallout from the tragedy that occurred on the final page of volume 7, with star-cross’d refugees Marko and Alana trying to pull their ragged family back together for the good of their daughter Hazel, even as they try to survive on a dangerous world in the vein of the Old West. If you aren’t reading this series, you need to take a good, long look in the mirror, and get your priorities in order. Rainbow zebras, people!

Now 2: The New Comics Anthology, by Eric Reynolds, Dash Shaw, Sammy Harkham, Graham Chaffee, and Joshua Cotter
With so much focus on mainstream American comics, particularly sci-fi and superheroes, it’s easy to forget how wild and diverse the medium can be. It offers limitless opportunities, and if you aren’t paying attention, you won’t see its true breadth. Fantagraphics aims to remedy that with this new, reasonably priced, full-color, thrice-annual anthology series spotlighting established and up-and-coming talents from around the world. My New Year’s resolutions tend to involve broadening my horizons, and this series is a great way to do it. With comics!

Marvel Black Panther: The Ultimate Guide, by the Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff with Don McGregor
Wakanda’s King T’Challa was created over 50 years ago (another in the stable of increasingly profitable brainchildren of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee), but he’s made somewhat less of a dent in the public consciousness that his contemporaries in the Marvel universe. That’s about to change: his movie is among the most anticipated of 2018. Remember when Iron Man wasn’t such a big deal, either? Black Panther’s world is a particularly rich one, and it’s on full display in this illustrated encyclopedia: a half-century of history in the technological paradise of Wakanda, from its creation through the recent stories from writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Marvel’s Black Panther: The Illustrated History of a King—The Complete Comics Chronology, by Dennis Culver
If you’re still seeking more background on Black Panther, try this one. Taking a chronological approach, and focusing on the comics, this book similarly provides fans and curious noobs with a wealth of background on mainstream comics’ first black superhero. Detailing the creation of the character and then his development through 50 years of stories, it includes concept and finished art, as well as interviews with many of the writers and artists that have chronicled the king’s adventures over the decades.

Dragon Age: Knight Errant, by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, Fernando Heinz Furukawa, and Michael Atiyeh
The world of BioWare’s blockbuster RPG franchise gets even bigger in this canonical graphic novel. Journeying back to Kirkwall, the City of Chains, is elven thief Vaea, who’s also squire to the drunken knight Ser Aaron Hawthorne. The dwarf Varric Tethras (who will be well familiar to fans of the game series) is set to become the city’s Viscount. In the commotion, Vaea arranges a side quest of her own, a simple mission to recover a lost lock box that goes wildly awry.

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two, by Michael Dante DiMartino and Irene Koh
Written by series co-creator DiMartino, in consultation with the other co-creator, Bryan Konietzko, The Legend of Korra story continues in the latest volume of the graphic novel series. The first Turf Wars volume picked up immediately after the TV show finale, with Korra and Asami now a firmly established couple. The second volume places Korra in the middle of a fight for control of Republic City, with Zhu Li challenging Raiko for the presidency and Tokuga continuing to scheme.

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 6: Imperial Phase, Part 2, by Kieron Gillen, Jamie Mckelvie, Matt Wilson, and Clayton Cowles
As “Imperial Phase” began, the Gods (reincarnated in the modern day as pop stars) were left without leadership as the conflict between Persephone and Ananke turned deadly. Likewise, Sakhmet’s murder of a roomful of fans has thrown the small community into chaos. This arc brings the series into its final year, with the rudderless Gods struggling for direction and a series of shocking twists that will likely move the series toward its conclusion.

Descender, Vol. 5: Rise of the Robots, by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen
Lemire and Nguyen’s series has been a favorite since the very beginning: it’s a lovely and poignant science fiction story about a robot boy, cast away by his human family, who strives to find his place in the wider universe. It’s not all vivid watercolors and soul-searching androids, though. It’s also about our robot overlords, with this latest volume bringing to a head everything that’s come so far: the origins of the Harvesters are revealed, and the galaxy descends into war.

Kill or Be Killed, Vol. 3, by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Elizabeth Breitweiser
Noir all-stars Brubaker, Phillips, and Breitweiser continue the complex story of vigilante killer Dylan, forced into killing bad guys in New York City while trying to keep something resembling a normal life. Things only get more intense in volume 3, as Dylan’s escalating battles with the Russian mafia threaten to expose not only himself, but to endanger the lives of his friends.

Moebius Library: The Art of Edena, by Moebius
Dark Horse continues to honor the work of the late, legendary French artist Moebius with this collection of art and stories from his world of Edena, in which a pair of genderless space travelers crash on a barren planet with nothing but an old Citroën to get them around, before being transported to a mysterious and beautiful world. This volume collects four Edena shorts: “Seeing Naples,” “Another Planet,” “The Repairmen,” and “Dying to See Naples,” as well as a treasure-trove of artwork and illustrations.

Iceman, Vol. 1: Thawing Out, by Sina Grace and Alessandro Vitti, Edgar Salazar, and Rachelle Rosenberg
One of Marvel’s oldest heroes is young again. Or, at least, a younger version of Bobby Drake from back in the day is now living in the present. Seeing the ways in which the original Bobby messed up, this Iceman has the chance to live his life over the right way. First up: coming to terms with being gay and dealing with his family and friends. Which would all be easier if he weren’t confronting the revenge-seeking Purifiers and Daken, the son of Wolverine.

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 1, by Naoko Takeuchi
Sailor Moon’s never gone away, but this book (which is technically a manga, but we’ll allow it on this list, just this once) begins a collector’s edition reissue of the original manga that’s perfect for existing fans or for anyone looking to see why the story of the magical guardian has been so enduring. Creator Naoko Takeuchi provides new artwork for the extra-large edition of the story that introduced awkward teenager Usagi and her fateful encounter with a talking cat. The book features a newly revised English translation, as well. Make up!
What’s on your pull list?