The Best Comics & Graphic Novels of September

Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1, by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze
Graphic novels written by people from outside the world of comics aren’t entirely uncommon. It’s slightly more rare that the writer does a totally amazing job. Ta-Nehisi Coates (social commentator and author of National Book Award-winner Between the World and Me) perfectly marries his own concerns and style with superhero action and afrofuturism in the tale of a terrorist group that challenges T’Challa’s rule and beliefs. Brian Stelfreeze’s art is bright and cinematic, making the book great on its own and perfectly timed for fans looking to learn more about Black Panther after the character’s turn in the summer’s Captain America: Civil War. and before his cinematic solo outing.

The Walking Dead, Volume 26: Call To Arms, by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Kirkman and Adlard’s long-shambling series is still going strong, though our survivors is looking increasingly ragged. The threat of the mysterious Whisperers is closing in, and it’s clear to Rick that it’s only a matter of time before war comes to the communities he’s been helping to protect. Negan remains a threat, even locked up, and there’s betrayal in the offing. Oh, and there are zombies, too.

Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope, by Berkeley Breathed
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Breathed returns to the characters that made him famous for the first time in 25 years. (Unless you count Outland. Or Opus. But I digress.) Those other strips were a little less topical than the daily Bloom County; the unique combination of pop culture jokes, political topicality ,and complete silliness that Breathed brings to the adventures of Opus, Bill, Milo, and the gang is more than welcome in an election year like this one.

The Bill the Cat Story: A Bloom County Epic, by Berkeley Breathed
In other Bloom County news: Breathed has produced a number of very well-received children’s books alongside his more grownup newspaper work; he’s blending the styles here to tell the origin story of Bill the Cat. Freed from the constraints of a daily strip, his art is some of the best in the business, and his absurd characters find themselves in surprisingly poignant places. This one is as fun as it is touching.

Angel CatBird, Vol. 1, by Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas, and Tamra Bonvillain
Another writer known for prose rather than comics, legendary Canadian wordsmith Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale) takes on her first graphic novel. It’s wonderfully weird: the main character (Strig Feleedus) gets his genes mixed up with those of a cat and an owl in an experiment gone wrong, in the process forging a superhero with attributes of both creatures—and gaining a unique understanding of the ages-old conflict between birds and kitties. Atwood promises adventure, humor, and cat puns galore, along with an emphasis on caring for unwanted and abandoned kitty cats, a cause the whole internet can get behind.

Batman, Vol. 9: Bloom, by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Micki, Yanick Paquette, and Fco Plascencia
Snyder and Capullo conclude their game-changing run on Batman with this (almost) finale (the epilogue is coming in December). Bruce Wayne remains retired from his life as the Caped Crusader following a climactic battle with Joker that left him mentally incapable of putting on the cowl, and Jim Gordon continues to do an admirable job filling in…until new supervillain Mr. Bloom makes his plans known. The book’s got some great Bat-action, but also a powerful emotional hook, as Alfred needs to decide whether or not to help Bruce un-retire.

Metabarons Genesis: Castaka, by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Das Pastoras
Writer, filmmaker, musician, and all-around iconoclast Jodorowsky is having something of a moment thanks to the documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune. He’s been dipping in and out of his Metabarons universe since 1992, telling the generations-spanning story of a family in which succession is only achieved by killing his father in ritual combat. This most recent story to be translated into English is, chronologically, the earliest, telling the origin story of Dayal de Castaka, the first Metabaron.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Vol. 1, by Kyle Higgins, Hendry Prasetya, and Matt Herms
It’s a good time to be a Power Rangers fan, what with the hope-it’s-good movie coming next year and the show itself in its unbelievable 23rd season. Kyle Higgins’ book goes all the way back to the story of Tommy, the original Green Ranger, and his quest to overcome Rita Repulsa’s mind control and his own demons, proving himself worthy of the “teenager with attitude” mantle in the bargain.

Divinity II, by Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine, and David Baron
Kindt’s story, set in the Valiant Universe, continues last year’s acclaimed series. Divinity follows the return of Soviet cosmonauts sent deep into space during the Cold War. Abram Adams came back to Earth with the god-like power to bend space and time to his well, but with no interest in communist glory. Now, co-pilot Myshka is also back, with a very different agenda: she plans to use her powers very much in the service of reviving the Soviet Union and re-establishing the communist nation as the planet’s preeminent power.

The Death-Defying Dr. Mirage Deluxe Edition, Book 1, by Jen Van Meter, Roberto de la Torre, Diego Bernardo, Al Barrionuevo, and David Baron
Another great book from the Valiant Universe, this hardcover collects every issue of Dr. Mirage’s two series to date, as well as some extras. The book stars Shan Fong, the titular doctor, who can communicate with the dead, but somehow can’t contact her late husband, Hwen. She discovers that there may be a way to get her husband back, but she’ll have to traverse the many realms of the underworld to even have a shot.

Harrow County, Vol. 3: Snake Doctor, by Cullen Bunn, Tyler Crook, Carla Speed McNeil, Jenn Manley Lee, and Hannah Christenson
Harrow County has never been a place for the faint-of-heart, more so than ever in the third volume of the creepy, beautifully drawn series. An evil serpent is driving residents of the Holler to madness, while main character Emmy explores a spooky and abandoned old house. Meanwhile, the Skinless Boy begins to solve some of the mysteries of his past.

Oh Joy Sex Toy, Vol. 3, by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
Worth it for the title alone, no? Married couple Moen and Nolan have used their weekly webcomic to talk about issues related to sex and sexuality since 2013. It’s a light, fun, sex ed class where all are welcome. The volumes are standalone, and in this one they explore swingers, gay porn, STDs, etc. There are much worse, and much less fun ways, to dive into the many and varied issues around sex in the modern world.

Rick and Morty Hardcover, Book 1, by Zac Gorman, Marc Ellerby, and CJ Cannon
Once you’ve been bitten by the Rick and Morty bug, there’s really no turning back. The huge gaps between TV seasons mean that there are never enough of their bizarre, disturbing, and funny sci-fi inspired adventures to keep us occupied. The comic book series does a surprisingly good job of filling that hole, and this giant hardcover collection of the first ten issues isn’t a bad way to catch up if you haven’t been following along.

The Fix, Vol. 1, by Nick Spencer and Steve Leiber
Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber already teamed on a pretty spectacular book about bad people, The Superior Foes of Spider-Man. This one’s a crime caper with no superheroes, but there are similarities in the level of humor and absurdity. Roy and Mac are LAPD detectives who moonlight as criminals, neither of them particularly successful on either side of the law. They’re also proponents of old-school, smash-and-grab style robberies, at least until they run afoul of a masochistic crime boss on their way to the big score. Check out the awesome dog.

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth Tales, by Jim Henson and Cory Godbey
Publisher Archaia has done lovely work expanding Jim Henson’s imaginative worlds, and continuation of Labyrinth should be no different. The film has always been a cult favorite, but the death of David Bowie last year put a spotlight back on the wonderfully weird classic. This book tells new stories from the points of view of some of the film’s beloved (occasionally creepy) characters.

Superman: Lois and Clark, by Dan Jurgens, Lee Weeks
This volume collects the complete series, which wound up having surprising implications for DC’s recent Rebirth. Here we learn that 2011’s Flashpoint reboot didn’t wipe out all of DC’s past history: the married Clark and Lois survived and have been operating in secret, hiding out so as not to interfere with the current Earth’s Superman. They’re also raising their son Jon, who might be developing some of his dad’s tricks. The family has a larger and more public role in the current DCU, but it all starts here.

March (Trilogy Slipcase Set), by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
If you haven’t picked up the three volumes of John Lewis’ education, inspiring, deeply personal memoir of his life from the darkest days of the American Civil Rights Movement onward, this slipcase collection of the completed trilogy demands your time and attention. Centered around Bloody Sunday and the march to Montgomery in 1965, this is a story worth telling, and Lewis and Aydin tell it well.

Mirror: The Mountain, by Emma Rios and Hwei Lim
Rios and Lim’s lyrical, lushly painted book tells of an asteroid peopled by a variety of fantastical creatures, as well as the humans who gave them their existence. The mage-scientists of The Synchronia created the sentient hybrids creatures and beasts of Irzah, but the animals have not been content to serve the humans, and a series of uprisings have lead to a very uneasy truce. An outside danger pushes the two opposing groups together, forcing them to decide who is worthy of the privileges of humanity.

Saints: The Book of Blaise, by Sean Lewis and Benjamin Mackey
Sean Lewis’ day job is as an award-winning playwright, and he brings those unique sensibilities to his comic debut, teaming with artist Benjamin Mackey, who came up with the concept. It’s a horror and crime book, at least on the surface, about a bunch of otherwise non-exceptional individuals who discover that they’re the reincarnations of Catholic saints, and who are thrust into a battle with the fallen archangel Michael.

Grizzly Shark, by Ryan Ottley
If ridiculous monsters and the blackest black comedy are your thing, you might be in the mood for some grizzlyshark. It might not be Shakespeare, but there are worse ways to spend a few late summer hours than with the story of a shark, who is much like a grizzly bear (in that he lives in the woods), rampaging and killing people in incredibly gory ways.
What’s on your pull list?