The Best Comics & Graphic Novels of November 2016

Alex + Ada: The Complete Collection, by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
Luna and Vaughn’s near-future science fiction drama has made a ton of best-of lists over the past couple of years, and now it has been collected in one place for those who’ve missed out (or dig fancy hardcovers)missed out. The story of a man named Alex who finds himself in possession of a realistic android is particularly timely given that HBO’s Westworld may (we’re not exactly sure yet) be covering a bit of the same ground. Alex recognizes that Ada is capable of sentience, and might ultimately be more human than anyone else in his life.

Black Widow Vol. 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Most Wanted, by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee
Fresh off their redefining run on Daredevil, Waid and Samnee’s new series finds the Widow on the run. The past she’s been fleeing finally catches up to her, and all of her secrets are made public. Now, she’s trying to save S.H.I.E.L.D., even as Marvel’s super-spy organization is hunting her down. At the same time, she’s locked in a confrontation with the Weeping Lion, a criminal operative with ties to her days as an assassin.

Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta, Book One, by Robert Kirkman, Elizabeth Breitweiser, and Paul Azaceta
This fancy new hardcover collects the first 12 issues of the series from The Walking Dead creator Kirkman, which has itself been made into a Cinemax TV show. It’s not zombies this time, but demonic possession that’s threatening life on the planet, as Kyle Barnes fights the literal evil within himself.

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Artist Tribute, by Jim Henson, Mike Allred, Faith Erin Hicks, and Eric Powell
Particularly poignant in the wake of David Bowie’s death earlier this year, 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of Jim Henson’s weird fantasy classic. This hardcover art book gathers illustrations and essays from a wide assortment of creators (including Mike Allred, Eric Powell, Jill Thompson, and a ton of others) in celebration of the babe with the power, and company.

Trish Trash #1: Rollergirl on Mars, by Jessica Abel
It’s roller derby on Mars. If that premise doesn’t sell you, I’m not sure what else can be said. It’s the story of “Trash” Nupindju, who lives on the red planet two centuries from now. Her only way out of harsh and ruthless rural poverty is her dream of becoming a hoverderby star. Of course, a dying Martian showing up on your door will have a tendency to upend dreams of glory. It’s the first part of a trilogy, and it’s as fun as it sounds.

Moebius Library: The World of Edena, by Moebius
The late Jean Girard (aka Moebius) is a legendary creator, but his work is not universally known, even among comics fans, and particularly in the US. Dark Horse is working to put some of his best material back into print, including a bunch that’s never before been available in English. Le Monde d’Edena is the story of Stel and Atan, who find themselves shipwrecked on a barren planet that they set out to explore in an old Citroën. They are eventually transported to a paradise world in a distant galaxy. The plot is relatively thin, but the cycle is packed with ideas, brought to vivid life in Moebius’ strikingly distinct style.

ODY-C: Cycle One, by Matt Fraction and Christian Ward
Fraction and Ward’s series flips the script on Homer’s Odyssey, transporting it into a psychedelic far future and bending and breaking the gender roles of the legend of old. Odyssia and her crew are on their way home after an epic battle among the stars, but the obstacles are many, varied, and generally freaky. Before long, she is asking herself how much she even wants to go home. This hardcover collects the entire first cycle of the ongoing series, and the lurid art from Christian Ward deserves the showcase treatment. Truly a book that deserves to be read in the best format possible.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1, by Ryan North, Steve Ditko, Will Murray, Dan Slott, and Erica Henderson
In perhaps the ultimate piece of evidence for the argument that we’ve entered a new era in superhero comics, Doreen Green has been a big hit for Marvel, to the extent that she’ll be headlining a TV series next year, Galactus willing. In 2016, superheroes can be fun and silly without losing any of their heroism. Squirrel Girl (with the proportionate power of a squirrel) is off to college in her current series, while still taking on Doctor Doom, Thanos, and even Galactus with her wits and a little help from her squirrel friends. This oversive collection gathers together a big chunk of the series. Binge it like so many acorns, little squirrels.

The Marvel Vault: A Visual History, by Roy Thomas and Peter Sanderson
The Marvel Vault chronicles the history of Marvel comics in a special package full of art, historical documents, and pull-out memorabilia. It’s a fun tour through comic history, and this updated version brings Marvel right up to the present with new pages largely chronicling the publisher’s rise to entertainment powerhouse via the massive, global success of its film franchise

Gwenpool the Unbelievable, Vol. 1: Believe It, by Christopher Hastings and Gurihiru Gurihiru
An off-beat take on Marvel’s already off-beat hero Deadpool, Gwen Poole is a normal, everyday comic book fan who wakes up in a world of superheroes. Where Wade Wilson breaks the fourth wall, Gwen smashes through it. She’s pretty sure that the four-color world she’s come upon is all a dream, or a joke…so she has absolutely no fears, worries, nor sense of responsibility.

Mockingbird, Vol. 1: I Can Explain, by Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk
This book has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately (sadly, a female-lead book with female creators is candy for the trolls on social media), but all that aside, it’s pretty great. The titular multitalented former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent goes solo, doing things like saving the Queen of England, even as she remains on call for Maria Hill and her old super-spy team.

Gemini: The Complete Series, by Jay Faerber and Jon Sommariva
This fun superhero series stars the utterly normal, entirely boring Dan Johnson. What nobody knows, not even Dan himself, is that he’s secretly the hero Gemini. A secret organization is using Dan to fight crime behind his own back. this book collects the whole series.

Prince of Cats, by Ron Wimberly
This new edition of Wimberley’s way-cool work sees Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet reworked to focus on the story of Tybalt, Juliet’s quick-tempered cousin. It’s also set in Brooklyn, in the ’80s, with both hip-hop and kung-fu thrown into the mix. It’s a unique take on Shakespeare, to say the least, a romp that scoffs at following any particular formula.

DC Super Hero Girls: Hits and Myths, by Shea Fontana and Yancey Labat
It’s always nice to see books geared at younger fans (or future fans). The DC Superhero Girls series sees some of the most powerful heroes and villains of the DCU developing character and confidence while attending Super Hero High. In this book, the gang learns a thing or two about The Odyssey when they team up to fend off a cyclops, sirens, and a bunch of witches.

Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Box Set, by Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Brian Azzarello, and George George Pérez
This slipcased celebration of the Amazing Amazon is slightly mis-titled, in that the stories collected don’t go back past the 1980s, but that’s hardly a reason to skip it. Some of the best stories in WW’s long history have come during the past two or three decades, and these books collect arcs from some of the best of the best creators in the business. The set collects four books representing George Pérez’ 1980s-era revival, as well as takes from Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, and Brian Azzarello’s recently completed run.
What’s on your pull list?