Favorite kid’s graphic novels of 2022

Favorite kid’s graphic novels 2022

I read a fair amount of kid comics this year. Most of the books on my list were released in 2022 but a few were not. I included them anyway because if I found it worth recommending, who cares what year it was published?

These were my favorites.

Lightfall: Shadow of the Bird by Tim Probert

This is the follow-up to Lightfall book one, The Girl and the Galdurian. New characters and weirdos are introduced. It’s a bit heavier than the first book with the villain showing his real power and our heroes facing the consequences of their own choices.

Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley

Sequel number two on my list. This is the follow-up to Stepping Stones. Jen is finally adjusting to life in the country and having stepsisters. But now school has started and she’s the new kid. She has to deal with “mean girls” and everyone around her getting crushes. The one bright spot is she gets a job at the fall festival. This is slice-of-life kid drama at its best.

The Montague Twins: The Devil’s Music by Nathan Page & Drew Shannon

Another follow-up (and the last on my list). This is book two of The Montague Twins. It’s the Hardy Boys with magic and queer inclusive. It felt like a fair amount of time passed between this book and the first and frankly, I had forgotten much of the history and details from the first. After reading the second I went back and reread the first. I really like the vibe of this series in no small part due to the phenomenal art. I’d recommend reading these books back to back and I liked the second book even more than the first.

Button Pusher by Tyler Page

This memoir is a fascinating look into the life of someone who grew up with ADHD. I’d recommend this to anyone who has or wants to learn more about ADHD. The story revolves around Tyler who acts out in goofy, immature and sometimes dangerous ways. He’s different from his friends and doesn’t know why he does the things he does. His home life is also at times volatile with a father who has anger issues. There are interstitials throughout the story that explain what ADHD is as well as the actual doctor’s notes from Tyler’s visits.

The Short Con by Pete Toms & Aleks Sennwald

This was my favorite read of the year. At 44 pages, it’s short but it packs a lot in. An orphanage that doubles as a detective agency run by kids. Each page is more absurd than the last and the jokes are non-stop.

Bonus – Drawings & Other Art 2017-2021 by Chris Schweizer

Schweizer frequently works in kid’s comics but this is an art book rather than a graphic novel. I find him to be one of the most interesting people working in comics and his sketchbook is so much more than just drawings. The pages are filled with commentary and his thought process that goes into creating his different works. If you like to peek behind the scenes, this book is fantastic.

Looking forward to reading more fantastic graphic novels this year. I have a sizeable stack I didn’t get to yet.

Other Stuff

Brushes

Do you draw on your computer? Digital artist Devin Elle Kurtz offers her brushes for free and pay-what-you-want. (Photoshop, Procreate, & Clip Studio)

Hey Kids Comics!

While visiting New York, I came across this awesome comic shop that is nothing but kid’s graphic novels. (That’s where I found The Short Con). They also have a subscription service/club. For $20 a month, they send you a handpicked graphic novel along with their exclusive members-only zine.

Favorite Thing I Drew This Month

I painted Niles & JB as a thank you for my book agent. I can’t remember the last time I broke out my watercolors. There were a few tubes that dried out in the interim. I was definitely rusty and there is of course no undo button but I suppose that lends to the charm.

Family Stuff

December was busy. We celebrated Christmas, Hanukkah, and my birthday. River got his first haircut. We loved the curly locks but it was time.

We also went to New York to visit Grandma. It was cold, wet, and exhausting but fun. I also met my agent IRL. We had dinner together with our families. It was nice to interact on more than just a professional level.