Yes, I usually do 15, but couldnât cut it down.
Only a slight blurb here, but Iâve reviewed them all, so throw the title in the search box to the right and have fun.
Red Flags
Fourth in a series, first for me, featuring a female race car driver solving her cousinâs murder at the Long Beach Grand Prix. The description of running a car at over 200mph at Fontana race track is exhilarating.
Unicorn vr. Goblins
Came out just as I discovered this comic strip, which is the only one I read every morning. A self-described âweirdâ little girl named Phoebe makes friends with a unicorn titled Marigold Heavenly Nostrils; hilarity ensues. Goblins show up too.
Man, I Hate Cursive
Mostly simple self-contained jokes, like âthe Far Side.â Sometimes corny but always fun.
Razzle Dazzle Unicorn
Continuing adventures of Phoebe and her Unicorn, as described above. Always hoping for another appearance of Todd the Candy Dragon.
Motions and Moments
Third in a series full of essays featuring an American living in Tokyo. This guy notices more stuff than Sherlock Holmes.
Dark Crimes
The best of a giant spate of detective series coming out of England. Sophie is easily my favorite police detective ever.
When Crocs Fly
Pearls Before Swine is one of the comic strips I lost touch with when my morning routine got truncated, so it was fun to revisit this in book form. Do not read if you are at all allergic to puns.
The Only Pirate At The Party
Anyone who reads this space knows Iâm a huge Lindsey Stirling fanâjust look at the photo at the topâbut I can guarantee that had I never heard of her this book, her autobiography, would still be on this list as an amazing accomplishment. Read it for laughs, for commiserationâespecially if youâve ever suffered through an eating disorderâfor the feeling of good triumphing over evil, or any other way. Itâs just fun.
Wynonna Earp
You donât need to see the cable seriesâI certainly didnâtâto enjoy what might very well be the best graphic novel of the year, in which a descendant of the famous lawman fights evil both human and not, and looks great doing it.
Spaceman
Dr. Mike Massimino is more famous for making fun of Howard on The Big Bang Theory than for actually going into space, but hopefully that will change as there’s more awareness of this incredibly accessible autobiography. Since a lot of people treat astronauts like superheroesâand whoâs to say they arenât?âthis book goes a long way into proving theyâre just like you and me too.
Baba Yaga
The Russian legend used to scare children into behaving gets a beautiful treatment, with a witty heroine drawn so cute youâll want to adopt her.
Photographs From the Edge
Art Wolfe is the consummate nature photographer, and in this book spanning his decades in the business he proves it once again. The first photo, of the arctic fox, is stunning, and a fitting opening for what you can expect after that.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
The other contender for graphic novel of the year, this story from the âreimaginedâ version showcases Uhura as well as some new cadets, most of whom are enjoyable to get to know, even the taciturn Vulcan who unfreezes after a while; it helps that sheâs got gorgeous green eyes. . .
You Had ONE Job!
A collection of photos that shows Americans not taking their jobs seriously enough to avoid even the simplest of bloopers. Nothing you canât find on the internet, but packaged here in one place without having to do those stupid slideshows used to show off more commercials.
City of Blood
Police force in Paris look into a time-capsule-type murder, which escalates into a hunt for a serial killer. Unlike most books and especially TV shows, it doesnât take an hour or even a few days to solve; forensics, autopsy, and interviewing all need time, and itâs given here. Also helps that the lead is completely professionalâdespite a family illnessârather than dour or suffering an existential crisis.
Fowl Language
A collection from a comic strip about an anthropomorphized family of ducks, with the father having trouble raising the kiddies, or ducklings. The LOL per page ratio is pretty high, as a lot of these get more than just a smile or a chuckle.
;o)