12 graphic novels to get lost in this summer
Looking for a good summer read? Get lost in these graphic novels and illustrated books by Canadian authors.
Degrees of Separation by Alison McCreesh
Degrees of Separation blends stories, drawings and sketches that chronicle Alison McCreesh's decade spent living in the North. From being stranded in the High Arctic to raising a baby in a small shack with no running water, the book is a coming-of-age story that recounts the challenges and joys of life living and working north of the 60th parallel.
McCreesh is an artist who currently lives in Yellowknife. She has travelled around the Arctic and sub-Arctic and the theme of contemporary day-to-day life in the North carries through her creative work.
A Witch's Guide to Burning by Aminder Dhaliwal
Life as a witch can be tough. With the town relying on her magic for success, the demands keep coming in. But when a witch outlives her usefulness she is burned at the stake, taking her memories and her magic. When she is left half-burned because of a rainstorm, it's up to a witch doctor and her toad friend to help her get her magic back before it's lost forever. Viral comic creator Aminder Dhaliwal uses prose, illustrations and comics to craft a humorous allegory for burnout in A Witch's Guide to Burning.
Dhaliwal is a comic writer and television animator originally from Brampton, Ont. Now based in Los Angeles, Dhaliwal is a director at Disney TV Animation. Her comic series Woman World, originally published on Instagram to hundreds of thousands of followers, was released as a graphic novel in 2018. CBC Books named Dhaliwal a writer to watch in 2019.
A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll
A Guest in the House is a haunting graphic novel about Abby, a newlywed to a recently widowed dentist. But the more she learns about her new husband's first wife, the more suspicious she becomes that she may not have died of natural causes. A Guest in the House won the 2024 Doug Wright Award for best comic book.
Carroll is a Stratford, Ont.-based artist whose books include Through the Woods, a collection of horror comics, and Speak, an adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's YA novel, and When I Arrived at the Castle.
Denison Avenue by Daniel Innes & Christina Wong
Set in Toronto's Chinatown and Kensington Market, Denison Avenue is a moving portrait of a city undergoing mass gentrification and a Chinese Canadian elder experiencing the existential challenges of getting old and being Asian in North America. Recently widowed, Wong Cho Sum takes long walks through the city, collecting bottles and cans and meeting people on her journeys in a bid to ease her grief.
Denison Avenue was championed by Naheed Nenshi on Canada Reads 2024.
Daniel Innes is a multidisciplinary artist from Toronto. He works in painting, installation, graphic and textile design, illustration, sign painting and tattooing.
Christina Wong is a Toronto writer, playwright and multidisciplinary artist who also works in sound installation, audio documentaries and photography.
The Wendy Award by Walter Scott
In the Wendy series, Mohawk artist Walter Scott follows the character's journey as a comic book artist who must contend with both the art world and her personal life. Scott's latest installment in the series, The Wendy Award, follows Wendy struggling with imposter syndrome after receiving a nomination for the prestigious National FoodHut Contemporary Art Prize.
The previous books in the series are Wendy, Wendy's Revenge and Wendy, Master of Art.
Walter Scott is a Mohawk artist based in Toronto. Scott has published three other Wendy books, including Wendy's Revenge, and has appeared in The New Yorker and the Best American Comics anthology.
Portrait of a Body by Julie Delporte, translated by Helge Dascher and Karen Houle
In Portrait of a Body, Julie Delporte examines her life experiences and trauma in an attempt to answer the haunting questions she has about her gender and sexuality. The book focuses on the journey inward to heal oneself and live more authentically.
Julie Delporte is a comic creator and poet based in Montreal. Her other books include This Woman's Work, Everywhere Antennas and Journal.
Helge Dascher is a frequent translator of comic books. She's also translated many of Guy Delisle's titles, Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, White Rapids by Pascal Blanchet and Paul at Home by Michel Rabagliati.
Karen Houle used to be a Professor of Philosophy but now she is a full-time Earth worker-activist and a sometimes translator.
I'm So Glad We Got This Time Together by Maurice Vellekoop
I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together depicts Vellekoop's intense childhood and difficult young adulthood as a gay person in a strict Christian household. Set in Toronto in the 1970s, he begins to see his relationships with his mother and father fracture. As he ventures out on his own, he explores his passion for art. He's set on finding romance and is met with violent attacks and the anxiety surrounding the AIDS era. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together shows an artist's personal journey to self-love and acceptance.
Vellekoop is a Toronto-born writer and artist. He has been an illustrator for the past three decades, for companies including Air Canada and Bush Irish Whiskey. He is also the author of A Nut at the Opera.
Botanica Drama by Thom
What happens when the sun has had enough? That's the premise of Thom's latest book Botanica Drama. After taking a beating the night before, the Sun is fed up and decides not to rise. As the earth is plunged into darkness, Philomène, Death and their friends face a harsh winter and horrifying creatures from the shadows as they wonder if the sun will ever rise again.
Thom is an illustrator and comic creator from Montreal. His other books are Casa Rodeo and VII.
Gamerville by Johnnie Christmas
In Gamerville: Game On... Or Game Over, Max Lightning is destined to compete in a video game championship when his plans are thwarted by his parents, who decide to send him to a camp where electronics are not allowed. Stuck in Camp Reset, Max is forced to spend time outside in nature with other people and longs to escape and level up once again.
Christmas is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, raised in Florida and currently based in Vancouver. CBC Books named Johnnie Christmas a Writer to Watch in 2022.
Bad Medicine by Christopher Twin
Inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life, Bad Medicine follows five teens who share chilling horror stories around a campfire. Bad Medicine was on the longlist for Canada Reads 2024 and earned nominations for both the Nipper Award for emerging talent and the Egghead Award for best kids' book.
Christopher Twin is from the Swan River First Nations reservation in northern Alberta. Currently based in Edmonton, he does comic work and illustrations as a freelancer.
Junior High by Tegan Quin & Sara Quin, illustrated by Tillie Walden
Tegan and Sara: Junior High is a middle-grade graphic novel by Canadian sister musician duo Tegan and Sara. The story is inspired by the authors' own experiences of finding one's identity, musicianship and family in their adolescence. Identical twins Tegan and Sara move to a new home and school, and begin to come into their own as individuals.
Tegan Quin and Sara Quin are twin sisters and a pop music duo from Calgary. They previously published a memoir called High School.
Tillie Walden is an American cartoonist, illustrator and writer. She has published several graphic novels, including On a Sunbeam and Spinning.
Shout Kill Revel by Jarret Hartnell
In this fantasy Western, a ruthless cult called the Undrowned Order rules the land as they enact their evil plans. They believe that Helmina is their messiah who will unleash unspeakable horror upon the earth. After a lifetime of wrestling with her cosmic affliction, Helmina decides to take her destiny into her own hands.
Jarret Hartnell is a comic writer and artist based in Calgary. Shout Kill Revel is his debut graphic novel.
