Manfried the Man by Caitlin Major and Kelly Bastow features a simple concept. Humanoid cats have little men for pets. It started, as you might expect, as a gag comic. It’s adorable seeing the roly-poly balding ginger Manfried get tied up in his leash, for example, and realistic that he always wants to be on the other side of a door. (Note that, as the pet men are naked, there are tiny little cartoon private parts visible, but they’re incredibly […]

The Carpet Merchant of Konstantiniyya by Reimena Yee is one of those lovely discoveries that remind me why I still have a slush pile. It’s a vampire story, but it’s not about being a vampire; it’s actually an inspiring love story. It’s well-designed, with a unique premise and setting. And it’s got believable characters with varied motivations that I want to spend more time with. Zeynel is a carpet seller in 17th century Istanbul. Well, first, he’s growing up in […]

Michigan: On the Trail of a War Bride has one of the more interesting premises I’ve seen in an European graphic novel. Written by Julien Frey and illustrated by Lucas Varela, it’s the story of Julien, a Frenchman, meeting his wife’s American cousins for the first time. Maud’s grandfather had a sister named Odette, who came to Michigan with an American soldier after World War II. I loved the historical part best since it evoked how much everyone’s life was […]