Best of 2018 – Graphic Novels/Manga
Welcome to the 3rd post in my “Best of 2018” series. These are the graphic novels/manga that I read in 2018 and really loved. There are quite a few of them. I have really been enjoying the graphic novel genre and read a lot of really great ones this year!
Click on the image to go to Goodreads to read more about the book. Or you can click on the link above or below the image to see my review of that book.
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Niourk by Stefan Wul and Olivier Vatine
I was very impressed with this graphic novel. The illustration is very well done and the story is amazing. There are some parts that are a bit confusing to follow, but in the end I would recommend. This is very well done; I am happy that I read this and excited that this is finally available in English.
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DeadEndia by Hamish Steele
I absolutely loved this graphic novel and plan on continuing the series. The storyline is bizarre, amazingly creative, and incredibly engaging. I don’t even really know who to recommend this to, just read it! This was a such a fun read and I loved the crazy supernatural elements to the story as well.
Volume 1: The Watcher’s Test
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The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe
I absolutely love this series. I love that there is a heavy sense of mystery over the story and a deep feeling of wonder as well. I continue to enjoy the father/daughter relationship that Shiva/Teacher have. I also enjoy how these two characters bridge these two strange societies.
The Girl from the Other Side Vol 4
The Girl from the Other Side Vol 5
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Monstress series by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
This is an amazing graphic novel series and I am excited to read more about this story and world. The characters are complex and amazing and the whole story and artwork is beautifully put together.
Monstress Vol 1
Monstress Vol 2
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Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura
This is an amazing historical fiction manga that I would recommend to everyone (adult aged). This is the most consistently well done manga I have ever read. Everything about this manga is spectacular; the characters, the plot, the story, the illustration…just all of it.
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Berserk by Kentaro Miura
This is an incredibly well done manga series. The artwork is spectacular as always and the story makes a lot of progress! Lots of action and some great characters in here.
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Chronicles of Claudette by Jorge Aguirre, Rafael Rosado
This is an awesome middle grade graphic novel series that I think both kids and adults will enjoy. It’s very humorous and engaging, with great characters. The ending to the series was very well done. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more graphic novels by this duo.
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The Nameless City by Faith Eric Hicks
Overall I really loved this 2nd volume in the Nameless City series. I would recommend to those who enjoy fantasy graphic novels about war and politics. This is an incredibly well done series with excellent illustration and an amazing world.
The Stone Heart
The Divided Earth
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HiLo by Judd Winick
This is an amazing sci-fi middle grade series. The illustration continues to be bright and colorful, easy to follow, and just generally well done. The whole story has been fantastic fun and I am really loving it. There are a number of parts in here that are laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Book 3: The Great Big Boom!
Book 4: Waking the Monsters
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Black Butler series by Yana Toboso
These were excellent installments in this series with some huge new twists and turns. Beautifully illustrated as usual! Of all the mangas I have read, this is one of the most beautifully illustrated ones and I love the characters and complex plots.
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Rust series by Royden Lepp
This story is amazing. We learn more about Jet Jones and get to watch as he takes on other robots in an effort to defend the Taylor farm. The story is a bit melancholy at points, but ends on a hopeful note. For having so few words; Lepp does an excellent job of telling an engaging, exciting, and heartfelt story through his beautiful pictures.
Volume 24: The Soul in the Machine
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Ancient Magus Bride by Kore Yamazaki
This story is amazing. We learn more about Jet Jones and get to watch as he takes on other robots in an effort to defend the Taylor farm. The story is a bit melancholy at points, but ends on a hopeful note. For having so few words; Lepp does an excellent job of telling an engaging, exciting, and heartfelt story through his beautiful pictures.
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 8
Volume 9
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Sparks! by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto
I loved this graphic novel. It was so much fun. I would recommend for all ages, especially to those who enjoy humorous graphic novels involving animals. Cat lovers will find this graphic novel especially delightful. I hope we get to see more of “Sparks” in future books.
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Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi
This is another great volume in this top notch fantasy graphic novel series. There is only one more volume in this series and I am eager to see how it wraps up!
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Delilah Dirk series by Tony Cliff
This is a wonderful graphic novel; it was beautifully illustrated, loads of fun, and fast-paced. I would recommend to those who love fantasy graphic novel full of adventure and humor.
Book 1: Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant
Book 2: Delilah Dirk and the King’s Shilling
Book 3: Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules
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The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
This book was so much fun to read and just absolutely entertaining. This is a very well done historical graphic novel set in Paris. I loved the illustration, the endearing characters, and the humor in here…the whole thing was incredibly well done.
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