Kinfolk Recommends 2: Engrossing Comic Books to Help You Pass the Time
At Kinfolklore, we love graphic novels and comic books. These serialized stories include incredible illustrations that stimulate our minds with incredible and fantastic plots and breathtaking artwork. We’ve compiled our favorites for you, some are household names and others are not as well known, but we think you will enjoy them all.
Locke & Key: Now a Netflix Original Series, this series was originally written by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, and illustrated by Chilean comic artist Gabriel Rodriguez. After a traumatic event shakes up the lives of the Locke kids forever, they move to the childhood home of their father and come across a set of magic keys. However, even though these keys are opening doors to wonderous new worlds of possibilities, behind every lock, is a nightmare echoing from their family’s past. This series is definitely worth a read not just for the magic but for the character development each person goes through, showing that even in a comic book world, characters can still be human. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology)
Divine and Wicked: The series written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Jamie McKelvie follows the story of Laura, a teenage girl obsessed with a group of pop idol influencers and actual reincarnated gods called the Pantheon. However, like fame, godliness doesn’t last forever and when you only have two years before dying and going away for another 90 years, you make the most of your time on Earth. If you are a fan of mythology, interested in seeing how the lives of humans and gods could intertwine in a more modern age and love detailed illustrations that look like they belong in a gallery, this is a series for you. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology)
The Boys: Now an Amazon Prime Original series, this series written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson focuses on what if the superheroes we idolize were really jerks. In fact, the collateral damage and deaths they produce warrants them to be taken out of the panel of life. In comes the Boys. The televised show does a great job staying true to the content but the comic is great if you want more information of the deals and alliances going on behind the scenes. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology)
Hawkeye - My Life as a Weapon: Sometimes you don’t need capes, masks, otherworldly abilities and weapons, or suits of something clearly stronger than iron to win a battle. Sometimes, you just need your fists, wits, and quips...and a bow and arrow. This series written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Spanish comic artist, David Aja, follows the story of Clint Barton trying to make a normal life for himself by moving into a Brooklyn apartment, becoming friends with his neighbors, and enjoying life. However, when the building and tenants are threatened by the Eastern European, tracksuit wearing mafia, Hawkeye must defend his new home and their right to rooftop BBQs with the help of his partner and protege, Hawkeye! Stellar writing and a great starting point if you are new to comics or a veteran looking for a more grounded series. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; Marvel Unlimited)
Umbrella Academy: Now a Netflix Original Series, this comic shows that being a kid superhero isn’t what it is all cracked up to be and that growing up makes it even worse. Written by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way and illustrated by Brazilian comic book artist, Gabriel Bá, this story follows the Hargreeves children, kids with abilities beyond those of mortal men who had a rough childhood and now must reconnect after years apart following the passing of their adoptive father. No one likes a funeral and topping that with the return of a brother who hasn’t aged in decades and shares that the world is going to end in three days doesn’t make it any better. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology)
Black Panther - A Nation Under Our Feet : This series by author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, reintroduces T’challa as the Black Panther and opens up the world of Wakanda even further when a coup threatens to destroy the very state of everything. In true fashion to his writing, the dialogue in this series are almost like eloquent speeches and a must read for fans of the film. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; Marvel Unlimited)
Black Panther - Christopher Priest: Written by the first African American editor in mainstream comics, Christopher Priest and illustrated by Puerto Rican and classically trained painter Mark Texeria, this series helps create the mythos of Black Panther and Wakanda and solidifies T’Challa’s reputation as the ultimate statesman as he battle a coup and contends against Marvel’s very own version of the devil, Mephisto. Told through the mission reports of Everett K. Ross, this is a great read for anyone who is a fan of Marvel’s Black Panther movie (2018) as it was an impactful source material for the film. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; Marvel Unlimited)
Green Lanterns: If like us you have been waiting for the DC Extended Universe buddy cop version of Green Lantern, this is definitely the series for you. Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz are forced to work together by GL veteran Hal Jordan and these two rookies are great new additions to the Corps (introduced prior to Justice League: Darkseid War) with heavy character development as Jessica, a Latina woman, learns to live with and overcome her agoraphobia and Simon, a Lebanese-American and practitioner of the Islamic faith, learning to be a hero after hating the world following the treatment he received growing up after the September 11 terror attack. Follow the new defenders of section 2814 as they go up against the GL Corps Rogues Gallery and dive deeper into the mythos of the Corp. In brightest day, in blackest night, don’t let this series escape your sight. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; DC Universe)
Black Lightning - Cold Dead Hands: If you are a fan of the CW series, this limited run written by Tony Isabella and illustrated by Jamiacan comic artist Clayton Henry gives a fresh take on the Black Lightning mythos introducing a younger Jefferson Pierce in a more modern age. Black Lightning is still fighting against the injustices and racism within his neighborhood as well as some out of this world forces. We know there are few black superheroes in the game but none are as electrifying as Black Lightning! (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; DC Universe)
Nightwing - New World Order: No longer a Robin, Dick Grayson has made it out on his own as Nightwing, a leader amongst superheroes...now let’s fast forward to when he ends this golden age. In this six-issue miniseries by Kyle Higgins and illustrated by Trevor McCarthy, Grayson has taken away the powers of every superhero in the DC universe following a war amongst them and now leads a team of trained officers called the Crusaders who hunt the remaining supers. However, when his son starts to exhibit abilities, Grayson must go against the very system he created and work with the former friends now enemies he has been hunting. Definitely worth a read for Nightwing and (Teen) Titans fans and is a great introduction to who we fondly call “Gray Hair Grayson.” (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; DC Universe)
Heroes in Crisis: A nine issue series taking place after many of the events started by honorable mention comic DC Rebirth #1. In this story written by Tom King, the DC heroes find their world changed forever when Sanctuary, their mental and physical rehabilitation center for heroes recovering from post traumatic stress disorder, is attacked leading to the deaths of every hero there, except Booster Gold and Harley Quinn. Booster and Harley must overcome their differences and work together to prove their innocence while the other heroes must stop the leaking of videos from the Sanctuary revealing their secrets. Though many people would write this series off as it was billed as a murder-mystery, this is King’s call to the importance of mental health care specifically in response to the number of mass shootings that were happening during the time this comic was written. (Available: At your local comic store; Comixology; DC Universe)
Post by: Chamar Griffith
Photo by Hermes Rivera (@hermez777) via Upsplash