Comics for Existential Adults

Alain McAlister

Life can be heavy sometimes, and it’s been a rough month for me. I’ve been reaching for a lot of media that lets me sit in the messy gray areas of it all. The following comics have weight and love, but also a comforting quiet and space for their stories to echo through. They invite you in, and I find something about that space is comforting. So, without further ado, here are some of my recommendations for friends looking for a similar vibe.

Cozy reading,
Alain

Abstract red background comics for existential adults by alain, illustrated Alain with glasses and brunette short hair

Featured Book One

Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1: Volume 1

Title

Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1: Volume 1

Price

$21.99

Ships in 2-3 Days

The first set of books collecting Bill Watterson's timeless Calvin and Hobbes comics in a compact, portable format designed to introduce the timeless adventures of a boy and his stuffed tiger to a new generation of readers. Featuring nearly 500 comics from the strip's debut in November 1985 through March 1987, this is the first set in a series of seven.

"At some level, all American childhoods are the same, which probably explains our lasting love affair with Calvin and Hobbes." --The Washington Post

Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger first appeared in 1985 and could be read in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996.

This compact, portable new format is designed to introduce the timeless adventures of Calvin and Hobbes to a new generation of readers, and will fit easily into backpacks as well as on the collector's shelf. Featuring archival slipcase and cover art selected by the author, The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium pays tribute to the strip's origin in newspapers while appealing to both new and existing fans of Calvin and Hobbes.

This set is composed of two 144-page paperback books, including nearly 500 comics from the strip's debut in Nov. 1985 through March 1987. It is the first of seven sets total to be released between 2023 and 2026.

SKU

9781524884970

Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1: Volume 1

$21.99

Ships in 2-3 Days

Description

The first set of books collecting Bill Watterson's timeless Calvin and Hobbes comics in a compact, portable format designed to introduce the timeless adventures of a boy and his stuffed tiger to a new generation of readers. Featuring nearly 500 comics from the strip's debut in November 1985 through March 1987, this is the first set in a series of seven.

"At some level, all American childhoods are the same, which probably explains our lasting love affair with Calvin and Hobbes." --The Washington Post

Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger first appeared in 1985 and could be read in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996.

This compact, portable new format is designed to introduce the timeless adventures of Calvin and Hobbes to a new generation of readers, and will fit easily into backpacks as well as on the collector's shelf. Featuring archival slipcase and cover art selected by the author, The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium pays tribute to the strip's origin in newspapers while appealing to both new and existing fans of Calvin and Hobbes.

Description

"At some level, all American childhoods are the same, which probably explains our lasting love affair with Calvin and Hobbes." --The Washington Post

ISBN

9781524884970

Bill Watterson

Publisher

Andrews Mcmeel Publishing

Publication Date

August 29, 2023

Binding

Paperback

Item Condition

New

Language

English

Pages

288

Series

Calvin And Hobbes Portable Compendium

Keywords

Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous; Comics & Graphic Novels | Anthologies; Humor | Form | Comic Strips & Cartoons

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson (he/him)

This is the first collection of the classic comic strip that features Calvin, a rambunctious 6-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who comes charmingly to life. Filled with a mix of Watterson’s standard and full-page Sunday strips, this collection is sure to please fans and newcomers alike.

Calvin and Hobbes was a large part of my comics rotation as a kid, in company with Zits, Foxtrot, Baby Blues, and Garfield. I still have my family’s copy of this book, with a cover held on by disintegrating tape and stained pages. I really enjoy the story and art of Calvin and Hobbes; it is accessible to everyone, and I find a mastery of storytelling of the strips. Limited panel comics take so much work to make and are so difficult for me, so I really enjoy seeing how people use them. Yes, the stories are about silly adventures and dozing off in school, but something about them speaks to being a sensitive and curious person, whether it’s about the world, people around us, or our emotions.

Featured Book Two

Good Girl Laika

Title

Good Girl Laika

Price

$15.00

Available In Store

SKU

7710362

Good Girl Laika

$15.00

Available In Store

ISBN

7710362

J Marshall Smith

Item Condition

New

Good Girl Laika by J Marshall Smith (he/him)

Years after launch, intrepid space dog Laika is still up there and still trying to get home. This collection of comics follows the life of Laika, a dog who is only loosely connected to the real life Laika and more based on the artist’s real dog, Lily. Follow as Laika floats in space and navigates her abundance of time.

This collection of comics truly has a poetic beauty to it, which is unsurprising if you’ve read other works from J Marshall Smith. By exploring complex topics of grief, uncertainty, and loss of control with a lightness and sincerity, this comic is simultaneously the silliest and most heart touching series. Sure, Laika contemplates the beauty of the sunrise while being trapped forever in space, but she also hucks a GameBoy when it dies, ruining her game. We are simultaneously Laika and the people of Earth who care for her, unable to communicate with each other. It’s truly a collection you will read and ruminate on for weeks as it sinks in.

Featured Book Three

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden (she/her)

Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou. This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak–and a startling revelation about sexual assault–culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.

Tillie Walden always creates such a distinct and unique voice in her comics. The characters suck you in, and the colors further the mood of the story. This story of escape, connection, and place always pulls me. As anyone who grew up in the midwest can share, most of us have memories of long road trips where time is nebulous. Walden uses this to her advantage, drawing on these shared experiences to explore what our connections to others mean and what vulnerability can look like.

Are You Listening?

Title

Are You Listening?

Price

$18.99

Available In Store

The graphic novel Are You Listening? is an intimate and emotionally soaring story about friendship, grief, and healing from Eisner Award winner Tillie Walden.

Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.

This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak--and a startling revelation about sexual assault--culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.

This magical realistic adventure from the celebrated comics creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam will stay with readers long after the final gorgeously illustrated page.

2020 Eisner Award Winner, Best Graphic Album--New
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2019
A National Public Radio (NPR) Best Book of 2019
An O Magazine Best LGBTQ Book of 2019
One of The Comics Beat's Best Comics of 2019
A Lambda Literary Award Finalist
A Harvey Award nominee, Best Book of the Year

SKU

9781250207562

Are You Listening?

$18.99

Available In Store

Description

The graphic novel Are You Listening? is an intimate and emotionally soaring story about friendship, grief, and healing from Eisner Award winner Tillie Walden.

Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.

This magical realistic adventure from the celebrated comics creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam will stay with readers long after the final gorgeously illustrated page.

2020 Eisner Award Winner, Best Graphic Album--New
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2019
A National Public Radio (NPR) Best Book of 2019
An O Magazine Best LGBTQ Book of 2019
One of The Comics Beat's Best Comics of 2019
A Lambda Literary Award Finalist
A Harvey Award nominee, Best Book of the Year

Description

The graphic novel Are You Listening? is an intimate and emotionally soaring story about friendship, grief, and healing from Eisner Award winner Tillie Walden.

Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.

This magical realistic adventure from the celebrated comics creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam will stay with readers long after the final gorgeously illustrated page.

ISBN

9781250207562

Walden Tillie

Publisher

First Second

Publication Date

September 1, 2019

Binding

Paperback

Item Condition

New

Illustrator

Tillie Walden

Language

English

Ages

14-18

Pages

320

Keywords

			Sales in the past year
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Art & Drawing Books	29	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9781454931010.jpg?itok=z_jQ6Mgd	19
Art & Drawing Books	29	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9781454937562.jpg?itok=oYD1zGxH	16
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Art & Drawing Books	29	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9781506715759.jpg?itok=IEsCHd-V	0

			Sales in the past year
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Trans Day of Visibility	59	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9781250754066.jpg?itok=SiZoh2q1	11
Trans Day of Visibility	59	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9798886200324.jpg?itok=ynie5-8u	10
Trans Day of Visibility	59	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9780316486019.jpg?itok=RoLrd6RI	7
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			Sales in the past year
New Arrivals	58	/sites/bettysbooksstl.com/files/styles/product_thumbnail/public/timberImage/97/9780063278929.jpg?itok=UOLpLP5F	8
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Comics for Existential Adults

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