Comicon’s 5 Best OGNs Of 2022

The following are Comicon’s 5 Best Original Graphic Novel of 2022.

5. The Incal: Psychoverse, published by Humanoids; written by Mark Russell, drawn by Yanick Paquette, colored by Dave McCaig, and lettered by Troy Petrie

This year saw writer Mark Russell and artist Yanick Paquette make a reverential return to the weird and wonderful worlds of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius‘ The Incal in an original graphic novel from Humanoids. While magnificently capturing the surreal seventies sci-fi tone of the original, Russell and Paquette delivered a worthy prequel to this sci-f classic. Lavishly and beautifully illustrated with a script that charts a journey across the stars and dimensions. Fun, fantastical and, at times, far-out! A grand inclusion in the ever-growing saga of The Incal.

— Olly MacNamee

4. Azimut, published by Titan Comics; written by Wilfred Lupano, drawn and colored by Jean-Baptiste Andreae, and lettered by Lauren Bowes

Azimut  is an absurdist fantasy tale worthy of Terry Gilliam films or Alice in Wonderland. The story follows a seductive adventuress, Manie Ganza, on her quest for eternal life while being pursued by the sinister Time Snatcher. In Azimut, the North Pole has vanished, freaks are hatched from clockwork eggs, a dress becomes a hot air balloon, living sand takes the form of a buxom woman, and an immortal aristocrat subsists on the screams of innocent children. Lupano and Andreae take readers to a truly unique world with sumptuous visuals where every character is so creative they could exist in a story by themselves. Azimut gives readers a vibrantly original fantasy realm they will want to get lost in again and again.

— Tito James

3. Junkwraith, published by Top Shelf Productions; written, drawn, colored, and lettered by Ellinor Richey

In this grand age of consumerism where we regularly own & toss things out, Junkwraith asks the question, what if those things we toss out took on a life of their own and came back to haunt us for this abandonment? Richey’s debut graphic novel is a solidly beautiful emotional story that is fun for all ages, with relatable messages about our connection to items, and the angst that comes with finding ourselves and our place in the world. Richey touches on the themes of guilt, identity, friendship, loss, consumerism, and the idea that both items and people need a purpose. There is a very thought-provoking exploration of what relationship we should have with the things that we love, told through the age-old lens of adventure and fantasy.

— Scott Redmond

2. Suzanne: The Jazz Age Goddess of Tennis, published by Avery Hill Publishing; written and drawn by Tom Humberstone

Sometimes the best biographies are the ones where you go in not knowing anything about the subject beforehand (in this case, both tennis and the life of one of its greatest players, Suzanne Lenglen). While the title of Humberstone’s graphic novel sets up the tennis part, Lenglen’s story touches on so many other topics. It’s a book that makes you both think about what life was like in the 1920s during Prohibition and (even more so) how much things haven’t changed (sexism, racism, and classism in the sport; the public trying to pit women against each other; people having an opinion about Lenglen’s fashion choices). Last year, King Richard (a film about Serena and Venus Williams‘ father) was released. Lenglen’s father was Lenglen’s coach, too, and their relationship was extremely complicated (as was Lenglen’s relationship with tennis, a career she didn’t so much choose as get pushed into). The research Humberstone did into Lenglen shows, and this is a graphic novel that will appeal to both sports fans and history buffs.

— Rachel Bellwoar

1. Batman’s Mystery Casebook, published by DC Comics; written by Sholly Fisch, art by Christopher Uminga, colored by Silvana Brys, and lettered by Deron Bennett

DC Comics really stepped up their game this year on the kids and YA side. One of the highlights of their output was Batman Mystery Casebook, an Encyclopedia Brown-style OGN of play-fair mysteries. Sholly Fisch, Christopher Uminga, Silvana Brys, and Deron Bennett invite young readers to follow along with Batman, Batgirl and Robin as they solve a series of mysteries. All the clues are there, and observant readers may be able to solve the case right alongside the Dark Knight Detective. It’s a lot of fun, and the nature of the story draws you right in.

— Tony Thornley