partial cover of Botchan by Sōseki Natsume
The Stack

A Humble, Small-Town Graphic Novel

Here are some great small town graphic novels! Plus, new releases in the form of AVATAR and a rom-com manga.

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Eileen Gonzalez

Contributing Editor

Eileen's primary literary love is comic books, but she’s always on the lookout for her next literary adventure no matter what form it takes. She has a Bachelor's in media studies, a Master's in digital communication, a smattering of published short stories, and a seriously cute dog. Follow her on Bluesky.

View All posts by Eileen Gonzalez

How are you liking September so far? Personally, the last third of the year is my favorite, so I’ve been looking forward to this since, well, January. There’s so much to enjoy at the end of the year: autumn leaves, fun holidays…and great graphic novels!

Bookish Goods

A canvas tote bag featuring characters from Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen Tote Bag by KingdomOfMugsCo

If you like Jujutsu Kaisen and carrying your groceries in a more eco-friendly way, this is the perfect purchase for you! $24

New Graphic Novels and Comics Out This Week

Avatar the Last Airbender The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer cover

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer by Faith Erin Hicks and Peter Wartman

How does Iroh take his tea? Very seriously. So when the tea supply suddenly dries up, he immediately goes off in search of an answer. His quest leads him into the arms of someone from his past who is on a vital journey of her own. Together, they must both figure out how to get what they want.

Don't Toy with Me Mss Nagatoro Vol 17 cover

Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro Volume Seventeen by Nanashi

This romantic comedy follows Nagatoro and her beloved Senpai, whom she teases mercilessly but clearly loves. Now, though, it seems like there’s a new girl in Senpai’s life! Can Nagatoro figure out what’s going on between them while also dealing with a rivalry of her own?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Graphic Novels About Small Towns

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: small towns! They’re a popular setting for all kinds of stories and political speeches. Let’s see what these graphic novels have to say about them…

Botchan cover

Botchan by Sōseki Natsume, Adapted by Kaori Okura

In this adaptation of the classic Japanese novel, the titular character is a young man from the city who takes a teaching job in a remote country town. There, he quickly finds himself out of his depth as he struggles to deal with rowdy students and, most of all, his duplicitous fellow staff members. Who is friend, and who is foe? Find out when Botchan is released on September 17.

Stillwater by Chip Zdarsky Cover

Stillwater Volume One: Rage, Rage by Chip Zdarsky and Ramón Pérez

The people in charge of Stillwater have found the secret of immortality and control it completely, forcing everyone in town to remain as they are forever, whether they like it or not. It’s only a matter of time before the people of this bizarre little town find a way to strike back at those who have ruined their endless lives.

A fluffy white Havanese sits curled up in a dog bed

I don’t have a picture of a small town to share, but I do have a picture of my small dog, Poppy!

~Eileen