11 Great Comics to Relax With

Former President Barack Obama recently shared a photo of his walk to and from the Oval Office to his family residence in the White House, noting the importance of the walk to ‘clear his mind’ before seeing the family. If you don’t have the same opportunity, the next best thing can be reading a book to simulate it. The Walking Man is perfect for this. It is a serene collection of little vignettes about a man walking around Japan. There are quiet little adventures along the way but mostly it is a very relaxing almost silent style. It takes only a chapter to transport you from the stress of real-life to this peaceful world and relax with the little things.

I think every child with a plush toy has imagined it as a super-hero at some point (if you haven’t yet, there is nothing stopping you now). This is the story of this experience: an all-ages comic about a boy and his stuffed bear who becomes a superhero. It is a bit like Calvin & Hobbes, but with more ‘warm and fuzzies’. Straight out innocence. I especially love contrasting Herobear’s bright red cape against the black/white sketches. There is such a strong message of hope and emotion, you will want to cuddle up with this comic as if it were the soft plush toy instead.

Here is a feel-good romance, showing us there really could be someone out there who will love us for all our geeky quirks. It is the story of otaku; usually considered a derogatory term for someone obsessed with pop culture or a particular hobby. The focus starts with Narumi and Hirotaka, two geeks obsessed with manga, anime, and video games. The sweetness comes from how they navigate a relationship with their obsessions and their practical working lives. If it sounds familiar, it has recently been made into an animated series on Amazon Prime Video.

This was a recent gift to the family and it has been a beautiful book for chilling out on the couch. Afar follows the story of Boetema and her brother Inotu, teenagers forced to grow up faster than anyone would wish. However, this is a list of relaxing comics, so I promise you there is nothing too stressful or violent. Instead, there is a sense of growth and resilience with all that life throws at you. The story is a bit slow at the beginning, which is actually a good thing for a relaxing read. The strength is in the character arcs and accompanying illustrations. I cannot express how beautiful the imagery is, in part due to the open creativeness when Boetema starts to astral travel afar. It definitely fits in the vibe of Afrofuturism and one of the best relaxing comics.

There is a reason this is one of the most famous and popular animated series of all time. ALL. TIME. For those new to the series, the main character is Aang (the Avatar) who has a special ability to control all four Elements: Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. Others are able to control one element; some have no ability with the elements at all. I have no more to say on this because you should now go watch the series.

Once done there, come back and join the fan club while we read The Promise; a continuation from the end of the series with a story about Zuko and Earth King Kuei. Avatar has never shied from real-life serious issues but it addresses them with an emotional maturity missing from the last four years. The comic books are no different, especially with Gurihiru capturing the art so perfectly. The whole series of comics are brilliant but this one is worthy of our chill-out list.

BTW: if you are looking for more Avatar comics, keep an eye out for Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy, scheduled for release in February 2021. Written by Faith Erin Hicks and Peter Wartman, and illustrated by Adele Matera, this new issue is prize Toph at her best.

Not every children’s book is relaxing, and not all relaxing comics are aimed at kids. However, Oscar & Hoo is primarily a kids book that also happens to hit many adults in the feels (in a good way). Oscar is a young child, often caught up in his daydreams. Hoo is a small cloud who finds Oscar after the young child loses his parents on a holiday in the desert. It’s a sweet and easy-reading story about friendship, and how we can give and take. Being a kids book, it is not a long read. It is enough to quiet the storm in your head (and heart) when the world is asking so much of us. The illustrations are innocent and simplistic, bringing forth the comfort we need to relax. You will gain so much more than you think

These are two separate books, separated by 100 years yet connected by the same dreamy imagery to help you relax. The original book, Little Nemo in Slumberland was written as a full-page weekly strip by Winsor McCay in 1905. Each strip shared the adventures of young Nemo having fantastical dreams and travelling through Slumberland to meet the princess. The first episode introduced King Morpheus calling on Nemo to be the new playmate for his daughter. It then took many months and constant battles with the mischievous clown Flip before Nemo even makes it to the palace, let alone meet the Princess. These adventures share glorious imagery in their storytelling, with Art Nouveau influenced illustrations. I have heard of a massive mural in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, featuring panels from Little Nemo in Slumberland (on my Literary Travels Wishlist).

McCay was lauded as a comic genius for his time. He loved to experiment with visual layouts. He was also well respected for his understanding of psychedelic dream experiences. However, McCay also featured many ethnic stereotypes throughout his storytelling. Certain characters do not transfer well into modern settings. This is where the recent inspiration proves to be a better read. 

In 2014, Shanower and Rodríguez returned to Slumberland with a new playmate: a boy with the middle name of Nemo. Except this Nemo is not interested in being the Princess’s playmate and has no idea what is going on with his ‘dream travelling’. Shanower does a great job of capturing McCay’s storytelling techniques and reviving original characters from the weekly strips. But it is Rodríguez’s illustrations which will fill your dreams. The same whimsical fantastical imagery creates artwork I want to tear out and plaster all over my walls. This is a delightful read, and definitely worth relaxing with before the upcoming Netflix series Slumberland (release date yet to be announced).