
The Best of Women in Comics 2014
The campers of Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types have gotten together to talk about their most favorite hardcore lady types in comics. There was a lot of happy shouting and arm flailing and comics pages flying through the air. Jen wrote down as much as she could before Ripley started using her notes to make a paper crown for her dinosaur.
Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios, and Jordie Bellaire
I’m still in awe of how beautiful this comic is. Like an intricate piece of clockwork, everything works together seamlessly to create this sprawling tale of Death, storytelling, and lady folk. You can almost smell the dust caked on your leather cowboy boots while you’re reading this comics. Pretty Deadly is firmly planted in the Old West. But the creators threw “historical accuracy” out the window and gave us a Western about complicated and diverse women in control of their own destinies. And damn anyone who gets in their way.
Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke Allen and Maarta Laiho
Lumberjanes is like The Goonies but better. Both are about Friendship and Teamwork in the face of dangerous monsters/pirates and mysterious puzzles. And while adore every single on of the Goonies (except maybe for Andy), the cast of Lumberjanes is such a rich and diverse group of ladies. Each of the girls has a unique personality with her own strengths and weaknesses. And the book is all about them combining strengths and trusting and respecting others. When you have ladies working together behind the scenes, it only makes sense to see ladies working together on the page. FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX.
Hilda and the Black Hound by Luke Pearson
Luke Pearson’s Hildafolk series is one of those comics I’m evangelical about. Pearson’s style is a beautiful mix of indie and European comics, full of those quiet little moments that resonate so much. And to that a curious girl in constant search for adventure and those are the Hilda books. Hilda and the Black Hound, the fourth book in the series, sees Hilda, still trying to fit in after moving to the city, join a scouting club. But instead of focusing on finishing up her merit badges, she’s looking to solve the latest local mystery. Full of house spirits, giant dogs, magical worm holes and the misadventures of being a kid trying to fit in, this comic is a wonderful and whimsical read for all ages.
Cleopatra in Space #1: Target Practice by Mike Maihack
I found the webcomic Cleopatra in Space (which should always be read “in SPAAAAAAAAACE”) by a happy internet accident. It has all the bombastic action and sci-fi adventures of Flash Gordon, with the snappy, quick wit of Gilmore Girls. It is simply impossible to read this book without smiling. In this first volume in a series of graphic novels we get to see more than the laser gun shoot-outs we’re used to from the webcomic. Cleo, begrudgingly, has to balance her outer space missions with high school and homework, making a shining sci-fi adventure relatable and grounded.
This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
This One Summer is a quietly beautiful exploration of that nebulous period between childhood adolescence and young adulthood. The kid stuff has lost it’s shine but the grown-up stuff is still a bit too far off to process. It’s about coming of age and friendship and the tense relationships between daughters and mothers, between girls and women. This is not a boy’s story; it’s not for men. This One Summer is about women and those awkward first steps toward womanhood.
Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley
A modern day fable about the dangers of getting what you wish for, Seconds follows the misadventures of chef and restauranteur Katie and her magical quest to fix all her past mistakes. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues. But for as many steps back Katie takes, her friendship with coworker Hazel is one of the few things moving forward and growing in the book. It’s also some of the best work from Bryan Lee O’Malley and a beautifully produced graphic novel.
Compliance be damned! Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro makes us want to punch the patriarchy in the fucking face.
2015 will be the year for Rat Queens by Kurtis Weibe and Stjepan Sejic.