Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 17: Read a Non-Superhero Comic That Debuted in the Last Three Years.

A few resources to help you out (you may need to check publication dates on these):

http://panels.net/2015/12/13/read-har...

http://panels.net/2015/11/22/read-har...

http://panels.net/2015/04/22/read-har...

http://bookriot.com/2015/09/07/food-c...

http://bookriot.com/2015/11/25/3-ya-t...

http://bookriot.com/2014/09/08/buy-bo...

I'm going with Roller Girl.

For this one I am going for The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains or Grayson, both of which I won from BookRiot.com in a Panels giveaway.

Finding something with good reviews and that I would reasonably like, published within the last three years, was difficult. But I settled on three maybes: , , or .

Read: Jane, the Fox, and Me

Lumberjanes #1 - Heard good things from Rebecca Schinsky.

Dom wrote: "Lumberjanes #1 - Heard good things from Rebecca Schinsky."

I'm doing this one too.

I think I'm going with Lady Killer or My So-Called Secret Identity. I think the latter works -- my understanding is that there are other super hero-ish type people around the lead character, but she is definitely not a super hero and relies on her brains.
I've already read Lumberjanes so I can't do that. If Bitch Planet vol. 2 comes out this year, I'll definitely do that!

Ooh Bitch Planet is a good shout...

Star Wars: Princess Leia

I'm going to read this, recommended to me by a coworker. ODY-C, Vol. 1

I was thinking of reading Local but The Nao of Brown looks good too.

I'm personally planning on East of West, as I picked up the first volume in a Humble Bundle a while back, and I'd recommend Shutter for anyone undecided.

This is the kind of graphic novel I've read the most of this year, and there have been some brilliant ones - my favourites were:

Beware the Kitten Holy - could debate this one, the Lumberjanes have the power of friendship.

Nimona - she technically has a super power, though..? And does use it for general good?

Copperhead, Vol 1

Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery - my favourite of everything.

Trees, Vol. 1: In Shadow

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act - again, they have powers, but they don't really use them the way heroes would, so..?

Giant Days, Vol. 1

My dates might be slightly off depending on whether we're supposed to go by the pub date of the first single issue, or the tbp... also I had to delete a few because they had superpowers or were end of 2012, doh.


I'm going to read Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars :)

Going solely off of everyone else's choices/suggestions I am going to read Lumberjanes #1 as it seems to be a bit lighter than The Underwater Welder.

Lumberjanes is WONDERFUL. I hope everyone reading it enjoys it! I'm planning on reading lots of graphic novels next year, so rather than choose one for this category I'm just going to use whichever one doesn't work in any other categories!

Really appreciate all the suggestions on this one. Graphic novels are so far outside my typical reading sphere, I had no idea where to start.

Now I just hope I can find any of these at my rinky-dink little library.

Would Rep. John Robert Lewis's "March" qualify for this task? Thank you!

Would the Jem and the Holograms comics count?

Weird question, and I think I can guess the answer, but does it have to be a western comic?

I'm thinking of reading An Age of License: A Travelogue. I haven't read many graphic novels. Has anyone else read this? Is it good?

Does this have to be fiction? Would something like Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast count?

Carmen wrote: "Does this have to be fiction? Would something like Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast count?"

If I had not read Can't We Talk About Something Pleasant this year, I would be reading it this year. I don't think it has to be fiction. There are some good nonfiction comics out there.

Bless his heart! My son gave me two graphic novels for Christmas thinking I could use one for the challenge. Alas, they don't fit the last 3-year criteria. I'll be reading them and maybe they can fit somewhere in the Panels 2016 challenge. They are Daytripper and Black Hole.

Martha wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Does this have to be fiction? Would something like Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast count?"

If I had not read Can't We Talk A..."

Okay, thanks, Martha!

Would Marjorie Liu's Monstress count? Because I'd like to use that one.

Kristin wrote: "Cheryl, "Jane, the Fox, and Me" is so, so good! I absolutely loved it!"

'Like'

Leslie Ann wrote: "Would Marjorie Liu's Monstress count? Because I'd like to use that one."

It would totally count. :)

Planning on reading Wytches for this

I will probably read Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machinefor this one. I've been getting them at the comic store but haven't read them yet.

Thank goodness I found this group! I have never read a graphic novel in my life and would have had no idea where to even begin with choosing a book. These threads are so helpful!!

Is there a difference between a comic and a graphic novel?

Maureen wrote: "Is there a difference between a comic and a graphic novel?"
I think technically comics are serial publications with volume and issue numbers, while a graphic novel (or graphic book) stands as a single publication on its own.
On the other hand, I've also seen people say that comics are basically *any* form of publication that is primarily illustration in cartoon format, and graphic novels are just one kind of comic. So I don't think there is a law about anywhere :)

SibylM wrote: "Maureen wrote: "Is there a difference between a comic and a graphic novel?"
I think technically comics are serial publications with volume and issue numbers, while a graphic novel (or graphic book)..."

Thank you!!

Book Riot wrote: "This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 17: Read a Non-Superhero Comic That Debuted in the Last Three Years.

A few resources to help you out (y..."
I like the food ideas. I had given "Chew" to my sister & she liked it. I have "Relish" which will help me attack my TBR pile. Thanks for the resources.

Not a fan of comics so I really need some help with this task.

A book that's been highly praised is Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened, do you think it would fit?

Martha wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Does this have to be fiction? Would something like Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast count?"

If I had not read Can't We Talk A..."

These sound good, I was wondering if anyone else was doing the panels challenge too. I can't find a group for it here unless I'm mistaken?

I am going to try My So-Called Secret Identity for this topic. I don't read a lot of comics except for The Oatmeal so this should be interesting.

I didn't even know there was a Panels challenge.

Shirley wrote: "Martha wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Does this have to be fiction? Would something like Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast count?"

If I had not read ..."

Kiwi wrote: "Not a fan of comics so I really need some help with this task.

A book that's been highly praised is [book:Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other..."

Martha wrote: "Bless his heart! My son gave me two graphic novels for Christmas thinking I could use one for the challenge. Alas, they don't fit the last 3-year criteria. I'll be reading them and maybe they can f..."

Thanks, Martha and Carmen. I was wondering if "Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant" would work for the comic selection as well.

Looks as if we are coming down on the side of 'yes,' Penelope!

Looking forward to reading it!

I was thinking Lumberjanes also. A couple other titles I was considering are The Story of My Tits and The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage.

I will probably read Southern Bastards, Vol. 1: Here Was a Man by Jason Aaron or Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction.

Kiwi wrote: "Not a fan of comics so I really need some help with this task.

A book that's been highly praised is [book:Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other..."

I'd love to know if that fits, too! I've been wanting to buy it for a while, and she's clearly not a superhero (except to fans!)

This ones on the TBR pile. Beware the Kitten Holy

I'm going to give a try.

Alice wrote: "Kiwi wrote: "I'd love to know if that fits, too! I've been wanting to buy it for a while, and she's clearly not a superhero (except to fans!) ..."

Alice, tacit consent, I'm assuming. I'm going to use that book if I can't find nothing better :P

I'll be reading

but will also probably read

Since I just finished Saga Vol. 1, I was thinking of choosing Saga, Volume 2 (published 2013) or Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick (published 2014)

Here is an interesting list - not sure about publication dates, though! http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/l...

I'm probably just going to read this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17...