Today I get to share the first of our 2020 favorites lists! We have a whole week of lists planned for all of you so I hope you’re excited about them. Today I’m sharing my top 10 favorite graphic novels and manga. I read 39 of them and really enjoyed most of them. Since I read multiple volumes of some of them I decided to group those together to make it a bit easier on myself haha. Let’s see which graphic novels and manga I picked!
10. Heavy Vinyl vol. 1 – Carly Usdin & Nina Vakueva
4 stars
I came across this one on Scribd and decided to give it ago. While it looked cute, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it this much! It’s part mystery, and part historical fiction. I loved the vibe, the art and the story. There is a second volume and I definitely want to read that as well.
9. Goldie Vance vol. 1 – 3 – Hope Larson & Brittney Williams
4 stars
Another graphic novel that combines mystery with a historical setting. I enjoyed this one so much! It was also one I read through Scribd and I made my way through the first three volumes in no time. There are two more volumes and I definitely plan on reading those as well.
8. Pumpkinheads – Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks
4 stars
I saved this one to read during autumn and I’m so glad I did! This was a very atmospheric read and the art made me want to go to a pumpkin patch asap. I’m actually quite jealous we don’t have them in the Netherlands because I just want to experience them once haha. This was a cute story and I really enjoyed it!
7. Giant Days vol. 2-14 – John Allison
4 stars
Yes, I actually read 13 volumes of this graphic novel series! Can you believe it? All the issues were available through Scribd and I just went for it. I really enjoyed most of it, some volumes were more enjoyable then others but overall I was quite invested in these characters. One of my favorite parts of the story is the university setting! And I also have to do an honorable mention that goes along with Giant Days. Wicked Things, a graphic novel about one of the main characters sister, was very close to making it on this list!
6. Brave Chef Brianna – Sam Sykes & Selina Espiritu
4 stars
This was so much fun! I wish it was a series and not just a standalone. It has good art and I loved the world the author created. I think the world was my favorite part of this read. The story was also enjoyable but I would’ve liked to see it stretched out over multiple volumes. But definitely a great graphic novel!
5. The Promised Neverland 6&7 – Kaiu Shirai
4,5 stars
This is one of my favorite manga series and I saw that the last volume will be releasing in 2021. I guess I have some catching up to do ;). This is series is pretty brutal but I really like reading about this world (even though I would never want to go there haha). I adore the characters and just simply love the series.
4. Saga vol. 6 – 9 – Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples
4-5 stars
This is one of the most beloved graphic novel series in the book community and I have to agree! The authors announced they would go on a break after volume nine and I finally read up to there. I was expecting them to have returned by now but I did see a tenth volume on Goodreads with a 2021 release date so I have high hopes ;). This is truly what you can call a space opera and it is amazing.
3. Witch Hat Atelier 2 – 4 – Kamome Shirahama
5 stars
The highest ranked manga on the list! I discovered Witch Hat Atelier last year and I loved it right away. This is such a magical series and I love the way magic works in this world. I also really like the characters and I love the art style. This is another way I would highly recommend! And since there aren’t that many volumes out yet it’s pretty doable to catch up ;).
2. Heartstopper vol. 3 – Alice Oseman
5 stars
Last year Hearstopper was my number 1 and this year I had trouble choosing between number 1 through 3 again haha. But in the end I decided to give Heartstopper the number 2 slot. I really really loved this one and I can’t wait for the next volume. The characters are amazing and we move into other difficult situations with them.
1.Fence vol 3&4 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
5 stars
The main reason I picked Fence for the number one slot it because I read two volumes of this one haha. I loved both so so much. The characters are being developed more and more and I can’t wait to read more about them. I personally really like the sports part as well. And of course we have some very slow burning romances, hopefully my ships will sail at some point haha.
Honorable Mention: Lore Olympus season 1
5 stars
I read Lore Olympus through webtoon and I felt like this was the best list to mention it. Webtoon is a free website (and app) to read webcomics. Most of them upload a new chapter every week and you can get sucked in pretty easily haha. I binged the first season of Lore Olympus and loved it so so much. At the moment the author brings us new content for season 2 every week. But I decided to wait until the whole season is finished so I can binge it again ;).
These were my favorite graphic novels and manga (and webcomics) I read in 2020. What do you think of my list? Have you read any of them? And which graphic novel or manga was your favorite of the year? I always love getting your recommendations!
I really want to read Heavy Vinyl and Goldie Vance. LOVE the Saga graphic novels. I like the Fence and Heartstopper series too, but I need to get up to date on those.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…(Review) Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder
Happy to hear you enjoyed Saga, Fence and Heartstopper as well! Goldie Vance is so much fun!! I’m so happy I read the first couple of volumes in that series. And I also really enjoyed Heavy Vinyl <3. Hope you do to if you pick them up!
Great post! I’ve been trying to read more graphic novels that aren’t manga.
Thank you! Hopefully you find some good ones on this list (or maybe on last years list!)