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!