So. Yeah. How about 2016, huh? A serious contender for the All-Time #1 Worst Year of My Lifetime—rivaled only by 2001 (guess why?) and maybe a couple others that I don't even want to think about right now. TBH, in personal terms I actually had a pretty ok year, but the horrifying results of the US elections in November (after a mortifying, traumatic run-up to the elections), along with the Brexit fiasco and general rightwing turn of many other countries in the world have me feeling pretty exhausted, angry, and downright existentially frightened. 2017 is already shaping up to be an even more awful year–guess why–but we'll just have to see, won't we.

At times like these it's easy to wonder: "Why bother with stuff like a Best Of Year list?" But moving forward and celebrating art and creative expression, even in the midst of calamitous world events, can never be a bad thing. Right? Plus this is my 6th annual Fave Comics list and old OCD-ish habits do die hard...so I'm forging ahead, shining a light through the surrounding fog of dread & fear onto some real good stuff–the stuff I liked best in what turned to be a pretty good year for comics after all. This time around I broke it down into my ten favorite books and ten favorite minicomics/floppies–with the strict ground rule that everything had to have been published during this terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad-but-still-with-some-bright-spots year. Enjoy, and let's all stay strong and fight back against what’s coming, just around the corner. And good riddance to you, 2016: the very mention of your name should now & forever carry a fucking Trigger Warning.

Ten Favorite Graphic Novels/Books (in alphabetical order, by creator last name)

Hot or Not: Twentieth Century Male Artists by Jessica Campbell (Koyama)

This highly amusing little paperback turns the tables on the art world's entrenched, ages-old male chauvinism and sexism by reducing several great, highly-regarded male artists to their “boneablity.” Thus according to Campbell, Henry Moore, for example, is a definite Hottie (“...He was fending off private anatomy tutorials from every human who saw him”), while Malevich is a total Nottie (“This is the face of an adult baby”). Campbell's thick-lined, naive-style art works perfectly for this irreverent but cutting satire.

Primahood: Magenta by Tyler Cohen (Stacked Deck Press)

Tyler Cohen is an artist/cartoonist possessed of a singular, unique vision. As Roberta Gregory astutely notes in book's introduction, "(Cohen's) artwork and storytelling would never be mistaken for anyone else's." This first collection of Cohen's work is well-produced and beautifully crafted and edited, resulting in a full out Artist's Statement on womanhood, motherhood, feminism, & sexuality and gender that is both thoughtful and entertaining, without being didactic/preachy.

We All Wish for Deadly Force by Leela Corman (Retrofit)

Leela Corman knocks it out of the park with this beautifully drawn collection of tales of grief & loss, family, Jewish history, life for women in modern day Egypt, and a funny piece on the surreality that is Eurovision. Each story is told with real heart and soul, with everything cohering splendidly—the book is all of a piece.

Band for Life by Anya Davidson (Fantagraphics)

A wonderful book collection of Anya Davidson's VICE Magazine strip, which details the ups and downs of a fledgling noise rock band called Guntit. Davidson's brightly colored panels are energetic and always visually interesting, and her sense of comedy and ironic melodrama interlaced with genuine pathos is masterful. But the real secret weapon of "Band for Life" is its cast: from trying-to-keep-it-all-together front woman Linda to the highly unstable Ann, from gay, bipolar Krang to weak-willed Renato, each member of the band is funny, vulnerable, and downright lovable—one of the most appealing comic strip troupes ever. 

Rosalie Lightning by Tom Hart (Saint Martin's Press)

My favorite graphic novel this year, Rosalie Lightning is Tom Hart's raw, uncompromising account of the untimely loss of his child Rosalie, who died suddenly, before her second birthday. Hart's narrative is an unflinching journal of deepest sorrow and occasional despair, yet it's ultimately uplifting, suffused as it is with great love for his daughter, and a reminder of the redemptive, healing powers of art and creation.

Don’t Come in Here by Patrick Kyle (Koyama)

This collection of surreal vignettes centers around an anonymous character living in a disorienting apartment, where ordinary dimensions of space & reality seem to be highly compromised. With underlying themes of alienation, isolation and psychological disturbance, adeptly limned in Kyle's unique, almost hieroglyphic style, Don't Come in Here is an eerie, unsettling, and hypnotic experience.

Turning Japanese by MariNaomi (2d Cloud)

Like Luke Howard, Mari published two books this year, both excellent. As much as I admire I Thought You Hated Me! (Retrofit), I think Turning Japanese is her best work to date, with a gorgeous production job from 2d Cloud. To find out more about the book, read my June ’16 TCJ interview with Mari here.

Virus Tropical by Powerpaola (2d Cloud)

This is an autobiographical coming-of-age story, about a family of three sisters and their mother–and a mostly-absent father–in Colombia during the 1980's into the 90's. Powerpaola’s densely patterned, obsessively detailed, slightly naïve—and wholly wonderful-—drawings captivated me from beginning to end–breathing as they do with life and feeling. Apparently there’s a forthcoming animated feature based on this and I’m really looking forward to it.

Wendy's Revenge by Walter Scott (Koyama)

The sequel to 2014's Wendy, this volume continues to document the title character's hilarious, humiliating, occasionally poignant adventures as she navigates her way through the treacherous waters of the millennial hipster artist scene. My original TCJ review is here.

Space by Robert Sergel (Secret Acres)

Robert Sergel's tableau-like panels and high contrast, precise lines seem perfectly civilized on the surface, while ruthlessly recording the moments of discomfort, humiliation, disquiet, and awkwardness endemic to the human condition. By turns funny, thoughtful, poignant, and humane, his comics are a real delight to the eye, too. 

10 more Notable Books:

Ohio is for Sale by Jonathan Allen (Alternative Comics); Literally Everything is Outside My Comfort Zone by Tony Breed (Mega Hugs); Trying Not to Notice by Will Dinski (2d Cloud);Talk Dirty to Me by Luke Howard (AdHouse); I Thought You Hated Me by MariNaomi (Retrofit); Hellbound Lifestyle–Alabaster Pizzo & Kaeleigh Forsyth (Retrofit); What is Obscenity? The Story of a Good for Nothing Artist and Her Pussy by Rokudeneshiko (Koyama); Jessica Farm Vol. 2 by Josh Simmons (Fantagraphics); Scorched Earth by Tom Van Deusen (Kilgore); Somebody Please Have Sex with Me by Gina Wynbrandt (2d Cloud);

Ten Favorite Minis and Floppies (in alphabetical order, by creator last name)

The Warlok Story by Max Clotfelter (self-published)

Although Max Clotfleter is a versatile cartoonist, equally skilled at creating moody surrealist landscapes and grungy, punk-laced humor, for me he shines brightest in autobio mode, particularly when writing about his hilariously fraught childhood and adolescence (see also his Elements of Rough mini from 2015). The Warlok Story is Clotfelter's Artist Origins story, which will bring any underground/alt cartoonist worth their salt back to the days when they first discovered they could draw anything—and I mean anything, especially scenes of extremely twisted sex & violence.

Medieval War Scene by Aaron Cockle (Ley Lines Series, Czap Books & Grindstone)

I've read and reread this beautiful risographed meditation on art several times over—it's my favorite of all the Ley Lines editions that I've seen. Read my original capsule review here.

Zebadiah Part III by Asher Z Craw

Craw brings this deeply personal tale (which he began several years ago) to a quite satisfying conclusion. Zebadiah is a blend of magical realist fiction and autobiography that encompasses themes of transgender identity, religious faith, and a love that transcends time—in a narrative that guest stars the Devil himself! There’s a lot going on here, but Craw renders it all seamlessly, resulting in one of the most engaging, heartfelt, and original minicomics you could hope to find. Like many others on this list, Craw is a unique creator whose work you wouldn’t mistake for that of anyone else. Note: this issue doesn’t appear to be available online, but hopefully will be soon.

BDSM (Youth in Decline) & Libby’s Dad (Retrofit) by Eleanor Davis

BDSM explores the off-set relationship between a woman playing the Dom and another woman playing the Sub for an adult film (original short review here), while Libby's Dad is a look at the social dynamics of a group of teenage girls during a slumber party. In both comics Eleanor Davis displays her mastery of emotional nuance, rendered as truthfully and humanely as can be. Helps that her drawings are gorgeous, too.

Our Mother by Luke Howard (Retrofit)

Howard's Our Mother, a unique look into familial mental illness, is both searingly personal and ironically distanced, mixing humor and sorrow with experimental storytelling in a thoroughly winning way. Out of the several excellent books Retrofit published this year, this is my favorite. My tcj interview with Luke is here.

Three Sisters by Ingrīda Pičukāne (Kuš! #38)

My original short review of this wonderfully dark, lyrical study of hyper femininity vs. hyper masculinity is on TCJ.

Everyone is Hungry by Anna Sailamaa (Kuš! #46)

One of my favorite mini kuš! comics yet, this depicts a silent little afternoon reverie with gorgeous drawings somewhat reminiscent of those of Amanda Vähämäki, but in a more naturalistic vein.

Silver Wire by Jordan Shiveley (Uncivilized)

I love everything about this mini, from its elegantly conceived cover design to its darkly funny tale of mice, relationship angst and death, to the deadpan appendix provided in the back (including such entries as "Callous disregard" & "Inexorable march of time"). Read my original capsule review here.

The Social Discipline Reader by Ian Sundahl (Domino)

Scintillating comics noir. My original capsule review here.

Important Cats by Edited by Liz Yerby (self-published)

This is one of the most charming self-published books I've seen all year, an elegantly crafted handmade book (with a binding and everything), featuring a mix of friendly, engaging, from-the-heart comics about our feline friends. Editor Yerby also does very interesting, varied solo work, she’s an artist to watch.

10 more Notable comic books/minis:

Enchantment: Diary and Travelogue Comics by Lillie Craw & Asher Craw; The Experts by Sophie Franz (Retrofit); Frontiers #12 by Kelly Kwang (Youth in Decline); Black Tea #4 by Jason Martin; You Don't Get There from Here (ongoing series) by Carrie McNinch; Paper Pencil Life #4 by Summer Pierre; King-Cat Comix and Stories # 76 by John Porcellino; Wallpaper by Whit Taylor; Music of Changes by Daria Tessler (Mini Kuš! #45); The New Yerby by Liz Yerby

All text © 2016 by Rob Kirby. Book cover images are © by their respective original artists and publishers. Top image by Walter Scott from Wendy’s Revenge (Koyama Press)