By Elena Biske
Maybe it’s just my midwestern blood, but something about snowfall always gets me nostalgic for my childhood in the cornfields. While I no longer get days off of school to spend sledding in my backyard or cozying up with a warm mug of Swiss Miss, the pleasure of those days isn’t entirely gone! I’ve found I can relive some of that youthful bliss through the memories I hold for the magical media of my younger years. I’ve highlighted the comics, both old and new, that I find myself turning to for that sweet pajamas-all-day feeling.
Pokémon Adventures by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
While this series may be located in our young readers’ manga section, I find this series just as enjoyable as a Pokémon professor than I did as a novice trainer back in the day. Consisting of several separate, yet intertwining stories following each generation (all the way from Kanto to Paldea!), every Pokémon fan can find a place to start where they feel at home.
Our favorite magical critters really come to life in the manga format, with every battle feeling just as intense as it was trying to defeat Champion Cynthia. Plus, the books follow a unique story not found in either the Pokémon games or anime, expanding on the world and giving us more to love! But just like the games, Pokémon Adventures is a series I can’t help coming back to time and time again.
Bone by Jeff Smith
Back in my day (the ancient early 2000s), we were lucky to have any comics on the shelves of our school library, and if we did, there was a good chance they were a random volume of Bone by Jeff Smith. Serialized starting in the 90’s, Bone has been renown in the comics sphere ever since, and amongst all age groups.
That being said, I personally find Bone nostalgic for more than just its production years- the stylization of its main characters, the Bone cousins, harkens back to the days of classic animation with their expressive bean-shaped bodies and slapstick-y antics. Defying genre and most other forms of categorization, Bone is a comedic, yet often dark fantasy romp that anyone can find something within to love. It is also incredibly accessible to those newer to the comics sphere, reading like the Sunday funnies (but with a lot more plot)!
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
If I had to narrow down my comics obsession to one source, it would be Raina Telgemeier’s Smile. This book caught me at the perfect age to both relate to and admire Telgemeier’s illustrated depiction of her younger self, and I was so entranced that I would sneakily borrow it from my classmates’ desks because I couldn’t wait for it to be returned to the library.
Smile is a memoir chronicling a young Raina’s transition from middle school to high school, underscored by her tumultuous orthodontic issues as a result of an accident. Though I don’t often try to relive my own middle-school experiences, Smile’s honesty and heart encourages me to give middle-school Elena the grace that she always deserved. We all have our blunder years- it’s how you grow from them that matters!
Warriors: The Prophecies Begin by Natalie Riess & Sara Goetter
Did you know that the Warrior Cats series has a new, best-selling graphic novel adaptation? I didn’t until recently! While I was never particularly into the series growing up (I was always more of a dog person…sorry Comics Cat!), I was definitely surrounded by it and I remember the excitement of my friends every time a new installment was released. Come to find out, there are kids just as excited about this new adaptation as they were for the originals during my childhood!
Warriors: The Prophecies Begin was clearly made with a lot of love for its source material, and would fit well into any size of Warrior Cats collection. It’s always fun to experience an old favorite translated into a new medium, and graphic novel adaptations are all the rage nowadays. Perhaps an old favorite of yours has a new version in the works- or it might already be on the Betty’s Books shelves!
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
No matter what generation you grew up in, Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes captures a sense of childlike wonder that anyone can find themselves yearning for. While I’m sure it’s a series that the majority of comics enthusiasts have dabbled in, nothing says “nostalgia” like returning to an old favorite time and time again.
Though Calvin’s misadventures with his (allegedly) living plush tiger Hobbes may not be on your local funnies page these days, they can still be found in a multitude of printed collections. This dynamic duo has remained iconic for a reason, and in revisiting their days together, readers are offered an always-relevant perspective on life, love, and our pursuit of joy.