Best of 2023 - My Top 15 - The Graphic Library

Best of 2023 - My top 15

12/29/2023

by Sara Smith

This year, my reading challenge was a modest 200 books, a far cry from the heigh of 2020 where I had the goal of a book-a-day. But, this feels like a good balance between work, life, and reading! And, I still managed to find 15 great books with some honorable mentions while pumping out many reviews for Booklist and the site, and even finding time to squeeze in School Library Journal this year. I hope you find some great books below to include in your collections!

(Note: any review marked with an * may require a Booklist subscription to read, or you might be able to find it among your favorite library purchasing software)

#15 - Demon Slayer

cover of demon slayer #1, Tanjiro holds his sister Nezuko.

Written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge

While I began reading this series in 2020, I picked up vols 9-23 this year for a Booklist article focusing on collecting the series by story arc. Reading it all in one sitting was definitely the way to do it, and made me appreciate the large cast of characters and helped me keep them all straight. Gotouge does write a bit formulaically, but also definitely knows how to make readers care about every character, including the demons.

Read the full reviews here: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4 , vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11, vol 12, vol 13, vol 14, vol 15, vol 16, vol 17

#14 - Romantic Killer

cover of Romantic Killer #1, which as Anzu reaching for her treasured things.

Written and illustrated by Wataru Momose

This short, 4-volume series is another I picked up for Booklist. This is a hilarious, trope-smashing romance starring Anzu who is determined to spend her free time playing video games, hanging out with her cat, and eating chocolate. But, the declining birth rate in Japan has some beings worried, and a cupid named Riri "curses" Anzu, takes away all the things she loves, throws a gaggle of hot guys in her path, and hopes she'll fall in love with one of them.

Read the full reviews here (Booklist Online subscription free): vol 1*, vol 2*, vol 3*, vol 4*

#13 - The Darwin Incident

Darwin Incident volume 1. Charlie hangs off the side of the torch of the Statue of Liberty and checks his cell phone.

Written and illustrated by Shu Umezawa

Charlie just wants to attend a normal high school and get a normal education, but Charlie's main problem is - he's not normal! Charlie is the world's first ever Humanzee. Born in a California lab 15 years ago then freed by the The Animal Liberation Allliance, Charlie has been trying to live a quiet life with his mom and dad in a small town in the Midwest, but all that changes when the ALA sets its sights on Charlie once again.

Read the full review here: vol 1

#12 - Neighborhood Story

cover of Neighborhood Story. It has Mikoko standing with her umbrella.

Written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa

I'm slightly cheating since the review hasn't been published yet, but this is one I did for School Library Journal. This is a prequel to Yazawa's lauded Paradise Kiss, which is more for older audiences, but Neighborhood Story is good for younger audiences. In it, we follow Mikako, a precocious teenager attending an Arts Academy who is navigating friendships and first crushes, and starting up a fashion line during her favorite class. It's a wonderful nostalgia read but also stands up to the test of time because Mikako goes through timeless tribulations that will connect to today's teen readers.

#11 - UnOrdinary

cover of UnOrdinary. John and Seraphina are standing outside their high school with their school uniforms on.

Written and illustrated by uru-Chan

John is a powerless teen at a private school in a world where everyone has a power. He's determined to do well and study hard, but he's a target for high-power bullies. There are some strange things happening around in the community, though - someone is murdering high powered superheroes and tracking even high schoolers who are overpowered, and buried secrets from John's past are starting to resurface.

Read the full review here: vol 1

#10 - Earthdivers

cover Earthdivers. On a sea that's red with blood, in the distance is a face that is half obscured by boats. The part of the face that is under water is a skull. The other half above the water stares at us with hatred in its eyes.

Written by Stephen Graham Jones, illustrated by Davide Gianfelice, colored by Joana LaFuente

In the year 2112, the Earth has been destroyed by wars, pollution, and more. Portions of the population have already taken to the skies in search of a new planet. But in the desert of Arizona, a group of Native Americans find a cave that sends them back in time. They hatch a plan to save the world and protect their ancestors, but it involves killing Christopher Columbus before he discovers America.

Read the full review here: vol 1

#9 - Call the Name of the Night

cover of Call the Name of the Night volume 1. Mira is holding her hands out and it looks like she has the essence of sunlight in front of her. She looks a little shocked and awed.

Written and illustrated by Tama Mitsuboshi

Mira is a young girl with a powerful curse: she can call the night and emanate it from her body to engulf whatever room or place she's in. In order to learn control and possibly reverse the hold it has on her, she goes to stay with Master Rei, a doctor who may need Mira's help as much as she needs theirs. This is a cute series in a similar vein as Witch Hat Atelier that focuses on mental health and healing.

Read the full review here: vol 1*, vol 2

#8 - Goodbye, Eri

cover of Goodbye, Eri. A person holds up a smartphone to Eri and captures her face and there is an ocean in the background.

Written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto

One year for his birthday, Yuta's mother gives him a smartphone and requests that he record her often as she is dying and won't know which moment will be her last. Yuta debuts the film in front of his classmates and it is poorly received. When he meets Eri, she convinces him that he can make a better film. This single-volume manga from the creator of Chainsaw Man will make the reader question perspective and the narrator himself, and will encourage re-reads to discover what is real and what is colored by Yuta's creative license.

Read the full review here.

#7 - Jungle Juice

cover of Jungle Juice volume 1. Suchan's face is very close, we can only see his eye and part of his cheek, and there is a dragon fly in front of it. His green eye is looking at us intensely.

Written by Hyeong Eun, illustrated by Juder

Suchan is a college student trying to live a normal life, but an altercation at a movie theater has forced his secret into the open: he has dragonfly wings! This leads to him discovering an entire society of humans who were mutated in a similar way, all having their genes spliced using a bug spray called Jungle Juice, and now he must integrate into their society in order to have any chance at living a normal human life once more.

Read the full review here: vol 1*

#6 - mamo

cover of Mamo. Two young girls climb a twisted tree while a black cat trails behind them.

Written and illustrated by Sas Milledge

Jo sets out one day to find someone who can help with the poltergeist in her attic and her ailing mother. She finds Orla, the granddaughter of the last witch of Haresden. Orla has no intention of being sucked back into Haresden’s problems, but Jo is pretty convincing. Orla agrees to fix her problems, but the two get more than they both bargained for.

Read the full review here.

#5 - the moth keeper

cover of The Moth Keeper. Anya holds out her hand for a moth, which is glowing yellow. She's wearing a brown, long-sleeve tunic and has a plaid scarf around her neck. Her chestnut hair falls around her face, and her long ears stick through her hair.

Written and illustrated by K. O'Neill

This absolutely gorgeous single-volume story follows Anya, who becomes the Moth Keeper, the most important job in the Night Village. She is responsible with guiding the moths out of their tree stump home, but getting them back in by sunrise. One night, Anya decides she isn’t satisfied with just knowing what life is like in the Night village. She visits the villages of creatures who thrive in daylight. Her exhaustion the next night leads to the moths flying away from her sight, and it's up to her and the power of other moon creatures to get the moths back before disaster befalls their village.

Read the full review here.

#4 - Villains are Destined to die

Cover of Villains are Destined to Die volume 1. Penelope is laying on a bed with her pink hair surrounding her. She's in a black dress with red front bodice paneling, and she's holding a dark red rose.

Written by Gwon Gyeoeul, adapted by SUOL

Our heroine is stuck in a terrible Cinderella-style nightmare, both in real life and as she’s sucked into a popular game! After defeating the game on the normal mode, she decides to attempt on the hard mode, which means playing from the “villainess’s” perspective. She realizes she has much in common with Penelope, the villain, and yet she is still thwarted and killed quickly. Frustrated, she falls asleep, and, upon waking, finds herself in the role of Penelope inside the game! Now, she must use her knowledge of the game world and what she's learned from her past to navigate five male characters and convince them not to kill her for the slightest misstep. There's no reset button this time!

Read the full reviews here: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3

#3 - Gachiakuta

cover of Gachiakuta vol 1. Rudo is in his large suit with oversized black gloves and chains are slung over him. His eyes are downcast but it's clear he is mad.

Written by Kei Urana, graffiti by Hideyoshi Andou

This might be cheating because the review and manga haven't been published yet, but I read this book in 2023, so it counts! In a post-apocalpytic world, Rudo is a young man who believes in the value of items, but the broader society is wasteful and easily discards items and people. When Rudo is wrongfully accused of murder, he is cast off into the "abyss", where he finds another human society amongst the trash. He vows to build back and seek revenge against those who wronged him. The artwork in this title is electric, and Urana and Andou have blended classic manga technique with urban elements that make each page feel like it's moving as it's being consumed.

#2 - Oshi No Ko

cover of Oshi no Ko volume 1. Ai is smiling with her tongue sticking out, and her hands are above her head in a pose. She has on pink gloves and her purple hair hangs around her face. There are stars in her pink eyes.

Written by Aka Akasaka, illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari

Volume 1 of this series is really the prologue - Ai is a popular idol singer who comes in secret to a hospital to deliver twins. What follows is told from the perspective of her son, who is a reincarnation of a person from the hospital, and he has all his memories from his past life of his mother coming to the hospital to receive treatment. The series is dark but can have some humorous moments, and relies on character-driven storytelling with intricate and compelling narratives. Akasaka isn't afraid to through plot twists our way!

Read the full reviews here: vol 1*, vol 2, vol 3

#1 - My Happy Marriage

cover of My Happy Marriage volume 1. Miyo stands in the foreground in a pink flowery kimono that is being blown in the wind. Behind her is Lord Kudo in his soldier's uniform. Around them are some white and purple flowers.

Written by Akumi Agitogi, illustrated by Rito Kohsaka

Miyo may be the oldest daughter in the prestigious magical Saimori family, but her family bear her no love and she is constantly abused. When her stepsister gets a marriage proposal, her father decides marry Miyo off to a purportedly unmarriable man, Lord Kiyoka Kudo. Lord Kudo turns out to be a respectable, no-nonsense person, and the two are a wonderful match. Miyo has time to heal from her trauma, and her latent magical gift has a chance to awaken. Lord Kudo, being the Commander of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit, uses his knowledge and influence to help Miyo and to investigate her family heritage in order to fully understand her. This story blends magic, romance, mental health issues, and healthy relationship topics all into one beautifully illustrated, pleasantly paced series.

Read the full reviews here: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4

Previous favs STILL being AWESOMENESS

Check out my reviews of series that I loved in previous years that either came out this year or that I read this year and STILL loved.

Adventure Zone, vol 5

Adventureman, vol 2

Asadora!, vol 6

Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost, vol 3, vol 4

Blue Lock, vol 4, vol 5

Canto, vol 2.5/3.5

The Faraway Paladin, vol 3, vol 4

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, vol 6, vol 7

Kaiju No. 8, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6

Lore Olympus, vol 4

Lost Lad London, vol 3 (series finale)

The Rose of Versailles, vol 4

Solo Leveling, vol 6

Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, vol 8, vol 9

Witch Hat Atelier, vol 10

Wynd, vol 3

Graphic with many covers of the previous best of winners continuing to publish into this year.

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