Best of 2024 - my top 15

by Sara Smith
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Welcome back to another edition of My Top 15! This year, my picks are a bit darker and a bit more more mature than they have been in the past, but that may be a indictment on my mental state. I've been really intrigued by some of the more gritty and gripping stories that have been produced this year. I also served on School Library Journal's Best Manga of 2024 committee, so there's definitely going to be some overlap. As always, these are the favorite of what I've read this year, so some of these books may have been published in previous years and I just finally got around to them.

​All of these books were rated 9/10 or 10/10 -- but this is not every book I've rated that high this year! These titles had fantastic art, gripping storylines, stood out in their respective genres, or made me feel feelings. I hope you enjoy or find some of your favorites among this list, or discover some new and exciting reads!

Reviews marked with the following symbols will require premium subscriptions, or searches in your favorite library purchasing program: Booklist* or ​School Library Journal+.

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#15 - Chernobyl

Written and illustrated by Matyas Namai

While we can't always choose the timing of our publication schedule, this one seemed perfectly situated to highlight the atrocities happening on Ukrainian soil yet again nearly 40 years after the disaster that befell the people of Pripyat around the Chernobyl power plant. The blue and yellow color palette throughout this informative text further highlighted the author's homage to the people of Ukraine. Namai also showed how to adeptly blend storytelling and exposition in this narrative nonfiction so as to captivate and inform.

​Read the full review

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#14 - Search and Destroy

Written and illustrated by Atsushi Kaneko, adapted from an original story by Osamu Tezuka

​This story of righteous vengeance with plenty of violence against wrongdoers, and it tapped into some primal urges in me for a very satisfying read. Having a strong female lead also certainly helped! The art-deco feel that reminded me of Burton's Batman lended a nostalgia that tied it all up together quite nicely.

​Find the review here: vol 1*

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#13 - Watch Dogs - Tokyo

Written and illustrated by Seiichi Shirato

This book also seemed very timely as the main characters are dealing with artificial intelligence, police states, and machine learning influencing arrest information. The protagonists are clandestinely fighting against an unjust system, certainly as many folks in 2024 are doing the same.

​Read the full review here: vol 1

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#12 - Kingdom of Quartz

Written and illustrated by BOMHAT

The first volume of this series blew me away with the premise and world building. The second book fell a little short with an uneven narrative, but the illustrations are gorgeous, so I still included it. This has a haunting undertone where I'm waiting for the shoe to drop and everyone to turn out to be extremely corrupt, but BOMHAT still has me on the hook to see if I'm right.

​Find the reviews here: vol 1*, vol 2

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#11 - Zawa + the belly of the beast

Written and illustrated by Michael Dialynas

​Zawa is a local guardian spirit who has been mistreated by the island inhabitants. She has been fed garbage and toxic sewage instead of actual food. She's adorable and I instantly wanted to protect her and give her all the cookies and hamburgers she wanted. Another timely title about how we are destroying our planet, yet at the end I still feel a little hopeless. I wish I could give the Earth some homemade cookies and erase the damage of toxic sledge, which is why this comic is on my best of. Dialynas continues to make me feel all kinds of feelings with absolutely beautiful illustrations to boot.
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​Read the full review

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#10 - Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom

Written by IRU, illustrated by Mo9Rang

​This series took a new spin to the reincarnation-as-the-villain tale that has been popular lately. The main character finds herself reincarnated as Abigail, the stepmom to an adorable young girl who is terrified of her, but this new Abigail wants to work on her relationships and repair her past reputation. The creative team also tackles some other heavy topics, such as eating disorders and societal norms for women and fashion.

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

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#9 - Delicious in Dungeon

Written and illustrated by Ryoko Kui

​This series definitely grew on me the more I got into it until I was fully hooked and diving head-first into each volume. I consumed the anime, participated in online fan-theories about the neurodivergence of characters, and eagerly anticipated with excitement and sadness the final volume's publication in July of this year. This is a series that will be able to sit on shelves for years to come.

​Read the full reviews here: vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11, vol 12, vol 13, vol 14

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#8 - Unico: The Awakening

Written by Samuel Sattin, adapted from an original story by Osamu Tezuka, and illustrated by Gurihiru

While I enjoy my dark and gritty, I am also a sucker for pastel and animal stories. I'm a product of the 90s, which means I love unicorns and brightly colored things. Even though the main characters are a unicorn and cute little kitty cat, Sattin has achieved some amazing emotional tension that kept me on the edge of my seat. Guruhiru's beautiful illustrations and amazing coloring sealed it for me, and I recommended this book at every book fair I worked this year.

​Read the full review here: vol 1

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#7 - The Guy she was Interested in Wasn't a guy at all

Written and illustrated by Sumiko Arai

There was so much hype leading up to the release of this book that I was worried I would be disappointed, but thankfully, this book lived up to the hype. The innocent crush between the female leads is so sweet and comforting. The two bond over bands from the 90s grunge era, which allowed me to slip into some nostalgia feels. The neon green from the cover is used in the background throughout the book, which made this stand out from the normal black-and-white illustrations of the manga format.

​Find the review here: vol 1*

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#6 - The Hunger and the Dusk

Written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Chris Wildgoose, colored by Msassyk and Diana Sousa, lettered by Simon Bowland

This was a series I found myself eagerly anticipating every month in floppy form, even if I didn't always rush home and read it right away. The story was gripping, but the art is really what captivated me the most. I loved to be swept away by this story, and I truly got to feel like I was part of this grad epic in some amazing, grand landscapes that had me transported to another world.

​Read the full review here: vol 1

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#5 - At the mountains of Madness

Written and illustrated by Gou Tanabe, adapted from an original story by H. P. Lovecraft

While Lovecraft himself is problematic, Tanabe is a master in illustrating horrific monsters, desolate landscapes, and anything that isn't human faces. Attending a panel at SDCC 24, I heard him explain his lack of facial features and expressions as a way to achieve reader stand-in, which sort of makes sense. In reading this volume digitally and being able to appreciate the detail that went into every panel, every monster, every splash page, I can completely forgive any and all human face that has no detail from Tanabe-sensei. His illustrations are beyond my ability to describe, and they're all done by hand! This book is absolutely a work of art.

Full review available via Booklist

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#4 - Kagurabachi

Written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono

This series is promised to be the next big thing for Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer fans because of the fighting style, swordplay, and the illustrations. While this may all be true, I'm also drawn to the storyline because I'm a sucker for righteous vengeance storylines. Volume 1 had an amazing set up with a beautiful blend of emotion, action, 
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​Find the review here: vol 1*

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#3 - The Sacrificers

Written by Rick Remender,  illustrated by Max Fiumata, colored by Dave McCaig, lettered by Rus Wooton

This was another story I waited monthly for its release in floppy form. Not only did I get swept away by the emotionally gripping story, I absolutely loved the artwork.  I love stories based in mythology, and this creative team has imagined a new pantheon of (mostly) horrible gods who are similar enough to the Greek/Roman group to feel familiar and for the atrocities to be grounded in folktales we've all heard before. Remender has be by the heartstrings and keeps delivering massive blows while Fiumata and McCaig beautifully transport me into this desolate, messed up world.

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

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#2 - The Remarried Empress

Written by Alphatart, adapted by HereLee, illustrated by SUMPUL

​Everyone needs a guilty pleasure, and this one's mine. There's so much drama, political intrigue, and lavish illustrations that this series satisfies a lot of boxes for me. I discovered it last year, but really took a deep dive for a Webcomic article, and now I can't get enough. While I read the trades when they're released, I've now started catching up with the series on Webtoon because I can't stand the cliffhangers.

​Read the full reviews here: (pre 2024: vol 1, vol 2) vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7

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#1 - Steel of the Celestial Shadows

Written and illustrated by Daruma Matsuura

By far, this was my favorite series this year. I read every volume as soon as it became available. I loved the methodical pacing that allowed for character development to be fully appreciated, the slow introduction of magic, and the otherworldliness of that magic. The setting based on 19th-century Japan is also an intriguing element of this beautifully illustrated series.
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​Read the full reviews here: vol 1*, vol 2, vol 3

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Honorable Mentions

These books are all rated either 10/10 or 9/10 but didn't quite make it to the same height of the Best of titles, but they are still fantastic books that deserve to be honored and shared.​

Giga Town: The Guide to Manga Iconography

Written and illustrated by Fumiyo Kouno

This book is definitely something that deserves a space amongst manga collections if you have readers who are interested in creating their own manga, if you have teachers interested in incorporating manga into their instruction, or if you have any readers curious about the symbols they may have interpreted on their own. I love the easy explanations in single page comics that could be used one-at-a-time during instruction.  I've been reading manga for a majority of my life, and I still learned a lot!
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Full review available via Booklist

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Initial D

Written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno

​Having missed the original Initial D craze when it was first published, I am appreciating these omnibus re-releases and being able to discover the sensation all over again as an adult. The illustrations are impeccable, and I kinda want to race my Honda every time I drive now. I don't though, because I'm a responsible driver, but I still feel cool for owning​ a Honda.

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

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​Tokyo Aliens

Written and illustrated by Naoe

​While this story may be predictable, the art is stand out, and I'm here for the comedic timing between the two male leads. I have a sneaking suspicion there might be some romance in the future as well, which would be even better.

​Read the full review here: vol 1

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​Unholy blood

Written and illustrated by Lina Lim

​Smart-aleck female lead: check. Hot dude: check. Humor: check. Action: check. Vampires: bonus! This series has a lot going for it, including one of my favorites -- if you've been following along you can guess by now -- righteous vengeance! 

​Read the full reviews here: vol 1+, vol 2

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Weirdo

Written by Tony Weaver Jr., illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo

​Weaver Jr.'s autobiographical work is incredibly honest, heartbreaking, and inspirational.  I loved how the Wibowos used color to convey the devastating emotions Weaver Jr. feels through his lowest points.  This book deserves a space in every library, and a piece of digital citizenship curriculum as we teach students to be responsible and consider the outcomes of their online conduct.

​Read the full review

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​Previous favs STILL being AMAZING

Call the Name of the Night, vol 3

Demon Slayer, vol 18, vol 19, vol 20, vol 21, vol 22-23

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11

Gachiakuta, vol 2

Kaiju No. 8, vol 7

​Jungle Juice, vol 2, vol 3, ​vol 4

Nicola Traveling Around the Demon's World, vol 2, 

​Solo Leveling, vol 7, vol 8

Spy x Family, vol 10, vol 11

Villains are Destined to Die, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6

​Witch Hat Atelier, vol 11