School’s out, and the kids are stuck in a vicious cycle of video games, TikTok streaming and texting in a vicious rinse-and-repeat cycle of sedentary living. Parents, head down to the library, sign the kid up for a summer reading program and meander over to your friendly neighborhood bookstore, because The Beat has compiled a list of 39 anticipated kids graphic novels for summer 2022 that you and the kiddoes will want to check out.
Starting in July, it’s game on with the second half of Mike Dawson’s FIFTH QUARTER and Dawud Anyabwile’s graphic novel adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s THE CROSSOVER. Jose Pimienta returns with a story that explores the struggles that kids face in trying to adjust to peer pressure. Continuing into August, Jason Shiga (MEANWHILE) releases a new interactive graphic novel, Imogen and Isabel Greenberg (ATHENA) offer a cheeky take on the Goddess of Earth, and Faith Erin Hicks (NAMELESS CITY trilogy) tackles friends and horses. Finally as summer winds down, Lincoln Peirce (BIG NATE), Stuart Gibbs (SPY SCHOOL), Bree Paulsen, Sophie Escabasse, and Christina Soontornvat (THE LAST MAPMAKER) deliver required reading with funny and poignant tales about friendship while Rebecca Burgess addresses the subject of autism and bullying in her new graphic novel.
Ready to roll? Let’s take a look at the 39 anticipated kids graphic novels for summer 2022!
Star Knights
Cartoonist: Kay Davault
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: Jul. 6 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 5 (Bookstores)
List Price: $20.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
What makes a hero? Brave Star Knights are heroes who go on adventures. But Tad is just a frog, and frogs can’t save the day. Can they? Determined to out-hop his mud-dweller fate and pursue his dream of being a knight, Tad finds himself on a quest with a surprise group of adventurers, including the Star King! It’s a race against time as Tad searches for a way to take the Star King to the moon so that he can bring peace to the forest—and prove that anybody can be a hero. Even a frog. This graphic novel is perfect for fans of delightful characters, hilarious hijinks, and stories about being true to you who are.
The Airless Year
Writer: Adam P. Knave
Artist: Valentine Barker, Frank Cvetkovic
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Release Date: Jun. 22 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 12 (Bookstores)
List Price: $14.99
For Kacee, a queer Black girl in middle school, everything feels like a struggle. Her parents take out their personal issues on her, classes are a challenge, her crush is clueless about her feelings, and her two best friends are always at odds. When Kacee fails a class as a result of her stress and ends up in summer school, she starts to wonder why she even bothers trying—and ultimately begins to discover her own power to improve the things in her life she can control, and try to let go of what she can’t. From writer Adam P. Knave (The Once and Future Queen) and artist Valentine Barker, with letters by Frank Cvetkovic (Punch-Up), THE AIRLESS YEAR is a story of self-discovery and empowerment about taking control where you can, and learning to let the rest go.
The Fifth Quarter: Hard Court
Cartoonist: Mike Dawson
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Jul. 13 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 12 (Bookstores)
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Sixth grade is here! Just when Lori starts to get comfortable, things change again. Lori’s friends have found new interests. Her dad goes back to work for the first time since she was born. And when her mom decides to start coaching in the new after-school basketball league, Lori’s home life collides with her passion. To make matters worse, all her friends are playing for the opposing team. Lori feels frustrated and alone, like she might be falling behind in her game.
Booked: The Graphic Novel (The Crossover Series)
Writer: Kwame Alexander
Artist: Dawud Anyabwile
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: Jul. 13 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 12 (Bookstores)
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
In this electrifying follow-up to Kwame Alexander’s Newbery winner The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage. A New York Times bestseller and National Book Award Longlist nominee, now in a graphic novel edition featuring art from Dawud Anyabwile. Twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read. This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya Picture Book
Cartoonist: Isao Takahata
Publisher: Viz Media
Release Date: Jul. 13 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 12 (Bookstores)
List Price: $19.99
Based on the masterpiece film from Studio Ghibli cofounder Isao Takahata. Why did she choose to come to earth? Why did she long for this world? An old bamboo cutter and his wife find a tiny girl inside a bamboo shoot and raise her. The mysterious little princess grows rapidly into a young lady, enthralling all who encounter her—but ultimately, she must face her fate and be punished for her crime.
Science Comics: Bridges: Engineering Masterpieces
Cartoonist: Dan Zettwoch
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Jul. 20 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 19 (Bookstores)
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Follow Bea, Archie, Trudy, and Spencer (otherwise known as the BATS!) as they crisscross the globe using every type of bridge: beam, arch, truss, and suspension. From ancient low-slung rope bridges to modern hi-tech towers of steel, they’ll traverse ‘em all. Their journey will take them through history and connect them with new ideas and different cultures. Along the way they’ll identify the dangerous forces trying to bring bridges crashing down, and how to defeat them…through engineering!
Twin Cities
Cartoonist: Jose Pimienta
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: Jul. 13 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 19 (Bookstores)
List Price: $20.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Luis Fernando and Luisa Teresa are twins, and they finally have the chance to stand on their own. Fernando is staying local in Mexicali, Mexico, and Teresa is planning to cross the border every day so she can go to a private school in Calexico, California. Suddenly on his own, Fernando realizes that without his twin around. Desperate to not be alone in middle school, he finds himself making friends with the first kid who’s willing to give him a chance . . . only this new friend says and does a lot of things that Fernando isn’t too sure about. Teresa is ready to thrive and stand on her own two feet, but she soon finds herself failing under the pressure of crossing the US/Mexico border every day. She no longer has to worry about being compared to her brother — but now she doesn’t have his support when she could really use it. At home, both twins have a chance to reconnect. But instead, they find themselves pushing each other away. After all, being on their own is what they always wanted . . . right? This is a truly contemporary story about siblings, middle school, and peer pressure. TWIN CITIES explores the importance of family, and also the struggles that come with trying to live up to standards that are impossible to meet.
Lumberjackula
Writer: Mat Heagerty
Artist: Sam Owen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Jul. 20 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 19 (Bookstores)
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Jack is in a pickle. His lumberjack mom wants him to go to Mighty Log Lumberjack Prep to learn how to chop wood and wear flannel. His vampire dad wants him to go to Sorrow’s Gloom Vampire School to learn how to turn into a bat and drink blood-orange juice. And Jack has a secret: what he really wants to do is dance. When he finds out about Tip Tap Twinkle Toes Dance Academy from new friend Plenty, Jack feels he’s finally found the place where he can be his true self. But he’s too afraid of disappointing his family to tell them. What’s a half-lumberjack, half-vampire boy to do? To summon the confidence to pursue his dreams, Jack will have to embrace every part of himself—his lumberjack toughness, his vampire eeriness, and most especially his awesome dance moves.
Kitty Quest: Tentacle Trouble
Cartoonist: Phil Corbett
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: Jul. 27 (Comics Shops) / Jul. 26 (Bookstores)
List Price: $20.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
The islands of Pawdor are in peril once again! Ferocious sea monsters have been spotted on shore, and the townsfolk are in a complete panic. Luckily, there’s a new guild of heroes known as Kitty Quest that’s ready to protect the land. So what if Woolfrik and Perigold are its only members (besides their mentor who’s a ghost), and it’s just their second week on the job? They may be all that stands in the way of an invasion! But how are these two amateur heroes supposed to stop a whole army of tentacled beasts? It may just take some quick thinking, a whole lot of luck, and a little help from the most unexpected of places. In order to save all of kitty-kind, Woolfrik and Perigold are going to have to learn to work together and prove that two heads are better than one.
A Diary in the Life of A Caveman, A Queen, and Everything In Between: History As You’ve Never Seen It Before
Writer: Mike Barfield
Artist: Jess Bradley
Publisher: Buster Books
Release Date: Aug. 1 (Bookstores)
List Price: $16.99
The hilarious minds behind A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You have teamed up once again – this time to give a taste of the daily lives of the people, animals and objects who made history. Featuring a day in the life of early humans as they paint mammoths on the walls of a cave, a fierce gladiator battling in the Colosseum and the first woman in space. And not forgetting the animals of history – from an Egyptian cat (worshipped as a god, of course) to an albatross flying over Rapa Nui and a dog in the trenches of the First World War. Readers can also discover the stories behind famous constructions, including the Great Wall of China and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and delve into the secret diaries of a Viking, Isaac Newton’s cat and the wooden panel that became the Mona Lisa. With over 90 entries told in the friendly, informative style of Mike Barfield and brought to life by Jess Bradley’s brilliantly funny illustrations, this book will have children learning and laughing as they go.
Order of the Night Jay (Book One): The Forest Beckons
Cartoonist: Jonathan Schnapp
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Release Date: Aug. 3 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 2 (Bookstores)
List Price: $14.99
Frank is perhaps the most un-bear-like bear Camp Jay Bird has ever seen. Actually, he’s probably the ONLY bear Camp Jay Bird has ever seen. And there are tons of bugs, he’s getting picked on, and he can’t seem to earn a single badge! But there’s Ricky, an excitable little raccoon who shares Frank’s love of Mega Bunny comics. But Ricky’s friendship might be more than Frank can handle. After breaking camp rules, getting lost in the woods, and discovering ancient secrets about the long-forgotten Order of the Night Jay, how will Frank explain all this to his dad?
Invisible: The Graphic Novel
Writer: Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Artist: Gabriela Epstein
Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: Aug. 3 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 2 (Bookstores)
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Can five overlooked kids make one big difference? There’s George: the brain; Sara: the loner; Dayara: the tough kid; Nico: the rich kid; And Miguel: the athlete. And they’re stuck together when they’re forced to complete their school’s community service hours. Although they’re sure they have nothing in common with one another, some people see them as all the same . . . just five Spanish-speaking kids. Then they meet someone who truly needs their help, and they must decide whether they are each willing to expose their own secrets to help . . . or if remaining invisible is the only way to survive middle school. With text in English and Spanish, Invisible features a groundbreaking format paired with an engaging, accessible, and relatable storyline. This Breakfast Club–inspired story by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of Concealed, and Gabriela Epstein, illustrator of two Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel adaptations, is a must-have graphic novel about unexpected friendships and being seen for who you really are.
Frankie’s World
Cartoonist: Aoife Dooley
Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: Aug. 3 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 2 (Bookstores)
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
From acclaimed Autistic Irish comedian Aoife Dooley comes a fresh and funny debut middle-grade graphic novel about fitting in and standing out. Frankie is different from everyone in her class, and she can’t figure out why. She has trouble concentrating, and her classmates tease her for not having a dad at home. To try to make sense of the world, Frankie doodles her daily adventures in a journal. One day, when Frankie sneaks into her mom’s room and sees her biological father’s name on her birth certificate, she decides to go on a mission to track him down. Could Frankie’s father be the key to finding out why Frankie feels so adrift? A unique story told with a light touch and an abundance of warmth and wit, FRANKIE’S WORLD is laugh-out-loud funny and a love letter to daring to be different.
Adventuregame Comics
Cartoonist: Jason Shiga
Publisher: Amulat Books
Release Date: Aug. 3 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 2 (Bookstores)
List Price: $14.99
ADVENTUREGAME COMICS is a new series of interactive graphic novels in the vein of Jason Shiga’s hit graphic novel Meanwhile. Readers follow the story from panel to panel using tubes that connect them, and sometimes the path will split, giving readers the chance to choose how the story unfolds. Leviathan is set in a medieval coastal village, where residents live in fear of a giant sea creature. Your goal as a reader is simple: defeat the Leviathan! As you wander through the open world, the town’s backstory is revealed. You can attempt to visit the library to try and learn why the Leviathan destroyed it years ago. You can stop by the castle to discover the town was once riddled with crime and theft—and how that’s stopped as the Leviathan will wreak havoc on the town for the smallest misdeeds. If you’re lucky, you may find your way to the old wizard who may possess the one thing that could keep the Leviathan at bay. But not everything is as it appears in this village. Can you discover the secrets and stop the Leviathan before it’s too late?
Nico Bravo and the Trial of Vulcan
Cartoonist: Mike Cavallaro
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Aug. 10 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 9 (Bookstores)
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $16.99 Paperback
Got a problem? The seasoned staff at Vulcan’s Celestial Supply Shop—a kid named Nico Bravo, a sphinx named Lula, and a unicorn named Buck—have got just the thing in their inventory of magical merchandise. Vulcan is on trial, accused by the evil Ahriman of breaking the Cosmic Rule—interfering in the plans of a fellow god! His only hope is finding five powerful artifacts scattered across the globe. But is there more to this quest than meets the eye?
Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky
Created By: Kwame Mbalia
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Olivia Stephens
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Release Date: Aug. 10 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 9 (Bookstores)
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s notebook. Tristan chases after it–is that a doll?–and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left Black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price.
Gaia: Goddess of Earth
Writer: Imogen Greenberg
Artist: Isabel Greenberg
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: Aug. 10 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 9 (Bookstores)
List Price: $14.99
A spunky, feminist take on the myth of Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth. Long before the age of the Olympian gods, Gaia created the world in all its beauty. But from Gaia also came the Titans, who ran wild and free through this world—until her husband Ouranos turned on Gaia and declared himself the ruler of all she’d created. Her son Cronus then rose to power, but soon he too became hungry for more power—so much so that he swallowed his own children. But Gaia managed to hide the youngest son, Zeus, from Cronus. Zeus grew up and defeated Cronus and saved his brothers and sisters. Gaia thought this would be the end of all the needless war, but Zeus was not satisfied—he swore to rid the world of anyone who challenged his power. Gaia was furious. She wanted no part in the world of Zeus. She would not fight his destruction with more destruction. It might be too late for Zeus, but it wasn’t too late for the mortals—or for the earth itself. Follow the goddess of earth through her struggles with gods and mortals as she discovers her strength and eventually finds the peace she has always longed for. Tales of Great Goddesses are graphic novels that bring the stories of some of the most powerful and fascinating mythical goddesses to life!
Surviving the Wild: Sunny the Shark
Cartoonist: Remy Lai
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Release Date: Aug. 10 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 9 (Bookstores)
List Price: $13.99
Sunny the Shark is a fearsome predator. As the oceanic whitetip shark searches for her next meal, a chatty school of pilot fish trails behind, cleaning her in exchange for food crumbs. But when Sunny mistakes a plastic ring for prey and it gets caught around her fin, she soon struggles to hunt. Will she be able to break free and find food before winter sets in?
Up To No Ghoul
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Cat Farris
Publisher: HarperAlly
Release Date: Aug. 10 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 9 (Bookstores)
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Ever wake up in the middle of the night to awful nightmares about vampires? When a mysterious blood bank rolls into town, Grey can’t help but get an eerie feeling. Could it be linked to his nightmares about vampires? After some investigating, Grey learns it’s something more sinister than he could ever imagine . . . and there’s only one creature who can help him—Lavinia. Despite the fact they are forbidden to talk to one another again, this spooky mystery is bigger than any promises between the ghouls and humans. This fun, lightly spooky adventure is a good Halloween read but is also the perfect graphic novel read all year round. It’s a wonderful escape from everyday life, providing readers with a good scare and plenty of laughter.
Ride On
Cartoonist: Faith Erin Hicks
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Aug. 17 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 16 (Bookstores)
List Price: $22.99 Hardcover / $14.99 Paperback
VIctoria has always loved horses. But riding in competitions is high stakes, high stress, and shockingly expensive. And even though Victoria’s best friend Taylor loves competing, Victoria has lost her taste for it. After a heartbreaking fight with Taylor, Victoria needs a new start—at a new stables. A place where she doesn’t have to worry about anything other than riding. No competition, no drama, no friends.
Who Was A Daring Pioneer of the Skies? Amelia Earhart: A Who HQ Graphic Novel (Who HQ Graphic Novels)
Writer: Melanie Gillman
Artist: A.C. Esguerra
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Release Date: Aug. 16 (Bookstores)
List Price: $12.99 Hardcover / $7.99 Paperback
Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series! Explore the story of Amelia Earhart, as she embarks on her second and final journey around the globe. A story of determination, heart, and courage, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves into the daring grit of the aviation pioneer — brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that fly off the page.
The Pathfinders Society: The Legend of the Lost Boy
Writer: Francesco Sedita, Prescott Seraydarian
Artist: Steve Hamaker
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Aug. 24 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 23 (Bookstores)
List Price: $18.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
In their newest adventure, the Pathfinders are in for a wild time–literally! Unwittingly transported fifty years into the past, Kyle, Vic, Harry, Beth, and Nate desperately try to find a way back to their own time while attempting to avoid questions about who–and from when–they are. A mysterious map and a reckless river journey takes them straight into danger and beyond, where the present and the past collide in otherworldly ways. Will the Pathfinders find their way home, or will they be trapped in this not-so-groovy era forever? Electrifying artwork by Eisner-Award-winning artist Steve Hamaker brings the action, friendships, and intrigue to life in this exciting graphic novel series.
My Buddy, Killer Croc
Writer: Sara Farizan
Artist: Nicoletta Baldari
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: Aug. 30 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 30 (Bookstores)
List Price: $9.99
Andy, like a lot of kids, feels a little lost and out of place when he moves to Gotham. He’s quiet and shy…and a little worried that the scar on his face makes him stick out. Some classmates make him feel welcome, and others don’t. But Andy has a secret. Back in Florida, his dad introduced him to the wrestler Waylon Jones, and Andy’s pretty sure he’s in Gotham now, too. If Andy can find him and ask for some wrestling tips, he can have it all. Finding Jones won’t be too hard, either…because in Gotham, Jones goes by the name Killer Croc! Trouble is, Batman is looking for Andy’s childhood hero, too.
The Why-Why’s Gone Bye-Bye (Trubble Town #2)
Cartoonist: Stephan Pastis
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: Aug. 30 (Bookstores)
List Price: $22.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Just when you thought things could not get any wackier in Trubble Town, the adult residents are abducted by aliens, leaving the town in the hands of all the kids. What could possibly go wrong…besides everything?
Batman’s Mystery Casebook
Writer: Sholly Fisch
Artist: Christopher A. Uminga
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: Aug. 30 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 30 (Bookstores)
List Price: $9.99
Have you ever needed help solving a mystery? Batman has! Batman is a great detective, but he rarely works alone. His sidekicks Robin and Batgirl, his butler Alfred, and the police of Gotham City all play a role in helping him keep his city safe. You can too! Look for clues! Analyze evidence! Solve riddles! Learn history! Help the Batman as he goes on his adventures, and see if you can spot the answers to these mysteries before he logs them into his casebook.
Drawing the Vote: A Graphic Novel History for Future Voters
Writer: Tommy Jenkins
Artist: Kati Lacker
Publisher: Amulet Paperbacks
Release Date: Aug. 31 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 30 (Bookstores)
List Price: $16.99
Originally published in the lead-up to the 2020 US presidential election, DRAWING THE VOTE: A GRAPHIC NOVEL HISTORY FOR FUTURE VOTERS looks at the history of voting rights in the United States and how it has affected the way we vote today. Author and educator Tommy Jenkins was inspired by his students to trace this history from the earliest steps toward democracy during the American Revolution, to the upheaval caused by the Civil War, the fight for women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement, the election of an African American president, and beyond. Along the way, Jenkins identifies events and trends that led to the unprecedented results of the 2016 presidential election that left many Americans wondering, “How did this happen?” At a time when many citizens are experiencing apathy about voting and skepticism concerning our bitterly divided political parties, DRAWING THE VOTE seeks to offer some explanation for how we got here and how every American, young and old, can take action. The expanded paperback edition features an additional 32 pages of comics that cover the results of the 2020 presidential election and the factors that shaped it, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6 insurrection.
Big Nate: Destined for Awesomeness (Big Nate TV Series Graphic Novel)
Cartoonist: Lincoln Peirce
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: Aug. 31 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 30 (Bookstores)
List Price: $19.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Sixth-grader Nate Wright believes he is AWESOME. At least that’s what he’ll tell you. Truth is, he has his doubts. But he’s not about to let the rest of the world know that. Instead, Nate finds himself constantly trying to prove how great he is to everyone around him. But there are many bumps on the road to Awesomeness, from his annoying sister, to his academic arch-nemesis, to his pure evil social studies teacher. Luckily, Nate is able to express himself through the world of cartoons that he creates. Cartoons are his super power. They express the way he feels and bring his overactive imagination to life. On the outside, Nate seems confident and sure of what he is doing, but his cartoons reveal who he truly is: a little uncertain, but very funny and always entertaining. Charming, mischievous, and a magnet for misadventure—trouble is always fun when Nate is around. Just ask his friends! BIG NATE: DESTINED FOR AWESOMENESS includes stories from three episodes of the new animated series on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon. In “The Legend of the Gunting,” Nate finds himself only one detention away from disappearance, according to an ominous P.S. 38 legend. In “Go Nate, It’s Your Birthday,” Nate’s use of his father’s credit card leads to all kinds of great adventures—and an epic race to recover from disaster. And in “CATastrophe,” Nate finally gets a chance to spend time with his imagined true love, Jenny, only to wind up terrified of her pet.
Spy School Project X
Cartoonist: Stuart Gibbs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Sep. 6 (Bookstores)
List Price: $17.99
In the tenth book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series, Ben Ripley races against time and across state lines—by car, train, boat, and plane—to avoid his new cyber enemies and track down Murray Hill. Ben Ripley’s longtime nemesis, Murray Hill, has put a price on Ben’s head and accused him of being at the center of a conspiracy on the internet. Now Ben finds himself in his greatest danger yet, on the run from both assassins and conspiracy theorists. Ben must find Murray before his machinations catch up to Ben—but with so much at stake, even some of Ben’s most trusted friends might not be at the top of their game, leaving Ben to be tested like never before.
Garlic and the Witch
Cartoonist: Bree Paulsen
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: Sep. 6 (Bookstores)
List Price: $22.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Garlic loves spending time with Witch Agnes, Carrot, and her new friend, the Count, who has proven to be a delightful neighbor to the village of vegetable people rather than a scary vampire. But despite Agnes’s best attempts to home-brew a vegetarian blood substitute for Count, the ingredient she needs most can only be found at the Magic Market, far from the valley. Before she knows it, with a broomstick in hand, Garlic is nervously preparing for a journey. But Garlic is experiencing another change too—finger by finger, she appears to be turning human. Witch Agnes assures her that this is normal for her garden magic, but Garlic isn’t so sure that she’s ready for such a big change. After all, changes are scary…and what if she doesn’t want to be human after all?
The Tryout
Writer: Christina Soontornvat
Artist: Joanna Cacao
Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: Sep. 6 (Bookstores)
List Price: $12.99
Trying out for middle school cheerleader means: performing in the giant school gym, with the whole school watching, and risking total humiliation. If Christina can make it through this, she can make it through anything. As one of the only Asian American kids in her small Texas town, Christina just wants to fit in. Luckily, her best friend, Megan, who is Iranian American, can totally relate. The two girls have always been inseparable and relish creating elaborate fantasy worlds together. But middle school is a reality-check, and suddenly popularity is way more important than playing pretend. When cheerleading tryouts are announced, Christina and Megan literally jump at the chance to join the squad. But does fitting in actually equal belonging? Will they survive the terrifying tryouts? And most importantly, will their friendship withstand the pressures of heated competition and rivalry? Hilarious and heartfelt, THE TRYOUT is Christina Soontornvat’s personal story, sure to make you laugh, cry, and cheer!
Two-Headed Chicken
Cartoonist: Tom Angleberger
Publisher: Waller Books
Release Date: Sep. 6 (Bookstores)
List Price: $12.99
Anything is possible in the multiverse, including a madcap adventure starring a plucky two-headed chicken. But look out—there’s a chicken-hungry moose in pursuit! In this fourth wall–breaking graphic novel, our double-headed hero is chased through dozens of bizarre universes, from an ocean planet with a disturbing mermoose (that you can never unsee) to a world where chickens drive cars, and even to a land covered with . . . pizza sauce? With each BZOOP! of the universe-hopping Astrocap, the only thing to expect is the unexpected. Packed with jokes, quizzes, and games, the two-headed chicken’s wacky escapades will remind readers of such favorites as Dog Man and CatStronauts. Absurdist superstar Tom Angleberger makes his original graphic novel debut with this lightning-fast caper that will have readers laughing out loud and eager for each new page.
Spy Ninjas Official Graphic Novel
Writer: Vannotes
Artist: Mike Anderson
Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: Sep. 6 (Bookstores)
List Price: $12.99
The Spy Ninjas finally have the upper hand! Chad and Vy have discovered a super secret project Zorgo base. It’s filled with gadgets, gizmos and some serious technology. Chad and Vy just have to show some of this to the other Spy Ninjas. They bring a VR headset home with them, but it’s more than meets the eye. Chad and Vy try on the headset and get sucked into a virtual world! This can’t be good. Complete with digital bosses, exploding food, and wacky characters, will the Spy Ninjas be able to escape or will project Zorgo prevail once and for all? This original graphic novel is perfect for readers searching for a whirlwind adventure!
Witches of Brooklyn
Cartoonist: Sophie Escabasse
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: Sep. 7 (Comics Shops) / Sep. 1 (Bookstores)
List Price: $20.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Could there really be witches in Brooklyn?! Effie’s aunts are weird. Like, really weird. Really, really, really weird! The secretly-magic kind of weird and that makes Effie wonder . . . does this mean she can do magic, too? Life in Brooklyn takes a strange twist for Effie as she learns more about her family and herself. With new friends who will do whatever they can to be there for her, a cursed pop-star, and her magically-inclined aunts–Effie’s life is about to get interesting.
Impossible (Love)
Cartoonist: Catarina Sobral
Publisher: Centrala
Release Date: Sep. 6 (Bookstores)
List Price: $17.00
It all began when everything was in the same place. We don’t know how it appeared, but we do know that the Universe started in a very small space. It seems impossible, but it’s true: when it all began, all the big things were very little. IMPOSSIBLE tells us the Universe’s history since the Big Bang to the birth of plants, animals and humans. Catarina Sobral’s first non-fiction book is a colorful journey through particles, stars, dinosaurs and our genealogical tree.
Speak Up!
Cartoonist: Rebecca Burgess
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: Sep. 13 (Bookstores)
List Price: $22.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Twelve-year-old Mia is just trying to navigate a world that doesn’t understand her true autistic self. While she wishes she could stand up to her bullies, she’s always been able to express her feelings through singing and songwriting, even more so with her best friend, Charlie, who is nonbinary, putting together the best beats for her. Together, they’ve taken the internet by storm; little do Mia’s classmates know that she’s the viral singer Elle-Q! But while the chance to perform live for a local talent show has Charlie excited, Mia isn’t so sure. She’ll have to decide whether she’ll let her worries about what other people think get in the way of not only her friendship with Charlie, but also showing everyone, including the bullies, who she is and what she has to say.
Everyday Hero Machine Boy
Writers: Irma Kniivila, Tri Vuong
Artist: Tri Vuong
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: Sep. 7 (Comics Shops) / Sep. 13 (Bookstores)
List Price: $12.99
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… Machine Boy. When Machine Boy falls from the sky into the domed city of Mega 416, he leaves a wake of destruction in his path… until Karate Grandpa is able to turn on his heart. Now, Machine Boy wants nothing more than to become a hero Whether he is fighting giant bugs in the school’s basement, rescuing cats from trees, or making the perfect spaghetti sauce, Machine Boy is always looking for the best way to help others. But when his heart begins to interact dangerously with other debris from space, Machine Boy wonders if he can be a power for good after all. Rising stars Tri Vuong and Irma Kniivila create a funny and engaging all-ages adventure that asks-can you override your own programming?
My Aunt Is A Monster
Cartoonist: Reimena Yee
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: Sep. 13 (Bookstores)
List Price: $20.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Safia thought that being blind meant she would only get to go on adventures through her audiobooks. This all changes when she goes to live with a distant and mysterious aunt, Lady Whimsy, who takes Safia on the journey of a lifetime! While the reclusive Lady Whimsy stops an old rival from uncovering the truth behind her disappearance, Safia experiences parts of the world she had only dreamed about. But when an unlikely group of chaotic agents comes after Whimsy, Safia is forced to confront the adventure head-on. For the first time in her life, Safia is the hero of her own story, and she must do what she can to save the day. And maybe find some friends along the way.
InvestiGators: Heist and Seek
Cartoonist: John Patrick Green
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Sep. 28 (Comics Shops) / Sep. 27 (Bookstores)
List Price: $10.99
When rare paintings go missing, the InvestiGators are called on the scene…the art scene! Mango and Brash go undercover and under canvas as internationally renowned painters to expose a crook who has truly mastered the art of crime! Can they recover the missing masterpieces and save the city art museum’s fundraising gala before it’s too late…and they run out of appetizers? Find out in this latest pièce de résistance of action-packed illustrated fun.
Bunnicula: The Graphic Novel
Created By: James Howe
Writer: Andrew Donkin
Artist: Stephen Gilpin
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Aug. 31 (Comics Shops) / Aug. 30 (Bookstores)
List Price: $19.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Beware the hare! Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household—a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits…and fangs! Could this innocent-seeming rabbit actually be a vampire? Experience the chills and thrills of this classic tale in an all-new graphic novel format!
Looking for more great reads? Check out The Beat’s list of YA and adult anticipated graphic novels for summer 2022!
Or you can get some Asterix and enjoy some quality comics without lame art. Why the art is so bland in these books?
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