Comics for Comic Con

Comic Con starts today, so here are 10 recent comics or graphic novels of interest to check out.

I had a hard time figuring out what this list would be.  I knew I wanted to do some sort of list to coincide with Comic Con, but couldn't figure out what.  Geek culture?  Comics history?  Both kind of petered out.  I decided to just feature a list of recent graphic novels that caught my eye.  Enjoy!

BTTM FDRS by Ezra Claytan Daniels & Ben Passmore - Once a thriving working class neighborhood on Chicago's south side, the 'Bottomyards' is now the definition of urban blight. When an aspiring fashion designer named Darla and her image-obsessed friend, Cynthia, descend upon the neighborhood in search of cheap rent, they soon discover something far more seductive and sinister lurking behind the walls of their new home.

Fearscape by Ryan O'Sullivan & Andrea Mutti - The Fearscape is a world beyond our own, populated by manifestations of our worst fears. Once per generation, The Muse travels to Earth, discovers our greatest Storyteller, and takes them with her to the Fearscape to battle these fear-creatures on our behalf. All has been well for eons, until The Muse encounters Henry Henry―a plagiarist with delusions of literary grandeur. Mistaking him for our greatest Storyteller, she ushers him into the Fearscape. Doom follows.

Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacobs - Like many six-year-olds, Mira Jacob's half-Jewish, half-Indian son, Z, has questions about everything. At first they are innocuous enough, but as tensions from the 2016 election spread from the media into his own family, they become much, much more complicated. Trying to answer him honestly, Mira has to think back to where she's gotten her own answers: her most formative conversations about race, color, sexuality, and, of course, love. Written with humor and vulnerability, this deeply relatable graphic memoir is a love letter to the art of conversation--and to the hope that hovers in our most difficult questions.

In Waves by AJ Dungo - In this visually arresting graphic novel, surfer and illustrator AJ Dungo remembers his late partner, her battle with cancer, and their shared love of surfing that brought them strength throughout their time together. With his passion for surfing uniting many narratives, he intertwines his own story with those of some of the great heroes of surf in a rare work of nonfiction that is as moving as it is fascinating.

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley - If you work hard enough, if you want it enough, if you're smart and talented and "good enough," you can do anything. Except get pregnant. Her whole life, Lucy Knisley wanted to be a mother. But when it was finally the perfect time, conceiving turned out to be harder than anything she'd ever attempted. Fertility problems were followed by miscarriages, and her eventual successful pregnancy plagued by health issues, up to a dramatic, near-death experience during labor and delivery. This moving, hilarious, and surprisingly informative memoir not only follows Lucy's personal transition into motherhood but also illustrates the history and science of reproductive health from all angles, including curious facts and inspiring (and notorious) figures in medicine and midwifery. Whether you've got kids, want them, or want nothing to do with them, there's something in this graphic memoir to open your mind and heart.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamki & Rosemary Valero-O'Connell - Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley's dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There's just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend. Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy's best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it's really Laura Dean that's the problem. Maybe it's Freddy, who is rapidly losing her friends, including Doodle, who needs her now more than ever. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnists like Anna Vice to help her through being a teenager in love.

Middlewest by Skottie Yong & Jorge Corona - The lands between the coasts are vast, slow to change,and full of hidden magics. The town of Farmington has been destroyed sending an unwitting adventurer and his vulpine companion in search of answers to quell a coming storm that speaks his name. From author Skottie Young and artist Jorge Corona comes the tale of Abel, a young boy who must navigate an old land in order to reconcile his family's history.

Moonbound: Apollo 11 and the Dream of Spaceflight by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm with Michael Collins - On July 20, 1969, something extraordinary happened, something civilizations had dreamed of for centuries: humans walked on the moon. Jonathan Fetter-Vorm's Moonbound is the story behind those first steps. It begins with the tense, suspense-filled descent of the spidery Lunar Module, which transported Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the surface of the moon; the narrative offers a close-up view of the action. Then the story splits to an examination of the history of man's fascination with space--from the earliest observers of the moon to the clear-eyed descriptions recorded by such visionaries as Galileo--and continues into the modern era, from Nazi atrocities and Soviet intrigues to square-jawed astronauts and a revolving cast of space-age dreamers. The narrative returns to July 20, 1969, the moment when our heroes made their historic moon walk, and finally moves on to the Space Shuttle program, the cosmic ambitions of deep-space probes, and the aspirations of companies like SpaceX.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, & Harmony Becker - In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten "relocation centers," hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard.
They Called Us Enemy is Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future.
What does it mean to be American? Who gets to decide? When the world is against you, what can one person do? To answer these questions, George Takei joins co-writers Justin Eisinger & Steven Scott and artist Harmony Becker for the journey of a lifetime.

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert & Carole Maurel - A young woman and her wife's attempts to have a child unfold in this poetic tale that ebbs and flows like the sea.
After years of difficulty trying to have children, a young couple finally announces their pregnancy, only to have the most joyous day of their lives replaced with one of unexpected heartbreak. Their relationship is put to the test as they forge ahead, working together to rebuild themselves amidst the churning tumult of devastating loss, and ultimately facing the soul-crushing reality that they may never conceive a child of their own.
Based on author Ingrid Chabbert’s own experience, coupled with soft, sometimes dreamlike illustrations by Carole Maurel, Waves is a deeply moving story that poignantly captures a woman’s exploration of her pain in order to rediscover hope.

Wedding Planning Resources

Maybe you got engaged over the holiday season, or maybe you're expecting a ring this Valentine's Day, or maybe you're already in the thick of planning your wedding.  Maybe you're just interested and dreaming during February, National Weddings Month.  Anyway, here are 10 wedding planning resources (along with a little humor!) to help you along the way.

2brides 2be: A Same Sex Guide for the Modern Bride by Laura Leigh Abby - Planning a two-bride wedding can mean twice the beauty and twice the stress, and with a shortage of inspiration and guidance for the modern lesbian bride, this is the book for the next generation of women planning a same-sex wedding. 2Brides 2Be is a wedding guide for the bride who exudes youth and style no matter what her age, who is inspired by innovation, and who wants to marry the woman of her dreams and do it her way. She is a visionary who is up to the task of blending tradition and rebellion, but she is looking for some practical wedding planning advice. She will find it here.
Author Laura Leigh Abby shares her own experiences navigating the world of lesbian wedding planning with a sense of humor and a dose of sass. She has advice on everything from the logistics of walking down the aisle to wording the invites, and she's not afraid to throw all the rules out the window. With input from wedding industry professionals, 2Brides 2Be will enlighten brides on booking vendors, wrangling family and pulling off the wedding of her dreams.

The Big White Book of Weddings: A How-To Guide for the Savvy, Stylish Bride by David Tutera - Entertaining expert David Tutera opens his files to reveal a wealth of detailed information about creating that perfect day, featuring advice about everything from wording invitations to negotiating with caterers, planning the meal to throwing an event on a budget.
The same insight celebrity entertaining and wedding expert David Tutera gives to his A-list clientele is now at your fingertips in The Big White Book of Weddings: David's ultimate "how-to" guide designed to get every bride down the aisle in style!
It's tough to be a bride on a budget--but David reveals his personal tips of the wedding trade that proves brides can be both sophisticatedly chic and realistically resourceful! Covering the entire wedding experience from brainstorming, budgeting, invitations, gift registries, food, music, traditional reception rituals, and even what happens after the wedding's over, Tutera has created a must-have for brides-to-be. Full of the personality that David brings to every wedding he plans and every TV show or magazine article he appears in, Big White Book of Weddings is the book every bride needs to make her wedding unforgettable for all the right reasons!

Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette by Anna & Lizzie Post - Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette is the classic indispensable, comprehensive guide to creating the wedding of your dream, now in its sixth edition.
Today's weddings are more complicated than ever, with new traditions replacing old, and new relationships to consider as family life grows more complex. Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette has everything a bride will ever need to know to have the perfect wedding.
Anna Post guides brides and their friends and family through weddings to maximize fun and reduce stress, including:
How to handle awkward family situations
How to address envelopes and word invitations
How to choose an officiant
How to blend family traditions
The timeline of events throughout the engagement and during the wedding
Who to include on your guest list
How to use technology to your advantage

Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers: How to Grow and Arrange Your Own Flowers for All Special Occasions by Georgie Newbery - By growing your own wedding flowers you can add a personal element to your special occasion, while caring for the environment and saving money at the same time. Filled with gorgeous pictures, this friendly, no-nonsense book makes growing and arranging your own flowers achievable and fun. Whether you're growing for a wedding or for a birthday, festival or other celebration, Georgie's cheerful advice takes you through everything you need to know. Step-by-step guides cover: Planning, growing, cutting and conditioning your flowers; Spring, summer, autumn and winter weddings ; Flower craft for special occasions, including buttonholes, bouquets, centrepieces, garlands and flower crowns. From jam-jar posies to elaborate displays, Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers explains how to grow and create beautiful arrangements and make your special day unique, without costing the earth.

It's All About the Dress: Savvy Secrets, Priceless Advice, and Inspiring Stories to Help You Find "The One" by Randy Fenoli - Every bride wants to feel beautiful and wants to have her dress express the essence of who she is. Now choosing the perfect thing to wear on that special day is easier than ever! Drawing on his experience as fashion director at Kleinfeld Bridal, Randy Fenoli has written a guidebook bursting with insights and inspiration for helping brides-to-be determine what story they want their dress to tell.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DRESS covers:
-Suggestions on flattering cuts, fabrics, and styles for every body type
-Price ranges and budget
-Trains, veils, headpieces, undergarments, and accessories
-Insider secrets on managing the bridal dress appointment
-Options for bridesmaids, mother of the bride, and more!
Featuring 100 inspiring photos plus invaluable tips on how to deal with bridal dress 911's, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DRESS is the ultimate sourcebook no bride-to-be should say "I do" without!

The Jewish Wedding Now by Anita Diamant - Newly revised and updated, the definitive guide to planning a Jewish wedding, written by bestselling novelist Anita Diamant--author of The Red Tent and The Boston Girl--and one of the most respected writers of guides to contemporary Jewish life. This complete, easy-to-use guide explains everything you need to know to plan your own Jewish wedding in today's ever-changing world where the very definition of what constitutes a Jewish wedding is up for discussion. With enthusiasm and flair, Anita Diamant provides choices for every stage of a wedding--including celebrations before and after the ceremony itself--providing both traditional and contemporary options. She explains the Jewish tradition of love and marriage with references drawn from Biblical, Talmudic, and mystical texts and stories. She guides you step by step through planning the ceremony and the party that follows--from finding a rabbi and wording the invitation to organizing a processional and hiring a caterer. Samples of wedding invitations and ketubot (marriage contracts) are provided for inspiration and guidance, as well as poems that can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony or party and a variety of translations of traditional texts. "There is no such thing as a generic Jewish wedding," writes Anita Diamant, "no matter what the rabbi tells you, no matter what the caterer tells you, no matter what your mother tells you." Complete, authoritative, and indispensable, The Jewish Wedding Now provides personalized options--some new, some old--to create a wedding that combines spiritual meaning and joyous celebration and reflects your individual values and beliefs.

A Practical Wedding Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Wedding You Want With the Budget You've Got by Meg Keene - With reality tv shows, glossy bridal magazines, and fanciful Pinterest boards leading the way, it can be easy for a recently engaged couple to slide from wedding planning into wedding madness. Inspiration and ideas abound; what couples really need is clear guidance on how to assess this information and sort the useful from the disastrous. Enter A Practical Wedding Planner, the (practical) companion volume to A Practical Wedding. Meg Keene walks couples through planning, from the big picture down to the nitty-gritty details. In her characteristic seasoned, sassy style, Keene offers no-nonsense guidance for planning a dream wedding on a real budget.

Something New: Tales From a Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley - New York Times-bestselling graphic memoirist Lucy Knisley (Relish) writes about her adorable DIY wedding! In 2010, Lucy and her long-term boyfriend John broke up. Three long, lonely years later, John returned to New York, walked into Lucy's apartment, and proposed. This is not that story. It is the story of what came after: The Wedding. DIY maven Lucy Knisley was fascinated by American wedding culture . . . but also sort of horrified by it. So she set out to plan and execute the adorable DIY wedding to end all adorable DIY weddings. And she succeeded. This graphic novel--clocking in at almost 300 pages of humor, despair, and eternal love--is the story of how Lucy built a barn, invented a whole new kind of photo booth, and managed to turn an outdoor wedding on a rainy day into a joyous (though muddy) triumph.

Weddiculous: An Unfiltered Guide to Being a Bride by Jamie Lee - In this irreverent wedding guide, MTV's wedding planning guru and star of Girl Code, comedian and bride-to-be Jamie Lee, offers practical advice and hilarious insights on how to stay sane while planning your "big day."
Weddings. What was once a beautiful celebration of a couple coming together for a lifetime of happiness has become a bit ridiculous, complete with the whimsical monogrammed mason jars and unconventional photo shoots. The Epic task of creating that special event can be nightmarish--a dizzying maze of minutiae and seemingly endless choices that might tempt you to say yes to a quickie drive-through chapel in Vegas.
But weddings don't have to be stressful. You don't have to give in to the crazy--or give up completely. Famous funny gal Jamie Lee learned much more than she counted on pulling together her own wedding, and in Weddiculous she shares her first-hand experiences and hilarious hard-won insights with every girl who just said "yes."
Jamie gives you the real low-down, puts the madness into perspective, and walks you through the process step by step in a calm, realistic, and highly entertaining way. Weddiculous includes helpful checklists, timelines, and suggestions on everything from what questions to ask vendors to how to handle difficult bridesmaids to what's worth the extra cost (and more importantly, what's not). Throughout, Jamie provides guidance on when you should trust your gut and when you need to listen to others.

Weddings in Color: 500 Creative Ideas for Designing a Modern Wedding by Minhee Cho - In this candy-coloured guide, Vané Broussard (founder of the uber-popular blog Brooklyn Bride) and Minhee Cho (of the covetable paper company Paper+Cup) team up to present hundreds of entirely modern style ideas for every aspect of a wedding, in eight eye-catching and vibrant colour palettes. From pretty floral crowns to die-cut invitations, altars made from balloons, and so much more, these ideas are anything but traditional. Simple DIYs will spark creativity while interviews with industry experts provide important insider info. Lusciously designed and bursting with vivid photography, Weddings in Color has everything brides need to design a stunningly colourful affair.