My Favorites?
I have an aversion to comparison and hierarchy, so in lieu of favorites, here is my list of books most often lent to friends:
Be Kind My Neighbor by Yugo Limbo - A surprisingly wholesome T4T love story hidden in a tale of serial killers, cults, and puppets. This is the first of Yugo Limbo's work I encountered, and I've absolutely loved everything I've seen from them since. Their work is gorgeously textured, musical, and psychedelic.
On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden - Yeah, yeah, I know what Type Of Guy I look like putting these two at the top of the list, but it's true. Walden's delicately intricate style lends itself beautifully to this weirdly lush and organic sci-fi story. Did I mention it's set in a world of only lesbians? There's one or two panels here that I just can't get out of my head. Oh, and you can read it all online for free.
Not Simple by Natsume Ono - Although I'd probably prefer to start folks off with House of Five Leaves, it's hard to convince them to borrow an 8 book long series, so I make do. Not Simple is the first book of Ono's that I read. I picked it up on a whim in the manga section as a young teen, and was drawn to Ono's unique style. What I found inside was a story so completely gut-wrenching that I immediately bought and read as many of her books as I could get my hands on. I've not really kept up with her work in the years since, but I have a huge soft spot for those already on my bookshelf.
The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way, illustrated by Gabriel Bá - Don't let the Netflix show fool you--this comic is actually good! This is a rare occasion where I feel the need to specifically shout out the comic's colorist(s? I actually can't find consistent information about who it is, but most often credited are Dave Stewart for series 1 and 2, and Nick Filardi for series 3). From splashes like Thank You For The Coffee to the candy-colored spaceship flights in Hotel Oblivion, I've never seen a comic I wanted to consume more than this one. Paired with Way's writing which makes it clear he lives and breathes comics, The Umbrella Academy makes for a series I can come back to with a smile on my face every time.
The Chromatic Fantasy by H.A. - When I bought this book, the seller told me that if I liked Be Kind My Neighbor, I'd probably enjoy this too. And I did! This one took me a while to get well and truly hooked, but it just kept getting better and better. Usually the ending of a comic isn't my favorite part, but MAN! the final act of this comic is an awesome adventure I couldn't be more happy I stuck around for -- not that it was hard to. I was drawn in by the hilarously modern dialogue paired with the darker fairytale setting, and then got the rug pulled out from under me when all the drama and intrigue returned! A wonderful blend of surreal visuals and down-to-earth storytelling. I could not think of a better title for this book than "The Chromatic Fantasy". It truly delivers.