The best Canadian comics of 2023

Here are the CBC Books picks for the top Canadian comicsof the year!

A Guest in the Houseby Emily Carroll

A Guest in the Houseis a haunting graphic novel about Abby, a newlywed to a recently widowed dentist. But the more she learns about her new husband's first wife, the more suspicious she becomes that she may not have died of natural causes.

Emily Carroll is aStratford, Ont.-basedartist whose books includeThrough the Woods,a collection of horror comics, andSpeak,an adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's YA novel, andWhen I Arrived at the Castle.

Adherentby Chris W. Kim

Adherentfollows a young woman in a remote community that survives by scavenging for food and supplies in the forest where objects from civilizations past are scattered throughout. When the community finds several notebooks, the woman becomes obsessed with the idea of venturing out to find the author.

Chris W. Kim is a cartoonist and illustrator from Toronto. His graphic novels includeHerman by TradeandStrays.

Naked: Confessions of a Normal Womanbylose Marseille

Naked: Confessions of a Normal Womanis a candid and funny memoir that followsauthor lose Marseille as she explores her sexuality and learns to live free of shame. From her first kiss with her best friend to dating app hookups, the lively illustrations bring her story to life in an way that is both empowering and raw.

lose Marseille is an artist and illustrator from Montreal.Naked: Confessions of a Normal Womanis her first book.

Are You Willing to Die for the Cause?by Chris Oliveros

Are You Willing to Die for the Cause?is an oral history of the movement known as the Quebec Liberation Front, told in comic book form. The story starts in 1963, when a dozen mailboxes in an affluent Montreal neighbourhood are destroyed by homemade bombs. Chris Oliveros' book explores how this eight-year-long movement turned violent and explores the ingredients to dissatisfaction and dissent.

Oliveros is a Montreal-based writer and publisher. In 1989, he founded Drawn & Quarterly, a Montreal publishing company that specializes in comics. He left the company in 2015 to work onAre You Willing to Die for the Cause?

LISTEN | Chris Oliveros on Day 6:

Day 610:00New graphic novel details a difficult part of Canadian history the rise of the FLQ

Chris Oliveros, the founder of Drawn and Quarterly and author of the new graphic novel Are You Willing To Die For The Cause, explores the people behind those earlier formations of the FLQ and why they never gained the power theyd hoped to exert.

Silverwing: The Graphic Novelby Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Christopher Steininger

The first book in thebeloved children's seriesSilverwinghas beenadapted into a graphic novel.Silverwing,which has sold millions of copies worldwide since its initial release 25 years ago, follows a young silverwing bat named Shade who gets separated from his colony on a difficult migratory journey. In his pursuit to reunite with his family, he goes on suspenseful adventures and meets different interesting characters along the way.

Silverwingis for ages 8 to 12.

• Kenneth Oppel'sSilverwinggets graphic novel adaptation after years of success

Kenneth Oppel is the author of many books for young readers. HisSilverwing trilogy has sold over a million copies worldwide and has been adapted into an animated TV series and stage play. His other works includeAirborn,Skybreaker,The Nest,Half BrotherandGhostlight.

Partum Meby Natalie Pendergast

Partum Meis a graphic novel about pregnancy, motherhood and chronic illness. Natalie Pendergast explores the pressures and perfectionism expectations placed on women and the impacts of motherhood on someone with chronic illness.

Pendergast is a self-taught cartoonist and academic who lives in Yukon.

LISTEN | Natalie Pendergast discusses comics and motherhood:

The Next Chapter5:22Kenneth Oppel answers the Proust Questionnaire

Acclaimed children's book author Kenneth Oppel on his favourite writers, his greatest regret and more.

Junior High by Tegan Quin & Sara Quin, illustrated by Tillie Walden

Tegan and Sara: Junior Highis a middle-grade graphic novel by Canadian sister musician duo Tegan and Sara.Thestoryis inspired by the authors' own experiences of finding one's identity, musicianship and family in their adolescence. Identical twinsTegan and Sara move to a new home and school, and begin to come into their own as individuals.

Tegan and Sara: Junior Highis for ages 10 to 14.

• Tegan and Sara explore coming of age and coming out in book Junior High

Tegan Quin and Sara Quin are twin sisters and a pop music duo from Calgary. They previously published a memoir calledHigh School.

Tillie Walden is an American cartoonist, illustrator and writer. She has published severalgraphic novels, includingOn a SunbeamandSpinning.

LISTEN | Tegan& SaraonThe Next Chapter:

The Next Chapter21:12Tegan and Sara on Junior High

Pop duo Tegan and Sara talk to Shelagh Rogers about their graphic novel Junior High, their lightly fictionalized account of entering Grade 7 in 1990s Calgary, illustrated by Tillie Walden.

Palookaville 24by Seth

Palookaville 24signals the return of Seth's well-loved comic book series. The book begins with a memoir of Seth's adolescence, titledNothing Lasts.Over the course of several summers in Seth's late teens, he takes us from summer job to summer job and presents the people he meets along the way.

• Seth sharesthe 7 books that have shaped his life

Sethis a cartoonist who hails from Guelph, Ont. He has contributed to publications like The New Yorker and New York Times Magazine and twice won the Doug Wright Award for best book.Seth has a large cult following for his 1990s comic book series Palookaville and his retro drawing style. His other work includesClyde Fans, which waslonglisted for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Roamingby Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki

Roamingis a YA graphic novel that follows best friends Zoe and Dani on a trip to New York City during their first year of college. As a queer romance blossoms between Zoe and Dani's classmate Fiona who tags along friendships get put to the testand all three girls learn more about who they are.

• Mariko and Jillian Tamaki discuss the make-or-break experiences of travelling with friends

Jillian Tamaki is a Toronto-based cartoonist, illustrator and educator. With her cousin Mariko Tamaki, she co-created the YA graphic novelSkim, which won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature text. Another collaboration,This One Summer, won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature illustration.

Mariko Tamaki is a writer based in Oakland, California. Her other books include the YA novels(you) Set Me On FireandSaving Montgomery Sole.She's also the author of many superhero comics for DC Comics, Darkhorse and Marvel.

LISTEN | Jillian Tamaki & Mariko TamakionThe Next Chapter:

The Next Chapter18:14Mariko and Jillian Tamaki on Roaming and exploring New York City with college friends

The Canadian cousins and creative collaborators' new graphic novel Roaming explores college friends getting a taste of adulthood in the Big Apple.

Bad Medicineby Christopher Twin

Inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life,Bad Medicinefollows five teens who share chilling horror stories around a campfire.

• 13 eerily good books to read this Halloween

Christopher Twin is from the Swan River First Nations reservation in northern Alberta. Currently based in Edmonton, he does comic work and illustrations as a freelancer.

Saga #11 by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples

In the 11th volume of the smash hitSagaseries, Hazel and her family are fighting for scraps to survive the never-ending war. Theelite, however, are forming alliances and doing what it takes to come out on top.

Brian K. Vaughan is an award-winning American writer, whose previous comics includeY: The Last Manand the Paper Girls series.

Fiona Staples is a comic book artist from Calgary. Besides her award-winning work on Saga, she's drawn comics for Mystery Society, Done to Death, Archie and more.

Kettle Harbourby Kyle Vingoe-Cram

Kettle Harbourfollows Andrea as she reestablishes a relationship with her cousin Brenden in their childhood stomping grounds along the Fundy Coast in Nova Scotia. Incorporating unique visual storytelling to tell the layered family story, Kyle Vingoe-Cram weaves a tale about the unreliability of memory, the echo of trauma and the ways a shared history never truly leaves us.

Vingoe-Cram is an Ottawa-based cartoonist, writer and visual artist originally from Dartmouth, N.S.Kettle Harbouris their first novel.

Jaj by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

InJaj, watercolour, a mix of traditional and modern art and an unconventional approach to panelling come together to tell a version of the history of first contact between the Europeans and Indigenous peoples and early colonization.

• Haida Manga artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas on where his stories come from

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is an artist who blends Asian manga with Haida artand oral traditions. His other books includeWar of the Blink,RedandCarpe Fin.

LISTEN |Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas takesThe Next Chapter's version of the Proust Questionnaire:

The Next Chapter5:34Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas takes the Proust Questionnaire

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, author of the Haida Manga comics War of the Blink, Red and more, takes The Next Chapter's version of the Proust Questionnaire.