July Roundup

July is a month where stories take center stage—whether they’re passed down through generations or brought to life on the big screen.

We begin by recognizing and celebrating NAIDOC Week, a time to honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It’s a powerful reminder of the richness of First Nations storytelling, language, and art—foundations that continue to inspire and inform today’s creative expressions, including in graphic literature.

Meanwhile, the world of comics is buzzing with blockbuster energy as two of the most anticipated films of the year—Superman and Fantastic Four—hit the big screen, bringing  fresh energy to iconic characters and highlight the enduring appeal of comics in shaping modern mythology.

Capping off the month, the global fandom spotlight turns to San Diego Comic-Con, kicking off 23 July, where artists, writers, and fans from around the world come together to celebrate the art of storytelling in all its illustrated forms.

Whether you’re exploring powerful Indigenous graphic novels or queuing up for the latest superhero flick, July is a reminder of how stories connect us, inspire us, and help us see the world—and ourselves—differently.

NEWS

• According to Zack Quaintance writing on The Beat, many industry figures say the annual American Library Association Convention has surpassed even the biggest comics events as the best place to reach new readers. You can read all about it here.
• Comics and graphic novels sales were up in 2024 in comparison to 2023, according to a new report by Milton Griepp on ICv2, thanks to graphic novel sales going up 13.3% in the comic store channel.
• Christina Lee has published an excellent article on The Comics Journal exploring the complicated and incredibly interesting feminist legacy of underground comix.
• With the recent release of the new Superman movie, there have been some interesting articles about the man of steel. One that caught our attention is from the BBC that explores Superman’s rebellious, gritty beginnings. If you thought he was always a goody-goody squeaky clean character you’re wrong. Read the excellent piece by Nicholas Barber here.
• Dominic Davies and Candida Rifkind have published a really interesting article on The Conversation exploring how comics and graphic novels can empower refugees to tell their stories on their own terms. 
• Jim Shooter, the force behind Marvel’s rise and Secret Wars, has passed away at 73 
• In a tribute to Jack Kirby, the Lower East Side now features a street sign commemorating his legacy and the fictional Yancy Street from Marvel Comics.
• By focusing on creator rights and standalone narratives, Image Comics has become a leading force in the comic book industry.
• The collaboration between GlobalComix and Comix Wellspring introduces a creator-first print-on-demand solution, bridging the gap between digital comics and physical publishing

COLLECTIONS

• The School Library Journal team has put together a list of 37 exceptional graphic novel and manga titles for all ages. Check out the list here.
• Brigid Alverson has published an article in School Library Journal looking at manga with standout anime adaptations. You can find it here.
• Comics Bulletin has compiled a short list of standout comics from 2025 so far, highlighting top titles from major publishers. Check the list here

PODCASTS

• Publishers Weekly’s More To Come podcast has published two interesting episodes covering the American Library Association’s Annual Conference. In episode 680 Heidi MacDonald is joined by Brigid Alverson (Good Comics for Kids) and writer Amy Chu (Carmilla) to talk about their ALA 2025 conference experiences, including a talk with George Takei, author of ‘It Rhymes with Takei’, the APALA literary awards, librarians vs. censorship, and more. In episode 681 Heidi MacDonald interviews Jeff Trexler, the Interim Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), at the ALA about freedom of the press and book bans in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions and the potential ramifications for comics, comic book retailers and the CBLDF.

NEW GRAPHIC NOVELS

Junior

• Flash Gordon: The Girl From Infinity by Marguerite Bennett, Bev Johnson (Papercutz) [9781545818381]
• Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner (Simon & Schuster) [9781665938129]
• Karmopolis: The Land of Cars by Nick Bertozzi (Top Shelf) [9781603095549]
• Miss Camper by Kat Fajardo (Scholastic) [9781338535617]
• Quinnelope and Unicorn Utopia by HF Brownfield, Kayla Coombs (Oni Press) [9781637157879] [Australian Creator]
• Sunny Figures It Out by Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm (Scholastic) [9781338792478]
• Superman’s Good Guy Gang by Rob Justus (DC Comics) [9781799504061]
• Unico Book 2: Hunted by Osamu Tezuka, Gurihiru, Samuel Sattin (Scholastic) [9781546110460]

YA

• DC Pride: To the Farthest Reaches by Various Authors (DC Comics) [9781799501527]
• Float by Kate Marchant, CJ Joaquin (Graphix) [9781546175230]
• Kill Blue Vol 1 by Tadatoshi Fujimaki (Viz Media) [9781974756131]
• Soul Machine by Jordana Globerman (Annick Press) [9781773219592]
• Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor by Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch (DC Comics) [9781799500780]
• West Coast Avengers Vol 1: The Gospel of Ultron by Gerry Duggan, Danny Kim (Marvel Comics) [9781302960339]

Adult

• The Blood Brothers Mother by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Riso (DSTLRY Media) [9781962265058]
• Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago (Fantagraphics) [9798875000935]
• Dr. Werthless: The Man Who Studied Murder (And Nearly Killed the Comics Industry) by Harold Schechter, Eric Powell (Dark Horse) [9781506744360]
• Dry Cleaned by Joris Mertens (Jonathan Cape) [9781787334816]
• In The End We All Die by Tobias Aeschbacher (Helvetiq) [9783039640874]
• Meat Eaters by Meredith McLaren (Oni Press) [9781637157923]
• Raging Clouds by Yudori (Fantagraphics) [9798875001062]
• Rosalie Lightning by Tom Hart (Street Noise Books) [9781951491406]
• Simplicity by Mattie Lubchansky (Random House) [9780593701126]
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II–Re-Evolution by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Escorza Brothers, Ben Bishop (IDW) [9798887241296]
• Will Eisner: A Comics Biography by Stephen Weiner, Dan Mazur (NBM) [9781681123578]
• The Woman with Fifty Faces: Maria Lani & The Greatest Art Heist That Never Was by Jonathan Lackman, Zachary J. Pinson (Fantagraphics) [9798875001116]