I read a lot of good graphic novels this year, the publication of a couple of which also happened to be major events in the comic world – how thrilling to see the return of celebrated American creator Charles Burns on such uncompromisingly fierce form, while the young Dutch illustrator Aimée de Jongh achieved something close to miraculous with her extraordinary adaptation of Lord of the Flies. But the book that meant most to me personally in 2024 was Elena: A Hand Made Life by Miriam Gold for its portrait of Sheffield, my home town, and of the Peak District nearby. I find it hard to imagine the person who wouldn’t be pleased to be given this little volume for Christmas; it’s a feast for the eyes and a boxing glove (in a good way) for the heart.
Polar Vortex by Denise Dorrance (New River)
Funny and plangent, Dorrance’s snowbound memoir about her elderly mother’s dementia really couldn’t be any better if it tried; its drawings and dialogue alike bring to mind the genius of Alison Bechdel or Posy Simmonds. So light on its feet, it practically skis to its conclusion – and yet it’s full of sagacity as well.
