We’re keeping things brief with this week’s “So You Want To Read Comics”.  This is our weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic or genre, then give you two comic book recommendations, perfect for new readers, based on that topic or genre.  This week we’re taking a look at comics perfect for when you just want a short read.

It’s not a stretch to say that a lot of people just don’t have a ton of time to devote to indulging in long, drawn-out stories.  A survey commissioned by H&R Block in 2019, showed that the average American had on average just 4 and a half hours of free time each day, including weekends.  With the amount of time allotted for hobbies, leisure, and entertainment being at such a premium, many people are in search of entertainment that they can get a full experience, in a relatively short amount of time.  This is why the average viewing time on Netflix and similar streaming services is around 3.2 hours on average.

So, with this in mind, here are some great graphic novels that offer short, yet fully developed, reading experiences, great for new readers to jump into.

THE END OF THE F-ING WORLD

Writer: Charles Forsman
Artist: Charles Forsman
Publisher: Fantagraphics

For a graphic novel that was adapted into two full seasons of television, it might come as a surprise that The End of The F-ing World (TEOTFW) clocks in at under 200 pages.  In this book, we find two teenagers James and Alyssa as they run away and embark on a life-defining road trip.  But, things start to get troubled as James begins to develop dark, homicidal fantasies, and slowly begins to bring them into reality, as Alyssa tries her best to maintain the teenage love she’s developed for the boy.  By the end of this one, the reader will have followed the pair to the end of their journey and will have been steeped in the bleakly comedic world they existed in.  The art in this one is sparse and simplistic, so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, yet it does have a certain charm to it that lends itself nicely to the quirky nihilism shared between the lead characters.

WONDER WOMAN: DEAD EARTH

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Publisher: DC Comics

One part high fantasy akin to a Conan book,  one part superhero comic, and one part post-apocalyptic roller coaster,  Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is a thrill to read.  Taking place long after a cataclysmic event has left the planet decimated, with only a single human settlement left, a newly awoken Wonder Woman must venture out to figure out what has happened to the world she once loved.  Along the way, she will remind the few remaining humans what heroism looks like, while coming face to face with the tragedy of her own history.  With the series being only three issues long when it was originally published, this book manages to pack in a lot in a short amount of time.  It’s written in such an efficient and quick pace that you’d expect it to lack depth, but somehow this short read still managed to touch on a lot of deep themes and even manages to answer one of the many “who would win in a fight” debates that have eaten up countless hours among comic book nerds.

What do you think of these recommendations?  What are some of your favorite short reads?  Let us know in the comments section below.

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