Well, hello there buddy, it’s time for 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 getting cozy and looking at the world of cottagecore.

Cottagecore is an aesthetic that saw its foundations in the early 2010s as internet communities started to develop idealized versions of rural living.  The earliest versions were primarily based on European-style cottages and small farms.  The term Cottagecore didn’t hit the scene until around 2018 when it was first used on Tumblr.  It’s stated that the rise of Cottagecore can be described as a rejection of the hustle lifestyle that had become popular. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a large increase in those interested in the style as parts of it like gardening, handmade crafts, and décor, and baking became helpful hobbies for those dealing with isolation.  This increase was assisted by the usage of TikTok as a platform to share videos of serene moments with people doing simple things like making a sandwich or a cup of tea.  Even Taylor Swift got in on the act by releasing two albums with a much softer, folkish sound, that was produced primarily in a rural setting.  Video games have utilized the style as farming games like Stardew Valley and Spiritfarer have risen in popularity.

So, for those of you who have embraced this aesthetic or are at least intrigued by it, here are a couple of graphic novels that share your appreciation.

THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY

Writer: K. O’Neill
Artist: K. O’Neill
Publisher: Oni Press

This series tells the story of Greta, a blacksmith who lives in a society that no longer has a need for the types of skills she possesses.  But she then encounters a mystical creature known as a Tea Dragon.  She then is introduced to the owner of the tea shop where the dragon is from and the others who live there.  Over time she’s able to learn their stories and why The Tea Dragon Society is so important to them.  This series, which started out as a webcomic, is really what cottagecore is all about:  It’s a celebration of things gone by while facing a world that continues to move forward in a breakneck speed as many of the characters have backstories that are at odds with the slower lives they have now. But it’s decidedly non-confrontational about this.  It doesn’t demonize modern society; it just simply allows its characters to exist at a different pace and revel in the simplicity of things.  The entirety of this story is currently collected into three volumes and in 2018 this series won both an Eisner Award and a Harvey Award.

THE SPRITE AND THE GARDENER

Writer: Joe Whitt
Artist: Rii Abrego
Publisher: Oni Press

In this graphic novel we’re introduced to a world where at one time, sprites tended to all the flowers and gardens of the world until humans learned how to do it themselves.  Willette is one of these sprites who begins to try and learn the ways that her people once took care of the plants.  Along the way, she is able to make friends and share her newfound talents, even if not all of her endeavors are successful.  The art in this graphic novel has a unique, art-nouveau-inspired look to it that really helps establish this as a story that’s very much in tune with many of the aesthetics that have made Cottagecore so popular.  Also, its story of Willette finding others who not only appreciate her talents and interests, but also wish to partake themselves, feels very reflective of the way that cottagecore spread primarily through social media platforms.  The Sprite and The Gardener is a quick read, but its storybook feel makes it one that’s easy to revisit multiple times as a solid comfort read.

What are your thoughts on Cottagecore?  What did you think of these recommendations?  Let us know in the comments section below.

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