Mimi Pond’s #GraphicNovel “Do Admit!” (2025) is just SO GOOD! Both a biographical survey of the notorious Mitford sisters and a look at Pond’s own life growing up in the ‘60s, it has everything: historical sweep, cattiness, incisive humor, heartfelt emotion, feminism, fascism, communism…

While there is some traditional paneling, a good deal of the story is told through endlessly inventive full-pagers. It’s a breathlessly told and expansive narrative.

1/2
#Bookstodon

#Comics

Quasit's Daily Book Recommendations: "Common Grounds, Volume 1" (2004) by Troy Hickman

I try to find free ebook copies or loan links for the books I recommend here. Usually that's not hard.

This isn't one of those times.

"Common Grounds" isn't available as an ebook. Physically, it's not in print any more. Most libraries don't stock it, although they should be able to get it for you via interlibrary loan. You might find a copy in a used book shop, but it's not common (no pun intended). Even on the high seas, it's basically impossible to find–at least in English.

And that •sucks•. Because this is a really good graphic novel. It's a collection of six comic books bundled into a single volume. Sadly, although it's labeled "Volume 1", Troy Hickman never wrote any more of them. Or at least, not as far as I know. It's a refreshing look at the world of superheroes from a much more •human• viewpoint.

What do I mean? It's set in and around a chain of coffee-and-donut stores that cater specially to the superpowered: -heroes, -villains, and others.

The first story features an interview with "Speeding Bullet", a speedster hero who's not unlike the Flash. His life is anything but glamorous, though. For example, not only does he have to eat an enormous amount every day, he spends an equivalent time in the bathroom. Life in super-high-speed has all sorts of drawbacks, and the reporter who interviews him comes away with a newfound appreciation for the life of an ordinary non-super.

Each story focuses on different supers, with occasional connections to previous stories and characters. None of them feature the usual bombast and combat that DC and Marvel churn out these days; the drama is much more human, more realistic. At the same time there's a nice light sense of humor in play. The concepts are funny and interesting. For example, Baron Existence is mentioned as having threatened to blow up the universe with with his universe-destroying bomb, only to have a wealthy superhero BUY the bomb from him for a fortune.

It's really quite a good series. I wish Hickman had written more of it.

And for what it's worth, you can find physical copies for sale from online used book services such as Biblio.com and Thriftbooks for less than $10–which is basically a steal.

Happy reading! 🤓📖

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A Witch Costume, A Missing Friend, and One Unexpected Ally Lead to a Night Where Fear Doesn’t Get the Final Word. Emily Kado & the Spiders' Secret arrives in August #comics #graphicnovel #kidlit

https://graphicpolicy.com/2026/06/07/a-witch-costume-a-missing-friend-and-one-unexpected-ally-lead-to-a-night-where-fear-doesnt-get-the-final-word-emily-kado-the-spiders-secret-arrives-in-august/