What to Read During Winter Break: 11 Inspiring Graphic Novels

If you’re tired of noisy holiday parties and prefer cozying up at home during your well-deserved break, this guide is perfect for you. The team at the St. Petersburg-based publisher ZAMONA has curated a list of graphic novels that will make your winter holidays truly engaging.

1. “Seconds” by Bryan Lee O'Malley

The protagonist, Katie, is a charming, young, and talented chef who once co-founded a small restaurant called “Seconds.” Years later, she decides to open her own place while still managing “Seconds,” balancing her personal life and battling exhaustion.

One fateful (and quite disastrous) day, Katie receives a mysterious sign that dramatically changes her life.

Featuring a house spirit, a Groundhog Day-like loop, teenage relationships, and a quest for meaning, Bryan Lee O'Malley’s “Seconds” is a captivating and humorous graphic novel, from the creator of the renowned “Scott Pilgrim.”

2. “Patience” by Daniel Clowes

Patience and Jack are a blissfully happy but poor couple expecting a child. One day, Jack returns home from work to find Patience dead and becomes the prime suspect, landing in prison.

Years later, still mourning, Jack discovers time travel and gains a chance to uncover his beloved wife’s killer.

This intense blend of detective thriller and sci-fi is painted with vivid, acid-bright colors. Notably, Daniel Clowes was an Oscar nominee in 2002 for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Ghost World,” making “Patience” a unique gem in this collection.

3. “Beyond the Hedge” by Patrick McHale

If you haven’t yet explored the charming, witty, and innocent world of “Beyond the Hedge,” now is the time! This mini-series earned an Emmy and became one of Cartoon Network’s most beloved shows. The comic itself won an Eisner Award.

The story follows brothers Wirt and Gregory lost in a mysterious forest, aided by a small bird named Beatrice and an old Woodsman as they try to find their way home.

Heartfelt and clever dialogues, simple yet profound life wisdom, and excellent humor make this graphic novel a perfect companion for a glass of mulled wine and classic gingerbread cookies. Plus, the book features lyrics and notes of songs sung by the main characters.

4. “Blacksad” by Juanjo Guarnido and Juan Díaz Canales

John Blacksad is a detective — an exceptional one who can unravel the most complex cases. He’s a ladies’ man and friends with Smirnov, a police commissioner.

The twist? John Blacksad is a black cat, and Smirnov is a German Shepherd. This classic noir detective story gains fresh dimensions with anthropomorphic characters, without losing its gritty atmosphere and cynicism.

5. “Ocean of Love” by Wilfrid Lupano and Gregory Panaccione

This extraordinary romantic tale follows an elderly couple separated by fate, searching for each other across the globe — all told exclusively through illustrations, without a single word.

The story transcends language and age barriers, proving that the language of love is universal. Readers journey from a small French province to vibrant Cuba, stormy seas, and the vast ocean — all for love.

6. “Don Quixote” by Flix

Windmills become wind turbines, the ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha transforms into a German retiree, and his loyal squire Sancho Panza is a funny, chubby teenager obsessed with Batman.

This modern adaptation by German alternative artist Flix doesn’t require you to be a comic or Cervantes fan — just a good sense of humor and attention to detail to appreciate this tragicomic story.

And yes, the Dark Knight makes a surprising appearance!

7. “Kinderland” by Mavil

This nostalgic, sometimes melancholic, sometimes hilarious novel tells the story of schoolboy Mirko Watzke, who suddenly becomes the number one enemy of a gang of older bullies. Only a mysterious new student can help, but he’s hard to reach.

The story unfolds in East Berlin just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, based on the author’s parents’ memories, overheard adult conversations, and neighborhood gossip.

What was the crumbling German Democratic Republic like through the eyes of an ordinary German schoolboy?

8. “The Umbrella Academy” by Gerard Way

Few know that Gerard Way, former lead singer of the now-disbanded band My Chemical Romance, is also a gifted comic book writer. His comics are atmospheric, dark, and filled with profound ideas, featuring ordinary people with extraordinary gifts.

“The Umbrella Academy” contains two complete stories in one volume: an alternate take on the events surrounding President John F. Kennedy’s assassination (“Dallas”) and “The Apocalypse Suite,” which tells how music threatens the existence of the world.

With stunning artwork by Gabriel Bá and Way’s mystical script, this graphic novel is perfect for a cold January evening, especially while listening to My Chemical Romance.

9. “The Collector” by Sergio Toppi

Set in the late 19th century, a mysterious figure known as The Collector travels the world in search of ancient amulets. Fearless in the face of bullets, disease, magic, and rampant crime, he pursues his trophies relentlessly.

A blend of Indiana Jones and Clint Eastwood’s western heroes, this witty, serious, and lucky lone hero will appeal to fans of rugged charisma and adventurous journeys to the planet’s most fascinating and dangerous places.

10. “Aurora” by Timofey Mokiienko and Maria Konopatova

This hefty volume by Russian authors imagines events that might have unfolded in the Russian Empire if the October Revolution of 1917 had never occurred.

The country is ruled by mysterious imperial machines, and the protagonist, Ivan Diogen, unexpectedly finds himself aboard the legendary cruiser “Aurora.” Where will this story lead him?

Classic steampunk, vibrant and complex characters, many unusual inventions, and the beautiful historic city of Petrograd — all the elements we love, and likely you will too. ;)

11. “Three Seconds” by Marc-Antoine Mathieu

We couldn’t leave out this unique graphic novel from our essential winter reading list. Three seconds is the time it takes for a revolver bullet to travel one kilometer. It’s also the time needed to notice something unusual in an ordinary picture.

“Three Seconds” is a classic detective story told without words, using recursion. Illustrations within illustrations help unravel complex mysteries, while reflections, mirrors, doorways, and windows become your best allies in solving intricate cases. An ideal graphic puzzle!

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