Comics I Loved in 2023
A long list of favorite comics from 2023 prompts broader debate over how politicized modern graphic storytelling has become, with some readers energized by explicitly leftist, late‑capitalism critiques and others turned off by what they see as omnipresent ideology. Commenters highlight the sheer scale and diversity of today’s comics ecosystem—far beyond US superheroes—including digital‑first and webcomics, while also contrasting escapist, character‑driven works with heavier, “serious” graphic novels. Several argue that mainstream superhero franchises and constant retcons have skewed public perception of the medium, obscuring the richness of standalone and international comics.
Overall reaction to the list
- Several commenters found the list extensive, fresh, and infectious in its enthusiasm, discovering many unfamiliar artists and titles.
- Some plan to buy specific works mentioned (e.g., an Arabic edition of a highlighted comic) based on the recommendations.
- One commenter notes difficulty distinguishing “fun escapist” graphic novels from heavier, literary ones and looks to the thread for lighter recommendations.
Politics, ideology, and “far-left” framing
- A recurring subthread debates the article’s explicitly left-wing, anti-capitalist framing and its opening line about genocide and late-stage capitalism.
- Some readers find the constant political lens clichéd, propagandistic, or a turn-off that stops them reading further.
- Others argue politics is integral to art and ideas, see the diagnosis as accurate or at least understandable, and say this upfront framing helpfully signals the intended audience.
- There is meta-debate over complaints about “woke” content versus boredom with “far-left/Marxist artist” tropes, with accusations of double standards on both sides.
- One line of criticism: pervasive ideology is said to constrain imagination and reduce diversity of stories; others challenge this and see it as unclear or unconvincing.
Comics market, formats, and escapism
- Commenters emphasize that comics are a huge, international medium, with thousands of works published yearly and many publishers beyond US superheroes.
- Digital-first and webcomics (including Webtoons-style infinite scroll) are described as a long-standing norm, especially in indie scenes; physical editions often follow via crowdfunding or print-on-demand.
- Readers differ on format preference: some insist physical books are essential; others strongly prefer tablets for fidelity and space reasons.
- Manga is highlighted as highly refined “artful escapism,” with large gender-targeted subgenres, though not everyone is naturally drawn to it.
- One recommendation for a fun, adventurous European graphic novel is mentioned (language availability unclear).
Superhero continuity vs standalone works
- Several comments criticize long-running superhero series (e.g., Batman) for constant resets and lack of lasting consequences, saying this shaped a public perception of comics as “toothless.”
- Others counter that retcons are a genre feature enabling intricate, long-form storytelling and that even big publishers have more variety than commonly assumed.
- There is agreement that non-superhero and standalone comics now represent a large and often more critically rich part of the medium.
Site and cookie policy complaint
- A side thread criticizes the site’s generic cookie banner and off-domain policy link as inadequate and emblematic of broken data-protection practices.