2024 Resolutions for Comics Lovers
Or aspirations...delusions...plans...
We like to begin the year by making resolutions–specifically resolutions for reading, writing, and sharing comics. At the end of last year, in our wrap-up post, we asked what you all want to see more from us in 2024. The majority of our responses asked for more book reviews, from over half our respondents! We also got some requests for more comics histories and book club posts (which have reviews, discussion questions, and a creative prompt–the trifecta!), but prompts and coverage also had some votes.
Here are some other ideas to engage with comics all year long.
First, it's a good season to get hygge to prepare. How do you make your workspace or reading space cozy and inviting? A clean desk and a candle? A comfy throw or pile of pillows?
Use your new space to dig in and read widely:
Explore international comics by resolving to read comics from different countries each month. You might be able to find new books through the Read Around the World website, which allows you to filter by continent and tags, like comics.
Each month, pick a comic or graphic novel to read and discuss with your friends. You are welcome to use any of our Asynchronous Book Club posts. Most recently, we discussed the intimate My Picture Diary, while over the summer, Nora dove into Amaris’ book Unfiltered.
Cross reference your collection with this very, very extensive “Best of 2023” list from The Comics Journal.
Cultivate new drawing habits or skills:
Create a short comic each month that captures a personal highlight or a significant event from that month. It could be a few panels or a couple pages! By the end of the year, you’ll have a substantial zine and comic diary capturing 2024. We’d love to see these if you decide to do them–tag us @autobiographix on Instagram!
Dedicate the year to mastering a new art technique you want to bring into your comics, such as traditional inking, watercolor, mixed media, or making your own inks.
Make a weekly comic about a current newspaper headline. You can vary the stories, follow the development of a certain issue (such as a political campaign, the war, a local issue, etc.), or follow a section you care most about, such as sports or business. For inspiration, you might want to check out Elise Engler’s year of drawing a different headline every day.
Amaris captures a sad story in a comic
Once you are ready to leave your hygge comics home, here are some ideas to engage with the community:
Maybe this is the year to participate in a comic challenge:
24-Hour Comics Day
Go to an event, like a conference or convention, a local reading, or any or the great Billy Ireland events in Columbus, OH.
Collaborate on a comics project. What happens when you bring two or more minds together to make a comic? Maybe you want to highlight a community issue, or express a shared love of a forgotten band?
Resolve to buy more from local or independent comic book stores–or online distros.
Offer to write about comics for online venues. Solrad is taking pitches! Graphic Medicine is always looking for reviewers, too.
Write a Wikipedia entry about a deserving creator.
Donate comics to hospitals, shelters, or schools. For the library at the pre K-8 school Nora works at, she bought Mr. Wolf’s Class by Aron Steinke, Andy Warner’s Pests and Pets, and some Kirby manga. They are flying off the library shelves!
A still from a previous ZINE LUNCH!
Whatever you call them, we want to hear about your comics-related hopes for 2024 - leave a comment! And, as always, happy creating, reading, learning, and exploring.