best of 2020: manga and graphic novels

 A few notes before I begin:

• Not all of these were first released in 2020, but that's when I read them.
• This is a short list as I didn't have enough to make a full list of ten.
• These are in random order, though I did make note of my favorite.
• And, as always, your mileage may vary.

1. Commute by Erin Williams:  A graphic memoir about getting sober and trying to deal with the demons that alcohol had temporarily kept at bay.

2. No Longer Human by Junji Ito:  Based on the semi-autobiographical novel, this follows author Osamu Dazai from his tormented childhood to his even worse adulthood.  Ito was an inspired choice to illustrate this, because although it isn't pure horror like Ito usually draws, it does look at human existence through a very bleak, existential lens.  600+ pages flew by, but warning: very few pages are happy.

3. Drawing Power: Women's Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival (anthology):  What it says on the tin, and a gripping, sad, engrossing read.

4. Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh:  The creator of Hyperbole and a Half returns with another collection of stories, some hysterically funny (like my favorite, about the bizarre neighbor girl who's obsessed with showing Allie her room) and some very dark.  My favorite graphic novel of the year.

5. Flamer by Mike Curato:  Aiden is biracial, chubby, and struggling with his sexuality, so Boy Scout camp doesn't go as well as he'd hoped.  Heartbreaking but hopeful.