I love reading funny books and comics, and who doesn’t? Getting in a good belly laugh at any and all times of the day is the best! Unfortunately, it can be kind of difficult finding truly funny books that aren’t something like a “funny mystery†or a “romance with humor elements.†Luckily, there have been quite a few funny comic books that have come out in the past year or so that definitely have jokes that will keep you in stitches. Whether you like superheroes, Star Wars, Princesses and/or bubblegum or cursed football team owners, you’ll definitely find something on this list that will come in handy when you are feeling down in the dumps or are just in the mood for a right good laugh.
Darth Vader and Son & Vader’s Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown: I have enjoyed all of Jeffrey Brown’s comics and graphic novels which he both writes and illustrates. But, he forever endeared himself to me with his books of little one page vignettes of the exploits of Darth Vader and his kiddos, Luke & Leia – Darth Vader and Son & Vader’s Little Princess. Brown imagines a world where Darth Vader is actively parenting Luke and Leia through their kid & teen years, and it is hilarious. Imagine a Vader that has to pretend to love a Father’s Day tie from his son or a Lord Vader counseling a teenage Leia after relationship problems. For hard-core and casual Star Wars fans, these two books are Jedi approved!
Batman: Li’l Gotham, Volume 1: by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs: As always, I must include an appearance by our favorite Gotham resident, and you might be thinking, “Well, Batman isn’t funny. He’s very serious.†You’d be right! Lucky for those of us who’d like to see Batman crack some jokes once in a while, the previously online only comic Li’l Gotham has been collected into a book! In Li’l Gotham, everything is smaller and cuter and just plain old adorable. Batman’s a little snarky and a little jokey and everybody in Gotham, while not on their best behavior, are committing crimes that are more funny than felonious. In this first volume, readers get to visit Batman, his crew and his cronies on all the major holidays. Imagine the problems that come with fighting crime and supervillains on Halloween – how can you tell who the real villain is? And, what kind of weird Valentine’s Day is this when Joker is the most sought after bachelor in town! Wha?! This book is perfect for those days when you’ve just got to have your Batman, but you could do without his brooding for once.
Adventure Time by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb (a 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection): Oh my glob, you guys. If you love Adventure Time as much as I do, then you will love these collections of Adventure Time comics published by the kid and teen friend kaboom! Publishing. Readers need not be fans or even familiar with the show; these are funny stories just on their own, and they will make a reader of any age clutch their sides in joyful laughter as they follow Finn the human and his best friends Jake the Dog, Princess Bubblegum and others in their whimsical adventures in the land of Ooo. The one thing I loved the most were the hilarious footnotes at the bottom of each page. Each volume of the series is made up of 2-3 stories that wrap up within the book; each story provides plenty of high-fives and smiles galore.
Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction & David Aja (a 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection): Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, might be a member of the Avengers, but the man isn’t with them 24/7. Sometimes a guy needs to take a load off and relax…all the while trying to fight the Russian Mob who’s taking over his apartment building, attempting to shoot a boomerang arrow out of a moving car and finding a soul mate – Pizza Dog. If you’ve ever wondered what an Avenger did on his day off, this is the book for you. Clint Barton doesn’t have any “superpowers,†just his bow and arrow and a quick wit that goes a long way fast. Along with his sidekick, Kate Bishop, a.k.a. Lady Hawkeye, by his side, he’s sure to get in a lot of trouble, but he’s ready with a wink, a smile, and a bad joke to buy him some time. On first glance, this looks like another old superhero comic, but I assure you, it’s super funny and gives readers a taste of what the regular members of the Avengers do on their off time (hint: usually hold rooftop BBQs).
Bad Machinery, Volume 1: The Case of the Team Spirit by John Allison (a 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection): Bad Machinery is an awesome online comic strip that is grouped on its website into solved mysteries. This mystery, The Case of the Team Spirit, is the first one to be collected into a print book. Once readers get hooked on the weird and wacky mysteries that define the sleepy little town of Tackleford, England, they can either continue to read them as the books come out (trust me, you won’t be able to wait for the next book) or just jump right in to the online daily comic strips (yes, this is what you’ll end up doing). In this first story, readers meet the group of teenagers that will be the stars of all the upcoming Bad Machinery stories. There’s a group of local teenage girls, Shauna, Charlotte and Mildred, who are working together to keep old Mrs. Biscuits in her house in the face of evil industrialism. Meanwhile, their schoolmates, Jack, Linton and Sonny, are trying to figure out why the owner of their local football team seems to have been cursed. Little do they know, but their cases might be related, if they’d just quit being embarrassed long enough to talk to each other! This hilarious collection of John Allison’s daily online comic strips will satisfy even the most discerning sleuth, all the while keeping them in stitches!
Everybody needs a good laugh now and then, and whether you’d like a little mystery, superhero, or Wookie action with your giggles, there are a lot of comics perfect for helping you get your laugh on.
Traci Glass, currently reading The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt