45 New Comics and Graphic Novels for October 2023

With each new month comes fresh new reads being published! Here are 45 new comics and graphic novels for October 2023, a mixture of spooky, eerie, witchy, and strange, with plenty of sweet ones in the mix, too, for those of you who aren’t into the horror aspect of the month 😁 Don’t forget to take a look at the bottom of the page for some recommendations for where to get your hands on these titles!

“A face-off with the devil! From writer Emmett Nahil (Leatherwood) and illustrator George Williams (Croc and Roll) comes a riveting queer horror story set against the backdrop of an outbreak of “satanic panic” sweeping the New Jersey suburbs in 1979.

When Pastor Holley’s wife, Kelly, is found murdered, FBI agent Garrett takes on the case with local New Jersey Sheriff Mullen. Together they start drumming up a convenient satanic-flavored scapegoat to cover up their own crimes of murder and experimentation. That scapegoat comes in the form of four friends: Mitch, Terri, Lupe, and Jackson. The punks, the queers, and the outcasts. Soon the group becomes the prime suspects of Kelly’s murder. Now on the run from Garrett and Mullen, the group finds themselves in the midst of a deal with the devil themself.”

“Aoki and Ida are hard at work studying so they can go to the same college. They pray for their exams to go well at their first shrine visit of the year, but will their bond hold strong when it’s tested?! Meanwhile, Akkun and Hashimoto have taken different paths, but they still cheer each other on. Graduation is right around the corner!”

“By author Hali Heavy Shield, a multidisciplinary artist and a member of the Blood Tribe of Southern Alberta, and illustrated by Norma Jean Russell, a native speaker of Blackfoot.

A young girl celebrates her grandmother’s art and the connection between them. Naaahsa says art is a language everyone understands. Sometimes we make art together. We draw, we bead, we sing. Sometimes Naaahsa tells stories in Blackfoot. I even get to go with her to see her art show at the National Gallery. Naaahsa is famous for her art, but I love her hugs best. Naaahsa is an Artist is a celebration of artists, and especially an acknowledgment of Indigenous women who have paved the way for emerging artists and creatives. Through bold statements and colourful spreads, each page comes to life with encouraging words and actions that will make readers want to make art themselves. Full colour throughout.”

“On the eve of the 1980s and the Reagan Administration, Detroit is burdened with an oppressive darkness-both political and supernatural.

Dejected and tough tabloid reporter Elena Abbott, who previously defeated the occult forces responsible for her husband’s death, must dig herself out from rock bottom if she’s going to save Detroit from the Umbra, one last time…

As the trilogy’s final chapter by Hugo Award-nominated novelist Saladin Ahmed (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Black Bolt) and artist Sami Kivelä (Beautiful Canvas) opens, Elena will have to contend with the dark cloud hanging over Detroit… and over her personally.”

“It’s 1930s Mississippi. Magic is permitted only in certain circumstances, and by certain people. Unsanctioned broom racing is banned. But for those who need the money, or the thrills…it’s there to be found.

Meet Billie Mae, captain of the Night Storms racing team, and Loretta, her best friend and second-in-command. They’re determined to make enough money to move out west to a state that allows Black folks to legally use magic and take part in national races.

Cheng-Kwan – doing her best to handle the delicate and dangerous double act of being the perfect “son” to her parents, and being true to herself while racing.

Mattie and Emma – Choctaw and Black – the youngest of the group and trying to dodge government officials who want to send them and their newly-surfaced powers away to boarding school.

And Luella, in love with Billie Mae. Her powers were sealed away years ago after she fought back against the government. She’ll do anything to prevent the same fate for her cousins.

Brooms is a queer, witchy Fast and the Furious that shines light on history not often told – it’s everything you’d ever want to read in a graphic novel.”

“New Kid meets The Baby-sitters Club in this graphic novel series opener about the Curlfriends, four inseparable Black girls who show us the meaning of true friendship—and being your true self.

Charlie has a foolproof plan for the first day at her new middle school. Even though she’s used to starting over as the new kid—thanks to her military family’s constant moving—making friends has never been easy for her. But this time, her first impression needs to last, since this is where her family plans to settle for good.

So she’s hiding any interests that may seem “babyish,” updating her look, and doing her best to leave her shyness behind her…but is erasing the real Charlie the best way to make friends?

When not everything goes exactly to plan—like, AT ALL—Charlie is ready to give up on making new friendships. Then she meets the Curlfriends, a group of Black girls who couldn’t be more different from each other, and learns that maybe there is a place for Charlie to be her true self after all.

Sharee Miller’s graphic novel debut starts off an exciting contemporary series featuring four Black girls who each have a unique story, and each learn lessons about friendship, family, and being their true selves.”

“In this laugh-out-loud funny sequel to the graphic novel Huda F Are You?, the Fahmys are off to Disney World, but self-conscious Huda worries her family will stand out too much.

Huda and her sisters can’t believe it when her parents announce that they’re actually taking a vacation this summer . . . to DISNEY WORLD!

But it’s not quite as perfect as it seems. First Huda has to survive a 24-hour road trip from Michigan to Florida, with her sisters annoying her all the way. And then she can’t help but notice the people staring at her and her family when they pray in public. Back home in Dearborn she and her family blend right in because there are so many other Muslim families, but not so much in Florida and along the way.

It’s a vacation of forced (but unexpectly successful?) sisterly bonding, a complicated new friendship, a bit more independence, and some mixed feelings about her family’s public prayers. Huda is proud of her religion and who she is, but she still sure wishes she didn’t care so much what other people thought.”

“The deeply divided residents of Shadow Hills must face their past – or certain annihilation.

Environmental disturbances and a mysterious epidemic wreak havoc on the remote, struggling town of Shadow Hills.

The rivalrous townsfolk race to find a cure and uncover the source of the threat before it destroys the entire community. Their search for answers leads them into the depths of a buried past…

Shadow Hills is the long-awaited follow-up to Sean Ford’s perennial favorite graphic novel, Only Skin. A decade in the making, Shadow Hills collects all ten serialized chapters and brings the highly acclaimed series to a new, stunning conclusion.”

“Meet the unsung Latino rebels, artists, and activists who changed the United States—from Dolores Huerta to Desi Arnaz to Lin Manuel Miranda—in this bold and entertaining graphic history.

From community activism to the halls of government, pop-culture, arts, and beyond, Latinos have shaped every aspect of American life.

Nevertheless, these significant figures and their contributions are often left out of our textbooks. Sí, Se Puede, named after the “Yes, We Can” motto of the United Farm Workers, brings Latino history in the U.S. to the forefront.

The book follows a group of Hispanic-Americans as they embark on an interactive museum tour to meet Latino heroes they may not have learned about in school. The high tech, immersive exhibit allows the tour group to virtually travel through time, visiting the Hispanic Union soldiers of the Civil War; marching with César Chávez and Dolores Huerta in the farmworkers struggle; going to space with Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina to leave Earth’s atmosphere; meeting the youngest woman to ever serve in Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; and more. This ensemble of unlikely friends discover the rich history of Latinos in the United States, and gain new insights into their own American experiences.

Sí, Se Puede shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked Latino heroes throughout US history, bringing their stories to life through the sequential action, illustrated characters, and lush color palette of a graphic novel.”

“The complete, deluxe hardcover collection of the acclaimed sci-fi series! ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL… ALWAYS DEAD… NO ESCAPE.

Captain Malik and the crew of the spaceship the Vihaan II are in search of the only resources that matter-which can only be found by harvesting the giant corpses of alien gods that are found on the edge of human space.

But Malik’s obsession with being the first to find a living god will push his crew into the darkest reaches of space and many decades into the future, where the universe has changed in ways beyond comprehension.

Rival religious factions clash throughout the galaxy as the Vihaan II is on a quest to discover–once and for all–the origins of the Gods. Will the lines between humanity and the divine blur even further?

Superstar writer Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk) and distinguished artist Simone Di Meo (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) for the first time ever present a deluxe hardcover collection of the entire sci-fi epic!

Collects We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #1-15.”

“An uplifting and empowering illustrated anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices, including chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley, scientist Dr. Raven the Science Maven, and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

Curated by award-winning author Jamia Wilson, A Year of Black Joy celebrates the joy, talent, and contributions of 52 Black people from around the world. By sharing the many layers and dimensions of Black life and contributions that exist outside of trauma, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to share their joy too. Each contributor is an expert in their own field, and the book covers a multitude of topics, from astrology and astronomy to beekeeping and baking.

The collection includes an entry for every week of the year, and each contribution is tied to a particular season, event, or celebration. An illustrated, nonfiction component to each entry—such as a guide to healing plants or a tour of the night sky—lets readers dive further into the activity. Presented in a beautiful hardcover format and featuring stunning full-color illustrations from Jade Orlando, AYear of Black Joy is a book to be treasured for years to come.”

“‘Super sweet and totally heartwarming!’—Alice Oseman, bestselling author of Heartstopper and Loveless

Momo Gardner is the kind of friend who’s always ready to lend a helping hand. She’s introverted, sensitive, and maybe a little too trusting, but she likes to believe the best in people.

PG, on the other hand, is a bit of a lone wolf, despite her reputation for being a flirt and a player. Underneath all that cool mystery, she’s actually quick to smile, and when she falls for someone, she falls hard. An unexpected meet-cute brings the two together, kicking off the beginning of an awkward yet endearing courtship—but with their drastically different personalities, Momo’s overprotective friend, and PG’s past coming back to haunt her, Momo and PG’s romance is put to the test.”

“Can two kids save the world and work their family food truck?

First-generation Filipino siblings JJ and Althea struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. But that hope seems like a long shot, for both of them.

To make matters worse, they have to help their parents run the family food truck by dressing up as a dancing pig and passing out samples. Ugh! And their mom is always pointing out lessons from Filipino folklore — annoying tales they’ve heard again and again. But when witches, ogres, and other creatures from those same stories threaten their family, JJ and Althea realize that the folklore may be more real that they’d suspected. Can they embrace who they really are and save their family?”

“Don’t. Murder. The locals.

This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule.

After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm décor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace.

So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise—and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree.

Live, laugh, shed blood. “Dexter” meets Richard Scarry’s Busy Town in writer-artist Patrick Horvath’s twisted debut of BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES!”

“A gorgeously drawn graphic novel reminiscent of stained glass and illuminated pages, telling a story of queer transmasc romance, daring adventure, and (literally) fighting your demons.

Jules is a trans man trapped in his life as a nun. The devil that the convent guards against offers him a deal to escape: an illicit tryst and lifelong possession. Jules takes the deal, and begins his new life as a criminal who’s impervious to harm. He soon meets Casper, another trans man and a poetic thief, and together they steal, lie, and cheat their way through bewildering adventures, and develop feelings for each other along the way. But as Jules and Casper’s relationship deepens, so does the devil’s jealous grasp…”

“A fully illustrated guide to intuitive cooking! This art and comic-filled cookbook includes a primer on tools, ingredients, and using your own five senses to make delicious food, as well as twenty vegetarian recipes from worldwide cuisines.

Inside this approachable, illustrated cookbook is an introduction to intuitive food preparation! Relying less on teaspoons, grams, degrees, and exact cook times, intuitive cooking reflects the way humans have cooked food for ages: by tasting, watching, smelling, listening, feeling, and remembering. Follow along with home cook Mariah-Rose Marie to learn how to measure with your hands, season with your senses, balance flavors on the fly, remember ratios, and more—all with minimal equipment.

You can practice your new knowledge with the twenty delicious, vegetarian recipes found inside, including snacks, main dishes, drinks, and desserts! From Indonesian asinan bogor and Cambodian samla curry to the Mexican-Taiwanese fusion drink horchata con boba, author Mariah-Rose Marie collects recipes from family, friends, and contributors throughout the globe. The recipes range from traditional to transformed, reflecting the way foods—like people —migrate, mix, adapt, and are remembered.  This book was created with international and financial accessibility in mind, and the hope that readers will find appreciation for the people and flavors of our shared world.

So grab your trusty cast iron skillet, and get cooking!”

“Boils, ghouls, vampires, monsters, and creatures of all kinds, welcome. Take a seat, go on, fill the aisles, relax your fangs, and sit with us for a while. Join us in a macabre and magical journey through all the haunts and spooks that keep you up at night for here we revel in the darkness and present to you a chilling, nay PETRIFYING experience as the Headless Horseman presents a collection of five terrifying tales to warm up your cold soul. Hurry up now, you won’t want to keep them waiting …

The first annual Halloween anthology from Dark Horse Comics.

A collection of five stories from a variety of creators.“

“Something wicked crawled out screaming.

Edith “Eddie” Miller has no grand plans or great prospects. She spends her days sleeping in and her nights working shifts at a gas station. But when her younger sister fails to come home, Eddie unearths a web of missing girls and rotting bodies.

The police prove useless, so Eddie teams up with her best friend, Rainer, in a desperate hunt to find her sister. The only thing is-Eddie believes her best friend might be the Devil himself.”

“First in a series, Nidhi Chanani’s Super Boba Café isa sweet and magical middle-grade, full-color graphic novel about a secret teashop, an earthquake-causing monster, and an unforgettable summer.

In the fog-laden hills of San Francisco sits a sleepy independent boba café. Run by Jing Li and guarded by her kitty, Bao, it comfortably fades into the background. But inside the boba café, there’s a secret. Jing is the keeper of the monster of San Francisco. Each day she prepares one giant boba for nine hours to feed it.

When Jing’s granddaughter, Aria, comes to stay with her for the summer, she makes it her mission to turn the café around. Aria is quickly aided by Bao, who gives birth to eight perfect kittens. Aria spreads the news of the boba cat café on social media and overnight it is overrun with excited customers. Each day Nainai Li (Grandma Li) finds reasons to close the café, but the demand only increases.

When she opens, the hill monster is left hungry and small earthquakes begin to plague the city. When Aria secretly follows her nainai to the hill monster’s cave, she isn’t sure what awaits. Will Aria be able to reason with the monster, or will she become its new favorite meal? Or might she disturb its underground existence and cause the Big One?”

“An all new original graphic novel packed with as much heart as epic combat from rising comic stars Juni Ba (Djeliya, Monkey Meat) and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (PanelxPanel)!

Join a brave young monster and their grouchy mentor on a heartfelt quest for redemption and growth in a world run by fear.

Felix is a shy little beast growing up in a world where monster wrestling is the biggest spectacle there is. Lonely, and constantly bullied by the bigger monsters his age, Felix struggles to prove themselves and find their place in the world. Their fate is changed forever when a dare lands them on the doorstep of one of the scariest monsters in the whole world– Macabber Tails, one of the most famous monstering champions in history.

Felix wants to be big and brave and strong and tough, just like Macabber, and so they decide to do whatever it takes to not be a fraidy little monster anymore. Their unlikely journey together sends them to Macabber’s hometown, to the mountains of the colossal flame-wielding Kilnver–a monster able to make an army of knights out of just its own saliva–and to the lair of the dastardly Amaret, the monster that made Macabber the champion they are today.

Together they face some battles for their life, but not always in ways that are physical and by the end, Felix and Macabber may learn a thing or two about being tough.”

“An adorable and full-color manga series about the hilarious antics of the artist’s two rescue cats–accompanied by photos of the actual kitties in action!

Staring at you at night, putting their butts on your face, getting stuck in a box… Based on a popular blog, this full color manga shares the everyday silliness of living with cats.”

“Journey into a land of magic and powerful girls in this feminist retelling of Indonesian folktales, lushly reimagined by a debut graphic novelist.

Once upon a time. . .
A princess was cursed to live as a snail,
Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath,
And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant.

No one is coming to save them.
Will they get their happily ever after?

In this collection of reimagined Indonesian fairy tales, the girls are the ones with power. The power to fight evil, to protect others, and to grow as people. Because why should girls in folktales always need saving? What if they save themselves instead?

Based on graphic novelist Clar Angkasa’s favorite childhood stories and gorgeously illustrated with a dedicated color palette for each tale, this retelling of “Keong Mas,” “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih,” and “Timun Mas” is filled with spectacular landscapes, deep emotions, and a firm belief in the power of girls’ stories.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection“

More October Releases!

I’m working with limited space on this website’s server (and limited energy in this body 😂), so I can’t highlight the covers and details for all the comic releases, but there are still a ton more great looking comics coming out this month! Check them out!

How to Read

So that’s 49 new comics and graphic novels for October 2023! Which comics are you looking forward to reading this month? Have any of these caught your eye? Let me know in the comments!

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*Comic creators and publishers, I do my best to get the details accurate in my posts, but if you catch a mistake, feel free to reach out to me! You can email me at hellojbeoin [at] gmail [dot] com; it’s much appreciated!