Show your dad some love, and introduce him to these amazing comics.
Father’s Day is fast approaching, and the ONLY way you’re getting on his good side is if you shower him with comics. Whether he’s a long-time reader or new to the game, we’ve got something every dad will dig and every pops will appreciate. And while you’re at it, give the guy a dang hug. Aww!
East of West
This’ll give your dad a lot to chew on—it’s a hugely complex story set in an alternate history where the American Civil War never ended, and the United States is split into different factions. Hickman and Dragotta create a gritty story that fits right into sci-fi but pulls from the canon of all good Westerns. Death, the main character, is straight out of a Clint Eastwood movie. And this thing will hit you right in the feels, too. Amidst all this chaos, Death is looking for his long-missing son...it gets heavy.
Man-Eaters
Chelsea Cain, Kate Niemczyk, and Lia Miternique have created something great here—and it is perfect for dads who maybe want to better understand their daughters. At times, it can even feel like an instruction manual on how to relate to them during their most turbulent years. And check out the synopsis: Adolescent girls can be real monsters. Maude is twelve—which is just about that age when some girls turn into flesh-eating wildcats. As her detective dad investigates a series of strange mauling attacks, Maude begins to worry that she might be the killer. Exciting AND helpful to dads? Sign em up!
God Country
God Country is perhaps the ultimate father/son story. Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw tell a hugely personal tale of Emmett Quinlan, a man with dementia suddenly regaining lucidity when a god drops a sword right into his lap. He gets to spend time with his son and the family that his son is now a part of. Unfortunately, the gods want the sword back—and with it, Emmett’s memories will leave him once again. So, facing the devastating choice, Emmett responds in the grand Texas way: COME AND TAKE IT!
Saga
Everybody loves Saga. Dads will too. That is all.
Death or Glory
Car chases for days! That’s what you’ll get with Rick Remender and Bengal’s Death or Glory. Nobody draws action like Bengal, and there’s a lot to go around in this one—but an emotional father/daughter story too? Now we’re just being spoiled. It goes like this: in order to pay for her dying father’s surgery, Glory has three days to pull off four dangerous cross-country heists with mob killers, crooked cops, and a psycho ex-husband all out to bring her in—or die trying. Explosive doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Spawn
If your dad’s a comics man, then it’s likely he’ll have already binged Spawn, but let’s reintroduce him to the anti-hero that kicked the Image Revolution into high gear. We’re nearing the 300th issue, so with that many jumping-on points, there’s bound to be a Spawn story that’s a perfect fit. And it’s great for people who aren’t comic readers too—it doesn’t carry the weight of having multiple lines, retcons, and reboots that a lot of superhero comics tend to have. What’s great about Spawn is that you can get right into the action and not have to worry about anything but what’s in front of you.
Die
If your dad grew up with D&D—or fantasy in general—he’s gonna latch onto this. Stephanie Hans evokes that epic fantasy feel all while being something completely her own. And Kieron Gillen brings so much emotional depth to the story. It’s nostalgic and critical of nostalgia all at once, and fantasy fans will see clever nods all over the place. They are actually creating an entire tabletop game as a companion piece, so read this and play some RPGs with your dad!
Southern Bastards
Welcome to Craw County, Alabama, home of Boss BBQ, the state champion Runnin' Rebs football team...and more bastards than you've ever seen. Jason Aaron and Jason Latour create a raw picture of small-town life, and there’s a lot to relate to here, especially if your father has any connection to the American South. But, this is a crime series, so it’s not all pigskin and light beer. It’ll take you to some very dark places.
Age of Bronze
If your father is a history buff, look no further than Age of Bronze by Eric Shanower. Volume One in the series was recently remastered and is now fully colored, so it’s a great time to start. It’s a look at the Trojan War, and it’s incredibly well-researched, but it’s not some overly dry, academic retelling. It has a strong personal core and plenty of intrigue along the way.
Farmhand
Rob Guillory writes and illustrates one heck of a story. He retains a lot of the humor that he developed while drawing Chew, but the main focus here is on strange horrors: farms that grow body parts. In the midst of a conspiracy surrounding the farm, a father and a son try to fix their broken relationship. It hits all the right notes. Funny, tragic, freaky.