In his author’s note for his astonishing debut book “The Nightingales” (Avid Reader Press, 2026), San Franciso-based gay illustrator and comic book artist Emil Wilson writes that the “basic setup” of the story is true, but it “isn’t a memoir” and he took “several liberties.” Regardless, in addition to essentially reinventing the visual presentation of a graphic novel, he has created unforgettable characters. Set in 1985 Oregon, there’s wise teenager Lou (aka Louise), kid sister of gay brother Emil; helpful father Donald; self-involved mother Annemarie (who is on a first name basis with the Virgin Mary); Donald’s gay co-worker Jim, a man with AIDS whom Donald invites to move into the family’s home when he loses his apartment; and Jim’s Pomeranians, Henny and Penny, who function as a kind of Greek chorus and add a dose of levity. Be sure to have a box of tissues close by when you get to part five because you will need it.
Geared towards a YA readership, Beck Kubrick’s “Dead Girls” (Simon & Schuster, 2026) incorporates generational verbiage, true crime podcasts, ritual killings, witch hunts reminiscent of those in Salem, explicit ultraviolence, feminist messaging, and such. The graphic novel’s lead character Ash, the teenaged progeny of a notorious accused and deceased serial killer in small town Clossdale, is determined to stop the copycat killer terrorizing the residents. With five girls already brutally killed, by a gang of “murderous furries,” no less, Ash, along with Cassie and Jamie, bring final girl energy and wit to the proceedings. In the middle of it all is a budding romance between Ash, and their girlfriend Heather, daughter of the town’s corrupt lead cop.
What started as a series of TikTok videos by queer creator Jonathan Graziano, about his late dog Noodle (a pug), developed into an all-ages book series with “Noodle and the No Bones Day” and “Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain.” With “Milton Makes A Move” (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026), Graziano and illustrator Dan Tavis, introduce us to the latest addition to Graziano’s family, the titular newly adopted senior pug. With the meaningful message that “being brave can be hard, but everything is a little easier with a friend by your side,” this a book that is certain to be relatable to everyone.
Seeing green? There doesn’t appear to be an end to the profits being accrued from the gravity defying “Wicked” franchise. Beginning with gay writer Gregory Maguire’s original novel series and continuing with the beloved Broadway musical, its original cast recording, and global tours, followed by the unfortunate two-part movie adaptation and its corresponding original soundtracks, “Wicked” has bewitched the world. Unsurprisingly, Maguire’s “Wicked” has also entered yet another realm with “Wicked: The Graphic Novel, Part II” (William Morrow, 2026), adapted and illustrated by Scott Hampton, which picks up where 2025’s “Wicked: The Graphic Novel, Part 1” left off.
