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New Additions to Comics Plus: October 2025 | Rob’s Advisory

by | Nov 6, 2025 | Comic Spotlight, Comics Plus, Resources, Robs Advisory

Rob's Advisory picks for October 2025

Another month has just flown by, and that means winnowing another batch of recently added titles down to a choice few for my monthly advisory. The selection process doesn’t seem to be getting any easier these days, so I highly advise you check out the list of Honorable Mentions below, as (my brave editor often reminds me to focus on) my picks are typically the books that were of interest to me personally.

If you’re one of my regular readers at this point, in theory they’re going to be of interest to you, too. So let’s dive right in, because there are definitely some interesting ones again this month!

Middle Grade

I’ve often reflected that books for middle grade readers are typically not my cup of tea, but I have to admit my appreciation for them has definitely grown over the years, especially when considering comics as powerful tools for deeper learning, comprehension, and understanding. Most people know that comics can increase reading comprehension, but like any good prose book, they also have the capacity to widen one’s social bandwidth in a variety of (often unexpected) ways.

All Are Welcome by Gwen Tarpley (Andrews McMeel)Speaking of that particular cup of tea, there’s probably no finer example of an “outside my wheelhouse” recommendation from me than the adorably heart-warming — once I probably would have said “sappy” — All Are Welcome by Gwen Tarpley (Andrews McMeel). This second collection of the Cat’s Cafe webcomic is somehow even more heartfelt than the first, and continues to challenge my cynical Gen X mindset.

Imagine if all the stuffed animals at a little girl’s tea party suddenly came alive and then opened up a quaint little coffee shop to serve as a safe third space for when you’ve had a tough day… and maybe you’ll get a sense of this book’s vibe. Its characters are all gentle, affirming, encouraging, and way-way more accepting of one another than anything I can remember growing up with, and while it’s certainly appropriate for kids, older readers can still catch one in the feels now and again, too.

Additionally, while it definitely scores 10/10 for cuteness, it still manages to actually be too freakin’ earnest for me to even be able to be cynical about it… and so ultimately was the sort of thing that made me ask: if I thought this sweet little book was “sappy”, then what’s actually wrong with me? Did a kids book just make me a slightly better person?

Amy’s Big Brother by BonHyung Jeong (Yen Press)My top pick for the middle grade reader, Amy’s Big Brother by BonHyung Jeong (Yen Press), was really a no-brainer, though. There’s a decent chance you’re already familiar with its predecessor; the rather popular Kyle’s Little Sister. A number of characters appear in both books, but this latest volume is actually set in the first one’s past so there’s probably no real harm reading them in either order. That said, while the first book tackled navigating the increasing complexity of typical middle school relationships (from innocent crushes to troubled friendships, and even bullying) its prequel deals with the slightly more grown-up themes of… first-time childhood romances.

Naturally age-appropriate for any reader just starting to “like-like” that certain someone at school, adults are also certain to recognize many highlights (and follies) of their own bygone youth as we experience the full life cycle of a tumultuous middle school relationship. This is another of those all-ages books that really is enjoyable for all ages, and next time you have a voracious reader who’s devoured every available Svetlana Chmakova title and is  hungry for more, you now have not one but two great readalikes to direct them to!

Teen & Young Adult

As usual, there was a wide array of titles for teens to pick from, but I’m keeping things tight this month, so please don’t skimp on reviewing the Honorable Mentions at the end, too.

Harley Quinn X Elvira #1 by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Juan Samu (Dynamite)First, while I’m not exactly a “superhero guy”, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t shout out the new crossover series that debuted this month: Harley Quinn X Elvira #1 by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Juan Samu (Dynamite). Some of the largest publishers also tend to be the least library-friendly, so it’s rare to find titles featuring mainstream superheroes appearing on Comics Plus. Fortunately, when you consider it’s also the husband and wife duo of Conner and Palmiotti actually penning this series, you know you’re in for the most authentic Harley Quinn voice there is. Their Elvira isn’t half bad, either! All in all, it’s definitely a fun read, and a really great way to scratch that (occasional?) superhero itch.

Spectrum by Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm (Mad Cave)I’ve really always been more of an “indie comix guy” as, generally speaking, the most experimental / interesting stuff is going to come out of the small and independent press anyway, and the surreal sci-fantasy epic Spectrum by Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm (Mad Cave) is just the latest fine example to cross my desk. It’s one part mind-bender of a (karmic?) trip through the 20th century music history of a slightly alternate Earth (but still with plenty of recognizable surrogates), and one part multi-lifetime cosmic battle over the very power of sound to shape (or unshape) reality itself! Epic indeed…

With a malleable art style that shifts with the music and time period it’s in turn shaped by, it all kinda feels like Cloud Atlas crossed with The Matrix if it had a soundtrack that ran the gamut from classical, to jazz, to punk, and beyond. I’m usually a sucker for art about art, and the creators’ love for music (as well as its historical inspirations) throughout the book is downright palpable. I swear there are a few panels in here when you can almost hear the music coming off the page.

My Perfectly Imperfect Body by Debbie Tung (Andrews McMeel)My top pick for young adults was another no-brainer, too. I’ve really come to respect Debbie Tung’s growing body of autobiographical graphic novels, but My Perfectly Imperfect Body (Andrews McMeel) is perhaps her most deeply personal work yet. If you’re not already familiar with its highly-praised predecessors there’s no real right order to read them in, but the humorous/obsessive bibliophile neuroticism of Book Love can give you some context for the social anxiety she unabashedly explored in Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, which then almost naturally leads into her long battles with depression that characterize the poignantly honest Everything is OK.

With this latest volume she recounts overcoming her protracted childhood eating disorder(s), and just like each previous volume, she not only unflinchingly confronts the truth of her behaviors at every step, she also demonstrates the techniques (whether learned or realized) that allowed her to overcome each struggle and come into her own — more often than not with her signature wry, self-affacing sense of humor. Her work reminds me of similar comics memoirists like Jeffrey Brown (Unlikely, Sulk) and Liz Prince (Will You Still Love Me If I Wet The Bed), and for that next introverted reader who’s perhaps struggling with depression (especially related to body image), Ms. Tung’s collective work may be just the dose of graphic medicine the doctor ordered.

Adult

Pop Kill by Dave Johnson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brian Reber, Juan Santacruz, and Sean Konot (Mad Cave)There was no shortage of titles for mature readers this month, either, so the ones that made it to the top of my pile are definitely worth your time to check out. First, if you didn’t get enough of Mr. Palmiotti with Harley Quinn above, then Pop Kill by Dave Johnson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brian Reber, Juan Santacruz, and Sean Konot (Mad Cave) has more quirky, outrageous mayhem than you could possibly ever want.

Like James Bond crossed with Kill Bill this bloody tale of extreme corporate espionage between the world’s two biggest cola companies — each run by a formerly conjoined twin brother (yes, you read that right)  — is as about as over-the-top a concept as you’re likely to encounter for a good long while. Never losing sight of the basic premise, this story is a masterful blending of a number of fairly familiar tropes in new ways that are both unexpected and satisfying. And no matter how bizarrely crazy the stakes are raised, the characters never cease to take themselves deadly seriously. For readers who like their action/adventure with a side of super-spy, this is a tremendously fun read.

Totem by Laura Pérez (Fantagraphics)I was strangely moved by the precise, eerie artwork and remain equally intrigued by the mysterious premise suffusing the grim, beautiful, almost sinister Totem by Laura Pérez (Fantagraphics). A very “non-traditional” sort of ghost story, this somber graphic novel weaves a haunting, ethereal thread across time, and is as much about the fleetingness of the connections we can make (both mundane and supernatural) as it is the ghosts (real or metaphorical) that take on the shape of another’s absence.

I know that may sound strange, but this was a hard book to really pin down, and even with repeat viewings, I know I haven’t grasped even a fraction of all the nuances going on in its pages. That hasn’t stopped me from feeling haunted by them, and if you give it a try, it may haunt you, too.

Speaking of hauntings  — have I got a ghost story for you! The critically acclaimed Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote, Aaron Campbell, José Villarrubia, and Nate Powell (Image Comics) is a book I’ve personally wanted to have on Comics Plus for many years now, for a number of reasons.

First, full disclosure, Aaron remains one of my oldest friends going all the way back to our art school days together in the late 90s, where we both actually received instruction from Mr. Villarrubia himself — although I’m the only one lucky enough to have taken any classes with him. Back then, all of our friends knew it was only a matter of time before Aaron became a big time comics creator, and it’s been awesome to see him evolve over the years from period stuff like Sherlock Holmes (Dynamite) and Green Hornet (Dynamite) to spy-thrillers like Weaver (Dynamite) and Felix Leiter (Dynamite) and finally to the “sweet spot” of supernatural horror like his most recent celebrated run on Hellblazer (DC Comics).

Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote, Aaron Campbell, José Villarrubia, and Nate Powell (Image Comics)Horror is absolutely Aaron’s milieu, and I’d argue that Infidel (his first creator-owned title) remains the most successful example of just how damn unsettling his art can actually get. Comics possess almost none of the tools most horror movies rely on to get a scare out of their viewers, so understand how truly impressive it is when I tell you that it’s been said this book has “the only jumpscare in the history of comics.” (You’ll know it when you see it.)

Beyond all that though, Infidel joins the ranks of other visionary works of horror that also serve as commentary on wider, more topical social issues — in this case the racism embedded throughout all American society, but specifically Islamophobia (though the book certainly doesn’t stop there). Mr. Pichetshote’s dialogue is authentic yet insightful, and all too often you’ll hear the voices of your friends, neighbors, or even yourself (for better or worse) reflected in the ensemble cast.

My biases aside, there’s a reason NPR named it one of their Top 100 Horror Stories of all time, and now that experience is just a few clicks away for Comics Plus readers. I’m so proud!

Honorable Mentions

That was a lot of books to cover in one advisory, and yet there are still so many more I didn’t get to. Remember, there’s always more to read every month on Comics Plus! With literally thousands of titles to choose from across a wide range of genres, I could keep writing forever.

Be sure to check in every month for more highlights, and browse our expanding list of past Rob’s Advisory selections.

Rob Randle: "Read all the comics!"Until next month, here are some more honorable mentions that, mostly for space reasons, didn’t quite make my list, but you (and/or your readers) may also enjoy checking out:

Rob Randle is the Director of Content Management for LibraryPass, and has worked in and around the comic book industry in various capacities, including as a book reviewer for the NY Journal of Books, and a judge for various comic book industry awards—the 2006 Eisner Awards, among others. Before joining LibraryPass, he had been the Director of Publishing for iVerse Media LLC since 2010, and prior to that was a purchasing manager for Diamond Comic Distributors where he helped to manage the monthly Previews catalog for close to a decade starting in 2002. Additionally, Rob occasionally does freelance work as a comics creator, and is the author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel Serial Artist. Rob holds a B.A. of Illustration from the Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA).

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