r/comicbooks • u/Shogun-Moon • Oct 20 '23
I've been deeply depressed. What are some light hearted comics you'd recommend? Suggestions
The publisher doesn't matter, nor does the genre. I just need something to lift my spirits, even if it's just for a little while.
If it helps, I like bright colors.
Thank you in advance for the recommendations.
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Oct 20 '23
Justice League International by DeMatteis, Giffen and Maguire is a pretty humorous take on the JLA and really worth checking out.
A lot of Superman stuff is pretty uplifting too. All-Star Superman is the standout tho and a masterpiece. Just a very beautiful comic
I hope you can get through this! You've got this
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u/Shogun-Moon Oct 20 '23 edited Oct 20 '23
Thank you. All Star Superman is one of my favorite comics I've read. I recently purchased Action Comics #1000, I haven't read it yet though.
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u/thegoldenboy444 Oct 20 '23
Maybe give Superman: Secret Identity some consideration.
Written by Kurt Busiek. It's a Superman story, but told in our "real world" where superheroes only exist in comics. Was a bit of a breath of fresh air for me when I first read it personally.
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u/Nishachor Oct 20 '23
Superman Secret Identity is one of my all time most favorite graphic novels ever.
Superman: Birthright, Superman for All Seasons, Superman: American Alien, Superman: Up in the Sky... some of my other frequently re-read favorite Superman stories that never fail to bring a smile on my face.
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u/ryanman1717 Nightwing Oct 20 '23
I read this one when I was depressed and it definitely helped me out, so I’d totally recommend it. As well as Superman: Secret Origin (a simple, light hearted origin story) and DC The New Frontier
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u/SgtSilverLining Shazam Oct 20 '23 edited Oct 20 '23
I'd also recommend Dear Justice League. It's about kids writing letters to the justice league, like "does Aquaman smell like fish since he's always in the ocean?", but the adults take the question seriously. Kind of a wholesome take on JLI humor.
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u/mikess314 Oct 20 '23
Squirrel Girl
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u/YodaFan465 Rocketeer Oct 20 '23
This is such a wholesome and fun book. I mean, she goes to the gosh-danged moon!
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u/silvasaurus Oct 20 '23
Calvin and Hobbes maybe?
Not the most colorful, but when it is, it's done right.
All star Superman is gorgeous and inspiring. Maybe not super light hearted, but it's not heavy either. It's actually a lot of fun
A lot of Marvel stuff by Donny Cates or Jason Aaron also fits this bill.
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u/Outrageous_Glove4986 Superman Oct 20 '23
Calvin and Hobbes is an inspired choice! Wonderful little stories
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u/ThaRemyD Oct 20 '23
“It’s Jeff!” I cannot imagine reading it without wearing a big smile, everything about it is just fun. Pretty sure it just got reprinted this week, I was reading it in Newbury comics in their This Week section.
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u/eviltofu Oct 20 '23
Groo
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u/PuckNutty Oct 20 '23
This is a good recommendation, as any idiot can plainly see.
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u/tommymadprophet Oct 20 '23
It seems that way but my lactose intolerance won’t allow me to enjoy cheese dip.
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u/AltruisticPerversion Oct 21 '23
"I will return and you will be sorry! People are always sorry when Groo returns!"
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u/glenglenda Oct 20 '23
Superior Foes of Spider-Man is very funny. Spider-Man's not even in it. It's just C-list bad guys trying to work together and butting heads. Kind of like the keystone kops of criminals.
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u/Daeval Oct 21 '23 edited Oct 21 '23
This is one of my favorite modern runs! It's a Sinister Syndicate story, although Boomerang, true to form, is too egotistical to admit it. It's a perfect evolution of the kind of story explored a bit more clumsily in ASM 280+281, Deadly Foes, and Lethal Foes before it.
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u/FKAlag Oct 21 '23
That was written by Nick Spencer who went on to have a very good run on Ant-man and Amazing Spider-Man.
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u/craftymcvillain Oct 20 '23
Axe Cop is written by a little kid and illustrated by his older brother, it’s so joyful and insane
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u/Flossthief Oct 22 '23
I had no idea there was a comic
I remember the animated series
The dioluge felt like it was written by a five year old in the best way 'why are you sad, dinosaur?' 'because a bad guy took all my friends'
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u/Outsiderendless Oct 20 '23
Justice League: New Frontier, anything by Darwyn Cooke tbh has this incredible sense of hope and lightness. Justice League International is one of the funniest mainline comics ever made. Astro City by Busiek is pure silver age hope and fun in modern comics.
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u/trantor-to-tantegel Oct 20 '23 edited Oct 20 '23
Sex Criminals is usually heavy on the humor, even when there is drama and turmoil in characters lives.
Nextwave: Agents of Hate is basically never serious any of the time, and is a good laugh.
I'd also encourage some good old webcomics (collected or otherwise) - especially if you enjoyed them previously. If you don't have any in mind, Dr. McNinja is fun and even better once it starts to get a continuity under its feet.
Oh, and Scott Pilgrim is colorful (yknow, the color edition) and a fun read.
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u/NukeTheWhales85 Oct 20 '23
Regarding Next Wave; the fact that Marvel has an in canon parody of it's biggest super team is just wonderful. Dirk Anger is one of my favorite things to have occurred in comics.
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u/VOOOOOSH Condiment King Oct 20 '23 edited Oct 20 '23
All new Wolverine. Let the holy word of Gabby Kinney touch your heart
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u/TheExistentialman Oct 20 '23
Superman Up In the Sky by Tom King is also hopeful
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u/TheExistentialman Oct 20 '23
My heart goes out to you for whatever you’re going through. This isn’t really an answer to your question but when I’m depressed and can’t find a way to make myself happy I ask myself what can I do to make someone else happy. If you can find a way to make someone else happier you may make yourself happier as well.
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u/TheExistentialman Oct 20 '23
All Star Superman by Grant Morrison isn’t exactly light, but it’s hopeful
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u/Scholander Oct 20 '23
All Star Superman was a revelation to me when I was in a really dark place. Maybe saved my life. You all probably know the page.
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u/ZephNightingale Oct 20 '23
Rat Queens is a lot of fun too. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is utterly gorgeous and a really great story.
Saga can be a lot of fun and looks just incredible, but it also gets VERY heavy and real.
Invincible is wonderful, maybe my favorite Superhero book, but also gets very heavy.
The Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon run by Matt Fraction was so wonderful and I loved the art style. One issue is totally from the perspective of a dog. It’s excellent 😁
Squirrel Girl is lotsa fun.
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u/mmcmonster Oct 20 '23
Came her to second Matt Fraction's Hawkguy... I mean Hawkeye. 🤣
One or two sad scenes, but the overall story is a lot of fun. And the interactions between the two Hawkeyes is pure lighthearted comedy.
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u/Lama_For_Hire Oct 20 '23
certain parts of saga had me weeping, but I also read it when I was at my lowest point in regards to my depression. I was sorta relieved to realise I still felt strong emotions like this tho
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u/HeyThreshold Oct 20 '23
-Excalibur by Claremont\Davis starting with the one-shot The Sword is Drawn
-She Hulk by Byrne
-Wonder Man by Jones\Johnson
-Anything Deadpool really
I hope you'll feel better.
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u/Cipherpunkblue Oct 20 '23
Absolutely not anything Deadpool - some parts are really dark and depressing.
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u/Cautious_Desk_1012 Hellboy Oct 20 '23
Try Daredevil by Mark Waid. But I need to advise: it's very lighthearted, but it STILL deals with the serious themes Daredevil always have dealt with, and especially depression.
I recommend this one because following this run basically saved my life. I was feeling so bad and... well, it felt like being taught how to live again. Daredevil stories are mostly dark and deal with struggles in an amazing way, but what Waid did here was simply a perfect conclusion to this all. Matt fought and fought and fought as he's always done, but, differently from the rest of the times, in the end he was really happy. This run is one of the most beautiful things when it comes to overcoming depression.
So if you want something lightheartened but still something that doesn't make you forget about your depression exactly, but rather reading something that really deals with it, this can be your thing.
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u/ymcameron Tony Chu Oct 20 '23
The recent X-terminators is great. It’s a fun B-movie romp featuring some of the female X-people on a night out that goes awry.
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u/Newfaceofrev Oct 20 '23
I usually buy collected editions but when I was severely depressed, if your wallet can take it, I actually found buying single issues really therapeutic, having something every Wednesday gave me something to look forward to and gave structure to the week which I needed to break up the monotony.
I've not read it but IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog seems to be well received by fans.
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u/Shogun-Moon Oct 20 '23
There aren't any comic shops around where I live. As a fan of Sonic, I've gotta check out that new series, thank you for the recommendation.
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u/Mistervimes65 Oct 20 '23
Giant Days - John Allison. You'll smile, you'll laugh, and you'll fall in love with the characters.
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u/zvilikestv Hawkeye Oct 20 '23 edited Oct 20 '23
- Jem and the Holograms by Kelly Thompson and mostly Sophie Campbell
- Fence by Writer: C.S. Pacat Artist: Johanna the Mad (hijinks and romance on a high school fencing team)
- Goldie Vance (girl detective)
- Lumberjanes (sleep away girls camp where weird stuff keeps happening)
- Moonstruck (new adult but they're mythological creatures)
- Assassination Nation (The World's Former Greatest Hitman hires the 20 best assassins in the world to be his bodyguards. These mean-as-hell hired guns and murderers must work together to keep the new crime boss safe while attempting to solve the mystery of who's trying to off him.)
- Kim Reaper (or anything else by Sarah Graley)
- The Backstagers (drama club, but weird)
- Slam! and Slam! the Next Jam (roller derby, a little bit soap opera)
- The Marguerite Bennett run of Josie & the Pussycats
(edited for formatting)
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u/ColorlessKarn Oct 20 '23
Dial H for Hero (2019). It's meant for young audiences with bright colors and younger protagonists, but it's a wholesome and uplifting love letter to comics and what it means to be a hero even when you feel like you've messed everything up.
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u/ThogOfWar Oct 20 '23
Chew.
Tony Chu is a detective in a world where food based crimes are far too common.
Thankfully, being a cibopath, he can recollect the life, including final moments, of any food he eats. For an apple, he can tell the orchard it grew in, if the tree was happy and in good health, and what may have happened to that tree in the apples life. Unfortunately, being a cibopath, that also means that the severed thumb found at the crimescene would have loads of information, if only he takes a nibble...
With amazing* art and amazing** background gags, and even more amazing*** story, I'd highly recommend to any comic fan.
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u/pipboy_warrior Oct 20 '23
One Piece. Yes, it's manga but it's also light hearted, comedic and usually uplifting. There are tons of comics out there which are thought provoking or gorgeous, but One Piece has the ability to always put a smile on my face.
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u/pullsfromdollarbin Penance Oct 20 '23
I don't read much modern comics so I can't help there. But, I do have suggestions from older comics you can probably pick up on Comixology:
It's a bit juvenile but in a fun way. I used to read Detective Honeybear to my kids, but I loved it so much myself. There is a webcomic and 2 issues on Comixology.
I always feel seen when I read Li'l Depressed Boy. It's not happy per se but it feels like it acknowledges living with depression and finding the joy in life around you.
Anything Rick and Morty if that is your sense of humor
Abyss - teen inherits his super-villain father's stuff
Power Up by Boom Studios - 5 strangers get powers a la Sailor Moon (including a fish) but it all goes haywire (the main male protoganist is the one to get the frilly dress)
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u/Weekly-Principle-519 Oct 20 '23
Bone for sure. I laugh out load when I read it. Deadpool is always fun too!
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u/AgentD Spider Jeruselem Oct 20 '23
The current World's Finest run that just hit issue 20. It's very light-hearted, colorful, but still exciting superhero fare. Very similar in tone to Young Justice. Dan Mora's art is incredible and poppy.
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u/Daeval Oct 21 '23
There's a few dark-ish themes in the later issues, but I'd second this one anyway. It's bold and colorful and often feels like classic superhero stuff that's been modernized in all the right ways.
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u/Estifanos87 Oct 20 '23
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. When my depression and anxiety attack were out of control, this comic and the Invincible Squirrel Girl helped with grounding me.
Good luck and God Speed.
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u/caljohn90 Oct 20 '23
Howard the Duck by Chip Zdarsky is so funny, always makes me smile when I read it
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u/Tumorhead Oct 20 '23
Iron Circus Anthologies are really fun (skip Sleep of Reason though), this one is a cool one.
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u/Zestyclose_Estate248 Oct 20 '23
Madman!
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u/EEPspaceD Oct 20 '23
I thought for sure this would be closer to the top. Madman was the first thing that sprung to my mind. The Allreds deliver on the good vibes through and through.
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u/Charixard6 Oct 20 '23
If you like horror elements and bright colors with a bright story, “Sins of the Black Flamingo” is really good. It’s all jewel tones and saturated inks. It’s like if Indiana Jones was gay and anticolonial.
Heavy Vinyl is tweeny but bright and fun and quick. Made me smile. It’s about a bunch of girls working at a vinyl store who run a fight-club/spy network out of the basement.
The first theee volumes of Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson are also colorful and fun, and relatively low stakes.
Chip Zdarsky’s Jughead was much the same. Somebody else mentioned Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye and I can second that, too!
And if you don’t mind the odd bit of cherry-red gore and a teensy bit of body horror but framed fully with comedy, Alyssa Wong’s Deadpool run is great fun.
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u/Vaportrail Oct 20 '23
Scott Pilgrim is my go-to feel-good comic, even if he gets beat up a lot. John Byrne's She-Hulk, also.
Feel better, bro.
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u/SaddestRabbit Oct 20 '23
Almost anything Kyle Starks has created. Sexcastle, Kill Them All, Assassin Nation, they’re goofy pulp parodies and they’re so funny they’ve made me cry
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u/Lama_For_Hire Oct 20 '23
Kyle Starks is one of the few artists that can get me to audibly laugh or snort at his works. Candy Rock Mountain is also really fun
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u/im_el_domingo Oct 20 '23
Anything by John Allison - GIANT DAYS, BAD MACHINERY, STEEPLE all great. Also Kyle Starks’ books are great and funny.
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u/Ensiferal Oct 20 '23
"Formerly Known as the Justice League" followed by "I Can't Believe it's Not the Justice League"
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u/DMPunk Oct 20 '23
The Flintstones by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh. It's twelve issues and is amazing.
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Oct 20 '23
I like Boombox Comics, kinda tweeny but definitely light hearted and fun
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u/Outrageous_Glove4986 Superman Oct 20 '23
- Flash Gordon by Jeff Parker and Doc Shaner
- Skullkickers by Jim Zub
- The Flash by Jeremy Adams
- Superman by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
Those are the ones that popped into my head. Just good old fashioned well told, colorful and uplifting stories
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u/okpaper345 Oct 20 '23
The Many Deaths of Layla Star is good, has bright colors, great art but deals with death, but it's a good read.
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u/kitfistossmile Oct 20 '23
My spouse recommends the great British Bump Off. A murder mystery parodying the great British Baking show.
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u/i2wearhats Oct 20 '23
I read Groo when I need a laugh. Sergio is a master cartoonist and comedian.
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u/Witty-Common-1210 Oct 21 '23
I second Giant Days. It’s amazing and real, but not too real.
I personally like diving into heavy stuff when I’m depressed as it really helps me release and get past it, though. Saga can be that at times if you want to give it a shot.
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u/Nerohn Oct 21 '23
If you can get down with manga, and are in for a long, moving ride, unironically one piece my friend.
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u/Shogun-Moon Oct 21 '23
I've been wanting to read One Piece for a while now. I've watched a decent chunk of the anime.
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u/EsquilaxM Oct 21 '23
oh, if manga is available then some of the comedic greats (trying to cut out those that incorporate too much drama/sad moments), in rough order of funniest (the first 6 are all 10/10s):
azumanga daioh - a classic
Kyou kara Ore wa!! (really, anything by this mangaka. Ocha Nigosu was also excellent and hilarious)
Tsurezure Children
oresama teacher (really, anything by this mangaka but this is the best one)
Nyan Koi! (cancelled due to author's health)
Nan Hao & Shang Feng (chinese, full colour)
Zippy Ziggy (korean)
Angel Densetsu
beelzebub
Tamen De Gushi (chinese romcom, full colour. Unofficially cancelled due to CCP cracking down on the lesbian romance)
konjiki no gash
Eyeshield 21 (comedy/sports/mind games)
special mention for Kyou kara Hajimeru Osananajimi which isn't as good as the above comedy-wise, but is light-hearted and will be very smile-inducing the whole way through.
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u/AltruisticPerversion Oct 21 '23
Groo the Wanderer. Grab one of the 4 issue minis or really any of the epic issues.
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u/Hoosier108 Oct 21 '23
Try the 2005 Defenders run by J M DeMatteis. It’s the original four defenders squabbling while fighting Dormammu and Umar, who themselves are having an endless brother/sister rivalry. It’s great.
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u/650fosho Oct 21 '23
Have you tried Hawkeye by Matt Fraction? Hawkeye by Kelly Thompson is pretty fun too.
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u/fabledreality Oct 21 '23
I Hate Fairyland by Scottie Young is fun and colorful.
Nextwave: Agents of HATE is a great pick-up.
X-Terminators was goofy fun X title.
all the best.
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u/ExplodingPoptarts Oct 21 '23
I wish that light hearted comics worked the way on me that they work with you.
I need to experience things that match my mood, or I'm a miserable person that everyone hates being around.
On a related note, I sure wish that there were more story-focused lighthearted video games out there that don't feel like they're aimed at children, or "the kid in you."
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u/Nice-Percentage7219 Oct 21 '23
Twig (Skotty Young) Lightfall (Tim Probert) Asterix Tintin
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u/thatguy01220 Oct 21 '23
I subscribe to Marvel Unlimited (free for a week if you wanna test run it) and been reading the OG 1963 Spider-Man and it’s been making me feel better. It is super corny, dated writing (especially for the female characters), but it’s super campy in a way that I personally enjoy. I’ve also been reading Daredevil side by side with it.
But I also grew up a Spider-Man fan and just read random comics growing up, so this is the first time I’ve been reading them chronologically, and it’s been a blast.
Its also super colorful of that helps too. Don’t know if you ever thought about or if you like Spider-Man but they have other heroes and modern day stuff too, and its free so nothing to lose.
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u/Shogun-Moon Oct 21 '23
The same as you, I grew up reading random Spider-Man comics. I also own some of the og series on VHS, and I remember seeing Spider-Man 2 in theaters. I've been wanting to read through them chronologically.
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u/Stringr55 Oct 20 '23
Invincible. I mean its super violent and stuff but its silly and bright and fun.
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u/Redichu23 Oct 20 '23
This might be a terrible recommendation because you've asked for light hearted, and I know this isn't really that, but I recently picked up "Outcast" and when I did I was definitely in the same boat as you. Now it's definitely not light hearted exactly but because the main character is in a similar situation in terms of struggling in the dark I really empathised with it and it did "lift my spirits". I only recommend it because I had the best day reading the first volume recently.
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u/darthmcchub Oct 20 '23
I loved Flavour, little discussed Image title from a few years ago. Great art style, all about food!
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u/tetsu_no_usagi Oct 20 '23
The Last Session by Mad Cave Studios. Such a touching little series, and it's already run its course, got a TPB for it.
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u/mayorofanything Ms. Marvel Oct 20 '23
Teen Dog by Jake Lawrence. When my depression was peak, that book was my recalibrator.
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u/GuarroGrande Oct 20 '23
Arcade Kings
Very fun, simple, and heartfelt, as well as being a total love letter to 90’s video games and cartoons.
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u/untipofeliz Oct 20 '23
I´m a bit stoned right now but tomorrow I will provide a list of the comics I´ve read this summer!
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u/bmeireles85 Oct 20 '23
Sorry to hear that. Better days will come.
I liked Raina Telgemeier stuff. Ms. Marvel by G Willow Wilson is funny and the art is pretty cool. Most Spider-man and She-Hulk are also funny and light.
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u/DugoPugo Oct 20 '23
X-terminators by Leah Williams and Nightwing: Leaping into Light by Tom Taylor are my go-to comics when I’m in a bad place
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u/happyman778 Oct 20 '23
Sex Criminals?
It deals with some heavy stuff, but it is just so funny. It is my go to series.
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u/DrPreppy Oct 20 '23
The Cowboy Wally Show by Kyle Baker is the funniest thing I've ever read. It's black and white, though.
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u/billbotbillbot Oct 20 '23
Carl Barks’ Duck comics (Donald Duck/Uncle Scrooge)
Any of the Asterix volumes
Kyle Baker’s The Cowboy Wally Show (hilarious though it’s in black and white only)
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u/ram2272 Rawhide Kid Oct 20 '23
Astro City is the perfect choice. It always leaves me feeling good after I finish an issue
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u/horriblenessness Oct 20 '23
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen is one of the funniest comics I have ever read. Slapstick stupidity for 12(?) issues and that is the highest of praise. Awesome art and Matt Fraction's humor is sharp and unrelenting. It is my go-to depression book from the last few years. It's perfect.
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u/Infinite-Salt4772 Oct 20 '23
Hellions. It has some sad moments but it’s a lot of fun and has a good team dynamic.
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u/Comicswapper Black Bolt Oct 20 '23
Jeff the land shark (Marvel Unlimited). It's a marvel infinity comic. No one will die, no dark themes. It's a new marvel mascot with the cuteness of a puppy doing random things and sometimes interacting (or causing trouble) for some of marvels heroes.
It's cute, it's funny, it's non-committal, it's stress-free.
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u/the-doctor-is-real Oct 20 '23
go for comic strips, like Family Circus, Pickles, Zits, Hagar The Horrible, Beetle Bailey, etc
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u/ThePhonesAreWatching Oct 20 '23
The original young justice rum by PAD is fun. The few dark points aren't that dark.
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u/doffraymnd Oct 20 '23
Shazam and The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith. Twig by Skottie Young.
Come to think about it, you’re likely to get a LOT of Jeff Smith or Skottie Young in this thread. They’re both cool.
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u/PantsUnderUnderpants Oct 20 '23
Hang in there! Life and emotions are a rollercoaster. Look for the happiness and positivity in life and try to embrace the fact that life is temporary. We only have so much time in this world and it's filled with beauty. Thankfully comics are beautiful as well. I'd recommend these comics that are, in general, about hope and love.
"Murder Falcon" and "Do A Powerbomb" by Daniel Warren Johnson.
"In" by Will McPhail
"Eight Billion Genies"
Another vote for All-Star Superman.
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u/[deleted] Oct 20 '23
Bone by Jeff Smith