With winter 2023 in full swing, many readers are bound to remain hunkered indoors by the fireplace with a good book in hand. Luckily, the emergence of cozy fantasy comics, in which a mesmerizing otherworldly setting takes precedence over the high-stakes endangerment of its characters, has become more popular over the past few years as a means of easy-reading escapism on a lazy day.
Whether dragons, fairies, witches, or everyday human beings whisked away to another magical realm, the most memorable cozy fantasy comics are sure to capture readers' wildest imaginations.
The Tea Dragon Society
Written by award-winning scribe Kay O'Donnell, The Tea Dragon Society follows Greta, an aspiring blacksmith who finds a lost baby tea dragon at a marketplace and begins raising it as her own. As Greta learns all about the ways of the dragon, she also learns how the cultural importance of tea as a communal pastime that brings different races together.
Sweet-natured, engaging and moving, the bond that Greta makes with the tea-making creatures teaches wonderful life lessons about sharing and caring for others unlike oneself. Its impressive illustrations reinforce the cute, lighthearted nature of the story.
Aquicorn Cove
Also written by The Tea Dragon Society's Kay O'Neill, Aquicorn Cove captures the same childlike imagination of the scribe's award-winning predecessor. Lana is a young girl who returns to her coastal hometown to help clear the damage left in a storm's wake, only to make a profound connection with Aquicorns, magical seahorse-like creatures that she grows the confidence to guard as her own beloved family.
With plenty of leisurely time spent with Lana's aunt exploring the mysterious history of the coastal town, the story and gorgeous artwork reinforce Lana's low-key heroine's journey who, with help from her magical friends, finds the inner strength and courage to voice her individual beliefs.
My Boyfriend Is A Bear
Pamela Ribon's excellent, non-superhero graphic novel My Boyfriend is a Bear tells the tale of an unlikely romance between Nora, a girl with the worst luck in men, and her new beau that happens to be a bear. With plenty of downtime hiking in the hills, getting to know each other, and learning about each other's habits, it's only a matter of time before the bear's true nature becomes something that Nora must deal with for better or worse.
Extolled for its upbeat tone, the emotional story turns, and the layered subtext, Ribon has a way of making the central relationship feel real and relatable while also leaning into the anthropomorphic humor the 500-pound bear exudes the entire time. Short, sweet, and hard to put down, My Boyfriend is a Bear is a real winner.
Catboy
Benji Nate's Catboy is often cited as one of the most snuggly and saccharine coming-of-age fantasies in recent memory. The plot follows Olive, a young adult whose misinterpreted wish upon a star turns her best friend Henry into a Catboy, leading to a tender tale of unforgettable friendship that's for anyone who ever wondered what it'd be like to turn their pet into a talking companion.
Warm-hearted with vivid pastel illustrations, Catboy is both a fish-out-of-water story and a coming-of-age tale that underscores the importance of remaining true to one's nature even when all feels hopeless. A wonderful message for kids and parents alike that is sure to capture the hearts and minds of cat lovers everywhere, Catboy is cozy as it gets.
Lightfall: The Girl & The Galdurian
Tim Probert's Lightfall: The Girl & The Galdurian takes place on the otherworldly planet Irpa, where a young porcine girl named Bea tries to live up to her wizardly grandfather's legacy. After crafting medicinal potions at Salty Pig's Tonics & Tinctures, Bea meets a Galdurian named Cad, a member of an ancient race thought to be extinct, who guides her on a journey to find her missing grandfather and save their people.
At once a story of self-discovery and profound friendship, the vivid depiction of planet Irpa alone will have cozy fantasy enthusiasts glued to the page. And while there is a modicum of danger that Bea and Cad encounter, the existential threats are far secondary to the mesmeric world-building, underlying pathos, and indelible artwork that, like the best slice-of-life graphic novels, are excellent for a lazy-day read.
Pilu Of The Woods
Mai K. Nguyen's Pilu of the Woods is a warmhearted and sweet-natured tale of Willow, a little girl drawn to the woods surrounding her house. When Willow meets an adorable little tree spirit named Pilu that has lost its way, she vows to safely escort it back home; a large magnolia tree Willow's mom used to take her when she was younger.
The enchantment of the fantastic wooded environment is made even more phantasmagoric when a storm hits and threatens to separate the two, forcing Willow to face her fears and press on. Like all great cozy fantasies revolving around a major storm, Pilu of the Woods is a good choice for staying indoors on a rainy winter day and living vicariously through Willow's journey.
Snapdragon
Kat Leyh's Snapdragon is a delightful tale of magical realism that traces Snap, a reclusive young girl who befriends a misunderstood local witch named Jacks in an attempt to save orphaned opossums. As Snap and Jacks forge a fast friendship, the elderly witch helped the insecure young girl find herself, discover her own innate magic, and teach her about her family's mysterious past.
Ideal for those with a penchant for supernatural slice-of-life anime, Snapdragon blends a mystifying town environment where Jacks is known for ingesting roadkill with relatable and well-rounded characters and a universal theme of self-discovery that readers are bound to recognize and root for. With a host of LGBTQ+ characters to boot, Snapdragon is a cozy, contemporary fantasy.
Mamo
Sas Milledge's Mamo is a lyrical tale of a young hedge witch named Orla who reluctantly returns to town to assume her grandmother Mamo's mantle as the town witch, only to learn much more about the town's past, and cooperate with her family member's spirit to restore harmony to their homeland.
A beautiful story with even prettier cinematic artwork, Mamo is great for reading at night under a warm blanket. The town of Haresdan is full of magic, with faeries, trolls, orcs and witches all coexisting, making even the love story between Orla and her partner even more fulfilling.
Witchy
A great graphic novel for beginners, Ariel Slamet Ries' Witchy is the tale of a young witch named Nyneve who lives in a fantasy realm where the strength of one's magic is determined by the length of their hair. As Nyneve tries to hide her magic, she must evade the Witch Guard and stand up for her beliefs in honor of her fallen father.
With laid-back, semitropical vibes that encourage readers to follow their hearts and stand up for their true beliefs, Witchy is a great way to spend downtime curled up in a ball on the bed. The mesmeric magic, unforgettable friendships, and central theme of acceptance are in part why the comic one several awards, including the 2020 Golden Ledger Award.
Mooncakes
A 2020 Hugo Award nominee for Best Graphic Story or Comic, Suzanne Walker's Mooncakes is a delicious dessert dish to end a cozy fantasy marathon with. The story tracks Nova Huang, a teenage witch who works in her grandma's bookstore and loans out magical spell books to help solve supernatural mysteries.
In between the lazy downtime spent inside the bookstore and eating dessert treats, Nova's playful and spellbinding romance with Tam, a half-werewolf, cheerful tone, and excellent artwork, Mooncakes shows how adept Walker is at fusing fantasy, horror, romance, and teenage drama into one magical potion. With very minor stakes to go with a major heart, it's easy to see why the graphic novel was also a 2020 ALA Rainbow Top 10 Book.