Etelka Lehoczky

At a time when comics and graphic novels were seldom released by mainstream publishers, Gina Gagliano worked tirelessly to put the genre on the radar. Now she's head of the Boston Book Festival.

Eric Orner's book isn't just a great story, it's an enveloping visual experience crafted by a terrific artist; even if one paged through it without looking at the words, it would be a good read.

Through her work, Israeli comics artist Rutu Modan suggests that only cartoon characters can possibly reflect the cartoonish levels of greed and self-deceit revealed as her tale unspools.

By celebrating those who applied the substance as a drug, Walter A. Brown aims to raise awareness — and to demolish what remains of the myth that scientific progress is driven by rigorous dispassion.

Audrey Niffenegger's new book is a collaboration with her husband, comics artist Eddie Campbell — but Campbell's style doesn't jell with Niffenegger's writing, leading to an uneven experience.

Aunties, beware — Maria Qamar's got your number. The Pakistani Canadian comedian's new book, Trust No Aunty, is a rollicking guide to dealing with the interfering older women in your life.