We recommend a selection of comics of all kinds to enjoy throughout the official day dedicated to the ninth art. 

Until last year, there wasn’t even a day to celebrate comics and graphic novels. Now, an entire week is dedicated to them, complete with its own website. The official Comic and Graphic Novel Day, which is celebrating its second edition this Sunday, highlights the creative surge in the comic industry, showcasing works of all kinds, genres, and colors, from simple to extremely complex, traditional to groundbreaking. This event also reflects the growing recognition of graphic novels, pushing aside longstanding prejudices. Among the events coordinated by the Ministry of Culture since last Monday were a posthumous tribute to the cartoonist Carlos Pacheco in Cádiz and a series of talks on comics in Madrid. The precarious situation of many authors was also discussed at the second meeting of the Working Group on the sector. While waiting for their working conditions to improve, their works can be enjoyed. This year’s official poster promotes «a slow and comprehensive reading,» according to its author, the latest National Award winner, Borja González. Here is a list of recommended titles: «Dispararon al pianista» by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal (Salamandra Graphic) tells the story of the disappearance of Brazilian musician Tenorio Cerqueira Júnior after performing with Vinicius de Moraes and Toquinho. It’s a beautifully crafted comic with a warm, immersive atmosphere in each panel and a script that reads like a documentary. «You Know Even Though I Haven’t Told You» by Candela Sierra (Astiberri) reflects on our societal shortcomings, such as our inability to listen, our avoidance of eye contact, and our obsession with mobile devices. «An Octopus in the Throat» by Zerocalcare (Reservoir Books) is an autobiographical story set during the author’s childhood. «Moon Skull» by Albert Monteys (Astiberri) is a comic about a superhero originally created as a toy, which has won the hearts of national geeks thanks to its scruffy epic and frenetic pace. «The Great Book of Cuttlas» by Calpurnio (Reservoir Books) is a fabulous compilation of the work of Aragonese Eduardo Pelegrín. «Gertrude Stein and the Lost Generation» by Valentina Grande and Eva Rosetti (Liana) is a comic about the American writer and patron Gertrude Stein, a complex figure who has faded from history despite her influence on 20th-century Paris. «Zeca Afonso. Balada do desterro» by Teresa Moure and Maria João Worm (aCentral Folque), available only in Portuguese, tells the story of the legendary Portuguese musician who inspired the Carnation Revolution. «Marvel Library: The Fantastic Four» by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee (Panini) is a colorful, grandiose, and imaginative portrait of the superhero team. «Krazy Kat» by George Herriman (La Cúpula) is a masterful comic that has influenced artists and intellectuals for three decades. «White Shark» by Genie Espinosa (Sapristi) is a story about loneliness and grief, which fully utilizes the language of comics. «Alvar Mayor Vol. 01» by Carlos Trillo and Enrique Breccia (Dolmen) is a savage adventure story that doesn’t shy away from the complex issues of colonial memory and decolonization.