Fourth Dimensional

I have been meaning to pick up a couple of books from Cosmic Lion Productions, and with some extra money in my pocket from holiday gifts I got what was available from the series Fourth Dimensional, a graphic novel and two giant-size comic books (the first two installments of the three-part Seal Your Heart). The main story focuses on two characters, Ava a 19-year-old woman who should be thinking of applying to college after high school but is yearning for something else, and Mon, a super-powered fugitive from another dimension. 

Mon's presence cast an entirely different light onto Ava's life, and together the duo get swept up in the tide created by other Light Dwellers from the fourth dimension that disrupt human life on Earth. Plus, there are also a couple of beings who are hunting Mon and want to bring him back home.

The artwork and character designs in these books are outstanding, and they are what drew me in from the onset. What I also liked about this work was that it jumped into the narrative with both feet, not taking much time on exposition or world-building that detracted from the plot. Because of that, there were a couple of places where I got a little lost by what was going on because of vague background or unclear pacing (especially in the early pages of the first book, Summer of Fun), but these moments were few. Additionally, Summer of Fun is more episodic and choppy whereas Seal Your Heart is more of an extended, cohesive story. It is fun and refreshing to see the comics work develop and grow over the course of these books, and the second story arc is really picking up steam. I feel like I am getting in on the ground floor of something really special. 

These books' creator is Seraji, a recent graduate of the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. In addition to this independent series, he has also worked for DC Comics, notably on the Ringo Award-winning series, Nothing Butt Nightwing and Jon Kent: This Internship Is My Kryptonite. He speaks about his work on Fourth Dimensional in this interview.

I was not able to find many reviews of these books, only two of the first one, but they were positive. I agree with Sean Kleefeld who wrote, "I think it's a worth a look if you want a fun, light sci-fi romp." Sewer Mutant opined, "I love the art in this and enjoyed the breath of fresh air this provided."

Fourth Dimensional was published by Cosmic Lion Productions, and they offer previews and more information about the series here. 

 

Let's Make Ramen! A Comic Book Cookbook

I got Let's Make Ramen! for Christmas, and this beautifully drawn book is gorgeous and chock full of umami goodness. The first quarter is a historical introduction to this delicious combination of broth, noodles, and various ingredients. It goes over how ramen originated and how it grew in popularity post-World War II as the focus of top chefs and a restaurant boom. Not to mention also becoming an inexpensive grocery item and dorm room staple. 

The rest of the book is a buffet of many things: insights from accomplished chefs, descriptions of the different sorts of noodles, and a cavalcade of recipes. Reading this book teaches about how to make various broths, noodles, meats, accompaniments, sauces, and vegetables, and also about multiple ways these things can be combined to make specific dishes. I learned so much from reading this book, and I can't wait to try out some of the things I've learned in my kitchen.

Sometimes the images are more whimsical, which livens things up.

Let's Make Ramen! is a collaboration between writer Hugh Amano and artist Sarah Becan. Amano is also a chef and he has written or co-written a number of cookbooks, including Let's Make Dumplings!, which was also drawn by Becan. She has also drawn Let's Make Bread! and soon will publish Let's Make Cocktails!, which she also wrote. Amano and Becan both speak about food and their work on this book in this interview.

I have not been able to locate many reviews online, but the ones I read have been positive. A Library Girl wrote, "The food illustrations and graphic novel portions are gorgeous, with rich colors and thick linework. The various bowls of ramen and other recipe illustrations made my mouth water the same way some delicious-looking Studio Ghibli meal might." In a starred review Publishers Weekly concluded, "This delectable fusion of two increasingly popular genres—ramen and comics—will thrill ramen aficionados."

Let's Make Ramen! was published by Ten Speed Graphic, and they offer a preview and more information about it here. 

My Favorite Graphic Novels of 2025

Every year I read a bunch of graphic novels, and these are the ones that I liked best that were published in 2025 (with one exception). I hope that you can check them out!

Favorite Overall Book

Santos Sisters, Volume 1

 Add Archie Comics-style visuals and format, superhero tropes, and a social media sensibility, and you get this book. Immensely entertaining, funny, and surprising!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Fictional Biography

Grommets

Although I was not a West-coaster or a skater, this book set in the mid-1980s was totally in my wheelhouse in terms of my childhood and pop culture references. What sets it apart is its universal coming-of-age story that shows a couple of teens mess up and succeed at life. A riveting read.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Satire of Contemporary Culture

The Toxic Avenger

This book may have been tailor-made for my love of Troma movies, but it extends and expands the original movie and characters in a way that fits our current moment to a T. Gross and engrossing!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Literary Adaptation

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre

Not so much a strict adaptation, but more like the most unexpected and awesome What If? story, where Jay Gatsby decides to impress Daisy by battling Godzilla. It features a cavalcade of other literary and movie character, too. Undeniably incredible!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Literary Biography

The Novel Life of Jane Austen

I am not the world's biggest Austen fan, but this book is a great riff on her life and works. Educational and entertaining in the best way.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nathan Hale Award for Nonfiction

Bones and Berserkers

It seems weird to give an award a book to the guy it's named after, but in hindsight I did not read a lot of nonfiction graphic novels this year. This one is not all nonfiction, but it has many creepy, gruesome, and gobsmacking true tales that have haunted me since I read it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Superhero Book for Younger Readers

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia

I love Silver Age DC Comics madness, and I can think of no better introduction to that weird, wonderful multiverse than this book. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Superhero Book for Older Readers

Absolute Wonder Woman

Believe the hype! This book reinvents the Amazing Amazon in ways that only augment her character while she faces epic and gargantuan menaces.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Ghost Story

Spectators

This book is part epic adventure/part social commentary, about how we are desensitized by social media, what the afterlife might be like, and the apocalypse. The art is amazing, and the plot is entrancing.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Noir Book

Out of Alcatraz

This riff from a true-life tale features beautiful, evocative water colors and taut plotting. It's a unexpectedly moving page-turner.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Book I Read in 2025 that was not published in 2025

Big Jim and the White Boy

This re-imagined version of Huck Finn was published last year, and it is utterly fantastic. It is told across three distinct historical periods, commenting on US history, culture, and literature in moving and insightful ways. I think about this book all the time.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Thank you for reading! Happy New Year!