Graphic Novels for Beginners (Start Here) with Sophia Glock

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Graphic novels aren’t just for kids—and this episode completely changed how I think about them.In this conversation, I sit down with cartoonist Sophia Glock to talk about her haunting and emotional graphic novel Before We Wake. We dive into how comics can explore big themes like grief in a way that feels accessible, immersive, and deeply personal—and why adults should absolutely be reading graphic novels.We also talk about nostalgia (hello early 2000s 👀), the creative process behind blending art and storytelling, and where to start if you’ve never picked up a graphic novel before.📚 Books Mentioned Before We Wake by Sophia Glock — Buy on Amazon | YA Graphic Novel | Grief, paranormal, friendshipMaus by Art Spiegelman — Buy on Amazon | Historical Graphic Novel | Holocaust, memoirPersepolis by Marjane Satrapi — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Memoir | Iran, coming-of-ageFun Home by Alison Bechdel — Buy on Amazon | Literary Graphic Memoir | Family, identityThis One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki — Buy on Amazon | YA/Adult Graphic Novel | Coming-of-ageSpinning by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Memoir | Identity, adolescenceCharity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Novel | Historical ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro + meeting Sophia Glock[01:00] Why graphic novels are underrated for adults[02:00] Writing about grief in Before We Wake[04:00] Sophia’s creative process (writing vs drawing)[05:30] Plot overview + lucid dreaming concept[07:00] Setting the book in early 2000s nostalgia[09:30] Nostalgia, pop culture, and generational memory[12:30] Where to start with graphic novels[15:00] YA vs adult tone in storytelling[16:00] Where to find Sophia online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!