Usually, moms only play an ancillary role in comics, however some cartoonists choose to focus on what it means to bring life into this world and to nurture it. The books listed here take on a number of aspects of motherhood, such as the complex psychological and emotional relationship between mother and child, the struggles of pregnancy and child-rearing, aging, separation, and even the scientific basis of a mother’s love. So in time for Mother’s Day, enjoy these 10 mom comics.
Are You My Mother?
In the follow up to her widely lauded Fun Home, Bechdel plumbs the depths of her relationship with her mother and its influence on her adult life. She revisits the distant matriarch of her childhood and examines her mother’s psyche through various lenses. The result is a candid, funny, and heartfelt examination of modern motherhood.
Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki
A young Japanese woman falls in love with a man who is part wolf and gives birth to two children, Yuki and Ame. After the man dies, she must raise the twins by herself, a daunting task since they exhibit their late father’s wolfish traits. The comic (and animated film) successfully mixes a folk tale premise with real world drama and pathos.
Mom's Cancer
When journalist Fies’s mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, he began to chronicle the protracted process of treatment and grief with a webcomic. The result is a brutally honest and occasionally funny account of how his family dealt with the situation. After being posted online anonymously, the comic drew praise from readers with similar experiences and was eventually published in print. Winner of the Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic in 2005.
Wire Mothers: Harry Harlow and the Science of Love
Up until the mid-twentieth century, overt affection was discouraged in child rearing, with many believing it to be detrimental to maturation. But in a series of experiments, psychologist Harry Harlow found that physical contact and tenderness were essential to healthy early development. Ottaviani and Maconis recount Harlow’s discoveries, which upended the conventional wisdom at the time and cemented the scientific proof of a mother’s love.
Spider-Woman (2015)
After the events of 2015’s Secret Wars, Spider-Woman (real name Jessica Drew) begins her solo series in her second trimester of pregnancy. The father is not immediately revealed, and Jessica continues to lead a superhero life while carrying her child. By issue #5 she’s given birth and is now fighting evil and raising a son as a single mom.
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? A Memoir
Chast’s critically-acclaimed memoir portrays the often-humorous struggles she faces with her aging parents. Chast uses her sharp wit to depict mundane and existential predicaments as the roles of parent and child become reversed. The book’s appeal has earned it wide attention, pushing it atop the New York Times bestseller list and making it a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award.
Tangles
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a harrowing ordeal for all involved. When Sarah Levitt’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, her family’s lives were suddenly changed, forcing them to reconcile with the situation both pragmatically and emotionally. Throughout it all, Levitt logged the days both good and bad, and eventually collected them in graphic form.
Mama! Dramas
Only one issue of this mom-centric series was ever published, but it contained works from a handful of female cartoonists sharing their stories and insights on motherhood. Contributors included Trina Robbins, Joyce Farmer, Terry Richards, Debra McGee, Shelby Sampson, Delores Thom, Edna Jundis, Suzy Varty, and Leonard Rifas.
The Tick’s Big Mother’s Day Special
The Tick isn’t a mom, but he’s thrust into the role when he has to care for three infant Ticks in this special Mother’s Day issue. The Tick also visits his own mom, who may or may not approve of her son’s superhero lifestyle.
The Legend of Mother Sarah
In an apocalyptic future, Earth has become largely uninhabitable, and most people live in orbiting space colonies. This is where a young mother, Sarah, lived with her husband and children until conflict forces them back to Earth and they become separated. Since then, Sarah roams the terrestrial wasteland, searching for the family she lost. Along the way she gets entangled in local problems, often using both her fighting prowess and motherly instincts to help those in need.
