Cat’s Cradle #1

Jo Rioux's Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine opens with a cover that sets a wonderfully eerie tone — a determined young girl in an apron brandishes a wooden staff overhead while clutching a glowing golden ball of twine, all as two massive shadowy creatures with glowing eyes loom behind her. The golden light spiraling around her feels like the only warm thing standing between her and the darkness, and the contrast makes for a genuinely striking image. At $21.99, this 2022 First Second graphic novel looks like a treat for readers who love folklore-tinged adventure with a fearless young heroine at the center.