Amy Unbounded, The Ashcan Series

Rachel Hartman’s Amy Unbounded, The Ashcan Series ran for seven issues from 1996 to 1998 with Pughouse Press, offering an early, scrappy look at the slice-of-life adventures of a young girl in a fictional medieval land. Written and drawn entirely by Hartman, this black-and-white comic is a charming artifact of the indie comics scene, capturing the gentle humor and everyday wonder that would later define her acclaimed fantasy novels. It matters as a formative work from a creator who would go on to become a major voice in YA literature.