Where to Start with Emil Ferris
For anyone looking to experience the stunning, cross-hatched world of Emil Ferris, the starting point is singular and clear: My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1. Released in 2017 to immediate critical acclaim, this graphic novel introduces readers to Karen Reyes, a ten-year-old girl growing up in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood during the late 1960s. Karen is obsessed with horror B-movies, pulp magazines, and literal monsters—so much so that she visualizes herself as a werewolf. The entire book is presented as Karen's personal spiral-bound diary, drawn meticulously with colored ballpoint pens on lined notebook paper. Starting here is essential because the narrative is highly serialized, and the emotional core of the series is established in these initial pages.
The Core Series Reading Order
The primary narrative of Emil Ferris's work is a duology tracking Karen's investigations, personal growth, and the social upheavals of her era. Below is the recommended reading path to experience her work as intended.
1. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1 (2017)
In this first volume, Karen Reyes begins investigating the mysterious death of her upper-floor neighbor, Anka Silverberg, a beautiful Holocaust survivor. Karen suspects foul play and uses her detective instincts—filtered through her love of classic pulp horror—to uncover the truth. The story operates on multiple layers, weaving together Karen's immediate family struggles (particularly with her mother and brother, Deeze), the historical trauma of Anka's past in Nazi Germany, and the broader social and political tensions of late-1960s Chicago. Visually, this volume is a tour de force, featuring dense cross-hatching and beautiful recreations of classic fine art masterpieces from the Art Institute of Chicago.
2. FCBD: Our Favorite Thing is My Favorite Thing is Monsters (2019)
Published for Free Comic Book Day in May 2019, this special promotional issue is highly recommended for dedicated fans. While not absolutely mandatory to understand the plot of Volume 2, it is a valuable collector's piece that contains exclusive material. Most notably, it features "The Bite That Changed My Life," a six-page autobiographical comic where Ferris recounts contracting West Nile virus, her subsequent paralysis, and the struggle to teach herself how to draw again with a pen taped to her hand. It also includes "How to Draw a Monster" and a short 16-page monster story, along with early preview pages of the second volume.
3. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 2 (2024)
Though originally announced for a much earlier release, the long-awaited second volume was officially published in 2024. Volume 2 brings Karen's investigation to its stunning conclusion. Set against the explosive summer of 1968, the book deals directly with the fallout of the Democratic National Convention, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and the escalating civil rights movement in Chicago. Karen must navigate her own queer coming-of-age, her family's secrets, and the final puzzle pieces of Anka Silverberg's life and death. The thematic focus shifts deeper into identity, resilience, and what it truly means to be a "monster" in a world filled with real-world horrors.
4. Records of the Damned (Upcoming Prequel)
Looking to the future, Emil Ferris has planned a prequel titled Records of the Damned. Acquired by Pantheon Books, this work is set to explore Karen Reyes's earlier childhood years. It promises to delve deeper into her early encounters with the ghostly and the monstrous, her developing friendship with Anka Silverberg before the events of the first book, and her early queer identity. While there is no official release date set, it will represent the chronological beginning of Karen's story.
Chronological vs. Publication Order
Because the main narrative of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is a tightly wound mystery split across two volumes, publication order is the only logical way to read the primary text. Read Volume 1 first, followed by Volume 2. Once Records of the Damned is published, readers will have a choice: read the prequel first to understand the foundational relationship between Karen and Anka, or read the original duology first to experience the mystery as Ferris initially unveiled it. For first-time readers, starting with publication order (Volume 1, then Volume 2) is almost certainly the safest choice, as the mysteries of Volume 1 are built on the reader knowing as little as Karen does at the start.
Other Contributions: Growing Up Chicago
In addition to her primary graphic novels, Emil Ferris is a contributor to the 2022 anthology Growing Up Chicago, published by Northwestern University Press. Edited by David Schaafsma, Lauren DeJulio Bell, and Roxanne Pilat, this collection features coming-of-age stories and essays from various writers who grew up in the Chicago area. Ferris's contribution showcases her deep connection to the city's history, culture, and neighborhoods, which serves as a wonderful companion piece for readers who want to understand the real-life setting that inspired Karen's diary.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Ferris's books, readers should be prepared for a reading experience that differs significantly from traditional comic books. There are no standard panels or speech bubbles; instead, the text is hand-written directly onto the notebook lines, wrapping around and through the illustrations. The visual density is immense, and pages often require slow, deliberate observation to catch all the hidden details, fine art references, and background motifs. The tone is also deeply mature, combining childhood innocence with dark themes of historical trauma, domestic abuse, homophobia, racism, and grief. Despite these heavy subjects, the books are ultimately grounded in empathy and a love for the marginalized "monsters" of society.