5 Slice-of-Life Series from Image Comics You Can Easily Dive Into

Slice-of-Life is a genre of fiction and comics that’s more commonly associated with webtoons. They are usually stories about ordinary people living seemingly normal lives with touches of drama and comedy mixed in along the way. Now what if I told you there are also heaps of titles within indie comics, especially from Image Comics, that fit the same chill vibe as slice-of-life webtoons? I’ve got the list of recommended comics just for you! While these comics may not be as “normal” as what you’d typically see from Webtoon, they are still a joy to read for their unique and imaginative takes on everyday life. Want to know more? Continue scrolling and you may discover the next comic to put into your reading list!

Snotgirl

By Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung

Issues: 15, Completed

Image: Image Comics

Snotgirl follows the life of Lottie Person. As a young fashion blogger living in Los Angeles, Lottie is smart, beautiful, and has all the cutest outfits. To many, Lottie has the perfect life. At least, that is what it seems like online. In reality, she’s riddled with anxiety because she struggles with severe allergies that cause her nose to be a runny mess. With her sense of reality already so warped by social media, things only get worse when Lottie gets mixed up in a tragic accident that leaves her emotionally scarred in mysterious ways. 

This series turned heads when it debuted in 2016, as it was the first time Bryan Lee O’Malley, of Scott Pilgrim fame, created a comic where he was not the lead artist. Alongside artist Leslie Hung, O’Malley brought to life a stylish and satirical story that delves into the problems inherent to social media culture. It mixes elements of fashion, drama, and dark comedy to create an intriguing story filled with bubbly characters with unique style and humor. 

Who this is for:

• Readers with an eye for fashionable characters.
• People who love dramatic stories with surprisingly dark twists.

Octopus Pie

By Meredith Gran

Volumes: 5, Completed

Image: Image Comics

"Octopus Pie" is the story of Eve, a twenty-something woman living in Brooklyn, New York. Even though she’s still young, Eve is already so grumpy, cynical, and bitter about everything the universe throws at her. Then there’s Hanna, Eve’s best friend who’s just a free-spirited ball of sunshine. Together, they go through the ups and downs of adulthood, relationships, and self-discovery in a city that never sleeps.

Among the series I’ve picked for this list, Octopus Pies fits the bill of a slice-of-life comic the most. Because the series was originally a webcomic with 1026 strips published, its storytelling structure is also very close to what you’ll see from webtoons. With its authentic depiction of balancing a life of work, love, and friendships, the series is a beautiful snapshot of millennial angst expressed in hilariously quirky ways. Cartoonist Meredith Gran packs the comic with sharp and vibrant characters who make the journey through mundane life a joy to read. And not only do you see the cast of characters evolve throughout the years, but you also see how Gran’s art flourishes more with each new comic strip. Its blend of humor, heart, and absurdity makes it one of the most beloved series in indie comics.

Who this is for:

• Readers who love odd-couple dynamics between the main characters. 
• Slice-of-life webtoon readers who enjoy comedy mixed in with mundane life.

Royal City

By Jeff Lemire

Issues: 14, Completed

Image: Image Comics

In peak, Jeff Lemire fashion, Royal City is the moving story of a troubled family who find themselves pulled back into the place they thought they left behind. After Peter Pike falls ill from a surprise heart attack, his kids Patrick, Tara, and Richie return home to reconnect before it's too late. But the complicated thing about their family is that the loss of their youngest family member, Tommy, from years ago still weighs heavily on each of them. With so much unresolved trauma between them, the Pike family must face more dark truths as they are on the cusp of losing the father of the household. 

Like many of Jeff Lemire’s writer and artist works, Royal City is a deeply human story set within a small town with a touch of strangeness to it. It explores the complexities of family dynamics, personal loss, and the haunting weight of the past. Even though slice-of-life comics are typically more lighthearted, the art and writing in this series are too good to be overlooked. Lemire's signature art style complements the narrative's introspective tone, making Royal City a poignant look into life, regret, and the search for meaning amidst loss.

Who this is for:

• Readers looking to explore a mature-themed slice-of-life.
• Readers who love comics that lean heavily on visual storytelling.

Nights 

By Wyatt Kennedy and Luigi Formisano

Issues: 5, Ongoing

Image: Image Comics

Now, this one probably stretches my definition of what falls under slice-of-life the most. Nights follows the story of Vince Okonma as he navigates through his new life in Santo Pedro. Unlike most cities in the US, Santo Pedro is where ghosts, vampires, talking animals, and violent oddities are part of everyday life. It’s where Vince develops a unique relationship with his housemate Grey, Santo Pedro’s self-proclaimed “greatest vampire that ever lived.” Together with Matt, a living ghost, and Ivory, Vince’s cousin who moonlights as an assassin, the story explores what it’s like to live in a peculiar household where everyone has their own dark secrets hidden away. 

Nights was one of my surprise favorite new Image Comics series last year. With a unique mix of charming characters and surprisingly dark fantasy elements, it delivered an extraordinary coming-of-age story, unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s a series that wears its anime and manga inspirations on its sleeve, with parallels to FLCL, the Monogatari series, and even a little bit of Evangelion. While its story does get more fantastical in the later parts of its first arc, the core of the series is Vince discovering more about the strange world around him and the people he loves.

Who this is for:

• Readers who love stories that mix different genres and elements into one. 
• Fans of anime like FLCL and the Monogatari series.

Blue Monday

By Chynna Clugston Flores

Issues: 15, Completed

Image: Image Comics

Blue Monday is the story of a group of social outcasts who stick together as they face the challenges of adolescence, including confusing love lives, friendship, and the quest for identity. The focal point of the comic is Bleu Finnegan, a witty and rebellious high school student with an undying passion for Britpop and mod culture. With her friends Clover, Alan, and Victor by her side, Bleu carries on with her youthful life filled with teenage angst and 90s alternative music.

Created by Chynna Clugston Flores, Blue Monday is a stylish coming-of-age story infused with pop music and pop culture. The comic’s art style is wonderfully vibrant and heavily inspired by the humor and absurdity of manga. It’s easy to get sucked into the lives of these misfits as they face the relatable highs and lows of growing up, set against a backdrop that celebrates the unique subcultures of the 80s, 90s, and early 00s.

Who this is for:

• Readers looking for a nostalgia trip back to the early 00s. 
• Enthusiasts of Britpop, pop culture, and anime/manga.