Graphic novels | December's Nielsen BookScan list of the Top 20 graphic novels sold through the book channels looks markedly different from previous months because it now includes nonfiction. That actually makes it a much more interesting chart, with Roz Chast's memoir Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? taking the top spot, followed by the first two volumes of The Walking Dead Compendium, the fourth volume of Saga and the Oatmeal book The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances (which is apparently classified as nonfiction) showing up at No. 5. The chart, which tracks books sold in retail bookstores, some mass market stores and Amazon, also included a couple of much-hyped December debuts, the first collected volume of Ms. Marvel and Richard McGuire's Here. [ICv2]

Political cartoons | In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, Zeidy David revisits the case of Palestinian cartoonist Mohammad Saba’aneh, who was arrested in Israel and held without charges for several months before being given a five-month sentence and a fine for "contact with a hostile organization" — a Jordanian publisher with whom he had discussed a possible book. [Mint Press News]



Political cartoons | Meanwhile, in India, cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, who was arrested two years ago and charged with sedition for his cartoons mocking corruption in the Indian Parliament, called his country's leaders hypocritical for their condemnation of the Charlie Hebdo murders. In addition to the sedition laws, India bans images that are offensive to religious sensibilities. Trivedi still faces criminal charges and has given up cartooning. [The Wall Street Journal]

Political cartoons | Jeff Trexler looks at the The Mascot, a 19th-century satirical paper that had a lot in common with Charlie Hebdo — including an attempted murder of its staff. [The Comics Journal]

Political cartoons | For those who are still looking for context and greater understanding, Tim Hodler has some helpful commentary and links about not just Charlie Hebdo but satire in general. [The Comics Journal]



Creators | Farel Dalrymple discusses his graphic novel The Wrenchies. [Electric Literature]

Creators | Darryl Cunningham talks about his book Supercrash: How to Hijack the Global Economy, which will be released in the United States as The Age of Selfishness. [Forbidden Planet]

Comics | Squidtoons is a website featuring cool, fun cartoons about marine biology and other science topics; creative director Garfield Kwan describes it as “illustrating science with farts, burps, and giggles.” Kwan, a graduate student in the marine biology program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, was inspired by The Oatmeal: "I feel like the Internet really embraces science that’s cool and tangible, something people can understand easily, and it gave me the idea to start some type of online comic strip." [Scripps Oceanography News]

Comics | The New Hampshire Public Radio show Word of Mouth includes both an interview with writer Joe Randazzo, a former editor of The Onion, about satire, and a talk with Scott McCloud about comics. [NHPR]

Manga | Sean Gaffney rounds up some new manga license announcements, including Rust Blaster by Yana Toboso, creator of Black Butler. [A Case Suitable for Treatment]