Laugh-Out-Loud Comics and Graphic Novels for Summer Holiday Reading

Picture this: you're sprawled on the couch, air conditioner on full blast, scrolling endlessly through your phone whilst the Australian summer does its best to melt the pavement outside. Your brain feels like mush, your attention span has evaporated with the humidity, and you desperately need something that won't require too much effort but will still make you properly laugh. Enter the glorious world of graphic novels and comics – the perfect antidote to summer brain fog.

Starting with pure, unadulterated internet humour, "Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh delivers exactly what your heat-addled mind craves. Her crude MS Paint-style drawings paired with brutally honest stories about depression, dogs, and childhood disasters will have you snorting with laughter one moment and unexpectedly moved the next. It's the kind of book you'll screenshot pages from to send to friends.

For those who prefer their comedy with a side of complete absurdity, Matthew Inman's "5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides)" brings his wildly popular Oatmeal webcomics to print. Think grammar lessons delivered by pterodactyls and relationship advice from mantis shrimp. It's wonderfully unhinged and perfect for short attention spans.

If you're after something with more narrative meat, "Nimona" by ND Stevenson brilliantly subverts the hero-villain dynamic with its shapeshifting protagonist who's equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. The humour here comes from witty dialogue and the chaos that ensues when a teenage girl with questionable morals teams up with a supervillain.

For younger readers (or those young at heart), there's a brilliant range too. Raina Telgemeier's "Smile" transforms dental drama into comedy gold, whilst Dav Pilkey's "Dog Man" collection offers pure silliness that'll appeal to Captain Underpants fans. Jeff Smith's "Bone Out from Boneville" kicks off an epic adventure that balances slapstick with genuine storytelling, and Jerry Craft's "New Kid" tackles the awkwardness of fitting in with sharp observational humour.

Even the more serious entries pack comedic punches. Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" finds dark humour in growing up during the Iranian Revolution, whilst Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home" mines family dysfunction for surprisingly funny moments. And for those seeking pure nostalgia, "The Complete Calvin and Hobbes" remains comedy perfection – philosophical musings delivered by a boy and his possibly-imaginary tiger.

Start with "Hyperbole and a Half" if you want instant gratification, dive into "Nimona" for adventure with your laughs, or grab "Calvin and Hobbes" if you want to savour something over multiple beach sessions. Whatever you choose, these books prove that sometimes the best summer reading comes with pictures – and plenty of reasons to laugh out loud.