Manga & Graphic Novels You Need to Read | Coming out Perfect by Richard Mercado

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Ever wondered what a graphic novelist reads for fun? This week we're stepping outside our usual romance and mystery lanes to talk graphic novels and manga with debut author Richard Mercado.

Richard Mercado joins the podcast to talk about his debut YA graphic novel Coming Out Perfect (pitched as Heartstopper meets Mean Girls), his journey from indie zine-maker in the Philippines to Scholastic Graphix author, and his process for plotting a graphic novel from script to thumbnails to final art. Then he shares five graphic novel and manga recommendations — perfect for readers looking to branch into visual storytelling, or longtime manga fans looking for their next read.

📚 Books Mentioned

Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado — Buy on Amazon | YA Graphic Novel / LGBTQ Contemporary

Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Novel / Contemporary

Honey and Clover by Chica Umino — Buy on Amazon | Manga / Josei / Coming-of-Age

Please Be My Star by Victoria Grace Elliot — Buy on Amazon | YA Graphic Novel / Contemporary Romance

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction |

Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Short Stories

⏱️ Timestamps

• [00:00] Welcome & intro to Richard Mercado
• [00:00] Richard introduces himself, his debut graphic novel Coming Out Perfect
• [01:00] Filipino and Puerto Rican cultural parallels; parental acceptance themes
• [01:30] Elevator pitch for Coming Out Perfect
• [04:00] Richard's path from indie zine cartoonist in the Philippines to Scholastic Graphix
• [07:00] How Richard builds a graphic novel — outline, script, thumbnails, art
• [11:00] Book recommendations begin
• [11:30] Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
• [15:00] Honey and Clover by Chica Umino
• [17:00] Please Be My Star by Victoria Grace Elliot
• [19:00] Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
• [21:00] Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte
• [23:00] Where to find Richard online & outro

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