Here are some cartoonists who are likely to have collections in public libraries:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ware - a genius. I had to stop reading bc they were too impactful. strips, one-pagers, and longer stories, many experiments with forms. If you want “clever”, this is your guy.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Woodring - another genius, surreal cartoony style. scary thing is when they start making sense. multi-page short stories, one-pagers.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Bechdel. literally a MacArthur-winning genius. earned acclaim for her later graphic novels, but she has an earlier strip called “Dykes to Watch out For” that has some excellent characterization and captures a moment in time that is very relevant

Cartoonists who work with longer forms, while keeping a cartoony style:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Burns_(cartoonist) - hit or miss, but when he hits it’s like a baseball bat to the face
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Clowes - a bit overrated imho but got respect for him
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raina_Telgemeier - does cartoons for kids, but they’re great. “Drama” and her adaption of “The Babysitter’s Club” are especially good
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bagge - early stuff is very counterculture, later stuff includes some interesting biographies