The titles below are generally recommended for older teen and adult reading and interest levels.
These are only recommendations intended to help educators and guardians find titles to evaluate. The TDRL staff has not reviewed every listed graphic novel and has classified the interest level of these materials based on publisher information and reviews. Educators and guardians should use their best judgment on whether specific titles meet the needs of their young people.
Seoul Before Sunrise by
Haunted by a lost friendship, Seong-Ji (re)discovers herself during nocturnal exploration of a dreamlike Seoul. Longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won are excited to begin university in Seoul, swearing to stay close in the big city, but from the moment they arrive, they begin to drift apart. Her focus split between her rigorous accounting program and her overnight job at a grocery store, Seong-ji tries to make peace with the loss. It's during her overnight shifts that she encounters an enigmatic young woman who spends her nights entering the empty homes of other people to paint and photograph these places. Now, the normally rational Seong-ji finds herself swept up in a dreamlike otherworld, made up of freedom and creativity. As she explores these quiet places, she uncovers not only an intimate portrait of strangers, but perhaps even herself. But as the nocturnal walks reveal the possibilities of the future, they also force her to relive the pain of her lost friendship with Ji-won...
Roaming by
"Gloriously rendered... An ode to traveling as friends when you're both young and carefree and every new experience is exciting and wondrous."âe*Robert Ito, The New York Times Book Review Spring Break, 2009: Five days, three friends, and one big city. Roaming marks a triumphant return to the graphic novel and a deft foray into new adult fiction for Caldecott Medal authors Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. Over the course of a much-anticipated trip to New York, an unexpected fling blossoms between casual acquaintances and throws a long-term friendship off-balance. Emotional tensions vibrate wildly against the resplendently illustrated backdrop of the city, capturing a spontaneous queer romance in all of its fledgling glory. Slick attention to the details of a bustling, intimidating metropolis are softened with a palette of muted pastels, as though seen through the eyes of first-time travelers. The awe, wonder, and occasional stumble along the way come to life with stunning accuracy. Roaming is the third collaboration from the critically acclaimed team behind Skim and Governor General's Literary Award winner This One Summer. Moody, atmospheric, and teeming with life, the magic of this comics duo leaks through the pages with lush and exquisite pen work. The Tamakis' singular, elegant vision of an urban paradise slowly revealing its imperfections to the tune of its visitors' rhythms is a masterpiece--a future classic for generations to come.
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Vol. 2 by
Kasuga and Nomoto promised to spend their Christmas and New Year's together. Now, they find themselves learning more about each other's families through the food sent by Nomoto's mother. Cute character bento, salmon and rice, stollen, fruit sandwiches, roast beef...Nomoto and Kasuga warm up to each other over a cheerful holiday season.
DC vs. Vampires Vol. 2 by
The nightmarish second arc begins! The Earth is now cloaked in darkness as the victorious vampire empire has taken full control. Pockets of humanity can still be found, and they struggle to live but hope fades with every darker day. The leaders of the last surviving resistance force-Green Arrow, Batgirl, and Supergirl-hatch a desperate plan to save the world...or die trying! DC vs. Vampires Vol. 2 collects DC vs Vampires #7-12!
Poison Ivy Vol. 1: the Virtuous Cycle by
Humanity had its chance. Now it's time for Poison Ivy. The fan-favorite Batman villain steps into the solo spotlight, in a thrilling and tragic adventure written by Ms. Marvel co-creator G. Willow Wilson! Winner, Outstanding Comic Book - GLAAD Media Awards 2023 Pamela Isley has been a lot of things in her life. A living god, a super-villain, an activist, a scientist, and dead. In a new body that she didn't ask for and with a renewed sense of purpose, Ivy leaves Gotham and sets out to complete her greatest work-a gift to the world that will heal the damage dealt to it...by ending humanity. On her journey to doom humankind, a heartbroken and betrayed Poison Ivy encounters obstacles (plant assassins!) and dodges the law along the way, in a body horror-infused character-defining epic from the visionary creative team of writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Marcio Takara. This volume collects Poison Ivy #1-6.
Space Trash Vol. 1 by
In Jenn Woodall's debut graphic novel series, three teenagers attending school on the moon try to keep their boredom and resentments at bay as they stumble across an exciting secret that could change the course of their future. In 2115, Earth has been abandoned as a lost cause and mankind has moved on to space colonization. At a decrepit high school on the moon for underprivileged youth, Stab, Yuki and Una are three teenagers who try to keep their boredom and resentment at bay by fighting rival gangs and cliques, hanging out, sleeping their way through class, all while trying to avoid punishment from the Student Council. Fights over turf, respect and snacks lead to unearthing an exciting secret, but will their friendship be strong enough to forge a new future?
Eat the Rich SC by
When the rich and powerful are literal cannibals, how can regular people avoid being on the menu? WELCOME TO CRESTFALL BLUFFS! With law school and her whole life ahead of her, Joey plans to spend the summer with her boyfriend Astor at his seemingly perfect family home. But beneath all the affluent perfection lies a dark, deadly rot... something all the locals live in quiet fear of. As summer lingers, Joey uncovers the macabre history of Crestfall Bluffs, and the ruthlessness and secrecy lying in wait behind the idyllic lives of the one percent. Who can Joey save? Who wants to be saved? And can she even survive to tell the tale? The bold, horrifying psychological thriller from Hugo Award-winning author Sarah Gailey (The Echo Wife, Magic For Liars) and artist Pius Bak (Firefly, The Magicians) with colorist Roman Titov and letterer Cardinal Rae. Collects Eat the Rich #1-5.
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Vol. 1 by
Cooking is how Nomoto de-stresses, but one day, she finds herself makingway more than she can eat by herself. And so, she invites her neighborKasuga, who also lives alone. What will come out of this impromptu dinnerinvitation...?
The Keeper by
A young Black girl finds herself trapped between desperation and her family's dark history in The Keeper, a horror graphic novel written by New York Times bestselling, award-winning masters of horror Tananarive Due (The Reformatory) and Steven Barnes, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. NAMED A BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST NAMED A BOOK WE LOVED BY NPR Aisha has suffered a devastating loss. Her parents were killed in a car crash, and now she must move to decrepit and derelict Detroit to live with her ailing grandmother. However, shortly after moving in, Aisha's grandmother's health rapidly deteriorates. With her dying breath, she summons the dark spirit that has protected their family for generations to watch over Aisha. At first it seems that this spirit, whom Aisha refers to as the Keeper, is truly doing as her grandmother asked, caring for Aisha and keeping her safe; however, it soon becomes clear that this being can only sustain itself by stealing life from others. As the Keeper begins to prey on the apartment building's other residents, Aisha and her friends must come together to destroy it . . . or die trying.
DC vs. Vampires Vol. 1 by
The war for Earth isn't beginning... it's already here! It's the heroes of the DC Universe against the undead in an epic fight for the very survival of the human race! The Justice League has long protected Earth from all manner of foreign and alien invaders over the years, always keeping a vigilant eye to the skies for the next threat. But what if the threat was already walking the Earth...hiding in plain sight...watching...waiting for their moment to strike... A mysterious new vampire lord has already put a plan in motion to conquer the Earth, and his horde are hunting on the streets of Gotham. Can Batman save his city-or will he succumb to the undead plague? In the tradition of DCeased comes a terrifying new series from the twisted minds of James Tynion IV (Nice House on the Lake; Something is Killing the Children), Matthew Rosenberg (The Joker Presents- A Puzzlebox; 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank; Hawkeye), and Otto Schmidt (Green Arrow) that will tear the Justice League apart in their war with the undead! This volume collects DC vs. Vampires #1-6, the first half of this bloody battle.
Thirsty Mermaids by
The raucous and literal fishes-out-of-water graphic novel from prolific comic artist and writer Kat Leyh, creator of the acclaimed Snapdragon and coauthor of the Eisner and GLAAD Award-winning series Lumberjanes. Fresh out of shipwreck wine, three tipsy mermaids decide to magically masquerade as humans and sneak onto land to indulge in much more drinking and a whole lot of fun in the heart of a local seaside tourist trap. But the good times abruptly end the next morning as, through the haze of killer hangovers, the trio realizes they never actually learned how to break the spell, and are now stuck on land for the foreseeable future. Which means everything from: enlisting the aid of their I-know-we-just-met-can-we-crash-with-you bartender friend, struggling to make sense of the world around them, and even trying to get a job with no skill set...all while attempting to somehow return to the sea and making the most of their current situation with tenacity and camaraderie (especially if someone else is buying).
Future State: Wonder Woman by
Who is Wonder Woman? Future State- Wonder Woman follows the stories of three wonder-filled women, Maria Flor, Nubia, and Diana Prince. Maria Flor will face off against the forces of hell, while Nubia leads a squad of Amazons far from Paradise Island. And Diana Prince is ready to fight for the world until the very end. Collects Future State- Wonder Woman #1-2, Future State- Superman/Wonder Woman #1-2, and Future State- Immortal Wonder Woman #1-2 DC Future State spotlights the World's Greatest Super Heroes in fresh new roles, with all-new characters taking up their iconic mantles. DC Future State features an incredible array of creative talent, combining award-winning writers and artists with new voices from the worlds of TV, movies and animation. Discover the DC Universe like never before!
The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by
Zoe Thorogood's first graphic novel The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott is a story about what it's like to get something you want, have it immediately taken away from you and then how you can put it all back together again in unexpected ways. Set in a world of people down and out in Newcastle and London, it's a graphic novel that speaks to the problems facing many of those left behind in post-austerity Britain. It's also the debut work of an exciting author who many are tipping to be a great new talent in the world of comics.
Count by
A sci-fi reimagining of the greatest revenge story of all time: The Count of Monte Cristo. Framed for treason and wrongfully imprisoned at the hands of a jealous and corrupt magistrate, Redxan Samud escapes his breathtaking hover-prison with only one thing on his mind: revenge. Disguised as a Man of Status and with a newfound fortune and his Automaton Retainer Unit (Aru) by his side, Samud sets out to dismantle the lives of those who have wronged him. But when innocent lives begin to get caught in the middle of his quest for vengeance, Samud will have to decide between using his new fortune for the good of the people or to pursue the revenge he so desperately desires.
Flung Out of Space by
Flung Out of Space is both a love letter to the essential lesbian novel, The Price of Salt, and an examination of its notorious author, Patricia Highsmith. Veteran comics creators Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer have teamed up to tell this story through Highsmith's eyes-reimagining the events that inspired her to write the story that would become a foundational piece of queer literature. Flung Out of Space opens with Pat begrudgingly writing low-brow comics. A drinker, a smoker, and a hater of life, Pat knows she can do better. Her brain churns with images of the great novel she could and should be writing-what will eventually be Strangers on a Train- which would later be adapted into a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951. At the same time, Pat, a lesbian consumed with self-loathing, is in and out of conversion therapy, leaving a trail of sexual conquests and broken hearts in her wake. However, one of those very affairs and a chance encounter in a department store give Pat the idea for her soon-to-be beloved tale of homosexual love that was the first of its kind-it gave the lesbian protagonists a happy ending. This is not just the story behind a classic queer book, but of a queer artist who was deeply flawed. It's a comic about what it was like to write comics in the 1950s, but also about what it means to be a writer at any time in history, struggling to find your voice. Author Grace Ellis contextualizes Patricia Highsmith as both an unintentional queer icon and a figure whose problematic views and noted anti-Semitism have cemented her controversial legacy. Highsmith's life imitated her art with results as devastating as the plot twists that brought her fame and fortune.
Restart after Coming Back Home by
The touching Boys' Love romance that inspired a live-action film! (Continued in the sequel book Restart After Growing Hungry.) Hotheaded Kozuka Mitsuomi left his home in the country for a sophisticated life in Tokyo. Unfortunately, at age 25, he's fired from his job and returns home in disgrace. As he tries to rediscover himself, he meets Kumai Yamato, a man about his age who was adopted into his community while Mitsuomi was away. The sweet and even-tempered Yamato is hiding his own pain, and as the two men connect, they start a journey together.
The Golden Age, Book 1 by
In the kingdom of Lantrevers, suffering is a way of life--unless you're a member of the ruling class. Princess Tilda plans to change all that.As the rightful heir of late King Ronan, Tilda wants to deliver her people from famine and strife. But on the eve of her coronation, her younger brother, backed by a cabal of power-hungry lords, usurps her throne and casts her into exile.Now Tilda is on the run. With the help of her last remaining allies, Tankred and Bertil, she travels in secret through the hinterland of her kingdom. Wherever she goes, the common folk whisper of a legendary bygone era when all men lived freely. There are those who want to return to this golden age--at any cost. In the midst of revolution, how can Tilda reclaim her throne?
I Left the House Today! by
Cassandra Calin's ability to document the hilarity of relatable everyday events in a series of webcomics has generated a huge following on social media. This beautifully illustrated compendium of first-person comics about the trials of the single life, school, stress, junk food, shaving, and maintaining a healthy self-image. Cassandra Calin's comics frequently highlight the humorous gap between expectations and reality, especially when it comes to appearance and how much she can accomplish in one day. This book is funny, lighthearted, introspective, and artistically stunning--the perfect gift for young women, recent graduates, and anyone who might need a little comedic incentive to leave the house today.
Invisible Kingdom Volume 2 by
The explosive aftermath of their shocking discovery has pushed captain Grix and acolyte Vess to the furthest reaches of their solar system. Once unknowing pawns of the most ubiquitous religion and pervasive mega-corporation, the now-renegade team is alone after revealing to the world that these 'enemy' groups are in cahoots - but not for long. And when their crew encounters a group of ruthless spacefaring privateers, they might not be safe for long either.
Life Is Strange Vol. 3: Strings by
The adventures of Max, Chloe and Rachel from the critically acclaimed, award-winning game Life is Strange continue! After the mysterious Tristan and his own time-travelling powers turn Max Caulfield's world upside down, she's left with no choice but to tell Chloe and Rachel the truth - about who she is, and how she came back into their lives. But through the transect, another Chloe - Max's Chloe - remains. How much is Max willing to sacrifice to get back what she's lost? How far will she go to find her partner in time?
The Low, Low Woods (Hill House Comics) by
From New York Times bestselling author Carmen Maria Machado (Her Body And Other Parties, In The Dream House) comes a story so horrifying you won't dare to forget! When your memories are stolen, what would you give to remember? Follow El and Vee as they search for answers to the questions everyone else forgot. Shudder-to-Think, Pennsylvania, is plagued by a mysterious illness that eats away at the memories of those affected by it. El and Octavia are two best friends who find themselves the newest victims of this disease after waking up in a movie theater with no memory of the past few hours. As El and Vee dive deeper into the mystery behind their lost memories, they realize the stories of their town hold more dark truth than they could've imagined. It's up to El and Vee to keep their town from falling apart...to keep the world safe from Shudder-to-Think's monsters. Collects issues # 1-6.
Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by
Folk horror through the eyes of a modern teen in this atmospheric tale of obsession, suspense and magic. Something strange has been unleashed in the north of England. A modern-day druid commits a series of ghastly murders in an attempt to unleash the awesome power of the ancient gods of Great Britain. But all hell really breaks loose when his latest would-be victim, Nicnevin "NISSY" Oswald, turns out to be more than she seems. A British tale mixing black magic and horror, godfathered by Jock, one of the new masters of comic book suspense!
Phoolan Devi, Rebel Queen by
She rebelled against the ancient tribal rules of India, her country, resulting in her becoming a Robin Hood type bandit. Essentially sold at the age of 11 to become a wife for a much older man, she ran away when he raped her. From that point on, there were few choices for her but to join a roaming gang of bandits, her ambition and thirst for revenge leading her to become their rebel chief. Ultimately, society caught up with her and she even became a strong voice for change, women, and social justice as a representative in the Indian parliament. A story of courage and unbending determination in front of centuries of established inequities in the classic Indian caste system.
Ronin Island Vol. 2 by
Kenichi and Hana must fight their way back to each other and the island - but does an even more dangerous threat await them? THE WAR WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING. After their harrowing journey to the mainland to reason with the Shogun's forces, young Hana and Kenichi have been separated, forced to find their own ways back to the Island. Kenichi, cast out in exile, must learn to survive the wilderness on his own without the support his noble upbringing previously provided; Hana must also survive a dangerous foreign environment, as she travels alongside the Shogun's caravan back towards the Island and contends with the cutthroat political in-fighting of the elite. The New York Times best-selling author Greg Pak (Star Wars) and artist Giannis Milonogiannis (Old City Blues) present the next chapter of the critically-acclaimed action series about a new generation of heroes struggling to do the right thing in the face of an increasingly complicated and deadly world. Collects Ronin Island #5-8.
The Sacrifice of Darkness by
Roxane Gay, Tracy Lynne Oliver, and Rebecca Kirby adapt Gay's New York Times bestelling short story "We Are the Sacrifice of Darkness" as a full length graphic novel, expanding and further developing the unforgettable world where the sun no longer shines. "When I was a young girl, my husband's father flew an air machine into the sun. Since then, the days have been dark, the nights bright." Roxane Gay, Tracy Lynne Oliver ,and Rebecca Kirby adapt Gay's New York Times bestselling short story "We Are the Sacrifice of Darkness" as a full-length graphic novel, expanding an unforgettable world where a tragic event forever bathes the world in darkness. Follow one woman's powerful journey through this new landscape as she discovers love, family, and the true light in a world seemingly robbed of any. As she challenges notions of identity, guilt, and survival she'll find that no matter the darkness, there remains sources of hope that can pierce the veil.
The Strange Ones by
Filled with visceral and engaging prose, this graphic novella offers a nostalgic look at two young misfits who manage to find belonging and heartbreak in each other's friendship. Anjeline walks with an open heart, but alone, through a world that consistently rejects her; Franck, another loner, never smiles. After the hand of fate literally shoves them together in the roiling mosh pit at a Midtown rock concert, they bond over the long commute back to Staten Island, and begin a friendship that makes the world a little better for them both. Together, this strange pair turns the sharp-edged, gloomy New York City into their playground...even as pain and heartbreak await around the corner.
What We Don't Talk About by
Adam and Farai are an interracial couple that have been together for two years. Farai has finally persuaded Adam to introduce her to his parents, but the visit to the in-laws turns out to be a horrible experience for Farai. Several situations during the introductory dinner make her feel uneasy and ostracised. When confronted about this experience Adam tries to play down the whole situation and does not show any understanding for his partner's concern. This puts a further strain on their relationship and Farai starts to wonder if she can be with a man who's family does not accept her and who is not willing to face the difficulties related to an interracial relationship.Examining important contemporary issues of race, bigotry and the difficulties that interracial couples face, What We Don't Talk About is the debut graphic novel from a burgeoning new comics talent.
Age of Doom by
Picking up immediately where we left off - Lucy Weber has become the new Black Hammer and right as she's about to reveal to our heroes how they got stuck on the farm and can escape she vanishes. Now our new Black Hammer finds herself trapped in a gritty world filled with punk rock detectives, emo gods, anthropomorphic humans, absurdist heroes, and many more weirdos, in mad world in which there is no escape! Collects Black Hammer: Age of Doom #1-5.
BAGS (or a Story Thereof) by
John Motts is a man who had a dog but now his dog is gone so he has to go find it. BAGS is a story of love and suspense that may thrill some readers of all ages. This is the tale of John Motts. He is a man who had a dog, but now that dog is gone. John searches his house, his street, and his town, but the dog is nowhere to be found. John soon realizes that he must travel further, past the road and into the trees if he's ever to find out the truth of what happened to his dog. BAGS (or a story thereof) is a journey of love and suspense as John Motts searches through the world he knows, and a world he doesn't, weaved together beautifully by Pat McHale, creator of the Emmy Award-winning Cartoon Network series Over The Garden Wall, and Gavin Fullerton (Disney's Space Chickens in Space).
Black Badge Vol. 1 by
An espionage series about a top-secret, elite branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions. Meet the Black Badges, a top-secret branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions that no adult ever could. Among their organization, the Black Badges are the elite--the best of the best. The missions they're tasked with are dangerous, and will only get worse as their leader's attention is split between their objective and tracking down a lost team member. A member who disappeared years ago...presumed dead. Reuniting New York Times bestselling author Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and illustrator Tyler Jenkins (Peter Panzerfaust) following their multiple Eisner Award-nominated series Grass Kings, Black Badge is a haunting look at foreign policy, culture wars, and isolationism through the lens of kids who know they must fix the world that adults have broken.
Coyotes Volume 2 by
The critically lauded series returns for its second arc.In this allegory, Red is a young woman tasked with ridding her home of men whohave donned animal pelts that turn them into woman-hunting wolves. After herfirst war with these wolves she returns to bring more women to safety andslaughter more wayward men. But when she meets a group of women who challengeher ideas and core self she has to question the person she herself has become. Afascinating look at misogyny, war and forgiveness. Collects COYOTES #5-8
Girl Town by
Diana got hurt -- a lot -- and she's decided to deal with this fact by purchasing a life-sized robot boyfriend. Mary and La-La host a podcast about a movie no one's ever seen. Kelly has dragged her friend Beth out of her comfort zone -- and into a day at the fantasy market that neither of them will forget. Carolyn Nowak's Girl Towncollects the Ignatz Award-winning stories "Radishes" and "Diana's Electric Tongue" together with several other tales of young adulthood and the search for connection. Here are her most acclaimed mini-comics and anthology contributions, enhanced with new colors and joined by brand-new work. Bold, infatuated, wounded, or lost, Nowak's girls shine with life and longing. Their stories -- depicted with remarkable charm and insight -- capture the spirit of our time.
Grass Kings Vol. 1 by
Three brothers who rule their own trailer park kingdom must face off against the sheriff of a neighboring town who wants their territory. From The New York Times bestselling writer Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and Peter Panzerfaust artist Tyler Jenkins comes the Eisner Award-nominated rural mystery series chronicling the tragic lives of the Grass Kings, three brothers and rulers of a self-sufficient trailer park kingdom--a fiefdom of the hopeless and lost seeking a promised land. The grass kingdom is run by middle brother Robert, who has been grief-stricken since losing his daughter years ago. When a mysterious young woman flees to their community in search of safety, Robert takes her in. As her true identity comes to light, Robert must decide if his chance at atonement is worth risking the entire kingdom.
Grease Bats by
So, no one told you life was gonna be this gay! Grease Bats stars Andy, a trans genderqueer individual who is both tough and loving, and their BFF Scout, an all-feelings-all-the-time mistake-maker. Andy and Scout are best buds, roommates, and gay disasters. Along with their friends and plenty of beer, they're just trying to make it through their 20s, survive late capitalism, and navigate the dating world. Tough and loving Andy is a genderqueer trans individual, who dates like there's no tomorrow, while Scout, an all-feelings-all-the-time mistake-maker, is still languishing over her ex-girlfriend...from like two years ago. Created by Archie Bongiovanni (The Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns) and originally published on Autostraddle, this edition collects all the best misadventures, internet dates, and bad decisions in one place!
The Handmaid's Tale (Graphic Novel) by
The stunning graphic novel adaptation * A must-read and collector's item for fans of "the patron saint of feminist dystopian fiction" (New York Times). Look for The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, coming September 2019. In Margaret Atwood's dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead's commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive. Provocative, startling, prophetic, The Handmaid's Tale has long been a global phenomenon. With this beautiful graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood's modern classic, beautifully realized by artist Renée Nault, the terrifying reality of Gilead has been brought to vivid life like never before.
Hexed Omnibus by
Collecting the entire Hexed saga about a teenage thief for hire who steals from the criminal underworld and combats the supernatural monsters sent after her. Luci Jennifer Inacio Das Neves (most people just call her "Lucifer") is a supernatural thief for hire, stealing wondrous objects from the dark denizens of the netherworld for her mentor/mother figure, Val Brisendine. From possessed teddy bears to haunted paintings to ancient otherworldly demons, Lucifer will need to use every trick up her sleeve to protect her surrogate family and combat the monsters of her seedy city. Written by lauded horror author Michael Alan Nelson (Day Men, 28 Days Later), Hexed is a lyrical horror adventure series featuring the debut American comics work by superstar illustrators Emma Rios (Pretty Deadly) and Dan Mora (Klaus). This definitive volume collects all 16 issues of the original Hexed limited series and its sequel series Hexed: The Harlot and the Thief.
Hot Comb by
An auspicioius debut examining the culuture of hair from the Rona Jaffe Foundation award-winning cartoonistHot Comb offers a poignant glimpse into Black women's lives and coming of age stories as seen across a crowded, ammonia-scented hair salon while ladies gossip and bond over the burn. The titular story "Hot Comb" is about a young girl's first perm - a doomed ploy to look cool and to stop seeming "too white" in the all-black neighborhood her family has just moved to. In "Virgin Hair" taunts of "tender-headed" sting as much as the perm itself. It's a scenario that repeats fifteen years later as an adult when, tired of the maintenance, Flowers shaves her head only to be hurled new put-downs. The story "My Lil Sister Lena" traces the stress resulting from being the only black player on a white softball team. Her hair is the team curio, an object to touched, a subject to be discussed and debated at the will of her teammates, leading Lena to develop an anxiety disorder of pulling her own hair out. Among the series of cultural touchpoints that make you both laugh and cry, Flowers recreates classic magazines ads idealizing women's needs for hair relaxers and product. "Change your hair form to fit your life form" and "Kinks and Koils Forever" call customers from the page.Realizations about race, class, and the imperfections of identity swirl through Flowers' stories and ads, which are by turns sweet, insightful, and heartbreaking. Flowers began drawing comics while earning her PhD, and her early mastery of sequential storytelling is nothing short of sublime. From her black and white drawings to her color construction paper collages, Hot Comb is a propitious display of talent from a new cartoonist who has already made her mark.
Invisible Kingdom Volume 1 by
Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning author G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel, Wonder Woman) and Eisner winning artist Christian Ward (Black Bolt) team up for this epic new sci-fi saga! In a small solar system in a far-flung galaxy, two women--one a young religious acolyte and the other, a hard-bitten freighter pilot--uncover a conspiracy between the leaders of the most dominant religion and an all-consuming mega-corporation. On the run from reprisals on both sides, this unlikely pair must decide where their loyalties lie--and risk plunging the world into anarchy if they reveal the truth. One of AV Club's most anticipated comics of 2019! Collects Invisible Kingdom #1 - #5.
Nuclear Winter Vol. 2 by
Nothing's rougher than a Canadian winter . . . except maybe one that never ends! As winter fallout reaches its peak, Flavie is once again forced to leave her comfortable life to help her friend Marco. Braving the cold, she's pulled into a quest for cough syrup that will take her and her snowmobile all the way out to the dreaded, out-of-bounds Mount-Royal Park, where a group of teens on motorized snowbikes have been stealing and hoarding medical supplies...which Flavie desperately needs to fight off the mutagenic effects of living in an eternal nuclear winter! In the midst of all this, Flavie's younger sister is back in town...and looking to reconcile. Cartoonist Cab delivers a hilarious, relatable adventure story in this second volume of her Nuclear Winter graphic novel series.
Nuclear Winter Vol. 3 by
Nothing's rougher than a Canadian winter . . . except maybe one that never ends! As winter fallout reaches its peak, Flavie is once again forced to leave her comfortable life to help her friend Marco. Braving the cold, she's pulled into a quest for cough syrup that will take her and her snowmobile all the way out to the dreaded, out-of-bounds Mount-Royal Park, where a group of teens on motorized snowbikes have been stealing and hoarding medical supplies...which Flavie desperately needs to fight off the mutagenic effects of living in an eternal nuclear winter! In the midst of all this, Flavie's younger sister is back in town...and looking to reconcile. Follow Flavie's continued adventures in this third volume of cartoonist Cab's Nuclear Winter graphic novel series.
Off Season by
Rage. Depression. Divorce. Politics. Love. A visceral story that you can see, taste, and feel. How could this happen? The question of 2016 becomes deeply personal in James Sturm's riveting graphic novel Off Season, which charts one couple's divisive separation during Bernie Sanders's loss to Hillary Clinton, Clinton's loss to Donald Trump, and the disorienting months that followed. We see a father navigating life as a single parent and coping with the disintegration of a life-defining relationship. Amid the upheaval lie tender moments with his kids--a sleeping child being carried in from the car, Christmas-morning anticipation, a late-night cookie after a temper tantrum--and fallible humans drenched in palpable feelings of grief, rage, loss, and overwhelming love. Using anthropomorphized characters as a tactic for tempering an otherwise emotionally fraught situation, Off Season is unaffected and raw, steeped in the specificity of its time while speaking to a larger cultural moment. A truly human experience, Off Season displays Sturm's masterful pacing and storytelling combined with conscious and confident growth as the celebrated cartoonist and educator moves away from historical fiction to deliver this long-form narrative set in contemporary times. Originally serialized on Slate, this expanded edition turns timely vignettes into a timeless, deeply affecting account of one family and their off season.
Penny Nichols by
"I never wanted to be a teacher or lawyer. I never wanted to be anything, really." Stuck working mind-numbing temp jobs, Penny Nichols yearns to break free from the rut she's found herself in. When, by chance, she falls in with a group of misfits making a no-budget horror movie called "Blood Wedding," everything goes sideways. Soon her days are overrun with gory props, failed Shakespearean actors, a horny cameraman, and a disappearing director. Somehow Penny must hold it all together and keep the production from coming apart at the seams. This hilarious original graphic novel is a loving tribute to the chaos and camaraderie of DIY filmmaking, and the ways we find our future -- and our family -- in the unlikeliest of places.
Smashed: Junji Ito Story Collection by
Thirteen chilling nightmares, presented by the master of horror. Try not to be noticed when you eat the secret nectar, otherwise you'll get smashed... What horrific events happened to create the earthbound--people tied to a certain place for the rest of their short lives? Then, a strange haunted house comes to town, but no one expects it to lead to a real hell... Welcome to Junji Ito's world, a world with no escape from endless nightmares.
Life Is Strange Vol. 2: Waves by
Forced to leave her original timeline and her beloved Chloe behind, Max Caulfield must come to terms with both an alternative version of Chloe, and a world where Rachel Amber is very much alive! Based on the critically-acclaimed, BAFTA-winning video game Life is Strange, Waves continues Max's adventures in a potential new future. In an unfamiliar new timeline where Rachel is dating Chloe, Max struggles to find a place for herself - as well as uncover the truth about a mysterious boy with a strange talent of his own...
Life Is Strange Vol. 1: Dust by
Titan Comics and SQUARE ENIX® are thrilled to announce an all-new graphic novel set in the world of the critically acclaimed, award-winning, highly successful video game series, LIFE IS STRANGE(TM). Titan Comics' LIFE IS STRANGE(TM) returns readers to the setting of Arcadia Bay, offering fans the opportunity to dive back into the story of its beloved characters. The popular and celebrated video game, LIFE IS STRANGE(TM), is available on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, XBOX and iOS. Achieving undeniable success, LIFE IS STRANGE(TM) has sold over 3 million units to date across all formats. The first game in the series, LIFE IS STRANGE(TM), follows the story of Max Caulfield, a senior majoring in photography who discovers that she can rewind time when trying to save her best friend Chloe Price. The pair investigate the mysterious disappearance of fellow student Rachel Amber, and uncover a dark side to the life in Arcadia Bay. Meanwhile, Max quickly learns that changing the past can sometimes lead to a devastating future. Launching episodically in 2015, the game quickly secured incredible acclaim - with over 75 Game of the Year awards, nominations, and industry accolades including the BAFTA award for Best Story, the Peabody Award, the Golden Joystick Performance of the Year, and the Game Awards 'Game for Impact' Award. An equally well-received prequel game, LIFE IS STRANGE(TM): Before the Storm, launched on August 31, 2017 on PC, XBOX ONE®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation®4. Developed by DeckNine Games, Before the Storm winds the clock back three years, to chart the nascent relationship between Chloe Price and Rachel Amber.
Naomi: Season One by
When a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into a small northwestern town, Naomi begins a quest to uncover the last time a super-powered person visited her home--and how that might tie into her own origins and adoption. DC's biggest, newest mystery starts here! Follow Naomi's journey on a quest that will take her to the heart of the DC Universe and unfold a universe of ideas and stories that have never been seen before. Join writers Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker and breakout artist Jamal Campbell in Wonder Comics' massively ambitious new series and star...Naomi! Aimed at providing readers with honest and innovative reading experiences, Brian Michael Bendis' Wonder Comics is a celebration of the moments of in life when discoveries are made - when purpose and meaning are revealed and destinies are defined. Featuring the young heroes of the DC Universe as penned by all-star creative teams in exciting new adventures that will celebrate the wonders of life, love and comics. Collects Naomi issues #1-6.
Wonder Twins Vol. 1: Activate! by
As part of Brian Michael Bendis' new imprint for young heroes, Wonder Comics, fan favorite Mark Russell brings his unique brand of humor and satire to the Hall of Justice's two newest interns- Zan and Jayna--Wonder Twins! Exiled from their home planet, alien heroes Zan and Jayna must navigate life as teens on Earth at South Metropolis High School, where they're even bigger outsiders than the normal awkward young adult. Under the watchful eye of Superman, the brother and sister pull monitor duty at the Hall of Justice as interns, while also trying to overcome the pitfalls of Zan's brash confidence and Jayna's shy but streetwise personality. If you think you know the Wonder Twins, think again--this book takes the form of the unexpected! Aimed at providing readers with honest and innovative reading experiences, Brian Michael Bendis' Wonder Comics is a celebration of the moments of in life when discoveries are made--when purpose and meaning are revealed and destinies are defined. Featuring the young heroes of the DC Universe as penned by all-star creative teams in exciting new adventures that will celebrate the wonders of life, love and comics. Collects Wonder Twins #1-6.
About Betty's Boob by
She lost her left breast, her job, and her guy. She does not know it yet, but this is the best day of her life. An inspiring and surprisingly comedic tale of loss and acceptance told largely through silent sequential narrative, About Betty's Boob is seminal work from master storytellers Véro Cazot and Julie Rocheleau.
Absolute Zero by
Bobby Drake reunites the original Champions! And with heroes like Hercules, Ghost Rider, Iceman, Black Widow, Darkstar and Angel, the more things change... nothing stays the same! Unfortunately for them, this reunion is under less-than-happy circumstances, as a familiar foe from the past re-emerges! Collecting: Iceman 6-10
Bad Friends by
A story of the enduring quality of female friendship amid a gritty landscape of abuse Jinju is bad. She smokes, drinks, runs away from home, and has no qualms about making her parents worry. Her mother and sister beg her to be a better student, sister, daughter; her beleaguered father expresses his concerns with his fists.Bad Friends is set in the 1990s in a South Korea torn between tradition and Western modernity and haunted by an air of generalized gloom. Cycles of abuse abound as the characters enact violence within their power structures: parents beat children, teachers beat students, older students beat younger students. But at each moment that the duress verges on bleakness, Ancco pulls back with soft moments of friendship between Jinju and her best friend, Pearl. What unfolds is a story of female friendship, a Ferrante-esque connection formed through youthful excess, malaise, and struggle that stays with the young women into adulthood. Served by a dry and precise line,Bad Friends viscerally captures the adolescent years of two young women who want and know they deserve something different but, ultimately, are unable to follow through. In a culture where young women are at a systemic disadvantage, Ancco creates a testimonial to female friendship as a powerful tool for survival. Jinju forgets her worst adolescent memories, but she cannot ever shake the memory of her friendship with Pearl during her most tumultuous years.
Berlin by
Twenty years in the making, this sweeping masterpiece charts Berlin through the rise of NazismDuring the past two decades, Jason Lutes has quietly created one of the masterworks of the graphic novel golden age. Serialized in twenty-two issues, collected in two volumes, with a third to be released at the same time as this omnibus, Berlin has more than 100,000 copies in print and is one of the high-water marks of the medium: rich in its well-researched historical detail, compassionate in its character studies, and as timely as ever in its depiction of a society slowly awakening to the stranglehold of fascism.Berlin is an intricate look at the fall of the Weimar Republic through the eyes of its citizens-Marthe Müller, a young woman escaping the memory of a brother killed in World War I, Kurt Severing, an idealistic journalist losing faith in the printed word as fascism and extremism take hold; the Brauns, a family torn apart by poverty and politics. Lutes weaves these characters' lives into the larger fabric of a city slowly ripping apart. The city itself is the central protagonist in this historical fiction. Lavish salons, crumbling sidewalks, dusty attics, and train stations: all these places come alive in Lutes' masterful hand. Weimar Berlin was the world's metropolis, where intellectualism, creativity, and sensuous liberal values thrived, and Lutes maps its tragic, inevitable decline. Devastatingly relevant and beautifully told, Berlin is one of the great epics of the comics medium.
Calexit
Coyote Doggirl by
A raucous and fierce Western by the BoJack Horseman producer/production designer and award-winning cartoonist Coyote is a dreamer and a drama queen, brazen and brave, faithful yet fiercely independent. She beats her own drum and sews her own crop tops. A gifted equestrian, she's half dog, half coyote, and all power. With the help of her trusty steed, Red, there's not much that's too big for her to bite off, chew up, and spit out right into your face, if you deserve it. But when Coyote and Red find themselves on the run from a trio of vengeful bad dogs, get clobbered by arrows, and are tragically separated, our protagonist is left fighting for her life and longing for her displaced best friend. Taken in by a wolf clan, Coyote may be wounded, but it's not long before she's back on the open road to track down Red and tackle the dogs who wronged her. An homage to and a lampoon of Westerns like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Lisa Hanawalt's Coyote Doggirl is a self-aware, playful subversion of tropes. As our fallible hero attempts to understand the culture of the wolves, we see a journey in understanding and misunderstanding, adopting and co-opting. Uncomfortable at times but nonetheless rewarding and empowering, the story of these flawed, anthropomorphized characters is nothing if not relentlessly hilarious and heartbreakingly human. Told in Hanawalt's technicolor absurdist style, Coyote Doggirl is not just a send-up of the Western genre but a deeply personal story told by an enormously talented cartoonist.
Coyotes Volume 1 by
Women are going missing in the City of LostGirls, a border town in the desert. Officer Frank Coffey is trying to get to thebottom of this when he meets Red, a thirteen girl with a katana blade and amission: murder the Werewolves stalking the border picking women off one by one.When it's discovered that the Wolves are the men of these villages, both Red andOfficer Coffey are thrown together in a thriller of mythic proportions with helives of their friends and loved ones in thebalance. KILL BILL meets THE HOWLING in thisepic by creators SEAN LEWIS and CAITLINYARSKY. Collects issues 1 through4.
The Creeps by
Illustrator, animator, teacher, and comic artist Fran Krause has touched a collective nerve with his wildly popular web comic series--and subsequent New York Times best-selling book--Deep Dark Fears. Here he brings readers more of the creepy, funny, and idiosyncratic fears they love illustrated in comic form--such as the fear that your pets will tell other animals all your embarrassing secrets, or that someone uses your house while you're not home--as well as two longer comic short-stories about ghosts.
Decompressed by
Confronted with a deep-sea base that is slowly imploding, Mia gets one step closer to solving the murder of her father. But things won't be that easy, as our small team of survivors but grapple with psychic jellyfish and exposure to mind-altering and potentially lethal pathogens that might just drive them insane before they can reach the surface. But even if they can survive all of this? The bigger question still remains - why aren't they allowed to surface?
Earth One by
In the newest installment of the Earth One original graphic novel line, writer/artist Gabriel Hardman (INVISIBLE REPUBLIC) creates an all-new origin for the Emerald Warrior in GREEN LANTERN- EARTH ONE VOL. 1! Hal Jordan yearns for the thrill of discovery, but the days when astronaut and adventure were synonymous are long past. His gig prospecting asteroids for Ferris Galactic is less than fulfilling--but least he's not on Earth, where technology and culture have stagnated. He might be a nobody, but he's in space. When Jordan finds a powerful ring, he also finds a destiny to live up to. There are worlds beyond his own, unlike anything he ever imagined. But revelation comes with a price- the Green Lantern Corps has fallen, long since murdered by ruthless killing machines known as Manhunters. The odds against reinstating the Corps are nearly impossible...but doing the impossible is exactly what an astronaut like Hal Jordan was trained to do. From creator Gabriel Hardman, the critically acclaimed author of INVISIBLE REPUBLIC, comes a soaring new epic original graphic novel in the tradition of the best-selling WONDER WOMAN- EARTH ONE VOL. 1 by Grant Morrison and BATMAN- EARTH ONE VOL. 1 by Geoff Johns! GREEN LANTERN- EARTH ONE VOL. 1 is a radical look at the Lantern mythology and a great entry point for new readers.
Eugenic by
A brand new story of the apocalypse from horror masters James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan, Eugenic tracks the evolution of humanity across three separate centuries as each set of descendants must grapple with the sins of their predecessors. When a plague ravages the world, one scientist discovers the cure and becomes the savior of mankind. Hope is restored, and the world rebuilds. But then people who took the cure begin having children who are... unnatural, and the definition of "normal" is forever altered. The GLAAD Award-nominated team of James Tynion IV (Detective Comics, Memetic) and Eryk Donovan (Constantine: The Hellblazer, Quantum Teens are Go) bring you a new vision of the apocalypse, exploring the conception and evolution of humanity's future across three separate centuries.
Firefly: Legacy Edition Book One by
For the first time, the official sequels to the critically acclaimed show Firefly are collected under one cover! The Serenity rides again, in these official sequels to the critically acclaimed show Firefly, collected for the first time under one cover! Buried histories and secret identities are revealed, along with all the heist-takin', authority-dodgin', death-defyin' space-cowboyin' you've been missing from your life, as this ragtag crew of mercenaries, outlaws, and fugitives travel the stars in search of their next adventure. Collects the following previously released material: * Serenity: Those Left Behind #1-3 * Serenity: Better Days #1-3 * "Serenity: The Other Half" * "Serenity: Downtime" * Serentity: The Shepherd's Tale * Serenity: Float Out #1 * "It's Never Easy"
Frankenstein by
The master of horror manga brings the world's greatest horror novel--Frankenstein--back to life. Junji Ito meets Mary Shelley! The master of horror manga bends all his skill into bringing the anguished and solitary monster and the fouler beast who created him with the brilliantly detailed chiaroscuro he is known for. Also included are is the Oshikiri story cycle--a high school student who lives in a decaying mansion connected to a haunted parallel world. Uncanny doppelgangers, unfortunately murdered friends, and a whole lot more are in store for him. Bonus: Ito's dog! Thrill to the adventures of Non-non Ito, an adorable Maltese!
Godshaper by
Ennay is a man without a god. Bud is a god without a human. Together, they might just survive. In 1958, the laws of physics stopped working: ignition, electricity, and combustion. But an alternative was provided, and people found themselves each accompanied by their own personal god, the new fuel and currency of the world. Varying in shape, size, and influence, these companion deities changed everything. Ennay, however, was born without a god and he's not alone. Men and women like him are Godshapers, godless but with the ability to mold and shape the gods of others. Paired with Bud, a friendly god without a human, he goes on the road looking for food, shelter, and a paying gig. Despite their efforts to keep a low profile, Ennay and Bud stumble upon a mystery that will have lasting ramifications for god and man alike. Written by visionary author Simon Spurrier (The Spire, X-Men Legacy) and illustrated by breakout talent Jonas Goonface, Godshaper introduces a vast world teeming with bold ideas exploring ownership, freedom, and the pettiness of possession--both physical and spiritual.
Home after Dark by
Wildly kaleidoscopic and furiously cinematic, Home After Dark is a literary tour-de-force that renders the brutality of adolescence in the so-called nostalgic 1950s, evoking such classics as The Lord of the Flies. Thirteen-year-old Russell Pruitt, abandoned by his mother, follows his father to sun-splashed California in search of a dream. Suddenly forced to fend for himself, Russell struggles to survive in Marshfield, a dilapidated town haunted by a sadistic animal killer and a ring of malicious boys who bully Russell for being "queer." Rescued from his booze-swilling father by Wen and Jian Mah, a Chinese immigrant couple who long for a child, Russell betrays their generosity by running away with their restaurant's proceeds. Told almost entirely through thousands of spliced images, once again "employ[ing] angled shots and silent montages worthy of Alfred Hitchcock" (Washington Post, on Stitches), Home After Dark becomes a new form of literature in this shocking graphic interpretation of cinema verité.
Jack London's to Build a Fire by
From the "master of black and white" artwork (Paste Magazine) and the bestselling illustrator-storyteller of Park Bench and Alone comes a starkly beautiful graphic novel adaptation of Jack London's most famous short story. Discover the beloved author of White Fang and The Call of the Wild, Jack London's renowned short story "To Build a Fire" in a new and evocative way from master artist Christophe Chabouté. With his signature "stunning black-and-white art" (Publishers Weekly), Chabouté illustrates London's gripping story of man versus nature in the harsh and unforgiving Yukon that has enthralled readers for over a century.
Judas by
Judas Iscariot journeys through life and death, grappling with his place in "The Greatest Story Ever Told." EVERY STORY NEEDS A VILLAIN Judas Iscariot is one of the most tragic figures of the Bible -- an acolyte, a betrayer, a villain. But if it wasn't for Judas... the story of Jesus wouldn't work. Before he was born, he was a slave to the story. In a religion built on redemption and forgiveness, one man had to sacrifice himself for everyone... and it wasn't Jesus. Written by Emmy and WGA Award-nominated Jeff Loveness (Nova) and illustrated by Jakub Rebelka (Namesake), Judas is a visually striking odyssey of spirituality and fantasy that follows Judas Iscariot through the depths of Hell as he grapples with his place in the "Greatest Story Ever Told," facing trials and tribulations taken from between the lines of the Bible. Kirkus Starred! "Villainy is re-examined and religious narrative questioned in this bold and uncomfortably thought-provoking graphic novel about Judas Iscariot. ...This book is not for all readers, but all who read it will be challenged and enriched by the questions it raises."
Kim & Kim Volume 2: Love is a Battlefield
Luisa by
A disillusioned 33-year-old Parisian food photographer has a chance encounter with her lost teenage self who has time-travelled 17 years into the future. Together, both women ultimately discover who they really are, finding the courage to live life by being true to themselves.
My Brother's Husband by
The concluding volume in the story of Yaichi, his daughter Kana, and how their meeting Mike Flanagan--Yaichi's brother-in-law--changes their lives and their perceptions of acceptance of homosexuality in their contemporary Japanese culture. As Mike continues his journey of discovery concerning Ryoji's past, Yaichi gradually comes to understand that being gay is just another way of being human. And that, in many ways, remains a radical concept in Japan even today. In the meantime, the bond between Mike and young Kana grows ever stronger, and yet he is going to have to return to Canada soon--a fact that fills them both with impending heartbreak. But not before more than a few revelations come to light.
Puerto Rico Strong by
Puerto Rico Strong is a comics anthology that exploreswhat it means to be Puerto Rican and the diversity that exists within thatconcept, from today's most exciting Puerto Rican comics creators. All profitswill go to towards disaster relief and recovery programs to support PuertoRico. Despite being a US territory, Puerto Rico is oftenthought of as a foreign land, if it's even a thought in the mind of the averageAmerican at all. Its people exist in all corners of America; some of them haveparents who immigrated from the home island, others are a part of families thathave been on the mainland for generations. Then there are those who have come tothe states in search of a dream but struggle to integrate into an unfamiliarculture, while there are those who have lived in the United States all of theirlives but still have the same struggle because of the color of their skin ortheir sexual identity. These stories follow individuals from diverse walks oflife but are all part of the culture that is Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Strong features art and writing by RosaColon, Vita Ayala, Naomi Franquiz, Javier Cruz Winnik, Sabrina Cintron, RonnieGarcia, Fabian Nicieza, Joamette Gil, and many more!
Sonic Youth by
In this second installment of bestselling author JeffLemire's (Descender, Sweet Tooth) ambitious new series we travel back to theyear 1993 and follow the then-teenaged Pike siblings and see the the last weekof Tommy Pike's life unfold. The mysteries of his death and all the sins thatnow plague the Pike family are brought to light in this heartbreaking and newstoryline. A new chapter of superstar creatorJEFF LEMIRE critically acclaimed new series ishere. Collects issues 6 through10
The Strange by
The story of one undocumented immigrant's journey, told by the people who employ him, feed him, and report on himThe Strange follows an unnamed, undocumented immigrant who tries to forge a new life in a Western country where he doesn't speak the language. The story is deftly told through myriad viewpoints, as each narrator recounts a situation in which they crossed paths with the newly arrived foreigner. Many of the people he meets are suspicious of his unfamiliar background, or of the unusual language they do not understand. By employing this third-person narrative structure, Jérôme Ruillier masterfully portrays the complex plight of immigrants and the vulnerability of being undocumented. The Strange shows one person's struggle to adapt while dealing with the often brutal and unforgiving attitudes of the employers, neighbors, and strangers who populate this new land. Ruillier employs a bold visual approach of colored pencil drawings complemented by a stark, limited palette of red, orange, and green backgrounds. Its beautiful simplicity represents the almost childlike hope and promise that is often associated with new beginnings. But as he implicitly suggests, it's a promise that can shatter at a moment's notice when the threat of being deported is a daily and terrifying reality.
Thrilling Adventure Hour - A Spirited Romance by
Based on the popular Hollywood stage show and podcast, The Thrilling Adventure Hour: A Spirited Romance follows fan-favorite characters Frank and Sadie Doyle in "Beyond Belief". It's time to send the little ones to dreamland and set your radio's dial to "spooky." Steel yourself for mysterious suspense in...BEYOND BELIEF! Meet Frank and Sadie Doyle, toast of the upper crust. Headliners on the society pages. And, oh yes, they see ghosts. Trading quips and tossing back cocktails, the Doyles take what they want and hoodwink their clientele for the rest. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, mummies, even diabolical gingerbread men are nothing but obstacles in the way of the liquor cabinet for our fast-talking, hard-drinking sleuths. Written by the creators of the wildly popular Hollywood stage show and podcast, Ben Acker and Ben Blacker (Deadpool, Star Wars Adventures), and illustrated by Phil Hester (Batman Beyond), The Thrilling Adventure Hour: A Spirited Romance is a rip-roaring adventure that harkens back to the heyday of old-time radio entertainment. Collects The Thrilling Adventure Hour Presents: Beyond Belief #0 - #4
Victor Lavalle's Destroyer by
The legacy of Frankenstein's monster collides with the sociopolitical tensions of the present-day United States. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein beseeched his creator for love and companionship, but in 2017, the monster has long discarded any notions of peace or inclusion. He has become the Destroyer, his only goal to eliminate the scourge of humanity from the planet. In this goal, he initially finds a willing partner in Dr. Baker, a descendant of the Frankenstein family who has lost her teenage son after an encounter with the police. While two scientists, Percy and Byron, initially believe they're brought to protect Dr. Baker from the monster, they soon realize they may have to protect the world from the monster and Dr. Baker's wrath. Written by lauded novelist Victor LaValle (The Devil In Silver, The Ballad of Black Tom), Destroyer is a harrowing tale exploring the legacies of love, loss, and vengeance placed firmly in the tense atmosphere and current events of the modern-day United States.
We All Float On by
When a surprise new member of the familyarrives in the fading industrial town of Royal City looking for answers, thepast and present all come together and the Pike family must face the truthsabout their youngest brother's death, decades earlier. The concluding chapter ofthis generation-spanning saga of one family haunted by their own private ghostsfrom the New York Times best-selling writer and artist Jeff Lemire (GIDEONFALLS, Sweet Tooth, Essex County). Collects ROYAL CITY#11-14
Where We Live: Las Vegas Shooting Benefit Anthology by
On October 1, 2017, Las Vegas, Nevadasuffered the worst mass shooting in modern American history, resulting in 58deaths and over 500 injured. It broke my heart. Las Vegas is my home. I feltlike something needed to be done to help in a unique way." -- JHWILLIAMS III, Artist & CuratingEditor This "unique way"was the genesis of the WHERE WE LIVE anthology--a riveting collection ofboth fictional stories and actual eye-witness accounts told by an all-starline-up of the top talent working in comics today. All the creators havegraciously volunteered their time and talent to help bring some sense to thissenseless act and, in the process, raise money for the survivors and theirfamilies. The book will include avariety of perspectives with key themes exploring gun violence, common sense guncontrol, value of a compassionate society, mental health stigmatization,aftermath of tragedy and how individuals & communities persevere and anappreciation of Las Vegas as a vibrantcommunity. 100% of the proceeds forthe WHERE WE LIVE anthology will be donated to Route 91 Strong, a non-profitorganization.
Woman World by
The hilarious and wildly popular instagram comic about a world with no menWith her startling humor, it's no surprise that Aminder Dhaliwal's web comic Woman World has a devoted audience of more than 120,000 readers, updated biweekly with each installment earning an average of 25,000 likes. Now, readers everywhere will delight in the print edition as Dhaliwal seamlessly incorporates feminist philosophical concerns into a series of perfectly-paced strips that skewer perceived notions of femininity and contemporary cultural icons. D+Q's edition of Woman World will include new and previously unpublished material. When a birth defect wipes out the planet's entire population of men, Woman World rises out of society's ashes. Dhaliwal's infectiously funny instagram comic follows the rebuilding process, tracking a group of women who have rallied together under the flag of "Beyonce's Thighs." Only Grandma remembers the distant past, a civilization of segway-riding mall cops, Blockbusters movie rental shops, and "That's What She Said" jokes. For the most part, Woman World's residents are focused on their struggles with unrequited love and anxiety, not to mention that whole "survival of humanity" thing. Woman World is an uproarious and insightful graphic novel from a very talented and funny new voice.
4001 A. D. : Beyond New Japan by
ROCKETING OUT OF THE PAGES OF 4001 A.D...the present and future ofValiant's greatest heroes come together in four essential standalone chapters atthe heart of the blockbuster comics event of the year! Blast two thousand years into the future as the never-before-told historyof New Japan's dominion over Earth and the future fates of X-O Manowar,Bloodshot and Shadowman stand revealed. Then, witness the battle-scarred debutof the boldest new hero of this century or the next when War Mother makes herhistory-shattering debut! The future starts now as all-star writers Robert Venditti, Jeff Lemire,Jody Houser, Rafer Roberts, and Fred Van Lente join visionary artists ClaytonHenry, Doug Braithwaite, Robert Gill, and Tomas Giorello to bring the ValiantUniverse barreling into the 41st century! Collecting 4001 A.D.: X-O MANOWAR#1, 4001 A.D.: BLOODSHOT #1, 4001 A.D.: SHADOWMAN #1, 4001 A.D.: WAR MOTHER#1.
AD after Death by
What if we found a cure for death? Two of comics' most acclaimed creators, SCOTT SNYDER(WYTCHES, Batman, American Vampire) and JEFF LEMIRE(DESCENDER, PLUTONA, Moon Knight, Sweet Tooth) unite to create anepic like no other, set in a future where a genetic cure for death has beenfound. Years after the discovery, one man starts to question everything, leadinghim on a mind-bending journey that will bring him face-to-face with his past andhis own mortality. A unique combination of comics, prose, and illustration, A.D.: AFTERDEATH is an oversized hardcover graphic novel written by SNYDER andfully painted by LEMIRE. Trim Size -- 8.375" x 10.1875" Collects AD: AFTER DEATH #1-3.
After the Flood by
Six miles below the surface of the ocean, Mia has to solve a locked-room murder mystery before the crime scene is completely flooded. As the crew tries to save the Dept. H base from destruction, some of them start to take matters into their own hands. But the bottom of the ocean is full of unknown dangers, and with time running out, rescue is almost impossible.From New York Times bestselling author Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT, PastAways, Superspy)!Written and Drawn by Matt Kindt, with colors by Sharlene Kindt.Intricate mystery stories perfect for any fan of crime and sci-fi fiction!A complete arc- a perfect jumping-on point for new readers!
Angel City by
Introducing ANGEL CITY, a hard-boiled 1930s noir starring Dolores Dare,previous Hollywood hopeful and current enforcer for the Volante mob. When herbest friend turns up dead in a dumpster behind the Chinese Theater, Doloresstarts her own investigation of the "April Fool's Killer." As she gets closerto the truth, Dolores will go up against the studios, the corrupt homicidedivision, and even her own gangland contacts - and uncover a scandal that shakesthe very foundations of Tinseltown.
Black Hammer by
Once they were heroes, but the age of heroes has long since passed. Banished from existence by a multiversal crisis, the old champions of Spiral City - Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Colonel Weird, Madame Dragonfly, and Barbalien - now lead simple lives in an idyllic, timeless farming village from which there is no escape! But as they employ all of their super abilities to free themselves from this strange purgatory, a mysterious stranger works to bring them back into action for one last adventure! Collects Black Hammer #1-#6.
Bottled by
A haunting portrait of millennial alienation, tinged with body horror and Greek tragedy, glamour and terror -- Bottled is a gripping debut from Australian graphic novelist Chris Gooch. What are friends for? Jane is sick of her dead-end life in the suburbs and desperate for a change. Her old schoolmate Natalie made it out, working in Japan as a fashion model. Now, as Natalie comes back to town on business, Jane sees a way for her friend to do her a favor... whether she likes it or not.
Boundless by
The cartoonist of This One Summer and SuperMutant Magic Academy explores the virtual and IRL world of contemporary women via a lens both surreal and wryJenny becomes obsessed with a strange "mirror Facebook," which presents an alternate, possibly better, version of herself. Helen finds her clothes growing baggy, her shoes looser, and as she shrinks away to nothingness, the world around her recedes as well. The animals of the city briefly open their minds to us, and we see the world as they do. A mysterious music file surfaces on the internet and forms the basis of a utopian society-or is it a cult? Boundless is at once fantastical and realist, playfully hinting at possible transcendence: from one's culture, one's relationship, oneself. This collection of short stories is a showcase for the masterful blend of emotion and humour of award-winning cartoonist Jillian Tamaki.
By Chance or Providence by
By Chance or Providence collects BeckyCloonan's award-winning trilogy: Wolves, The Mire and Demeter, with lush colorsby Lee Loughridge and a sketchbook/illustration section. These stories cast aspell of hypnotic melancholy, weaving their way through medieval landscapes ofancient curses and terrible truths that will haunt you long after you've setthem down.
Casa Nostra by
In 1933, four women run a comforting safe house for Chicago criminals looking to lay low. But when the ladies find themselves violently betrayed by one of their distinguished guests, revenge becomes their new business. Daring heists, dirty money, infamous gangsters and Tommy guns are all a part of the plan in this original noir graphic novel.
A Castle in England by
A collaboration between writer Jamie Rhodes and the National Trust, A Castle in England is a unique and fascinating graphic fiction project inspired by Scotney Castle in Kent. Using the rich history of this fourteenth-century castle as a starting point, Rhodes has created five short stories that take place over different eras in the castle's past: The Labourer (Medieval), The Priest (Elizabethan), The Smuggler (Georgian), The Widow (Victorian), and The Hunter (Edwardian). Each of these stories has been illustrated by experienced comic and graphic novel artists Isaac Lenkiewicz, Briony May Smith, William Exley, Becky Palmer, and Isabel Greenberg, creating a visually striking graphic collection that is steeped in historical context.
The Customer Is Always Wrong by
A young woman�s art career begins to lift off as those around her succumb to addiction and alcoholismThe Customer is Always Wrong is the saga of a young na�ve artist named Madge working in a restaurant of charming drunks, junkies, thieves, and creeps. Oakland in the late seventies is a cheap and quirky haven for eccentrics and Mimi Pond folds the tales of the fascinating sleaze-ball characters that surround young Madge into her workaday waitressing life. Outrageous and loving tributes and takedowns of her co-workers and satellites of the Imperial Cafe create a snapshot of a time in Madge�s life where she encounters who she is, and who she is not. Told in the same brash yet earnest style as her previous memoir Over Easy, Pond�s storytelling gifts have never been stronger than in this epic, comedic, standalone graphic novel. Madge is right back at the Imperial with its great coffee and depraved cast, where things only get worse for her adopted greasy spoon family while her career as a cartoonist starts to take off.
Demon, Volume 2 by
The OSS is after Jimmy, and they're planning on using his daughter to catch him. But Jimmy will tear the world apart to keep his daughter safe. Literally. This morally bankrupt immortal freak of nature has absolutely no concern for the wellbeing of any human being besides himself and his Sweetpea. It'd be adorable if it weren't so scary. From the brilliant and profane mind of Jason Shiga, known for his high-concept comics work on the web and in print, comes a magnum opus: a four-volume mystery adventure about the shocking chaos (and astronomical body count) one highly rational and utterly sociopathic man can create in the world, given a single simple supernatural power.
Dept. H Volume 1 by
Mia is a special investigator hired to uncover possible sabotage taking place at a deep-sea research station. What she uncovers is a mind-blowing crime scene filled with suspects with terrible secrets, strange deep-sea creatures, and an impending flood! Praise for the previous work of Matt Kindt- "Kindt is a storyteller so fully in control of his gifts that his graphic novels read like quietly compelling arguments for the comics medium's narrative potential." -NPR"Kindt has developed into one of the most exciting and original talents in the business" -The LA Times"Kindt breaks all pre-conceived notions of what comic books are." -IGN
Generations by
After three years in Milan, Matteo returns home to the provincial country town where he was born and from which he had fled. Coming out as a young gay man in a provincial country town had led to ugly clashes with his conservative father, and the urban metropolis of Milan had been a welcome change from the stifling small town life of his childhood and the anger and bewilderment of some members of his family. But now, Matteo finds himself with little choice but to return home, with no money, no job, and an uncertain future, like so many other young people of his millennial generation. Afraid of encountering his estranged father, he instead takes refuge with his extended family, at a house shared by his grandmother, three aunts, and his very pregnant cousin. As he tries to rebuild his life, reconnecting with the women of his family and old hometown friends, he warily confronts a few truths about the other generations of his family--from their bigotry to their love, and tolerance, and acceptance--and a few truths about himself, including his fears of confrontation and commitment.
Happiness 2 by
Happiness follows a dorky boy who is attacked by a girl in an alley. She sucks his blood and gives him a choice: life or death. He chooses life, but finds himself nearly overwhelmed by a new thirst and a fascination with the necks of his classmates...
Henchgirl by
Mary Posa hates her job. She works long hours for little pay, no insurance, and worst of all, no respect. Her co-workers are jerks and her boss doesn't appreciate her. He's also a supervillain. And her parents... well, they're the most famous superhero couple in Crepe City, along with her sister. Cursed with a conscience, Mary would give anything to be something other than a Henchgirl, but no matter what she does her plans always seem to go awry. "There's a lot of humor in Henchgirlwhich is its strong suit."--Comic Bastards "Henchgirlis not about delivering slam-bang super-hero action, but it is a perfect comic for people who are familiar with standard super-hero tropes and like seeing those turned around and examined from some new angles for comedic effect."--Comic Spectrum "Henchgirlis lovely and endearing but funny and clever and the same time."-Girls Like Comics "It's a terribly fun read."--io9 "Gudsnuk is a bold storyteller."--Comic Bastards
Her Bark and Her Bite by
Soon after young artist Rebecca arrives in the big city, she stumbles headlong into the arms of the charismatic Victor. When they fall madly in love, she's thrown into his socialite world of glamorous parties, devoted fans, and layabout debutantes. The people, the art, and the acclaim are exhilarating -- until Victor's affections start to wander to his new pug, Princess. With her new boyfriend slipping away before her eyes, Rebecca's jealousy and fear threaten to upend everything. Can she hold onto the man she loves? Does she even really want to?
Iceman by
Bobby Drake has been in the super hero game longer than most - but what has he left behind besides a few good one-liners and a string of failed relationships? And now a younger version of himself has emerged from the timestream - and he's more put together than Bobby ever was. He grapples with his gay identity and his family and how to build a life and legacy he can be proud of... and become the best Iceman he can be! But, whether it's seeking his ex-girlfriend Kitty Pryde's advice on meeting guys, or delivering his latest news to his folks, it won't be easy - and that's before a gang of revenge-seeking Purifiers comes calling! And, still learning to be comfortable in his own skin, Bobby will meet someone who's perhaps too comfortable in his - the son of Wolverine himself, Daken! Collecting: Iceman 1-5
Jane by
A reimagining of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre set in present day, written by acclaimed screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and Eisner Award-winning illustrator Ramón K. Pérez. Growing up in a broken home in a small fishing town, Jane dreamed of escaping to art school and following the allure of New York City. When that dream becomes a reality however, it's not long before she feels out of place by the size of the city and the talent of her peers. She soon discovers her place as she begins to nanny a young girl named Adele, but that is upended when she falls for the girl's father, Rochester, a sardonic man of power, wealth, and unexpected charm. Jane learns that in the world of New York's elite, secrets are the greatest extravagance and she'll have to decide if she should trust the man she loves or do what ever it takes to protect Adele from the consequences of his deception. Award-winning screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) makes her graphic novel debut with Eisner Award-winning illustrator Ramón K. Pérez (Jim Henson's Tale of Sand) in this powerful reimaging of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre in present day Manhattan, where luxury masks dark secrets.
Kill Them All by
The new gonzo graphic novel love letter to 90s action movies by Eisner-nominated cartoonist Kyle Starks (Sexcastle, Rick and Morty). A betrayed murderess wants revenge. A hard drinking former cop wants his job back. For either to get what they want, they're going to have to fight their way through fifteen flights of criminals, assassins, drug lords, murderers, yup, even accountants, and... KILL. THEM. ALL.
The Lighthouse by
Francisco, a wounded, despairing sixteen-year-old Republican guard in the Spanish Civil War, is trying to flee to freedom by crossing the French border. In his escape, he encounters an old remote lighthouse, far from the warring factions. He is granted shelter by Telmo, the aging operator of the lighthouse. As Francisco recuperates, Telmo s tales of epic adventurers who sailed the lost seas and discovered worlds unknown reignite the spark of life in the young soldier. By one of the most brilliant new talents in comic art in Spain, author of the world-wide bestseller Wrinkles.
Love Is Love by
The comic book industry comes together to honor those killed in Orlando this year. From IDW Publishing, with assistance from DC Entertainment, this oversize comic contains moving and heartfelt material from some of the greatest talents in comics - - mourning the victims, supporting the survivors, celebrating the LGBTQ community, and examining love in today's world.
MINE CELEBRATION of LIBERTY and FREEDOM for ALL GN by
Planned Parenthood, and the millions of people they help each year, needevery bit of help they can get. Mine! is a comics anthology with theproceeds going to Planned Parenthood. Join Eisner, Harvey, Oscar, and Emmy awardwinning creators for stories about trailblazing women, civil rights leaders, aperson's first time going to a PP clinic, debunking myths about sex, STIscreenings, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, fantastical stories withsuperheroes, Greek mythology, and a future both with and without PlannedParenthood.
Mis(h)adra by
An Arab-American college student struggles to live with epilepsy in this starkly colored and deeply-cutting graphic novel. Isaac wants nothing more than to be a functional college student--but managing his epilepsy is an exhausting battle to survive. He attempts to maintain a balancing act between his seizure triggers and his day-to-day schedule, but he finds that nothing--not even his medication--seems to work. The doctors won't listen, the schoolwork keeps piling up, his family is in denial about his condition, and his social life falls apart as he feels more and more isolated by his illness. Even with an unexpected new friend by his side, so much is up against him that Isaac is starting to think his epilepsy might be unbeatable. Based on the author's own experiences as an epileptic, Mis(h)adra is a boldly visual depiction of the daily struggles of living with a misunderstood condition in today's hectic and uninformed world.
Mother Panic Vol. 1: Work in Progress by
As part of the new DC's Young Animal imprint, a bold new take on the world of the Batman comes from writer Jody Houser, artists Tommy Lee Edwards and Shawn Crystal and DC's Young Animal mastermind Gerard Way--MOTHER PANIC VOL. 1: A WORK IN PROGRESS. The shadow of the Bat falls over all of Gotham City, from its dark alleys to its glittering high-rises. But a new vigilante has just stepped away from that shadow, and she has her own brand of violent retribution to deal out to the city's corrupt elites. Meet Violet Paige, a rich young celebutante with a bad attitude and a worse reputation. No one would ever suspect that this tabloid-fodder wild child has a secret hidden beneath her spoiled heiress exterior--a secret that has driven her to become the terrifying force of vengeance against her privileged peers known as Mother Panic! But even as Violet launches her all-out assault on the rich and twisted, her shaky allies threaten to betray her, and every one of Gotham's guardians--from Batwoman to the Dark Knight himself--is hot on her trail. Will Mother Panic continue to strike terror into her enemies' hearts? Or will her violent quest for justice reach an equally violent end? Collects MOTHER PANIC VOL. 1: A WORK IN PROGRESS #1-6.
My Boyfriend Is a Bear by
The delightful story of Nora who, after a succession of terrible boyfriends, finds a much happier relationship with a 500-pound American black bear. "Funny and sweet. Your next book boyfriend gives great hugs." --- Rainbow Rowell "I never expected to write a book recommendation that said: I wish I had a boyfriend who was a bear. But now I do." -- JoJo Moyes Bear meets girl. Nora has bad luck with men. When she meets an (actual) bear on a hike in the Los Angeles hills, he turns out to be the best romantic partner she's ever had! He's considerate, he's sweet, he takes care of her. But he's a bear, and winning over her friends and family is difficult. Not to mention he has to hibernate all winter. Can true love conquer all? Written by Pamela Ribon (SLAM!, Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet) and illustrated by Cat Farris (Emily and the Strangers).
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by
Set against the tumultuous political backdrop of late '60s Chicago, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is the fictional graphic diary of 10-year-old Karen Reyes, filled with B-movie horror and pulp monster magazines iconography. Karen Reyes tries to solve the murder of her enigmatic upstairs neighbor, Anka Silverberg, a holocaust survivor, while the interconnected stories of those around her unfold. When Karen's investigation takes us back to Anka's life in Nazi Germany, the reader discovers how the personal, the political, the past, and the present converge.
Night's Dominion Volume One by
A thief, an assassin, a mage and a cleric walk into a tavern in the ancient city of Umber. Awaiting them is a mysterious bard with a dangerous scheme: to break into the dungeon of a powerful death cult in search of treasure. For these five desperate criminals, it's the last chance for hope in a city of corruption and despair. But what they find instead is an undead army preparing to conquer the world. Now, they must fight to protect the city that pushed their backs to the wall, or watch it burn. The acclaimed fantasy epic from New York Times Best-Selling author Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin, Princess Ugg) begins here!
Not Drunk Enough by
Logan is a repairman in the wrong place at the wrong time--which is a creepy corporate lab in the middle of the night. After fighting off a freaky creature, he joins forces with three other poor souls trapped inside the building. Who are they? What are they doing here? What the hell is going on? And will any of them get out alive? The first in a brand new series from the mind of Tess Stone (HANNA IS NOT A BOY'S NAME, BUZZ!)!
Pride of the Decent Man by
In a sleepy New England town, Andrew Peters is born into an abusive family. As he grows older, he seems to be on the right track, using writing as his outlet - but his best friend Whitey is always around pulling him in the opposite direction. Andrew eventually lands himself in prison, and shortly thereafter, learns he has a daughter. The shock resolves him to a path of redemption and an attempt to live his life as a decent man.
Roots by
After a messy year of heartbreak and setbacks, Tara sets off to Ireland in search of clues to her family's ancestry, but what she found wasn't at all what she expected. Some of it has to do with the lack of records, but a lot has to do with John, the charming cartoonist she met on Twitter. An original graphic novel wrapped in real family history and set amongst the natural beauty of the Irish countryside, Rootsis a classic romantic-comedy adventure and a page-turning account of a young woman finding herself.
Royal City Volume 1 by
In his most ambitious and most personalproject to date, JEFF LEMIRE spins the captivating and engaging story of afamily from the small factory town of ROYAL CITY and the ghosts that haunt them. In a return to the literary andthematic territory of Lemire's breakthrough graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY,ROYAL CITY follows Patrick Pike, a fading literary star who reluctantly returnsto the once-thriving factory town where he grew up. Patrick is quickly drawnback into the dramas of his two adult siblings, his overbearing Mother and hisbrow beaten Father, all of whom are still haunted by different versions of hisyoungest brother, Tommy, who drowned decadesago. As each member of the familystruggles to keep themselves above water, it quickly becomes clear thatTommy's death isn't the only dark secret tearing the town, and thisfamily, apart at the seams. Can each member of the Pike family come to termswith their own guilt over Tommy's death, and make peace with the manyversions of Tommy that still haunt them, or will they all be dragged down belowthe river along with his lingeringghost? ROYAL CITY promises to be asprawling, serialized graphic novel that will chart the lives, loves and lossesof a troubled family and a vanishing town, across three decades. Jeff Lemire is the creator ofDESCENDER (with DUSTIN NGUYEN), AD: AFTER DEATH (with SCOTT SNYDER), ROUGHNECK,SECRET PATH (with Gord Downie), PLUTONA (with EMI LENNOX), ESSEX COUNTY, SWEETTOOTH, TRILLIUM, and THE UNDERWATER WELDER. He had also written celebratedstories featuring Green Arrow, Animal Man, Bloodshot, Wolverine, Hawkeye, TeenTitans, the Valiant, the X-Men and Inhumans for the major comic bookpublishers. Collecting issues 1through 5.
Slam! by
In the fast-paced, hard-hitting, super cheeky, all-female world of banked track roller derby, two young women will have to decide if their budding friendship is stronger than the pull of a team when a win is on the line. When life starts coming at you like a freight train, you have two options: run away screaming or lean into the hit. From the first day of Fresh Meat Orientation for the Eastside Roller Girls, Jennifer and Maisie knew they'd be fast friends. But when they're drafted to different teams, the pull of competition -- and their increasingly messy personal lives -- threaten to drive them apart. In roller derby you take your hits, get back up, and learn how to be a better jammer, a better blocker, a better lover, and a better friend. Derby can heal your heart . . . but it might break a bone or two in the process. Bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and retired Los Angeles Derby Doll Pamela Ribon (Going In Circles, Why Girls Are Weird) joins artist Veronica Fish (Archie, Silk) for a tale of friendship, heartbreak, and truly epic jams.
The Sound of the World by Heart by
An experiment in social isolation turns into a journey of self-discovery as a photojournalist commits to chronicle 60 days in New York city without talking to a single person. More than just an exercise in observation and self-control, he's hoping to forget a troubled past and mend a broken heart. But the city has a sneaky way of throwing the best laid plans and noble efforts to waste revealing secrets that lie right in front of him. All he has to do is open his eyes ... A touching, vividly illustrated journey through contemporary modern New York, exploring what it takes to find yourself- and maybe your soulmate - in the middle of a crowded, bustling modern world.
Star Trek Boldly Go by
All-new series following the adventures of Captain Kirk and the iconic crew! New worlds! New species! New ships! And a new danger unlike anything the Federation has encountered before! Boldly go into a new era of STAR TREK! Collects issues #1-6.
William Gibson's Archangel by
Science-fiction superstar William Gibson's first graphic novel! The political leaders of 2016 have destroyed the world. Now they want a bright new reality to corrupt. To do it, they'll abuse the power of humanity's last hope: the Splitter, a colossal machine that will allow them to travel back into the past to entrench their hold on the future. With his characteristic grim sarcasm and militaristic pragmatism, Gibson leads us from the toxic environs of the present to war-torn 1945 Berlin, where RAF officer Naomi Givens will persevere against inconceivable, ruthless future forces, with the fates of epochs at stake.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by
On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, the young sorceress Sabrina Spellman finds herself at a crossroads, having to choose between an unearthly destiny and her mortal boyfriend, Harvey. But a foe from her family's past has arrived in Greendale, Madame Satan, and she has her own deadly agenda. Archie Comics' latest horror sensation starts here!
The Cross-Eyed Mutt by
Fabian is supervisor at the Louvre. He loves his job. He also loves Mathilde. After some time, she presents him to her family in their vast country house and not without some apprehension, as the Benion clan is a bit special. When they find a peculiar painting of a cross-eyed mutt by an ancestor from the nineteenth century, they decide that it's a masterpiece. Fabian hopes the delusion will go away, until the two brothers show up at the Louvre. Getting the Cross-Eyed Mutt into the Louvre would demonstrate his commitment to becoming a member of the Benion family!
Dark Night: a True Batman Story by
The #1 New York Times bestseller! This is a Batman story like no other--the harrowing and eloquent autobiographical tale of writer Paul Dini's courageous struggle to overcome a desperate situation. The Caped Crusader has been the all-abiding icon of justice and authority for generations. But in this surprising original graphic novel, we see Batman in a new light--as the savior who helps a discouraged man recover from a brutal attack that left him unable to face the world. In the 1990s, legendary writer Paul Dini had a flourishing career writing the hugely popular Batman: The Animated Series and Tiny Toon Adventures. Walking home one evening, he was jumped and viciously beaten within an inch of his life. His recovery process was arduous, hampered by the imagined antics of the villains he was writing for television, including the Joker, Harley Quinn and the Penguin. But despite how bleak his circumstances were, or perhaps because of it, Dini also always imagined the Batman at his side, chivvying him along during his darkest moments. A gripping graphic memoir of one writer's traumatic experience and his deep connection with his creative material, DARK NIGHT: A TRUE BATMAN STORY is an original graphic novel that will resonate profoundly with fans. Art by the incredible and talented Eduardo Risso (100 BULLETS, TRANSMETROPOLITAN).
Descender Volume 2 by
Young Robot boy TIM-21 and his companions struggle tostay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bountyhunters lurk on every planet. Written by award-winning creator, Jeff Lemire,Descender is a rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey. Lemire pits humanityagainst machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling epic. Collectingissues #1-6 of Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Trillium) and Dustin Nguyen's (LittleGotham) critically acclaimed, bestselling new science fiction series! "NewYork Times Bestselling author Jeff Lemire has built a unique career as both thewriter and artist of acclaimed literary graphic novels like Essex County, TheUnderwater Welder, Sweet Tooth and Trillium and also as one of the most popularwriters of mainstream superhero comics with acclaimed runs on such titles asGreen Arrow, Animal Man, Justice League and Hawkeye for Marvel and DCComics. Current projects include the originalgraphic novel ROUGHNECK to be published by Simon and Schuster in 2016, as wellas the science fiction series DESCENDER with Dustin Nguyen and A.D. with ScottSnyder. In 2008 and in 2013 Jeff won theSchuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist. He has also received The DougWright Award for Best Emerging Talent and the American Library Association'sprestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal.He has also been nominated for 8 Eisner awards, 7 Harvey Awards and 8 ShusterAwards. In 2010 Essex County became the firstgraphic novel to be included in the prestigious Canada Reads contest making itto the final five and winning the people's choice vote as best Canadian novel ofthe decade. He lives in Toronto with his wifeand son.
Descender Volume 3: Singularities by
This third collection of the bestselling series dives deep into the secrethistories of each cast member with revelations that will propel young robot,TIM-21's sci-fi adventure into dangerous and exciting new territory.
Equinoxes by
Nominee: 2017 Eisner Awards, Best U.S. Edition of International Material In an equinox, day is as long as night, as if the world found perfect equilibrium between shadow and light, a fleeting equilibrium, similar to the stakes of our human destinies. Segmented into four tableaux for four seasons, unrelated people of all social backgrounds seeking equilibrium cross paths with other solitudes, weaving in and out of one another's lives- all captivated and tormented by the enigmatic meaning of life. Every season has its visual identity and its individual voice, culminating in summer and, possibly, an answer. Equinoxes is a unique ground-breaking work of rare intensity and narrative sensibility by a rising bestselling star of European comics.
Happiness 3 by
Happiness follows a dorky boy who is attacked by a girl in an alley. She sucks his blood and gives him a choice: life or death. He chooses life, but finds himself nearly overwhelmed by a new thirst and a fascination with the necks of his classmates...
How to Survive in the North by
With stunning narrative skill, this compelling graphic novel intricately weaves together true-life narratives from 1912, 1926 and a fictional story set in the present day. How To Survive in the North is an unforgettable journey of love and loss, showing the strength it takes to survive in the harshest conditions. Luke Healywas born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He received an MFA in Cartooning from The Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont. His comics work has been published in several anthologies and he has also worked as a coloring assistant with Lucy Knisley on her bookSomething New.
Kim & Kim Volume 1 by
"The summer's funnest comic " - The Mary Sue "Get this most excellent book " - Gail Simone (Batgirl, Secret Six) "This outer space comic book series with a decidedly queer- and female-centric tale is what our modern culture needs." - The Advocate "The comic feels like Tank Girl set in the world of Cowboy Bebop. In short: very, very fun. Oh and BTW, both of the main characters are queer--Kim D is a cisgender bisexual woman and Kim Q is trans and self-identifies as queer, though she's still sorting out the specifics of sexuality. Centering these characters was important for Visaggio, who was undergoing her own transition process while writing the series." - Bitch Magazine Kim & Kim are twentysomething besties out to make a name for themselves in the wild world of interdimensional cowboy law enforcement. In a massive "screw you" to their parents and the authorities, they decide to hijack some high stakes bounty -- and end up in way over their heads. A day-glo action adventure that's bursting with energy and enthusiasm, it puts queer women and trans women front and center, with a story that embraces the absurd alongside realistic pathos. Blending the punk exuberance of TANK GIRL with the buddy adventure wackiness of SUPERBAD (if Michael Cera was a trans woman and Jonah Hill a queergirl partner in crime), Kim & Kim focuses on the power and meaning of female friendships as engines of validation. A bright, happy, punk rock sci fi adventure that is queer as shit. "KIM & KIM is BLADE RUNNER meets JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS -- high energy, infused with fun, unabashedly progressive, a hypermodern Rock & Roll adventure in an electric future " - Steve Orlando (Midnighter, Supergirl, Batman & Robin Eternal) "An intriguing comic for all sorts of reasons... one of them is that it's a comic with LGBTQ content, created while its writer was transitioning." - Bleeding Cool "A rollicking science fiction adventure comic about two young queer women working as dimension-hopping interplanetary bounty hunters...one of the breakout debuts of 2016." -Comics Alliance "KIM & KIM is super cute and now I want to read an entire series of the Kims talking about boys for two hundred issues." - Sophie Campbell (Wet Moon, Jem and The Holograms) "Kim & Kim isn't just an incredibly fun comic book... beyond the sci-fi shenanigans and heroic quest the Kims go on, Kim & Kim is an LGBTQ-positive series that features a richly diverse cast of characters (including both of the Kims, one of whom is trans) and hugely important for Visaggio to write, as she was undergoing her own transition process." - io9
Kindred by
Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Octavia E. Butler's bestselling literary science-fiction masterpiece, Kindred, now in graphic novel format. More than 35 years after its release, Kindred continues to draw in new readers with its deep exploration of the violence and loss of humanity caused by slavery in the United States, and its complex and lasting impact on the present day. Adapted by celebrated academics and comics artists Damian Duffy and John Jennings, this graphic novel powerfully renders Butler's mysterious and moving story, which spans racial and gender divides in the antebellum South through the 20th century. Butler's most celebrated, critically acclaimed work tells the story of Dana, a young black woman who is suddenly and inexplicably transported from her home in 1970s California to the pre-Civil War South. As she time-travels between worlds, one in which she is a free woman and one where she is part of her own complicated familial history on a southern plantation, she becomes frighteningly entangled in the lives of Rufus, a conflicted white slaveholder and one of Dana's own ancestors, and the many people who are enslaved by him. Held up as an essential work in feminist, science-fiction, and fantasy genres, and a cornerstone of the Afrofuturism movement, there are over 500,000 copies of Kindred in print. The intersectionality of race, history, and the treatment of women addressed within the original work remain critical topics in contemporary dialogue, both in the classroom and in the public sphere. Frightening, compelling, and richly imagined, Kindred offers an unflinching look at our complicated social history, transformed by the graphic novel format into a visually stunning work for a new generation of readers.
Monstress by
Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in arichly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells thestory of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and whoshares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, aconnection that will transform them both and make them the target of both humanand otherworldly powers. About theCreators: New York Times bestselling andaward-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books.She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and leads a class on Popular Fiction atthe Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop. Ms. Liu's extensive work includes thebestselling "Astonishing X-Men" for Marvel Comics, which featured the gaywedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD MediaAward for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendercommunity. Prior to writing full-time, Liu was a lawyer. She currently residesin Boston. Sana Takeda is an illustrator andcomic book artist who was born in Niigata, and now resides in Tokyo, Japan. Atage 20 she started out as a 3D CGI designer for SEGA, a Japanese video gamecompany, and became a freelance artist when she was 25. She is still an artist,and has worked on titles such as "X-23" and "Ms. Marvel" for Marvel Comics, andis an illustrator for trading card games in Japan.
No Mercy Volume 2 by
Lost in Central America after an accident, nine teensbegin to find their way home... and into more trouble.
October Faction Volume 2 by
The Allan family has inducted Dante, a.k.a. Robot Face, into the fold and Geoff and Vivian have begun their training in the family business; monster hunting. All looks well for the Allans, but Sheriff Chambers is slowly catching on to their occult activities. Collects issues #7âe"12.
The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan by
"Jack Brennan is a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant whose infantry squad has been cleared to return home from a grueling deployment to Afghanistan. A few years prior, Sergeant Brennan lost one of his closest friends--a young combat veteran--to suicide and has vowed to do everything in his power to keep his Marines from a similar fate. On their last night in-country, Brennan shares his version of The Odyssey to help prepare his squad for the transition back to the home front. By retelling Homer's epic about Odysseus's difficult journey home after the Trojan War, and weaving in the stories of contemporary Marines, The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan powerfully conveys the profound challenges today's veterans face upon returning from combat even as it tells "the oldest war story of all time.""
Paper Girls by
From Brian K. Vaughan, #1 New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA, andCliff Chiang, legendary artist of WONDER WOMAN, comes the first volume of anall-new ongoing adventure. In the early hours after Halloween of 1988,four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story ofall time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hitseries about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood. Collecting Issues #1-5 for only $9.99! "Along with Paper Girls, BrianK. Vaughan is the writer/co-creator of the graphic novels Saga, The PrIvate Eye,We Stand On Guard, Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, Pride of Baghdad, TheHood, and The Escapists. His work has been recognized at the Hugo, Eisner,Harvey, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. BKV sometimes dabbles infilm and television work from Los Angeles, where he lives with his family andtheir loyal wiener dog Hamburger K. Vaughan. After graduating from the KubertSchool JARED K. FLETCHER began working at DC Comics as part of their newin-house lettering department. A few years later, he left to pursue hisfreelance career as the proprietor of Studio Fantabulous. He spends his longdays designing logos, books, t-shirts, art directing covers, and lettering comicbooks.CLIFF CHIANG began working in editorial for Vertigo Comics before makingthe leap into freelance illustration in 2000 and he hasn't looked back. He'sbest known for his work on Human Target, Green Arrow & Black Canary, andWonder Woman. Cliff lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. MATT WILSON has beencoloring comics since 2003, getting his start coloring for the comics coloringstudio Zylonol Studios. After a few years in the studio, Matt eventuallybranched out on his own to color titles like Phonogram, Young Avengers, Thor,Daredevil, Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, and The Wicked + The Divine. In 2015,Matt's work earned him Eisner Award and Harvey Award nominations. "
Portugal by
From the author of the acclaimed Equinoxes comes a return to roots that serves as spiritual renewal. Comics artist Simon Muchat is stuck. Suffering writer's block, uninspired, vegetating as a school art teacher, he is losing direction and his taste for life, until one day he is invited to appear at a comics convention in Portugal, the country his family came from and which he hadn't seen since his childhood. Even though he is a foreigner there, so many elements of the country are familiar to him. Meeting its lively citizens and recounting early memoreis brought by back his distant yet welcoming family all prove reinvigorating--the breath of fresh air he so badly needed. Based on his own experience, Pedrosa narrates this return to his roots in a deeply compelling and warmly human way. This bestselling graphic novel has sold more than 100,000 copies in France and a has won many prizes, including Best Graphic Novel at the Angouleme Festival and FNAC Best GN.
The Sandman: Overture by
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Twenty-five years since THE SANDMANfirst changed the landscape of modern comics, Neil Gaiman's legendary series isback--now in paperback for the first time ever! THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE heraldsNew York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman's return to the art form thatmade him famous, ably abetted by artistic luminary JH Williams III (BATWOMAN,PROMETHEA), whose lush, widescreen images provide an epic scope to The Sandman'sorigin story. From the birth of a galaxy to the moment that Morpheus iscaptured, THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE will feature cameo appearances by fan-favoritecharacters such as the Corinthian, Merv Pumpkinhead and, of course, the DreamKing's siblings: Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction andDestiny. Collects SANDMAN: OVERTURE #1-6.
The Secret Loves of Geek Girls by
Featuring work by Margaret Atwood, Mariko Tamaki, Trina Robbins (Wonder Woman), Marguerite Bennett (Marvel's A-Force), Noelle Stevenson (Nimona), Marjorie Liu (Monstress), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder) and over 50 more creators. It's a compilation of tales told from both sides of the tables: from the fans who love video games, comics and sci-fi to those that work behind the scenes: creators and industry insiders.
Warship Jolly Roger by
In gritty, star-spread future, where mankind has colonized planets throughout the galaxy, former Confederation Commander Jon T. Munro was serving a life sentence for a war crime he was forced to commit. When a prison break runs amok, however, he seizes the opportunity to escape with a ragtag team of cons to form a small crew of pirates with one goal in mind: vengeful justice. And the first step in their plan is to steal the battle cruiser he once commanded, a state-of-the-art warship they call "The Jolly Roger". A visually stunning sci-fi adventure, written by Sylvain Runberg (Millennium), with breathtaking artwork by Miquel Montllo, this epic tale of space pirates and political intrigue combines the emotional depth and excitement of sci-fi favorites such as "Battlestar Galactica" and "Starship Troopers", with a visual style that leaps off the page like an animated feature film.
We Stand on Guard by
SAGA writer BRIAN K. VAUGHAN teams with Hollywoodstoryboard artist STEVE SKROCE for a subversive, action-packed militarythriller. Set 100 years in our future, WESTAND ON GUARD follows a heroic band of Canadian civilians turned freedomfighters who must defend their homeland from invasion by a technologicallysuperior opponent...the United States of America. Collecting all six issues of the controversialhit miniseries.
The Apostle and the Witch or Harju by
From Eisner Award-winning horror master Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden comes a work of gothic storytelling like no other. Reminiscent of the illustrated tales of old, here is a lyrical, atmospheric novel of the paranormal - and a chilling allegory for the nature of war. When Lord Henry Baltimore awakens the wrath of a vampire on the hellish battlefields of World War I, the world is forever changed. For a virulent plague has been unleashed - a plague that even death cannot end.
Commercial Suicide by
After the detonation of FANDEMONIUM the gods-as-pop-stars of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE try living in the long dark shadow. Team WicDiv are joined by a stellar cast of guest artists to put the spotlight of each of the gods. The multiple Eisner-award nominated series continues in the only way it knows how: darker, weirder, faster. Don't worry. It's going to be okay.
Copperhead Volume 2 by
Clara Bronson is starting to settle in as the new Sheriff of Copperhead, agritty mining town on a backwater planet. But her simple date with the localschoolteacher quickly turns into a violent confrontation with a gang of outlawslooking for revenge.
Ei8ht by
Welcome to the Meld, an inhospitable dimension in time where Joshua, a chrononaut, finds himself trapped. With no memory or feedback from the team of scientists that sent him, he can't count on anything but his heart and a stranger's voice to guide him to his destiny. This book collects issues #1-#5 of the thrilling time-traveling adventures created and beautifully rendered by acclaimed artist Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire) and expertly cowritten by Mike Johnson (Supergirl).
Going Down by
The dark adventures of DC's foremost occult detective continue in anall-new series as he investigates the cruelest case he's ever come across--hisown dark history! Writer Ming Doyle (THE KITCHEN, Quantum and Woody) relaunchesJohn Constantine's solo series with more horrifying roots than ever before.Collects issues #1-6 of the new CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER series.
Happiness 1 by
A supernatural story of sexual awakening, growing up, and suburban vampirism, Happiness follows a dorky boy who is attacked by a girl in an alley. She sucks his blood and gives him a choice: life or death. He chooses life, but finds himself nearly overwhelmed by a new thirst and a fascination with the necks of his classmates...
Harrow County Volume 1 by
Spine-tingling horror from award-winning duo, Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook. Emmy always knew that the woods surrounding her home crawled with ghosts and monsters. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she learns that she is connected to these creatures - and to the land itself - in a way she never imagined. Collecting the first four issues of Harrow County, the southern gothic fairy tale from the creator of the smash hit The Sixth Gun (Oni Press, 2011), beautifully and hauntingly realised by B.P.R.D's (Dark Horse) Tyler Crook!
Hellboy and the B. P. R. d: 1952 by
A bizarre series of murders and rumours of something worse lead Professor Bruttenholm to send a young Hellboy to a Brazilian village on his first mission. Hellboy and a small group of agents uncover something terrible in the shadows of a sixteenth-century Portuguese fortress. Hellboy creator Mike Mignola teams with acclaimed artist Alex Maleev.
Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon and Mu by
Horror comics author Junji Ito has recently purchased a new house and has decided to invite his girlfriend to move in with him. However, when she moves in, she comes with two cats, Yon, a strange-looking white cat with a ghastly fur pattern on its back that resembles a skull, and Mu, Yon's cute counterpart and playmate. This manga is a diary of the author's life as he tries and often fails to connect with his two feline friends. The manga is drawn in Junji Ito's horror comic style featuring intricate and finely drawn images.
Just So Happens by
Yumiko was born in Japan but has made a life in London, losing herself in its cosmopolitan bustle. She has a gallery show of her art, a good job, and a good guy she plans to marry. The culture she grew up in seems very far away--until her brother phones with the news that their father has died. Yumiko returns to Tokyo and finds herself immersed in the rituals of death while also plunged into the rituals of life--fish bars, bullet trains, pagodas--as she confronts the question of where her future really lies. Just So Happens deals both gently and powerfully with grief, identity, and the pressure not to disappoint one's parents, even after they're gone, in a look at the relationships that build the foundation of our lives.
Lady Killer by
Josie Schuller is a picture-perfect homemaker, wife and mother - but she's also a ruthless, efficient killer! She's balanced cheerful domestic bliss with coldly performed assassinations, but when Josie finds herself in the crosshairs, her American dream life is in danger! A brand-new original black comedy series that combines the wholesome imagery of early '60s domestic bliss with a tightening web of murder, paranoia and cold -blooded survival.
Memetic by
WARNING: This meme will end civilization. Meme is an idea that starts with an individual, and then spreads to multiple persons and potentially entire societies. Richard Dawkins suggests a meme's success comes from its effectiveness to the host. But history shows that destructive memes can spread just as rapidly through society. MEMETIC shows the progression of a weaponized meme that leads to the utter annihilation of the human race within 72 hours. The root of this apocalypse is a single image on the internet, a "meme" in the popular sense. A meme that changes everything. MEMETIC shows the true terror of the internet. The world will end not with a bang, but with a single online image when creator and writer James Tynion IV (THE WOODS, Batman Eternal) teams up with newcomer Eryk Donovan (In the Dark Horror Anthology, House in the Wall) to bring horror to a whole new generation.
The New Deal by
The Waldorf Astoria is the classiest hotel along the Manhattan skyline in 1930s New York City. When a charming woman named Nina checks in with a high-society entourage, young Frank, a bellhop and Theresa, a maid, get caught up in a series of mysterious thefts. The stakes quickly grow perilous, and the pair must rely on each other to discover the truth while navigating delicate class politics. Eisner Award-winning artist Jonathan Case (Green River Killer, Dear Creature) writes and draws this brilliant graphic novel of petty crime, comic predicaments and vast heart.
No Mercy Volume 1 by
"Alex de Campi's scarily believable premisecombines with Carla Speed McNeil's unbelievably beautiful art for a thrillerwith its brake line cut." - Brian K.Vaughan It was just a trip beforecollege. Build schools in a Central American village; get to know some of theother freshmen. But after tragedy strikes, a handful of once-privileged US teensmust find their way home in a cruel landscape that at best doesn't like them,and at worst, actively wants to kill them. And then, of course, there are thesecrets the kids are keeping from each other. From third-grade spelling bee champAlex de Campi (Archie vs Predator, Grindhouse) and Eisner/LA TimesBook Award winner Carla Speed McNeil (Finder) comes a highly episodicthriller of teenagers in peril. "Two of myfavourite creators teamed up and, once more, showing me why they're two of myfavourite creators. No Mercy manages to push a good chunk of 21st centurylife inside a single bus, and then throws it off the cliff. This is what dramais all about." - Kieron Gillen
Ofelia a Love and Rockets Book by
In Ofelia, the sisters, the kids, and the cousins are all settled comfortably in California after leaving Palomar in Luba and Her Family. Luba and her cousin Ofelia's relationship has always been fraught, but when Ofelia threatens to write a book about Luba, past memories, secrets, resentments, and pain resurface. Meanwhile, Luba's children-genius Socorro, recently out-and-proud Doralis, and prickly Maricela-show that a talent for trouble may be hereditary. Luba's sisters, Fritz and Petra, swap lovers (as usual), but . . . are Fritz and family friend Pipo sittin' in a tree? These vividly drawn characters are charged with Hernandez's trademark complexity; they live, love, age, fight- and die-in this sweeping, multi-generational saga.
Rat Queens by
A brand-new, booze-soaked tale of the Rat Queens reveals a growing menacewithin the very walls of Palisade. And while Dee may have run from her past, thebloated, blood-feasting sky god N'rygoth never really lets his childrenstray too far. Collects issues #6-10 of the smash-hit series, plus extras.
The Wicked + the Divine, Volume 2 by
The second volume of the award-winning urban fantasy series where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. Following the tragic and unjust death of Lucifer, it takes a revelation from Inanna to draw Laura back into the worlds of Gods and Superstardom to try and discover the truth behind a conspiracy to subvert divinity. Includes issues #6-11 of the series, plus supplementary material.
Ms Davis by
In Ms. Davis, writer Sybille Titeux de la Croix and artist Amazing Améziane tell a story of the titular political activist, professor, feminist, writer, philosopher, and prison abolitionist.Born in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, Angela Davis' family fought in the civil rights movement against racial segregation enforced by the Ku Klux Klan. In 1968, she joined the Black Communist Party and traveled to Cuba, a journey which left its mark on her forever. In 1971, Davis was put on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List because several Black prisoners whose causes she had championed used weapons she owned in a Marin County courtroom gunfight. She went to prison despite her protestations of innocence. The Black People in Defense of Angela Davis formed, and soon the entire world would know her story and ask for her freedom. In 1972, she was found not guilty by an all-white jury. Since then, she has dedicated her life to the fight for justice. Told in a realistic style and an accessible narrative, Ms. Davis tells the story of this seminal, revolutionary 1960s icon. The graphic biography also includes illustrated educational supplementary material that adds historical context about the various political organizations and programs referred to in the book, such as Cointelpro, an illegal FBI program dedicated to destroying U.S. political groups.
The Talk by
Named The Year's Best Graphic Novel by Publishers Weekly Named one of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Best Books of 2023 Named one of NPR's Books We Love Named one of Kirkus' Best 2023 Books Named one of the Washington Post's 10 best graphic novels of 2023 One of TIME Magazine's Must-Read Books of the Year Shortlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction 2024 Booklist Editors' Choice: Graphic Novels, 2023 New York Public Library's Best New Comics of 2023 Top Ten Pick Chicago Public Library's Best Books of 2023 Top Ten Pick Named one of School Library Journal's Best Graphic Novels of 2023 Named one of The Guardian's Best Graphic Novels of 2023 Darrin Bell was six years old when his mother told him he couldn't have a realistic water gun. She said she feared for his safety, that police tend to think of little Black boys as older and less innocent than they really are. Through evocative illustrations and sharp humor, Bell examines how The Talk shaped intimate and public moments from childhood to adulthood. While coming of age in Los Angeles--and finding a voice through cartooning--Bell becomes painfully aware of being regarded as dangerous by white teachers, neighbors, and police officers and thus of his mortality. Drawing attention to the brutal murders of African Americans and showcasing revealing insights and cartoons along the way, he brings us up to the moment of reckoning when people took to the streets protesting the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. And now Bell must decide whether he and his own six-year-old son are ready to have The Talk.
X-Gender Vol. 2 by
LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 Covid-19 has hit Japan, and Asuka is struggling. Not only has the serialization of X-Gender been delayed due to the virus, the closure of Poker Face and other bars means they've lost access to their community. Can they find a way to stave off the loneliness, while also dealing with their fear of getting sick?
Fine by
As graphic artist Rhea Ewing neared college graduation in 2012, they became consumed by the question: What is gender? This obsession sparked a quest in which they eagerly approached both friends and strangers in their quiet Midwest town for interviews to turn into comics. A decade later, this project exploded into a sweeping portrait of the intricacies of gender expression with interviewees from all over the country. Questions such as "How do you Identify" produced fiercely honest stories of dealing with adolescence, taking hormones, changing pronouns--and how these experiences can differ, often drastically, depending on culture, race, and religion. Amidst beautifully rendered scenes emerges Ewing's own story of growing up in rural Kentucky, grappling with their identity as a teenager, and ultimately finding themself through art--and by creating something this very fine. Tender and wise, inclusive and inviting, Fine is an indispensable account for anyone eager to define gender in their own terms.
X-Gender Vol. 1 by
A diary of my sexual awakening...at thirty-three?!! Asuka is neither a woman nor a man--they're X-gender (a non-binary identity)--and they've realized they like women! Okay, now what? Adult films are fun to watch, but real sex is less appealing. Would having a penis make that better or worse? Periods already suck, and sex means more fluids from more people! This autobiographical manga follows Asuka's feelings about their body, their relationships, and the fun (and sometimes terrible) experience of having an awakening in their thirties.
The Third Person by
A boldly drawn, unforgettable memoir about trauma and the barriers to gender affirming health care In the winter of 2004, a shy woman named Emma sits in Toby's office. She wants to share this wonderful new book she's reading, but Toby, her therapist, is concerned with other things. Emma is transgender, and has sought out Toby for approval for hormone replacement therapy. Emma has shown up at the therapy sessions as an outgoing, confident young woman named Katina, and a depressed, submissive workaholic named Ed. She has little or no memory of her actions when presenting as these other two people. And then Toby asks about her childhood . . . As the story unfolds, we discover clues to Emma's troubled past and how and why these other two people may have come into existence. As Toby juggles treating three separate people, each with their own unique personalities and memories, he begins to wonder if Emma is merely acting out to get attention, or if she actually has Dissociative Identity Disorder. Is she just a troubled woman in need of help? And is "the third person" in her brain protecting her, or derailing her chances of ever finding peace? The Third Person is a riveting memoir from newcomer Emma Grove. Drawn in thick, emotive lines, with the refined style of a comics vet, Grove has created a singular, gripping depiction of the intersection of identities and trauma. The Third Person is a testament to the importance of having the space to heal and live authentically.
Victory. Stand! by
On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats, and faced ostracism and continuing economic hardships. In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest. Cowritten with Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Honor recipient Derrick Barnes and illustrated with bold and muscular artwork from Emmy Award-winning illustrator Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand! paints a stirring portrait of an iconic moment in Olympic history that still resonates today.
Georgia O'Keeffe by
A graphic biography of Georgia O'Keeffe, one of the most significant artists of the 20th century, known for her paintings of enlarged flowers and renowned for her contribution to modern art. Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), the American artist known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes, was one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. During her lifetime, which spanned almost a century, she became widely recognized for her enormous contribution to modern art. Drawing mainly from O'Keeffe's letters, which are depicted in this biography, artist María Herreros delves into O'Keeffe's deepest self: a tireless traveler, a nature lover, and a strong and emancipated woman who carved her own determined path through life and did it her way.
The Keeper by
From the New York Times Book Review, "[R]eaders will certainly want to linger on the beautiful depictions of birds, people and scenes from her life. She weaves in historical context in graceful and necessary ways." A beautifully illustrated coming-of-age graphic memoir chronicling how sports shaped one young girl's life and changed women's history forever. Growing up playing on a top national soccer team in the 1980s, Kelcey Ervick and her teammates didn't understand the change they represented. Title IX was enacted in 1972 with little fanfare, but to seismic effect; between then and now, girls' participation in organized sports has exploded more than 1,000 percent. Braiding together personal narrative, pop culture, literature, and history, Ervick tells the story of how her adolescence was shaped by this boom. Ervick also explores her role as a goalkeeper--a position marked by outsider status and observation--and reveals it has drawn some of the most famed writers of our time. With wit and poignant storytelling, The Keeper brings to life forgotten figures who understood the importance of athletics to help women step into their confidence and power--and push for equality. Full of 1980s nostalgia and heart, The Keeper is a celebration of how far we have come and a reminder of how far we have to go.
Worm by
From "America's illustrator in chief" (Fast Company), a stunning graphic memoir of a childhood in Cuba, coming to America on the Mariel boatlift, and a defense of democracy, here and there Hailed for his iconic art on the cover of Time and on jumbotrons around the world, Edel Rodriguez is among the most prominent political artists of our age. Now for the first time, he draws his own life, revisiting his childhood in Cuba and his family's passage on the infamous Mariel boatlift. When Edel was nine, Fidel Castro announced his surprising decision to let 125,000 traitors of the revolution, or "worms," leave the country. The faltering economy and Edel's family's vocal discomfort with government surveillance had made their daily lives on a farm outside Havana precarious, and they secretly planned to leave. But before that happened, a dozen soldiers confiscated their home and property and imprisoned them in a detention center near the port of Mariel, where they were held with dissidents and criminals before being marched to a flotilla that miraculously deposited them, overnight, in Florida. Through vivid, stirring art, Worm tells a story of a boyhood in the midst of the Cold War, a family's displacement in exile, and their tenacious longing for those they left behind. It also recounts the coming-of-age of an artist and activist, who, witnessing American's turn from democracy to extremism, struggles to differentiate his adoptive country from the dictatorship he fled. Confronting questions of patriotism and the liminal nature of belonging, Edel Rodriguez ultimately celebrates the immigrants, maligned and overlooked, who guard and invigorate American freedom.
The Black Panther Party by
A bold and fascinating graphic novel history of the revolutionary Black Panther Party, from an award-winning comic book writer. A bold and fascinating graphic novel history of the revolutionary Black Panther Party. Founded in Oakland, California, in 1966, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was a radical political organization that stood in defiant contrast to the mainstream civil rights movement. This gripping illustrated history explores the impact and significance of the Panthers, from their social, educational, and healthcare programs that were designed to uplift the Black community to their battle against police brutality through citizen patrols and frequent clashes with the FBI, which targeted the Party from its outset. Using dramatic comic book-style retellings and illustrated profiles of key figures, The Black Panther Party captures the major events, people, and actions of the party, as well as their cultural and political influence and enduring legacy.
Welcome to the New World by
Now in a full-length book, the New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic story of a refugee family who fled the civil war in Syria to make a new life in America After escaping a Syrian prison, Ibrahim Aldabaan and his family fled the country to seek protection in America. Among the few refugees to receive visas, they finally landed in JFK airport on November 8, 2016, Election Day. The family had reached a safe harbor, but woke up to the world of Donald Trump and a Muslim ban that would sever them from the grandmother, brothers, sisters, and cousins stranded in exile in Jordan. Welcome to the New World tells the Aldabaans' story. Resettled in Connecticut with little English, few friends, and even less money, the family of seven strive to create something like home. As a blur of language classes, job-training programs, and the fearsome first days of high school (with hijab) give way to normalcy, the Aldabaans are lulled into a sense of security. A white van cruising slowly past the house prompts some unease, which erupts into full terror when the family receives a death threat and is forced to flee and start all over yet again. The America in which the Aldabaans must make their way is by turns kind and ignorant, generous and cruel, uplifting and heartbreaking. Delivered with warmth and intimacy, Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan's Welcome to the New World is a wholly original view of the immigrant experience, revealing not only the trials and successes of one family but showing the spirit of a town and a country, for good and bad.
Wake by
A Best Book of 2021 by NPR and The Washington Post Part graphic novel, part memoir, Wake is an imaginative tour-de-force that tells the "powerful" (The New York Times Book Review) story of women-led slave revolts and chronicles scholar Rebecca Hall's efforts to uncover the truth about these women warriors who, until now, have been left out of the historical record. Women warriors planned and led revolts on slave ships during the Middle Passage. They fought their enslavers throughout the Americas. And then they were erased from history. Wake tells the "riveting" (Angela Y. Davis) story of Dr. Rebecca Hall, a historian, granddaughter of slaves, and a woman haunted by the legacy of slavery. The accepted history of slave revolts has always told her that enslaved women took a back seat. But Rebecca decides to look deeper, and her journey takes her through old court records, slave ship captain's logs, crumbling correspondence, and even the forensic evidence from the bones of enslaved women from the "negro burying ground" uncovered in Manhattan. She finds women warriors everywhere. Using a "remarkable blend of passion and fact, action and reflection" (NPR), Rebecca constructs the likely pasts of Adono and Alele, women rebels who fought for freedom during the Middle Passage, as well as the stories of women who led slave revolts in Colonial New York. We also follow Rebecca's own story as the legacy of slavery shapes her life, both during her time as a successful attorney and later as a historian seeking the past that haunts her. Illustrated beautifully in black and white, Wake will take its place alongside classics of the graphic novel genre, like Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis and Art Spiegelman's Maus. This story of a personal and national legacy is a powerful reminder that while the past is gone, we still live in its wake.
Parenthesis by
A triumph of graphic memoir, Parenthesis narrates the author's experience with tumor-related epilepsy--losing herself, and finding herself again. Julie is barely out of her teens when a tumor begins pressing on her brain, ushering in a new world of seizures, memory gaps, and loss of self. Suddenly, the sentence of her normal life has been interrupted by the opening of a parenthesis that may never close. Based on the real experiences of cartoonist lodie Durand, Parenthesis is a gripping testament of struggle, fragility, acceptance, and transformation which was deservedly awarded the Revelation Prize of the Angoulame International Comics Festival.
Feelings by
Astunning illustratedjourney through one young woman's year of feelings-from the saturated highs of early summer to the gray isolation of late winter. "Feelings is a visual and emotional treat, full of gorgeous artwork and soothing insight."-Mari Andrew,New York Timesbestselling author ofAm I There Yet? Enter Manjit Thapp's Feelings,where you'll find moods that change as quickly as the weather; the different shades of anxiety and hope that each new season brings; and the stages of joy and pain that fuel our growth. From the spark of possibility and jolt of creativity in High Summer, to the need for release from anxiety and pressure during Monsoon, to the desolation and numbness of Winter, Feelings implores us to consider the seasons of our own emotional journeys. Articulating and validating the range of feelings we all experience, this is a book that allows us to feel connected and comforted by the experiences that make us human.
Fine by
As graphic artist Rhea Ewing neared college graduation in 2012, they became consumed by the question: What is gender? This obsession sparked a quest in which they eagerly approached both friends and strangers in their quiet Midwest town for interviews to turn into comics. A decade later, this project exploded into a sweeping portrait of the intricacies of gender expression with interviewees from all over the country. Questions such as "How do you Identify" produced fiercely honest stories of dealing with adolescence, taking hormones, changing pronouns--and how these experiences can differ, often drastically, depending on culture, race, and religion. Amidst beautifully rendered scenes emerges Ewing's own story of growing up in rural Kentucky, grappling with their identity as a teenager, and ultimately finding themself through art--and by creating something this very fine. Tender and wise, inclusive and inviting, Fine is an indispensable account for anyone eager to define gender in their own terms.
Guantanamo Voices: an Anthology by
An anthology of illustrated narratives about the prison and the lives it changed forever In January 2002, the United States sent a group of Muslim men they suspected of terrorism to a prison in Guantánamo Bay. They were the first of roughly 780 prisoners who would be held there--and 40 inmates still remain. Eighteen years later, very few of them have been ever charged with a crime. In Guantánamo Voices, journalist Sarah Mirk and her team of diverse, talented graphic novel artists tell the stories of ten people whose lives have been shaped and affected by the prison, including former prisoners, lawyers, social workers, and service members. This collection of illustrated interviews explores the history of Guantánamo and the world post-9/11, presenting this complicated partisan issue through a new lens.
Kent State by
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2020 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES * FORBES * NPR * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY * LIBRARY JOURNAL A 2021 ALA/YALSA Alex Award Winner for Teen Readers and Adult Books From Derf Backderf, the bestselling author of My Friend Dahmer, comes the tragic and unforgettable story of the Kent State shootings​ On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard gunned down unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University. In a deadly barrage of 67 shots, 4 students were killed and 9 shot and wounded. It was the day America turned guns on its own children--a shocking event burned into our national memory. A few days prior, 10-year-old Derf Backderf saw those same Guardsmen patrolling his nearby hometown, sent in by the governor to crush a trucker strike. Using the journalism skills he employed on My Friend Dahmer and Trashed, Backderf has conducted extensive interviews and research to explore the lives of these four young people and the events of those four days in May, when the country seemed on the brink of tearing apart. Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio, which will be published in time for the 50th anniversary of the tragedy, is a moving and troubling story about the bitter price of dissent--as relevant today as it was in 1970.
Sapiens: a Graphic History by
New York Times Bestseller The first volume of the graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari's smash #1 New York Times and international bestseller recommended by President Barack Obama and Bill Gates, with gorgeous full-color illustrations and concise, easy to comprehend text for adult and young adult readers alike. One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one--homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? In this first volume of the full-color illustrated adaptation of his groundbreaking book, renowned historian Yuval Harari tells the story of humankind's creation and evolution, exploring the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be "human." From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens challenges us to reconsider accepted beliefs, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and view specific events within the context of larger ideas. Featuring 256 pages of full-color illustrations and easy-to-understand text covering the first part of the full-length original edition, this adaptation of the mind-expanding book furthers the ongoing conversation as it introduces Harari's ideas to a wide new readership.
Tiananmen 1989: Our Shattered Hopes by
Follow the story of China's infamous June Fourth Incident -- otherwise known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre -- from the first-hand account of a young sociology teacher who witnessed it all. Over 30 years ago, on April 15th 1989, the occupation of Tiananmen Square began. As tens of thousands of students and concerned Chinese citizens took to the streets demanding political reforms, the fate of China's communist system was unknown. When reports of soldiers marching into Beijing to suppress the protests reverberated across Western airwaves, the world didn't know what to expect. Lun Zhang was just a young sociology teacher then, in charge of management and safety service for the protests. Now, in this powerful graphic novel, Zhang pairs with French journalist and Asia specialist Adrien Gombeaud, and artist Ameziane, to share his unvarnished memory of this crucial moment in world history for the first time. Providing comprehensive coverage of the 1989 protests that ended in bloodshed and drew global scrutiny, Zhang includes context for these explosive events, sympathetically depicting a world of discontented, idealistic, activist Chinese youth rarely portrayed in Western media. Many voices and viewpoints are on display, from Western journalists to Chinese administrators. Describing how the hope of a generation was shattered when authorities opened fire on protestors and bystanders, Tiananmen 1989 shows the way in which contemporary China shaped itself.
The Times I Knew I Was Gay by
"Evocative, authentic, and hilarious." --Tillie Walden, author of Spinning and On a Sunbeam A charming, highly relatable graphic memoir that follows one young woman's adventures in coming out and coming of age. Ellie always had questions about who she was and how she fit in. As a girl, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and found dating boys much more confusing than many of her friends did. As she grew older, so did her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters, and everyday courage, Ellie tells her story through gorgeous illustrations--a fresh and funny self-portrait of a young woman becoming herself. The Times I Knew I Was Gay reminds us that people sometimes come out not just once but again and again; that identity is not necessarily about falling in love with others, but about coming to terms with oneself. Full of vitality and humor, it will ring true for anyone who has taken the time to discover who they truly are.
Kusama by
From rural Japan to international icon - Yayoi Kusama has spent her remarkable life immersed in her art. Follow her incredible journey in this vivid graphic biography which details her bold departure from Japan as a young artist, her embrace of the buzzing New York art scene in the 1960s, and her eventual return home and rise to twenty-first-century super-fame.
The Bridge by
In this extraordinary graphic novel, author Peter J. Tomasi and illustrator Sara DuVall bring to life the construction of one of the most iconic landmarks in the world and shine a light on the incredible triumphs and tragedies that went into building the Brooklyn Bridge. After the accidental death of John Augustus Roebling in 1869, it was up to Roebling's son Washington to complete the massive project. Unfortunately, there was more pain to follow, as Washington developed caisson disease, leaving him bedridden. Washington's wife, Emily, deftly assumed a key role in the bridge's construction by becoming her husband's eyes and ears at the work site. As Washington's wisest council, Emily skillfully navigated work crews who now had to answer to a woman, contractors, a hostile press, and a greedy city politician--all looking to take credit for the magnificent bridge slowly making its way across the East River. Through it all, the Roeblings persisted, rising above every obstacle to build the great bridge that connects Brooklyn and New York.
Gender Queer: a Memoir by
In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns,thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographicalcomic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortablewith strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intenselycathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes themortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to comeout to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, andfacing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way toexplain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer ismore than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on genderidentity--what it means and how to think about it--for advocates,friends, and humans everywhere.
Grass by
This true story of a Korean comfort woman documents how the actrocity of war devestates women's lives.This true story of a korean comfort woman documents how the atrocity of war devastates women's livesGrass is a powerful anti-war graphic novel, offering up firsthand the life story of a Korean girl named Lee Ok-sun who was forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Imperial Army during the second World War - a disputed chapter in 20th century Asian history.Beginning in Lee's childhood, Grass shows the leadup to World War II from a child's vulnerable perspective, detailing how one person experienced the Japanese occupation and the widespread suffering it entailed for ordinary Korean folk. Keum Suk Gendry-Kim emphasizes Lee's strength in overcoming the many forms of adversity she experienced. Grass is painted in a black ink that flows with lavish details of the beautiful fields and farmland of Korea and uses heavy brushwork on the somber interiors of Lee's memories.Cartoonist Gendry-Kim's interviews with Lee become an integral part of Grass, forming the heart and architecture of this powerful non-fiction graphic novel and offering a holistic view of how Lee's wartime suffering changed her. Grass is a landmark graphic novel that makes personal the desperate cost of war and the importance of peace.
Hawking by
From his early days at Oxford, Stephen Hawking's brilliance and good humor were obvious to everyone he met. At twenty-one he was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that limited his ability to move and speak, though it did nothing to limit his mind. He went on to do groundbreaking work in cosmology and theoretical physics for decades after being told he had only a few years to live. Through his 1988 bestseller, A Brief History of Time, and his appearances on shows like Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory, Hawking became a household name and a pop-culture icon. In Hawking, Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick have crafted an intricate portrait of the great thinker, the public figure, and the man behind both identities.
I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation by
The story of one woman's quest to move to Los Angeles and got a job in animation...and how you can too. When artist Tally Nourigat left her life in Portland to move to Los Angeles and pursue a job in animation, she realized that despite her research, nothing truly prepared her for the wild world that awaited in the studios of Southern California. From grinding on storyboard test after storyboard test to getting a job at a major studio to searching for an apartment in...the Valley...this autobiographical how-to graphic novel explores the highest highs and lowest lows of pursuing a dream in animation. Brushed with a dose of humor and illustrated advice about salaries, studio culture, and everything in between, I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation is the unique insider experience you won't find anywhere else.
King of King Court by
A dunamic and devastating memoir about the cycle of trauma caused by addiction within one familyFrom a child's-eye view, Travis Dandro recounts growing up with a drug-addicted birth father, alcoholic step-dad, and overwhelmed mother. As a kid, Dandro would temper the tension of his every day with flights of fancy, finding refuge in toys and animals and insects rather than the unpredictable adults around him. Dandro perceptively details the effects of poverty and addiction on a family while maintaining a child's innocence for as long as he can.King of King Court spans from Travis's early childhood through his teen years, focusing not only on the obviously abusive actions, but also on the daily slights and snubs that further strain relations between him and his parents. Alongside Dandro's birth father committing crimes and shooting up, King of King Court lingers on scenes of him criticizing Travis and his siblings. Dandro gives equal heft to these anecdotes, emphasizing how damaging even relatively slight traumas can be to a child's worldview.As Travis matures into young adulthood and begins to understand the forces shaping his father's toxic behaviours, the story becomes even more nuanced. Travis is empathetic to his father's own tragic history, but unable to escape the cycle of misconduct and reprisals they are caught in. King of King Court is a revelatory autobiography that examines trauma, addiction, and familial relations in a unique and sensitive way.
The Life of Frederick Douglass by
A graphic novel biography of the escaped slave, abolitionist, public speaker, and most photographed man of the nineteenth century, based on his autobiographical writings and speeches, spotlighting the key events and people that shaped the life of this great American. Recently returned to the cultural spotlight, Frederick Douglass's impact on American history is felt even in today's current events. Comic book writer and filmmaker David F. Walker joins with the art team of Damon Smyth and Marissa Louise to bring the long, exciting, and influential life of Douglass to life in comic book form. Taking you from Douglass's life as a young slave through his forbidden education to his escape and growing prominence as a speaker, abolitionist, and influential cultural figure during the Civil War and beyond, The Life of Frederick Douglass presents a complete illustrated portrait of the man who stood up and spoke out for freedom and equality. Along the way, special features provide additional background on the history of slavery in the United States, the development of photography (which would play a key role in the spread of Douglass's image and influence), and the Civil War. Told from Douglass's point of view and based on his own writings, The Life of Frederick Douglass provides an up-close-and-personal look at a history-making American who was larger than life.
Palimpsest by
Who owns the story of an adoption? Thousands of South Korean children were adopted around the world in the 1970s and 1980s. More than nine thousand found their new home in Sweden, including the cartoonist Lisa Wool-Rim Sj�blom, who was adopted when she was two years old. Throughout her childhood she struggled to fit into the homogenous Swedish culture and was continually told to suppress the innate desire to know her origins. �Be thankful,� she was told; surely her life in Sweden was better than it would have been in Korea. Like many adoptees, Sj�blom learned to bury the feeling of abandonment.In Palimpsest, an emotionally charged memoir, Sj�blom�s unaddressed feelings about her adoption come to a head when she is pregnant with her first child. When she discovers a document containing the names of her biological parents, she realizes her own history may not match up with the story she�s been told her whole life: that she was an orphan without a background. As Sj�blom digs deeper into her own backstory, returning to Korea and the orphanage, she finds that the truth is much more complicated than the story she was told and struggled to believe. The sacred image of adoption as a humanitarian act that gives parents to orphans begins to unravel. Sj�blom�s beautiful autumnal tones and clear-line style belie the complicated nature of this graphic memoir�s vital central question: Who owns the story of an adoption?
Springtime in Chernobyl by
As the world moved on, find out what happened to those left behind in this memoir of tragedy and death, people and land, and what comes after disaster. April 26, 1986. The reactor core of the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl began to melt, setting into motion the greatest nuclear disaster of the twentieth century. While Europe slept, a cloud laden with radiation traveled thousands of miles in every direction, contaminating five million people who were unaware of its danger and unable to protect themselves. At the time, Emmanuel Lepage was 19 years old, watching and listening to the news reported on television. 22 years later, in April 2008, a group of nuclear energy-adverse activists and artists visit Chernobyl to document the lives of survivors and their children living on the highly contaminated land. Sent to sketch brutal landscapes of disaster and the folly of man, Lepage is surprised at the unexpected beauty he encounters. Often wondering to himself: What am I doing here?
They Called Us Enemy by
George Takei has captured hearts and minds worldwide with his captivating stage presence and outspoken commitment to equal rights. But long before he braved new frontiers in Star Trek, he woke up as a four-year-old boy to find his own birth country at war with his father's -- and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future. In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten "relocation centers," hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard. They Called Us Enemy is Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future. What is American? Who gets to decide? When the world is against you, what can one person do? To answer these questions, George Takei joins co-writers Justin Eisinger & Steven Scott and artist Harmony Becker for the journey of a lifetime.
Year of the Rabbit by
One family's quest to survive the devastation of the Khmer RougeYear of the Rabbit tells the true story of one family's desperate struggle to survive the murderous reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge seizes power in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Immediately after declaring victory in the war, they set about evacuating the country's major cities with the brutal ruthlessness and disregard for humanity that characterized the regime ultimately responsible for the deaths of one million citizens. Cartoonist Tian Veasna was born just three days after the Khmer Rouge takeover, as his family set forth on the chaotic mass exodus from Phnom Penh. Year of the Rabbit is based on firsthand accounts, all told from the perspective of his parents and other close relatives. Stripped of any money or material possessions, Veasna's family found themselves exiled to the barren countryside along with thousands of others, where food was scarce and brutal violence a constant threat. Year of the Rabbit shows the reality of life in the work camps, where Veasna's family bartered for goods, where children were instructed to spy on their parents, and where reading was proof positive of being a class traitor. Constantly on the edge of annihilation, they realized there was only one choice--they had to escape Cambodia and become refugees. Veasna has created a harrowing, deeply personal account of one of the twentieth century's greatest tragedies.
Algeria Is Beautiful Like America by
Olivia had always heard stories about Algeria from her maternalgrandmother, a Black Foot (a "Pied-Noir," the French term for Christian andJewish settlers of French Algeria who emigrated to France after the Algerian Warof Independence). After her grandmother's death, Olivia found some of hergrandmother's journals and letters describing her homeland. Now, ten yearslater, she resolves to travel to Algeria and experience the country for herself;she arrives alone, with her grandmother's postcards and letters in tow, anda single phone number in her pocket of an Algerian, Djaffar, who will actas her guide. Olivia's quest to understand her origins will bring her to facequestions about heritage, history, shame, friendship, memory, nostalgia,fantasy, the nature of exile, and our unending quest to understand who we areand where we come from.
All the Answers by
A NPR BEST BOOK OF 2018 A VULTURE BEST COMIC OF 2018 A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF 2018 A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF 2018 A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF 2018 WINNER OF THE PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 2018 GRAPHIC NOVEL CRITICS POLL In this moving graphic memoir, Eisner Award-winning writer and artist Michael Kupperman traces the life of his reclusive father--the once-world-famous Joel Kupperman, Quiz Kid. That his father is slipping into dementia--seems to embrace it, really--means that the past he would never talk about might be erased forever. Joel Kupperman became one of the most famous children in America during World War II as one of the young geniuses on the series Quiz Kids. With the uncanny ability to perform complex math problems in his head, Joel endeared himself to audiences across the country and became a national obsession. Following a childhood spent in the public eye, only to then fall victim to the same public's derision, Joel deliberately spent the remainder of his life removed from the world at large. With wit and heart, Michael Kupperman presents a fascinating account of mid-century radio and early television history, the pro-Jewish propaganda entertainment used to counteract anti-Semitism, and the early age of modern celebrity culture. All the Answers is both a powerful father-son story and an engaging portrayal of what identity came to mean at this turning point in American history, and shows how the biggest stages in the world can overcome even the greatest of players.
The Arab of the Future by
In the third installment of the acclaimed series, the Sattouf family begins to implode under the pressure of Hafez al-Assad's regime and the suffocation of their rural Syrian village. The Arab of the Future is the widely acclaimed, internationally bestselling graphic memoir that tells the story of Riad Sattouf's peripatetic childhood in the Middle East. In the first volume, which covers the years 1978-1984, his family moves between rural France, Libya, and Syria, where they eventually settle in his father's native village of Ter Maaleh, near Homs. The second volume recounts young Riad's first year attending school in Syria (1984-1985), where he dedicates himself to becoming a true Syrian in the country of Hafez al-Assad. In this third volume, (1985-1987), Riad's mother, fed up with the grinding reality of daily life in the village, decides she cannot take it any longer. When she resolves to move back to France, young Riad sees his father torn between his wife's aspirations and the weight of family traditions.
Belonging by
Named a Best Book of 2018 by The New York Times Critics, The Boston Globe, NPR, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Time (Honorable Mention), Library Journal (Best Graphic Novels), and Comics Beat A revelatory, visually stunning graphic memoir by award-winning artist Nora Krug, telling the story of her attempt to confront the hidden truths of her family's wartime past in Nazi Germany and to comprehend the forces that have shaped her life, her generation, and history. Nora Krug was born decades after the fall of the Nazi regime, but the Second World War cast a long shadow throughout her childhood and youth in the city of Karlsruhe, Germany. For Nora, the simple fact of her German citizenship bound her to the Holocaust and its unspeakable atrocities and left her without a sense of cultural belonging. Yet Nora knew little about her own family's involvement in the war: though all four grandparents lived through the war, they never spoke of it. In her late thirties, after twelve years in the US, Krug realizes that living abroad has only intensified her need to ask the questions she didn't dare to as a child and young adult. Returning to Germany, she visits archives, conducts research, and interviews family members, uncovering in the process the stories of her maternal grandfather, a driving teacher in Karlsruhe during the war, and her father's brother Franz-Karl, who died as a teenage SS soldier in Italy. Her extraordinary quest, spanning continents and generations, pieces together her family's troubling story and reflects on what it means to be a German of her generation. Belonging wrestles with the idea of Heimat, the German word for the place that first forms us, where the sensibilities and identity of one generation pass on to the next. In this highly inventive visual memoir--equal parts graphic novel, family scrapbook, and investigative narrative--Nora Krug draws on letters, archival material, flea market finds, and photographs to attempt to understand what it means to belong to one's country and one's family. A wholly original record of a German woman's struggle with the weight of catastrophic history, Belonging is also a reflection on the responsibility that we all have as inheritors of our countries' pasts.
Blame This on the Boogie by
The true story of how Hollywood musicals got one person through school, depression, and the challenges of parenthoodInspired by the visual richness and cinematic structure of the Hollywood musical, Blame This on the Boogie chronicles the adventures of a Filipino American girl born in the decade of disco who escapes life's hardships and mundanity through the genre's feel-good song-and-dance numbers. Rina Ayuyang explores how the glowing charm of the silver screen can transform reality, shaping a person's approach to childhood, relationships, sports, reality TV, and eventually politics, parenthood, and mortality. Ayuyang's comics are as vibrant as the movies that she loves. Her deeply personal, moving stories unveil the magic of the world around us-rendering the ordinary extraordinary through a jazzed-up song-and-dance routine. Ayuyang showcases the way her love of musicals became a form of therapeutic distraction to circumnavigate a childhood of dealing with cultural differences, her struggles with postpartum depression, and an adulthood overshadowed by an increasingly frightening and depressing political climate. Blame This on the Boogie is Ayuyang's ode to the melody of the world, and shows how tuning out of life and into the magic of Hollywood can actually help an outsider find her place in it.
The Bride Was a Boy by
A heartwarming transgender love story, based on true events! A diary comic with an upbeat, adorable flair that tells the charming tale of Chii, a woman assigned male at birth. Her story starts with her childhood and follows the ups and downs of exploring her sexuality, gender, and transition-as well as falling in love with a man who's head over heels for her. Now, Chii is about to embark on a new adventure: becoming a bride!
California Dreamin' by
California Dreamin'from Pénélope Bagieu depicts Mama Cass as you've never known her, in this poignant graphic novel about the remarkable vocalist who rocketed The Mamas & the Papas to stardom. Before she was the legendary Mama Cass of the folk group The Mamas and the Papas, Ellen Cohen was a teen girl from Baltimore with an incredible voice, incredible confidence, and incredible dreams. She dreamed of being not just a singer but a star. Not just a star--a superstar. So, at the age of nineteen, at the dawn of the sixties, Ellen left her hometown and became Cass Elliot. At her size, Cass was never going to be the kind of girl that record producers wanted on album covers. But she found an unlikely group of co-conspirators, and in their short time together this bizarre and dysfunctional band recorded some of the most memorable songs of their era. Through the whirlwind of drugs, war, love, and music, Cass struggled to keep sight of her dreams, of who she loved, and--most importantly--who she was.
Carnet de Voyage by
A unique insight into an acclaimed cartoonist's travels through Europe and MoroccoRiding the international success of Blankets, Craig Thompson sets out on a tour across Europe and Morocco, promoting the various European editions of his book and beginning research for his next graphic novel, Habibi . Carnet de Voyage is a gorgeous sketchbook diary of his travels as he finds intellectual and spiritual stimulation during the day-to-day work of being an author. From wandering around Paris and Barcelona between events, to navigating markets in Fez and fleeing tourist traps in Marrakesh, we see glimpses of each place, rendered in Thompson's exquisite ink line. While desert landscapes and crowded street scenes flow across the pages, the sketchbook is packed first and foremost with people--travelers passing through, the friends and lovers he meets along the way, distant figures of old friends and other cartoonists who freely weave in and out of his subconscious. This expanded edition also includes a new epilogue drawn from his most recent European book tour, including several familiar faces and Thompson's reflections on keeping a sketchbook. Carnet de Voyage is a casual yet intimate portrait of a celebrated cartoonist at a moment between works--surprisingly open and candid in his observations and revelations.
The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling by
As a pop culture phenomenon, professional wrestling--with its heroic babyfaces and villainous heels performing suplexes and powerbombs in pursuit of championship gold--has conquered audiences in the United States and around the world. Now, writer/podcaster Aubrey Sitterson and illustrator Chris Moreno form a graphic novel tag team to present wrestling's complete illustrated history. Featuring legendary wrestlers like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and The Rock, and modern-day favorites like John Cena, Kenny Omega, and Sasha Banks, the book covers wrestling's progress from the carnival days of the Gold Dust Trio to the dominance of the WWF/WWE to today's diverse independent wrestling scene, and it spotlights wrestling's reach into Mexico/Puerto Rico (lucha libre), the U.K. (all-in), and Japan (puroresu).
Form of a Question by
This . . . is . . . JEOPARDY! As a young man, Andrew Rostan spent some of his happiest moments watching JEOPARDY! with his grandfather. Early on, he was ready for Daily Doubles and the iconic buzzer. But now at the age of twenty-two, Andrew's an actual contestant on the show, and realizes that while he may be ready to meet the host Alex Trebek, he's not prepared for what comes with starring on one of the most beloved game shows in television history. While Andrew is excellent at remembering facts, he's also able to recall the memories he associates with those facts--memories of deaths in the family and extraordinary people--and recognize a life lived one step removed from the rest of humanity. A life he's ready to change. Andrew discovers that existence is like JEOPARDY! and all the answers are staring you in the face if only you ask the right questions. In his moving memoir, Rostan, along with illustrator Kate Kasenow, revisits one of the most formative moments in his life and reveals how a chance opportunity to appear on a game show taught him much more about living than he knew he needed . . .
Good Talk by
A "vibrant, inventive, and vulnerable" (Bustle) graphic memoir about American identity, interracial families, and our most difficult conversations, from the acclaimed author of The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing. "By turns hilarious and heart-rending, it's exactly the book America needs at this moment."--Celeste Ng "How brown is too brown?" "Can Indians be racist?" "What does real love between really different people look like?" Like many six-year-olds, Mira Jacob's half-Jewish, half-Indian son, Z, has questions about everything. At first they are innocuous enough, but as tensions from the 2016 election spread from the media into his own family, they become much, much more complicated. Trying to answer him honestly, Mira has to think back to where she's gotten her own answers: her most formative conversations about race, color, sexuality, and, of course, love. Written with humor and vulnerability, this deeply relatable graphic memoir is a love letter to the art of conversation--and to the hope that hovers in our most difficult questions. Praise for Good Talk "Emphasizes the complexities of being part of an interracial family and the struggles of parenting in the present moment."--Time "Good Talk uses a masterful mix of pictures and words to speak on life's most uncomfortable conversations."--io9 "Mira Jacob just made me toss everything I thought was possible in a book-as-art-object into the garbage. Her new book changes everything."--Kiese Laymon, New York Times bestselling author of Heavy
Gumballs by
Gumballsdispenses an array of bright, candy-colored short comics about Erin's gender transition, anecdotal tales of growing up as a triplet, and fictional stories of a socially inept lovestruck teenager named Tobias. The wide-ranging series is filled with single-page gag cartoons, visual diaries of everyday life, funny faux personal ads, and real-life horror stories of customers at his day job. Gumballsoffers a variety of flavors that will surely delight anyone with a taste for candid self-reflection and observations of humanity. Gumballstips its hat to the classic alt-comic tradition of Eightball, Optic Nerve, and Box Office Poison, but speaks with a delightfully fresh voice for the modern age. This book collects Gumballs#1-4, plus 32 pages of brand-new content!
Poppies of Iraq by
Poppies of Iraq is Brigitte Findakly's nuanced tender chronicle of her relationship with her homeland Iraq, co-written and drawn by her husband, the acclaimed cartoonist Lewis Trondheim. In spare and elegant detail, they share memories of her middle class childhood touching on cultural practices, the education system, Saddam Hussein's state control, and her family's history as Orthodox Christians in the arab world. Poppies of Iraq is intimate and wide-ranging; the story of how one can become separated from one's homeland and still feel intimately connected yet ultimately estranged. Signs of an oppressive regime permeate a seemingly normal life: magazines arrive edited by customs; the color red is banned after the execution of General Kassim; Baathist militiamen are publicly hanged and school kids are bussed past them to bear witness. As conditions in Mosul worsen over her childhood, Brigitte's father is always hopeful that life in Iraq will return to being secular and prosperous. The family eventually feels compelled to move to Paris, however, where Brigitte finds herself not quite belonging to either culture. Trondheim brings to life Findakly's memories to create a poignant family portrait that covers loss, tragedy, love, and the loneliness of exile.
The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt by
For Persepolis and Logicomix fans, a New Yorker cartoonist's page-turning graphic biography of the fascinating Hannah Arendt, the most prominent philosopher of the twentieth century. One of the greatest philosophers of the twentieth century and a hero of political thought, the largely unsung and often misunderstood Hannah Arendt is best known for her landmark 1951 book on openness in political life, The Origins of Totalitarianism, which, with its powerful and timely lessons for today, has become newly relevant. She led an extraordinary life. This was a woman who endured Nazi persecution firsthand, survived harrowing "escapes" from country to country in Europe, and befriended such luminaries as Walter Benjamin and Mary McCarthy, in a world inhabited by everyone from Marc Chagall and Marlene Dietrich to Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud. A woman who finally had to give up her unique genius for philosophy, and her love of a very compromised man--the philosopher and Nazi-sympathizer Martin Heidegger--for what she called "love of the world." Compassionate and enlightening, playful and page-turning, New Yorker cartoonist Ken Krimstein's The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt is a strikingly illustrated portrait of a complex, controversial, deeply flawed, and irrefutably courageous woman whose intelligence and "virulent truth telling" led her to breathtaking insights into the human condition, and whose experience continues to shine a light on how to live as an individual and a public citizen in troubled times.
Alexander Hamilton by
This complete graphic novel-style biography presents the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in United States history. Alexander Hamilton was on hand for the Revolutionary War, the development of the Constitution, and the establishment of the Treasury and banking as we have come to know them today. Cut down by a bullet from political rival Aaron Burr, Hamilton may have faded into the background among other great American leaders like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. However a recent resurgence of interest in Hamilton, thanks in no small part to the hit Broadway musical Hamiltonhas returned the formerly forgotten Founder to prominence, not just in a historical context but in terms of his lasting impact on American society today. Author Jonathan Hennessey and comic book illustrator Justin Greenwood team to bring the world of Alexander Hamilton to life in this fully-illustrated, graphic novel style biography that captures the period, people, and places of the birth of the United States. Along the way, they help readers contextualize Hamilton, showcasing his impact on history beyond his life, including his policies' shaping of the Civil War and how his ideas on the economy led to America's rise as a superpower.
The Best We Could Do by
National bestseller 2017 National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Finalist ABA Indies Introduce Winter / Spring 2017 Selection Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Spring 2017 Selection ALA 2018 Notable Books Selection An intimate and poignant graphic novel portraying one family's journey from war-torn Vietnam, from debut author Thi Bui. This beautifully illustrated and emotional story is an evocative memoir about the search for a better future and a longing for the past. Exploring the anguish of immigration and the lasting effects that displacement has on a child and her family, Bui documents the story of her family's daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves. At the heart of Bui's story is a universal struggle: While adjusting to life as a first-time mother, she ultimately discovers what it means to be a parent--the endless sacrifices, the unnoticed gestures, and the depths of unspoken love. Despite how impossible it seems to take on the simultaneous roles of both parent and child, Bui pushes through. With haunting, poetic writing and breathtaking art, she examines the strength of family, the importance of identity, and the meaning of home. In what Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen calls "a book to break your heart and heal it," The Best We Could Do brings to life Thi Bui's journey of understanding, and provides inspiration to all of those who search for a better future while longing for a simpler past.
Calamity Jane by
Return to the real-life days of the wild, wild West where the living wasn't so easy... especially for women. Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Cannary) was a bona fide frontierswoman, a professional scout, a drunk, and sometime whore, doing whatever it took to stay alive in the hardscrabble days of American expansion. Writer Christian Perrissin (El Nino, Cape Horn) joins forces with Alph-Art-winning artist Matthieu Blanchinto tackle the legend of this formidable prairie girl and her daring life alongside the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok. Presented in English for the first time ever, this graphic novel illustrates the extraordinary tale of an independent woman with gumption -- the incredible Calamity Jane!
Dirty Plotte by
An enduring collection of revolutionary comics from a genre-transforming and critically acclaimed cartoonistJulie Doucet arrived in comics in the 1990s as a fully formed cartoonist. Her comic book series Dirty Plotte was visionary both for the medium and for storytelling. Her stories are candid, funny and intimate, plumbing the depths of the female psyche while charting the fragility of the men around her. Her artwork is dense and confident, never wavering in the wit and humour of its owner. Doucet was active in comics for fifteen years before she moved on to other mediums. Her influence casts a long shadow over the medium, Dirty Plotte is quite simply one of the most iconic comic book series to have ever been created.Dirty Plotte: The Complete Julie Doucet collects the entire comic book series, including the acclaimed My New York Diary, as well as rare comics and previously unpublished material; a reproduction of the first Dirty Plotte mini comic; essays about her comics legacy and feminist influence by curator Dan Nadel and academic Martine Delvaux respectively; an interview by comics scholar Christian Gasser; and personal anecdotes from Jami Attenberg, Adrian Tomine, and more. Doucet uses the covers of this two-book box set to present an all-new comic that explores her complicated relationship with femininity and the importance of her relationships with female readers. Astonishingly honest, brutal, and funny, Dirty Plotte is a revelatory journey into a legendary cartoonist's oeuvre.
Dreams in Thin Air by
When a young Dane was cycling across Tibet, a storm forced him to seek shelter in a monastery, where he discovered the Tibetan people's passion for football. He also learned about the treatment the Tibetans received by the Chinese Government. He helped create a national football team to create awareness of the plight of the Tibetans and a way to enable them to showcase their culture. This is the story of how the Tibetan national football team came to be, and a parable that shows how commitment and determination can makeeven the most unrealistic dreams come true. Preface by The Dalai Lama.
Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by
A graphic memoir about growing up in the Philippines in the 1980s with Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos and the EDSA Revolution. After moving to Canada as a teen, Mapa returned to Manilla as an adult for the funeral of her father, sparking a need to come to terms with her past. She includes themes of religion, culture, politics, class and experience of the 1986 People Power Revolution that made headlines around the world. The story weaves between adolescence in Manilla and present in Montreal. It is a love letter to her parents, family, friends, country of birth and perhaps even to self.
Fetch by
From an award-winning artist, a memoir of life with a difficult, beloved dog that will resonate with anybody who has ever had a less than perfectly behaved pet When Nicole Georges was sixteen she adopted Beija, a dysfunctional shar-pei/corgi mix--a troublesome combination of tiny and attack, just like teenaged Nicole herself. For the next fifteen years, Beija would be the one constant in her life. Through depression, relationships gone awry, and an unmoored young adulthood played out against the backdrop of the Portland punk scene, Beija was there, wearing her "Don't Pet Me" bandana. Georges's gorgeous graphic novelFetchchronicles their symbiotic, codependent relationship and probes what it means to care for and be responsible to another living thing--a living thing that occasionally lunges at toddlers. Nicole turns to vets, dog whisperers, and even a pet psychic for help, but it is the moments of accommodation, adaption, and compassion that sustain them. Nicole never successfully taught Beija "sit," but in the end, Beija taught Nicole how to stay.
Fire!! by
A bold retelling of the life of the Their Eyes Were Watching God authorPeter Bagge has defied the expectations of the comics industry by changing gears from his famous slacker hero Buddy Bradley to documenting the life and times of historical 20th century trailblazers. If Bagge had not already had a New York Times bestseller with his biography of Margaret Sanger, his newest biography, Fire!!: The Zora Neale Hurston Story, would seem to be an unfathomable pairing of author and subject. Yet through Bagge�s skilled cartooning, he turns what could be a rote biography into a bold and dazzling graphic novel, creating a story as brilliant as the life itself. Hurston challenged the norms of what was expected of an African American woman in early 20th century society. The fifth of eight kids from a Baptist family in Alabama, Hurston�s writing prowess blossomed at Howard University, and then Barnard College, where she was the sole black student. She arrived in NYC at the height of the Harlem Renaissance and quickly found herself surrounded by peers such as Langston Hughes and Wallace Thurman. Hurston went on to become a noted folklorist and critically acclaimed novelist, including her most provocative work Their Eyes Were Watching God . Despite these landmark achievements, personal tragedies and shifting political winds in the midcentury rendered her almost forgotten by the end of her life. With admiration and respect, Bagge reconstructs her vivid life in resounding full-color.
Hostage by
How does one survive when all hope is lost?In the middle of the night in 1997, Doctors Without Borders administrator Christophe André was kidnapped by armed men and taken away to an unknown destination in the Caucasus region. For three months, André was kept handcuffed in solitary confinement, with little to survive on and almost no contact with the outside world. Close to twenty years later, award-winning cartoonist Guy Delisle ( Pyongyang, Jerusalem, Shenzhen, Burma Chronicles ) recounts André's harrowing experience in Hostage, a book that attests to the power of one man's determination in the face of a hopeless situation. Marking a departure from the author's celebrated first-person travelogues, Delisle tells the story through the perspective of the titular captive, who strives to keep his mind alert as desperation starts to set in. Working in a pared down style with muted color washes, Delisle conveys the psychological effects of solitary confinement, compelling us to ask ourselves some difficult questions regarding the repercussions of negotiating with kidnappers and what it really means to be free. Thoughtful, intense, and moving, Hostage takes a profound look at what drives our will to survive in the darkest of moments.
It's All Absolutely Fine by
"It's her wry, silly sense of humor that keeps the book from getting too heavy, and Elliot displays a sharp wit that goes well with the way her honesty strips her bare." The A.V. Club Explore the highs and lows of modern life through the sharp, dark wit of Ruby Elliot--creator of the massively popular Tumblr account, Rubyetc, which has over 210k followers and growing. Ruby's simple drawings of not-so-simple issues capture the humor and melancholy of everyday life. Her comics appeal to both new adults who are beginning to explore these subjects and to battle-tested veterans of the daily struggles of life with mental illness. It's All Absolutely Fine is an honest and unapologetic account of day-to-day life as a groaning, crying, laughing sentient potato being for whom things are often absolutely not fine. Through simple, humorous drawings and a few short narratives, the book encompasses everything from mood disorders, anxiety, and issues with body image through to existential conversations with dogs and some unusually articulate birds. Building on Rubyetc's huge online presence, It's All Absolutely Fine includes mostly new material, both written and illustrated, and is inspirational, empowering, and entertaining. Hope and tenacity abound in this book that is as heartening as it is hilarious. *Voted onto the 2018 GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS list by the American Library Association's YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association)
Japanese Notebooks by
Japan is a place of special fascination for the acclaimed international comics creator Igort, who has visited and lived there more than 20 times, and worked in the country's manga industry for more than a decade. In this masterful new book--part graphic memoir, part cultural meditation--Igort vividly recounts his personal experiences in Japan, creating comics amid the activities of everyday life, and finding inspiration everywhere: in nature, history, custom, art, and encounters with creators including animation visionary Hayao Miyazaki. With beautifully illustrated reflections on subjects from printmaking to Zen Buddhism, imperial history to the samurai code, Japanese film, literature, and manga, this is a richly rewarding book for anyone interested in Japan or comic arts practiced at the highest level.
Last Things by
Last Things is the true and intensely personal story of how one woman coped with the devastating effects of a catastrophic illness in her family. Using her trademark mix of words and pictures to sharp effect, Marissa Moss presents the story of how she, her husband, and her three young sons struggled to maintain their sense of selves and wholeness as a family and how they continued on with everyday life when the earth shifted beneath their feet. After returning home from a year abroad, Marissa's husband, Harvey, was diagnosed with ALS. The disease progressed quickly, and Marissa was soon consumed with caring for Harvey while trying to keep life as normal as possible for her young children. ALS stole the man who was her husband, the father of her children, and her best friend in less than 7 months. This is not a story about the redemptive power of a terminal illness. It is a story of resilience - of how a family managed to survive a terrible loss and grow in spite of it. Although it's a sad story, it's powerfully told and ultimately uplifting as a guide to strength and perseverance, to staying connected to those who matter most in the midst of a bleak upheaval. If you've ever wondered how you would cope with a dire diagnosis, this book can provide a powerful example of what it feels like and how to come through the darkness into the light. Last Things is one of the most amazingly poignant and honest memoirs - graphic or otherwise -- I've ever encountered. This book - which I read in one insatiable sitting -- tore my heart in two. Moss handles the material with such a delicate sensibility, both with her drawings and her text, I couldn't help but let her carry me along on her journey of love and loss. ---Katie Hafner, contributing writer to The New York Times and author of Mother, Daughter, Me: A Memoir A gripping portrayal of how devastating ALS can be, but also a powerful example of resilience and hope. --- Dr. Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, neurologist, ALS clinic, UCSF
Monet by
From many years without recognition, money and yet a family to raise, all the way to great success, critically and financially, Monet pursued insistently one vision: catching the light in painting, refusing to compromise on this ethereal pursuit. It cost him dearly but he was a beacon for his contemporaries. We discover in this comics biography how he came to this vision as well as his turbulent life pursuing it.
Nick Cave by
Musician, novelist, poet, actor: Nick Cave (b. 1957) is a Renaissance man. His wide-ranging artistic output--always uncompromising, hypnotic, and intense--is defined by an extraordinary gift for storytelling. In Nick Cave: Mercy on Me, Reinhard Kleist employs a cast of characters drawn from Cave's music and writing to tell the story of a formidable artist and influencer. Kleist paints an expressive and enthralling portrait of Cave's childhood in Australia; his early years fronting The Birthday Party; the sublime highs of his success with The Bad Seeds; and the crippling lows of his battle with heroin. Capturing everything from Cave's frenzied performances in Berlin to the tender moments he spent with love and muse Anita Lane, Kleist's graphic biography, like Cave's songs, is by turns electrifying, sentimental, morbid, and comic--but always engrossing.
Pantheon by
The most important myth in Ancient Egypt is faithfully retold in glorious color! Horus, son of Isis, vows bloody revenge on his Uncle Set for the murder and usurpation of his Pharaoh father. Based on elements from various versions of the famous Osiris myth, Hamish Steele has resurrected this fantastic story in all its symbolic and humorous glory. Pantheon contains: incest, decapitation, suspicious salad, fighting hippos, flying cows, a boat race, resurrections, lots of scorpions and a golden willy. Hamish Steele is a freelance animation director and illustrator from London. He graduated from Kingston University with First Class Honors in 2013 and since then has worked for the BBC, Frederator Studios, Blink!Ink, BOOM! Studios, Random House and Nickelodeon and Big Finish.Pantheon is his first graphic novel.
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by
Sweet, funny, and quietly poignant, Debbie Tung's comics reveal the ups and downs of coming of age as an introvert. Presented in a loose narrative style that can be read front to back or dipped into at leisure, the book spans three years of Debbie's life, from the end of college to the present day. In these early years of adulthood, Debbie slowly but finally discovers there is a name for her lifelong need to be alone: she's an introvert. Ultimately, Quiet Girl sends a positive, pro-introvert message: our heroine learns to embrace her introversion and finds ways to thrive in the world while fulfilling her need for quiet.
Renegade by
The life of reformer Martin Luther in the graphic novel format Gold Medal Winner, 2018 IPPY Book of the Year Award, Independent Publishers Gold Medal Winner, 2017 Indies Awards, Foreword Reviews Magazine Intriguing and informative." --Library Journal, Starred Review Five hundred years ago a brash young monk single-handedly confronted the most powerful institutions of his day. His bold stand sparked the Protestant Reformation and marked one of the great turning points in history. Martin Luther, a spiritual and historical giant, is loved and hated to this day--and for good reason. The anniversary of the revolution he helped start has produced a spate of doorstop-sized biographies. Luckily, today there exists a more accessible format that does justice to such a colorful, complex character and his tumultuous life and times - the graphic novel. In a world of grinding poverty, plague, and religious superstitions, a child of laborers distinguishes himself at university - until a lightning-bolt conversion lands him in a monastery. There his personal battles with disillusionment and doubt culminate in a cry for freedom. The rest is the stuff of history and legend: Luther's revolt against Rome with the nailing of ninety-five theses to the church door in Wittenberg; his time spent incognito at Wartburg Castle, where he famously throws an inkpot at the devil; his seditious translation and publication of the Bible in the language of the people; his scandalous marriage to former nun Katharina von Bora; and, in later years, his ugly tirades against peasants, Anabaptists, and Jews. Each chapter of Luther's life comes vividly to life thanks to cutting-edge graphic techniques, meticulous historical research, and compelling writing. This could be the biggest breakthrough for Martin Luther since the Gutenberg press. With its splendid color and unvarnished narrative, this is surely the most successful graphic biography ever. --Georg Howahl, WAZ
Robert Capa by
"If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough. --Robert Capa Robert Capa: A Graphic Biography is a brilliant portrayal of the career of the great war photographer who, at the time of his death in 1954, had only one wish: to be an unemployed war photographer. "It is not always easy" he said, "to stand aside and be unable to do anything except record the suffering." Born in 1913 to a Jewish family in Budapest, Endre Friedmann left home at 18 for Germany where he studied journalism and political science and worked in a photo agency darkroom. In 1933, Friedmann went to Paris where he shared a darkroom with Henri Cartier-Bresson and lived with Gerda Taro, also a photographer. Together they contrived the name and image "Robert Capa, famous American photographer". Capa made several trips to document the Spanish Civil War, where he took the seminal image, "Death of a Loyalist Soldier" for which he was heralded as "the greatest war photographer in the world". By the start of World War II, Capa was in New York freelancing for LIFE, Time, and other publications. He went abroad with the US army to record Allied involvement in WWII, including D-Day on Omaha beach. Disembarking from a landing boat, he took the only images of the invasion. He went on to cover the war in Leipzig, Nuremberg, Berlin, London and Paris. Even now, it is the D-Day images that marked him as the world's greatest war photographer. Robert Capa: A Graphic Biography, written in the first person, follows his personal and professional life and through his eyes, the social upheaval and earth-shattering wars of the 20th century. It shows his intimate life and his relationships with the day's larger-than-life personalities: Ingrid Bergman, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and many others. Sepia watercolors wash the book in the fog of war and recall Capa's generation on the cusp of color film. They show his professional work, his personal battles, his victories and struggles, and his legacy: the founding of the Magnum, a cooperative photo agency which gives photographers control of their work. In 1954, having sworn off war photography but in need of money, he left to cover his fifth war, in Indochina. Driven by his conviction that "if your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough," he was with a French patrol when he stepped on a landmine and was killed, camera in hand.
Uncomfortably Happily by
When the gentler pace and stillness of the countryside replace the roar of the city, but your editor keeps callingWith gorgeously detailed yet minimal art, cartoonist Yeon-Sik Hong explores his move with his wife to a small house atop a rural mountain, replacing the high-rent hubbub of Seoul with the quiet murmur of the country. With their dog, cats, and chickens by their side, the simple life and isolation they so desperately craved proves to present new anxieties. Hong paints a beautiful portrait of the Korean countryside, changing seasons, and the universal relationships humans have with each other as well as nature, both of which are sometimes frustrating but always rewarding. Uncomfortably Happily is translated by American cartoonist Hellen Jo from the acclaimed Manhwa Today award-winning Korean edition.
Agatha by
The life of Agatha Christie was as mysterious and eventful as her fiction. This beautifully illustrated graphic novel traces the life of the Queen of Whodunnit from her childhood in Torquay, England, through a career filled with success, mischief, and adventure, to her later years as Dame Agatha. Revealing a side to Christie that will surprise and delight many readers, Agatha introduces us to a free-spirited and thoroughly modern woman who, among other things, enjoyed flying, travel, and surfing. Centering around an episode in 1926 when Christie staged her own disappearance, Agatha is an intriguing, entertaining, and funny exploration of the 20th century's best-loved crime novelist.
Billie Holiday by
Born in Baltimore in 1915, and dead too early in New York in 1959, Billie Holiday became a legendary jazz singer, even mythical. With her voice even now managing to touch so many people, we follow a reporter on the trail of the artist on behalf of a New York daily. Beyond the public scandals that marred the life of the star (alcohol, drugs, violence...), he seeks to restore the truth, revisiting the memory of Billie. Through this investigation, Munoz and Sampayo trace, through the undertones of racism, and in the wake of the blues, the slow drift of a singer who expressed the deepest emotions in jazz. By internationally renowned Argentine artists, featuring Munoz strikingly raw heavy blacks, this is not just a biography but a spell-binding art book tribute.
Black Dahlia by
On January 15, 1947, a woman was walking with her daughter in a Los Angeles neighborhood. She passed what looked to be a discarded manikin. It turned out to be the body of Elizabeth Short: posed, drained of blood, meticulously scrubbed, and cut in two. From this point, Geary reconstitutes and reveals for us the life of this 22 year old woman who had become known as Black Dahlia because of her striking appearance. She had moved to LA to make it in show business. How could her life have ended in such a ghastly fashion? Was it a jealous boyfriend, a rejected suitor, or one of LA s notorious mafia connections whom she had apparently been dabbling with? The case gets more complex when, days later, a local newspaper receives a cut-out letter from an anonymous Black Dahlia Avenger admitting to the crime. More letters follow toying with the LAPD. Eisner Award winner Geary takes us through all the twists and turns in one of the most captivating unsolved mysteries of the 20th century in this latest installment of his Treasury of XXth Century Murder.
Flying Couch by
ANew York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Flying Couch, Amy Kurzweil’s debut, tells the stories of three unforgettable women. Amy weaves her own coming-of-age as a young Jewish artist into the narrative of her mother, a psychologist, and Bubbe, her grandmother, a World War II survivor who escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto by disguising herself as a gentile. Captivated by Bubbe’s story, Amy turns to her sketchbooks, teaching herself to draw as a way to cope with what she discovers. Entwining the voices and histories of these three wise,hilarious, and very different women, Amy creates a portrait not only of what it means to be part of a family, but also of how each generation bears the imprint of the past. A retelling of the inherited Holocaust narrative now two generations removed,Flying Couch uses Bubbe’s real testimony to investigate the legacy of trauma, the magic of family stories, and the meaning of home. With her playful, idiosyncratic sensibility, Amy traces the way our memories and our families shape who we become. The result is this bold illustrated memoir, both an original coming-of-age story and an important entry into the literature of the Holocaust.
Glenn Gould by
Glenn Gould was a Canadian pianist, a child genius who became a worldwide superstar of classical music remembered for, among other things, his almost revolutionary interpretations of Bach. This graphic novel biography seeks to understand the eccentric personality behind the persona. Who is the mysterious Glenn Gould? Sandrine Revel delves into the life of Gould with hand-painted illustrations and the viewpoint of an adoring fan.
The Imitation Game by
Award winning authors Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis present a historically accurate graphic novel biography of English mathematician and scientist Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. English mathematician and scientist Alan Turing (1912-1954) is credited with many of the foundational principles of contemporary computer science. The Imitation Game presents a historically accurate graphic novel biography of Turing's life, including his groundbreaking work on the fundamentals of cryptography and artificial intelligence. His code breaking efforts led to the cracking of the German Enigma during World War II, work that saved countless lives and accelerated the Allied defeat of the Nazis. While Turing's achievements remain relevant decades after his death, the story of his life in post-war Europe continues to fascinate audiences today. Award-winning duo Jim Ottaviani (the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Feynman and Primates) and artist Leland Purvis (an Eisner and Ignatz Award nominee and occasional reviewer for the Comics Journal) present a factually detailed account of Turing's life and groundbreaking research--as an unconventional genius who was arrested, tried, convicted, and punished for being openly gay, and whose innovative work still fuels the computing and communication systems that define our modern world. Computer science buffs, comics fans, and history aficionados will be captivated by this riveting and tragic story of one of the 20th century's most unsung heroes.
Rolling Blackouts by
A cartoonist follows reporters across the Middle East, learning about journalism and how stories are toldCartoonist Sarah Glidden follows up her acclaimed debut, How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less, with Rolling Blackouts, which details her two-month long journey through Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Glidden accompanies her two friends - reporters and founders of the journalistic non-profit The Seattle Globalist - as they research stories on the Iraq War's effect on the Middle East and, specifically, the war's refugees. Joining them is a former Marine and childhood friend of one of the journalists whose deployment to Iraq in 2007 adds an unexpected and sometimes unwelcome viewpoint, both to the people they come across and perhaps even themselves. The crew works their way through the region with the goal of asking civilians, refugees, and officials: "who are you?" Everyone has a story to tell: the Iranian blogger, the United Nations Refugee administrator, a taxi driver, the Iraqi refugee deported from the US, the Iraqis seeking refuge in Syria, and even the American Marine. The journalists struggle equally with how to tell these stories and with how to market them into articles people will want to read. Glidden records all that she encounters with a sympathetic and searching eye - What is journalism? What is its purpose? What is honesty? Painted in her trademark soft muted watercolors and written with a self-effacing humor, Rolling Blackouts cements Glidden's place as one of comics's most original nonfiction voices.
Sartre by
For some he was the philosopher of existentialism, for others the constant provocateur, the politically engaged author, the uncertain militant, the repenting bourgeois, the life companion of Simone de Beauvoir... From his first readings in the Luxembourg Garden to his refusal of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Jean Paul Sartre was all of this at the same time.
Deep Dark Fears by
A devilishly funny collection of comics that explores our most gruesome, hilarious, and bizare fears - and the dangers lurking around every corner. We all have strange, irrational fears--from seeing ghosts in the bedroom mirror to being sucked into a mall escalator or finding yourself miles below the ocean's surface on the deck of a sunken ship. In Deep Dark Fears, animator, illustrator, and cartoonist Fran Krause brings these fears to life in 101 vividly illustrated comics inspired by his wildly popular web comic and based on real fears submitted by online readers. Deep Dark Fears reveals a primal part of our humanity and highlighting both our idiosyncrasies and our similarities.
Filmish by
2017 ALA/YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens Award Winner Cartoonist Edward Ross uses comics to illuminate the ideas behind our favorite movies. In Filmish, Ross's cartoon alter ego guides readers through the annals of cinematic history, introducing some of the strange and fascinating concepts at work in the movies. Each chapter focuses on a particular theme--the body, architecture, language--and explores an eclectic mix of cinematic triumphs, from A Tripto the Moon to Top Gun. Like other bestselling nonfiction graphic novels such as Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, Filmish tackles serious issues--sexuality, race, censorship, propaganda--with authority and wit, throwing new light on some of the greatest films ever made.
La Lucha by
A front-line human rights defender fighting murderous impunity in the Mexican borderlands The Mexican border state of Chihuahua and its city Ju#65533;rez have become notorious the world over as hotbeds of violence. Drug cartel battles and official corruption result in more murders annually in Chihuahua than in wartorn Afghanistan. Thanks to a culture of impunity, 97 percent of the killings in Ju#65533;rez go unsolved. Despite a climate of fear, a small group of human rights activists, exemplified by the Chihuahua lawyer and organizer Lucha Castro, works to identify the killers and their official enablers. This is the story of La Lucha, illustrated in beautiful and chilling comic book art, rendering in rich detail the stories of families ripped apart by disappearances and murders--especially gender-based violence--and the remarkably brave advocacy, protests, and investigations of ordinary citizens who turned their grief into resistance.
Mike's Place by
There's a rule at Mike's Place: never, ever talk politics or religion. At this blues bar on the Tel Aviv beachfront, an international cast of characters mingles with the locals, and everyone is welcome to grab a beer and forget the conflict outside. At least, that's the story Jack and Joshua want to tell in their documentary. But less than a month after they begin filming, Mike's Place is the target of a deadly suicide bombing. Jack, Joshua, and the Mike's Place family survive the only way they know how-by keeping the camera rolling. Written by filmmakers Jack Baxter and Joshua Faudem and illustrated by award-winning cartoonist Koren Shadmi,Mike's Place chronicles the true story of an infamous terrorist attack in painstaking detail. Rarely has the slow build to tragedy, and the rebirth that follows, been captured with such a compassionate and unflinching eye.
Showa, 1953-1989 by
The final volume in the Eisner-nominated history of Japan; one of NPR's Best Books of 2014! Showa 1953-1989: A History of Japan concludes Shigeru Mizuki's dazzling autobiographical and historical account of Showa-period Japan, a portrait both intimate and ranging of a defining epoch. The final volume picks up in the wake of Japan's utter defeat in World War II, as a country reduced to rubble struggles to rise again. The Korean War brings new opportunities to a nation searching for an identity. A former enemy becomes their greatest ally as the United States funnels money, jobs, and opportunity into Japan, hoping to establish the country as a bulwark against Soviet Communist expansion. Japan reinvents itself, emerging as an economic powerhouse. Events like the Tokyo Olympiad and the World's Fair introduce a friendlier Japan to the world, but this period of peace and plenty conceals a populace still struggling to come to terms with the devastation of World War II. During this period of recovery and reconciliation, Mizuki's struggles mirror those of the nation. He fights his way back from poverty, becoming a celebrity who is beloved by millions of manga-reading children. However, prosperity cannot bring the happiness Mizuki craves, as he struggles to find meaning in the sacrifices made during the war. The original Japanese edition of theShowa: A History of Japan series won Mizuki the prestigious Kodansha Manga Award; the English translation has been nominated for an Eisner Award.
Are You My Mother? by
From the best-selling author of Fun Home, Time magazine’s No. 1 Book of the Year, a brilliantly told graphic memoir of Alison Bechdel becoming the artist her mother wanted to be. Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home was a pop culture and literary phenomenon. Now, a second thrilling tale of filial sleuthery, this time about her mother: voracious reader, music lover, passionate amateur actor. Also a woman, unhappily married to a closeted gay man, whose artistic aspirations simmered under the surface of Bechdel's childhood . . . and who stopped touching or kissing her daughter good night, forever, when she was seven. Poignantly, hilariously, Bechdel embarks on a quest for answers concerning the mother-daughter gulf. It's a richly layered search that leads readers from the fascinating life and work of the iconic twentieth-century psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, to one explosively illuminating Dr. Seuss illustration, to Bechdel’s own (serially monogamous) adult love life. And, finally, back to Mother—to a truce, fragile and real-time, that will move and astonish all adult children of gifted mothers.
