Graphic Novels

Wow! We needed to have had a court reporter today with the amount of information flying around! I tried to get it all written down, but please let me know if you remember something from the meeting that didn't make its way here to this list!

The overarching theme to the advice we received seemed to be, “Choose...but choose wisely.” The bright, vivid colors and cartoonish characters, especially with the manga, often mislead the average browser into thinking these materials are for children and this is NOT always the case. Read the reviews for this material carefully to make sure the books and anime are being catalogued and shelved in the appropriate section of your library.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, June 8th at 9am at Emmet O'Neal Library for Fiction of Choice.

If you run a book group or your library sponsors one and would like it to be added to the RART blog sidebar item, send me an email with the meeting dates, times, and selections. We started this feature so that book group moderators might have a place and a means for assistance in selecting book group choices so that everyone is not reading the same book at the same time if multiple copies are not available in supportive numbers. Also, if you know of an author available for speaking engagements or other programs, send me contact information and I will post it on the blog so that it will be available to all.

Our roundtable is responsible for a program at the JCPLA Staff Development Day on Friday, August 26, 2011. Any program ideas and/or suggestions are welcome and appreciated! What sort of RA program sessions would YOU attend? What sort of questions/problems crop up day to day in your RA work? Let me know!

Jared's recent Flash Fiction program at Hoover was a lively meet indeed! Have a look at the video and consider joining the group!


Flash Fiction - Open Mike Night 2011 from Hoover Library on Vimeo.

Jared, BPL
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud (Several people in the group said this is an essential purchase for all libraries! $22.99, 978-0060976255)
I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura
Solomon Kane by Robert Ervin Howard
Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn, Pia Guerra, and various
The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens
Magnus, Robot Fighter by Russ Manning, Robert Schaefer and Eric Friewald
Starman by Jack Burnley and various
Powerman & Iron Fist by Chris Claremont and various

Jared also prepared an excellent handout about comics/graphic novels in general with a glossary, timeline, and list of important writers and artists to know. I placed the document in a separate blog post, so click here to appreciate Jared’s research for yourself!

Maya, West End
Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino

(ADULT) At the Cross Academy, students of the Day Class are human and students of the Night Class are vampires.  As a Guardian of the Day Class, Yuki helps protect them from the denizens of the Night Class. 

Skip Beat by Yoshiki Nakamura
Aria by Kozue Amano

(ADULT) Sci-Fi shojo (girl) manga about a futuristic water world that recreates Venice and its canals.  They even have gondoliers who are the main characters in this funny, feel good manga.

Blood+ by Asuka Katsura
Alice in the Country of Hearts by QuinRose and Hoshino Soumei
Otomen by Aya Kanno

(TEEN) Tomboy, Ryo Miyakozuka admires tough guy, Asuka Masamune and wants to learn from him.  There’s one problem, Asuka is not nearly as tough as he appears, he likes to cook, sew and read shojo manga.  

Biomega by Tsutomu Nihei

(ADULT) Futuristic world where a zombie virus has laid waste to the human population.  Zombies have taken over (does this sound familiar?...)  Mankind’s only hope is a hero who’s not human and a girl who may or may not be the cure for the plague.

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit by Motoro Mase

(ADULT) Japan wants to have a prosperious and productive society and in order to achieve this people have to die.  In this dark manga, every citizen is inoculated with a nano device that could kill them between the ages of 18-24.  Citizens’ names are placed in a lottery and their fate is decided.  They are notified, of their fate, by an Ikigami 24 hours before their death.  

Black Lagoon by Rei Hiroe

(ADULT) Black Lagoon is gritty and hardcore.  Japanese salaryman, Rock, can never go home again.  He’s been betrayed by the coporation he worked for and finds himself destitute in one of the most dangerous Southeast Asian cities, Roanapur.  Rock becomes the fourth man of a mercenary team.  Will this former accountant manage to stay alive?  

Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji

(ADULT) Misao Harada is the bride of prophecy.  Destined to be the wife of whichever demon clan claims her.  She’s in a fight for her life; some demons just want her blood, others want to eat her.  How will Misao stay alive?

Deadman Wonderland by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou

(ADULT) Middle school student Ganta Igarashi is accused and convicted of being a mass murderer and is sent to Deadman Wonderland prison.  He’s innocent but can’t prove it.  The prisoners in Deadman Wonderland are injected with poison and must take an antidote, called “candy” everyday or they die.  The only way to get “candy” is to fight and kill other prisoners. 

Chocomimi by Konami Sonoda

(CHILDREN) Best friends Choco and Mimi get into all kinds of trouble but they do it with style.

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Heaven’s Will by Satoru Takamiya
Cirque Du Freak: The Manga by Darren Shan and Takahiro Arai

(TEEN) Manga adaptation of Darren Shan’s Cirque Du Freak series of novels.

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo by Matsuri Akino

(ADULT) Count D, from Pet Shop of Horrors, opens a new pet store in Tokyo.  This strange pet shop owner never ages and is very particular about his customers.  When one purchases a pet at his store, a contract must be signed and woe to anyone who breaks the contract.  This manga is reminiscent of Xxxholic. 

Kyo Kara Maoh by Tomo Takabayashi and Temari Matsumoto

(TEEN) While being bullied by his classmates, Yuri Shibuya discovers a world where he is the king, the “Demon” king.  As King, Yuri is expected to lead his people in a war against humans.

The Story of Saiunkoku by Yukino Sai and Yura Kairi

(TEEN) Impoverished noblewoman, Shurei Hong, becomes the consort of the Emperor Ryuki.  Will she be able to encourage her husband to govern the empire instead of his advisors?

Love.com by Aya Nakahara

(TEEN) Risa Koizumi is the tallest girl in the school and Atushi Otani is the shortest boy in school.  Will a romance develop?

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
The Dark Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Claudia Campos
(ADULTS) The manga adaptation of the Kenyon's Dark Hunter series of novels.
Special A by Maki Minami and Nancy Thistlethwaite

(TEEN) Hakari wants to be number one in her class.  The problem?  Kei Takishima is always number one.

Maximum Ride: The Manga by James Patterson and NaRae Lee

(TEEN) Manga adaptation of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series of novels.

Me & My Brothers by Hari Tokeino

(TEEN) Orphaned twice, fourteen-year-old Sakura believes she has no one to care for her.  When her four long lost, older brothers enter the scene, life will never be the same.

Otaku USA (periodical)
ICv2 Internal Correspondence (periodical)
Shonen Jump (periodical)

In addition to two teetering stacks of titles to share with the group, Maya also shared a list of review and information sites for manga and graphic novels:

ICv2: Inside Pop Culture Online Newsletter
Diamond Comic Distributors Inc.
Comics Worth Reading
Anime News Network
Bookletters: Graphic Novels BPL
Graphic Novel Reporter
Grovel Graphic Novel Reviews
Comic Book Resources
Newsarama
Bleeding Cool

Mary Ann, Southern History
The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon and Hoang Nguyen

(Adult) This graphic novel covers the Diana Gabaldon novel Outlander up to the point at which Claire reveals her secret to Jamie: that she is a woman of the twentieth century who has accidentally traveled back to the eighteenth century through a time gateway in a ring of standing stones. Claire, who has struggled over whether to try and return to her own time, finally decides to stay with Jamie in the past, but as anyone who has read Galbaldon’s novels can tell you, this is only the beginning of their troubles and adventures. The Exile will doubtless appeal to fans who have already read Gabaldon’s novels but could also be an excellent introduction to the Outlander series; it’s entertaining to see this artist’s interpretations of what the characters look like (and read the endless arguments about this among the fans on various review sites). The Exile earns its adult rating for depictions of sex and violence, women in exceedingly low-cut gowns, and Scotsmen running about with nothing under their kilts---or sometimes no kilt at all. 

The Best of Ray Bradbury: The Graphic Novel by Ray Bradbury and various
(Older Teen and Adult) This feast of a graphic novel presents twelve of Ray Bradbury’s best-known stories illustrated by art ranging from stark minimalism to saturated color to almost photographic-quality realism. Every story is excellent, but my standouts were “Come Into My Cellar,” illustrated by Dave Gibbons of Watchmen fame (earth is being invaded---by mushrooms!); “Picasso Summer,” with art by John Van Fleet (Picasso drawing in the sand on the beach---take some photographs quickly); “The Fog Horn,” with illustrations by Wayne Barlowe (the story that inspired the Ray Harryhausen film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms), and “A Sound of Thunder” with art by Richard Corben (whatever you do, don’t step off the path). Known for rich imagery, Bradbury’s stories lend themselves well to the graphic novel format, and Bradbury himself acknowledges his debt to “comic strips, comic books, and the creators of comics” in his moving introduction to the collection. This is a must for Bradbury fans, though all of them would clamor for more stories that should have been included. This is shelved in the adult section due to some scenes of violence and disturbing imagery, but would be suitable for older teens as well.
Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, Howard Zimmerman, and Dennis Calero (7-19-11, $30.00, 9780809067930)
Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury and Ron Wimberly (7-19-11, $30.00, 9780809087464)
Kill Shakespeare: A Sea of Troubles by Connor McCreery and various
(Adult) The cover blurb says it best: “This dark take on the Bard pits his greatest heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, Falstaff) against his most menacing villains (Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago) in an epic adventure to find and kill a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare.” My first reaction was “Greatest heroes? Falstaff?!” But I was certainly intrigued enough to take a look and was drawn in from the very first page. Though populated by Shakespeare’s characters, this universe differs greatly from that of Shakespeare’s plays: Falstaff does come across as braver than his stage counterpart, though still fond of his booze, snacks, and women; Juliet is the leader of a revolutionary faction, and Hamlet is hailed as the “Shadow King” who supposedly will free the characters from the tyranny of the mysterious William Shakespeare. Other things, however, have not changed: Hamlet can’t make up his mind what to do; no one should believe one syllable spoken by Iago without confirmation from a trustworthy source, and Richard III is even more of a homicidal Machiavel than the dark Plantagenet of the theatre. The adult rating is for a brutal array of violence including battle scenes, eye-gouging, and tongue-slicing---but if you have teens who are already interested in Shakespeare, you won’t be able to keep them away from this intriguing and darkly comic spin on the Bard. Highly recommended.
Will Super Villains Be On the Final?: Liberty Vocational By Naomi Novik and Yishan Li (4-26-11, $10.99, 978-0345516565)

Check out NPR Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan’s interview with Connor McCreery and Anthony del Col, author and illustrator of Kill Shakespeare.

Jon, Avondale
Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son.)
Mercy Thompson: Homecoming by Patricia Briggs and various (based on Patricia Briggs book series)
Modern Warfare 2: Ghost by David Lapham and Federicco Dallocchio (based on the Call of Duty video game)
Preacher: Proud Americans by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and various

Maya, West End
Ooku: The Inner Chambers by Fumi Yoshinaga

Patrick, Leeds
Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas (Marvel Spotlight, not an ideal edition as the entirety is broken up and published in small, hardcover issues at a higher price)
Great Expectations: The Graphic Novel by Charles Dickens (abridged)
Kare Kano: His and Hers Circumstances by Masami Tsuda
Peach Girl by Miwa Ueda
Gale offers some classic novels in graphic novel form, check their website.

April, Irondale
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri and Randy DuBurke
The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger
Blankets: An Illustrated Novel by Craig Thompson
Vietnamerica: A Family’s Journey by G.B. Tran

Holley, Emmet O’Neal
30 Days of Night by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith
The tiny of Barrow, Alaska has unknowingly rung the vampire dinner bell. Due to their global position, the sun will soon set in Barrow and not rise again for 30 days and nights. With the darkness come the hungry vampires and the only thing standing between the town and a complete and bloody annihilation are the beleaguered Sherriff and Deputy, a husband and wife team desperate to save the people of Barrow. Full color, with gore and strong language.

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn
Police Officer Rick Grimes awakens from a gunshot-induced coma to discover an abandoned world...abandoned by everyone alive, that is. The tension ramps up immediately as Grimes, weak and practically defenseless, stumbles into the zombie horde that seems to be the only thing left. His one thought is to get to the last known location of his wife and son to see if they’ve survived. Madness, chaos, drama, love, sex, death, and redemption follow. Gore, strong language, and sexual situations.

The Walking Dead was adapted for a miniseries which debuted last year on Halloween night on AMT. Jason (Trussville) let the group know that Stephen King is in talks with the producers about working on the second season, set to premiere, as the first season did, on Halloween night!

Generel discussion brought up Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley.
(Amazon product description: Mark Grayson is just like most everyone else his age. The only major difference being that his dad is the most powerful superhero on the planet! And, Mark seems to be inheriting his father's powers! See Mark thwart super-villains, alien invasions and all sorts of craziness, as he gets the hang of all this super-heroing stuff.)

Jared, BPL
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, Volume 1: The Journey Begins by Stephen King, Robin Furth, Peter David, Sean Phillips, and Richard Isanove
American Vampire by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquereque

Leigh Wilson, North Birmingham
Babymouse: Monster Mash by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm
Princess Candy: Sugar Hero by Michael Dahl and Jeff Crowther
The Boxcar Children Graphic Novels by Shannon Eric Denton, Gertrude Chandler Warner, and Mike Dubisch

Shannon Haddock, Hoover
Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son.)
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Keep in mind that several movies have come out recently, or will be coming out soon, which are based on comic books/graphic novels. Now is the perfect time to stock your shelves!

I’m not certain of the authenticity of this list since the dates are off for more than a few, but it’s entertaining to contemplate! Click through for yet another list from Den of Geek!

2011
• Jan 14 - The Green Hornet
• Mar 4 - Priest
• May 6 - Thor
• Jun 3 - X-Men: First Class
• Jun 17 - Green Lantern
• Jul 1 - Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• Jul 22 - Captain America: The First Avenger
• Jul 29 - Cowboys and Aliens
• Aug 19 - Conan
2012
• Feb 17 - Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
• May 4 - The Avengers
• Jul 3 - Spider-Man Reboot
• Jul 20 - Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
2013
• May 3 - Iron Man 3
Release Dates Unknown
• Deadpool
• Sin City 2
• Superman Reboot
• Judge Dredd
• Runaways
• Ant-Man
• Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall
• Wanted 2
• Wolverine 2
• Green Lantern 2
• Preacher

Happy reading!
Holley