I'm very new to the world of comic books, and it's much more diverse and vast than I thought. I read manga as a kid, as I grew up in a primarily Chinese American suburb. Manga was cool, but Marvel and Superman are new to me. I feel like I'm starting to learn more about comics, but it's always difficult to start reading in a new genre, isn't it? Superheros are not really my favorite, so I never thought comic books were something I'd like. (For goodness sake, have you seen how big the Spider-Man section is at the library?) However, I'm learning that comics, graphic novels, and manga can tell all sorts of stories. Here's a list of every comic I've ever read as an adult. To my surprise, I enjoyed all of them immensely.
Saints : the Book of Blaise
Lewis, Sean Christopher, author.
COMIC Saints
"When a group of misfits discover themselves to be the re-incarnations of Catholic Saints they must put aside their differences to battle the fallen Archangel Michael and his army of Doomsday Zealots" -- page 4 of cover.
Unknown soldier
Dysart, Josh.
COMIC Unknown
The first book in this series is about a soldier recruited into a child army in Uganda. I believe the series is about a soldier superhero who embodies various soldiers and utilizes their skills. The soldier superhero has PTSD flashback-type experiences as he fights.
I read this comic book as part of a college course on post-colonial violence, genocide, and re-growth in SubSaharan Africa. It is a difficult book to read and covers very serious subject matter. I didn't know that comic books could be serious and meaningful in this way.
- Hanna
Persepolis
Satrapi, Marjane, 1969-
BIOGRAPHY Satrapi, Marjane
Persepolis is an autobiographical series of bandes dessinées by Marjane Satrapi that depicts her childhood up to her early adult years in Iran and Austria during and after the Islamic Revolution.
Technically this is more of a graphic novel, I think. I know many Rhetoric classes at the U of I read this book, and I wanted to know what the fuss was about, so I put this book on my holiday gift list last year. This was one of the first visual books/ comics/ graphic novels I sought out myself.
- Hanna
To be or not to be : a chooseable-path adventure
North, Ryan, 1980- author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION North, Ryan
The greatest work in English literature, now in the greatest format of English literature: a chooseable-path adventure! William Shakespeare's Hamlet has finally been restored to its original second-person non-linear branching narrative format. Now it's up to you to decide what happens next. Play as Hamlet and revenge your father's death. Play as Ophelia and make scientific discoveries. Play as King Hamlet, Sr. and die on the first page!
Does this one count? Our cataloging librarians put this book in YA, but it has illustrations on just about every page. When I found it among the books, I had to stop my work, sit down, and read it through a few times. (It's choose-your-own-adventure, so I read different endings.) Regardless, it sticks in my mind as a book that has encouraged me to try more comics.
- Hanna
Fruits basket another
Takaya, Natsuki, 1973- author, artist.
MANGA Takaya Fruits Another
"Sawa Mitoma, a nervous, skittish girl who prefers minimal human interaction, has just started high school, and it's already not going well... until she meets the 'it' boys -- the 'prince-like' Mutsuki and the sharp-tongued Hajime. But little does she know, they're Sohmas?! It's Fruits Basket ... again!" -- Back cover of volume 1.
The original Fruits Basket was one of my favorite manga as a middle school kid. I felt this list would not be complete without the reboot, which I have also started reading.
- Hanna
Gideon Falls
Lemire, Jeff, author.
COMIC Gideon
The legend of the Black Barn tells of an otherwordly buidling that has appeared and reappeared throughout history, bringing death and madness in its wake. Now its mystery ensnares and entwines the lives of two very different men. One: a young recluse, obsessed with finding hidden clues within the city's trash. The other: a washed-up Catholic priest, finding his place in a small town that hides dark secrets. Neither of them are prepared for what's inside the Black Barn.
This series is my latest exploration of comics. I wanted to read something spooky and haunted before Halloween!
- Hanna
My friend's brother actually did the artwork for this. He and the author graduated from the University of Iowa. I've met him maybe three times: move-in day freshman year, his Iowa City comic book signing for Saints, and his sister's wedding day. But I still think this is the coolest comic ever.
- Hanna