Graphic Novel Roundup

When it comes to creating wordless comics, award-winning illustrator Peter Kuper is one of the best in the business. Kuper's reinterpretation of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis and his reinvention of Mad magazine's Spy vs. Spy series have attracted legions of loyal fans, and his latest wordless wonder, Sticks and Stones, won a 2004 gold medal from the Society of Illustrators. Sticks and Stones tells the story of a menacing stone giant who emerges from a volcano and demands that the local people build him a stone castle. When the giant later discovers a peaceful village, built of wood, he sets out to conquer it and a deadly war ensues. Just as the conflict is about to be resolved, both communities are destroyed by a flood of Biblical proportions. Kuper uses mostly black-and-white images (with an occasional burst of color) to narrate this clever allegory about the futility of imperialism. He also holds out hope for humankind. The best wordless books, like Kuper's, pose a great challenge for thoughtful readers--although the stories can be "read" in mere minutes, it requires hours of reflection to fully comprehend them.

Sticks and Stones. Three Rivers Press. 2004. $13.95. ISBN 1-4000-5257-2. Gr 6 and up.

Neil Gaiman is rapidly becoming a superstar, having written several stellar graphic-novel series--Sandman and The Books of Magic--and more than a few best-selling novels, such as Coraline and Wolves in the Walls. In addition to being a prolific writer, the witty, erudite Gaiman is also a great interview. Now, some of his interviews have been collected in a single volume, Hanging Out with the Dream King. The book also features interviews with many of his collaborators, who present an intriguing behind-the-scenes view of what it's like to actually work with Gaiman. Hanging Out is a must-read for Gaiman's many devotees--and for anyone else who's wild about fantasy, horror, and graphic novels. (For more on Gaiman, see "Hooray for Harry," pp. 46-49.)

Hanging Out with the Dream King: Conversations with Neil Gaiman & His Collaborators. Fantagraphics Books. 2005. $17.95. ISBN 1-56097-617-9. Gr 10 and up.

Dark Horse Comics has produced an attractive homage to the Star Wars movies that's sure to satisfy even the most zealous of fans. Featuring sections such as "Heroes and Allies," "Villains and Rogues," "The Jedi," "Spaceships," and "The World of Star Wars," Star Wars: Panel to Panel is crammed full of entertaining anecdotes and terrific photographs that will delight Jedis of all ages.

Star Wars: Panel to Panel: From the Pages of Dark Horse Comics to a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Dark Horse Books. 2004. $19.95. ISBN 1-59307-261-9. Gr 5 and up.