Graphic Novels

Gr 8 Up–Complete with bulging biceps, square jaw, and heat vision, a Supermanesque warlord must once again save Earth from imminent destruction. Majestic, his young cyborg sidekick, Desmond; and female compatriot, Zealot, literally unearth an artificial-intelligence being that can allow people to view the history of planets. Majestic is a confusing second volume that does not hold up on its own. Jam-packed with lots of action and fight scenes involving a creative cast of villains from giant robots to bio-enhanced humans, this book might appeal to teens familiar with the overarching story line. Some of the fight scenes depict people who were eviscerated when attacked. Overly reeking of a Superman gone awry, this offering is not particularly impressive, making it a marginal purchase for most collections.–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY

Gr 8 Up–Masato and Hakura are aspiring mystery writers, penning under the pseudonym “Taro Suzuki.” Soon, they become embroiled in real-life murders and must put their know-how to the test. When things look grim for the pair, a masked detective mysteriously appears to help them. Each chapter is a separate story. “A Detective Appears” involves the murder of their classmate (and Masato’s potential love interest); in “Who Did It?” the teens discover a murder at a ghostly hotel while on a class trip. “Too Many Detectives” involves a murder at a mystery writers’ conference; “A Dangerous Date” once again sees one of Masato’s love interests in harm’s way. Manga fans of Akino’s “Petshop of Horrors” series (Tokyopop) might be disappointed by the decidedly lighter tone in this volume. However, the book is quick to deliver action and even quicker to provide resolution, making for a fast read that should appeal to the most reluctant reader. With a few bloody scenes, a healthy dose of teen angst, and ghostly occurrences, it should also appeal to a wide variety of teens, including those who have enjoyed Gosho Aoyama’s “Case Closed” series (Viz Media).–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY

Gr 4-7–Abadazad is a magical graphic novel that Kate, 14, and her younger brother, Matt, had been reading about in old books. While under Kate’s care five years earlier, he was kidnapped, and she is still having trouble dealing with the loss. Through some sort of magic, she is transported to the land of Abadazad, where her brother is, and she meets the characters from the books as she starts her quest to rescue him. Here the first book ends, and not much is resolved or explained. The format is a challenge because pages from the original stories are interspersed with Kate’s diary, which then jumps into graphic-novel format that looks anime-ish. The text lacks pagination or chapter breaks and has a tiny font. The language of Kate’s diary is colloquial, with asides in parentheses, and the pages of the old books begin and end in the middle of sentences. Dream Thief follows the same format; the pieces don’t work any better together, and the plot is not clear. Although Kate has several adventures and meets creepy and creative characters, she does not find her brother, except as a vision in a pearl necklace, held captive in a pod of green goo. While graphic-novel fans might pick these books up, there is too much narrative text between the cartoons to hold their interest, and all but the most stalwart readers might decide that the format is just too confusing.–Sharon R. Pearce, Longfellow Elementary School, Oak Park, IL

Gr 5-8–Kids have seen their favorite superheroes on the big screen, the small screen, and at the end of a game controller. Now, they can read about them. Though brief, the books manage to pack a punch without sacrificing the characters’ personalities. No previous Marvel Universe knowledge is required, so avid and new readers can enjoy the graphic format. First, Spider-man battles the ultra-cool, lime-green Living Brain. He then becomes the hunted. Stars is the first installment in a series in which Spider-man fights alongside Captain America. This one gets a little preachy–but it is Captain America, after all. Spidey lightens the mood by quipping, “…I’m going to steal everything you said for my social studies essay!” In Hearing Things, Jean Grey must learn to control her powers despite her teen angst. The artwork in all the books is serviceable. Spider-man’s body can get disproportionate and his head appears alien in a few panels, but the Living Brain makes for a dazzling cover. While the slim volumes look like they’re packaged for beginning readers, the vocabulary, combined with references to topics such as information control, bullying, and steroids, makes it clear that these books are geared toward an older crowd. Don’t worry, though; the humor keeps them from being didactic.–Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA

Gr 4-8–What would happen if you mixed up the Little Rascals with Pirates of the Caribbean, and shot them off into space? Hopefully, something nearly as delightful and entertaining as this title. Sardine is traveling the universe with her uncle, Captain Yellow Shoulder; her cousin Louis; plus a cast of random creatures that appear to make up their crew. Time and again, they find themselves facing off against their nemesis, Supermuscleman. Each of the 12 stories is a quirky and slightly irreverent adventure, with surreal turns and silly jokes that kids will love. Translated from the French, the book may surprise American adults with its slightly risqué illustrations (the most glaring example is when Louis’s outline can be seen in silhouette as he urinates), but children will just be highly amused by the gentle bawdy humor. Kids will particularly love the brightly colored illustrations, filled with fun details that will have them captivated for hours.–Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Gr 8 Up–Saeyoung, a fairly typical teen living in Korea, has a crush on her friend Hyunwoo. She is a bit of a wallflower, and while she is active in her school’s drama club, she has never landed a part in a play. Her classmate Haemi, however, is the lead actress and the prettiest girl in her grade. When Haemi gets offered a role on TV, her part in the play is offered to Saeyoung–but things don’t work out quite the way she planned. A standard romance, this book has many of the elements of today’s shojo stories. Despite its mainstream appeal, however, it was originally published in the early 1990s, and the characters’ dress and references are somewhat dated. The story and art are both lackluster, neither offering any real enticement to readers to care about these characters, and there are some minor translation flaws. Overall, this volume is somewhat bland and unremarkable.–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY

Gr 7 Up–Gertrude is a manmade demon searching for the recipe that made him so that he can destroy it. While on his quest he meets a normal teenaged girl, Sahara, who tries to help him find what he is seeking. It is not until Gertrude meets her older brother that he starts to get some answers about his origin. The characters are interesting and likable. This should appeal to readers of manga who enjoy Maki Murakami’s Kanpai! (Tokyopop) or those not yet ready for Tsugumi Ohba’s more intense Death Note (Viz Media).–Melissa T. Jenvey, New York Public Library

Gr 4 Up–Kampung Boy is a pleasure to read. It follows the early life of a Muslim boy growing up in a tiny town in Malaysia during the 1950s. Incidents are well chosen and illuminating, including the rituals surrounding birth, the solidity and pride of family, the joy of skinny-dipping, and the fanfare of a traditional circumcision ceremony. All are handled tastefully and with nostalgic reverence. Illustrations are simple, yet emotionally expressive and charming. As engaging as any travelogue, the book uses universal themes to connect readers to a time and place that may very well no longer exist, but sincere reflection and honest details will draw them into this other world and win their hearts. American audiences are lucky to finally receive this international classic.–Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Gr 3-8–These titles attempt, with varying success, to bring classic tales alive. Each one includes dialogue with a contemporary tone, which stretches the stories out. However, some of Hercules’s labors get fairly short shrift in order to fit them all into this format. Although the art varies stylistically from book to book, it all shares the same basic palette and the general look of an American comic. Each volume has two overlapping notes, one on sources before the table of contents and the other, titled “Creating…,” at the end. The further-reading lists are brief and include, variously, Bulfinch’s Mythology for Thor and Hercules as well as the DVD of The Mummy starring Boris Karloff for Isis. Overall, Hercules and Isis are more pleasing updates than King Arthur or Thor but all convey the basic elements of the myths in a format that is increasingly popular. Keep in mind Marcia Williams’s King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Candlewick, 1996; o.p.) as an alternative and more complete comic-book take on the Arthurian cycle and the recently re-released D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths (New York Review of Books, 2005) as an alternative to Thor.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Gr 2-4–These slim volumes are touted as supporting the No Child Left Behind Act by encouraging the “practice of phonemic awareness, phonics skills, fluent reading, vocabulary building, and text comprehension.” A small list of story and sight words is provided; it is designed to be reviewed with the child before reading the story. This is awkward since the words are at the back of the book. The main problem with the books, however, is the inconsistency between volumes. In The Misfits, three humorous, grubby orphans fight to stay together and stay parentless. It’s a great story, but the art is fuzzy and cluttered, making it difficult to tell the children apart. The illustrations are so hazy it’s like looking at pictures through smoke. In contrast, the digital illustrations in Time Travelers are bright and appealing, but the story of two children falling into a time slide gets confusing. Finally, Spooky Sara gets it right. The girl lives with her friends who happen to be a skeleton, a ghost, and a werewolf. Needless to say, this doesn’t make her very popular. The wide-headed children, less-than-scary monsters, and Sara’s desire to be liked are sure to be a hit.–Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA

Gr 8 Up–This volume collects the final five issues of Wonder Woman, written by comic master Pérez in the mid-1980s. The story picks up after Diana has lived in America for some time, trying to spread the Amazonian message of peace. It begins with a mystery, as Wonder Woman’s publicist has been murdered and Diana is determined to solve the hideous crime. Once this story line is resolved, much of the book takes place on Diana’s home of Themyscira where readers are treated to stories from her childhood and the history of her people. The book ends with a major conflict when the god Hermes comes to America to impress people into worshiping the ancient gods again, but instead creates a giant mess, and it’s Wonder Woman to the rescue. Fans of Greek mythology and classic comics will enjoy this volume.–Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Gr 4 Up–Cavalryman Jeb Stuart is a spotter for a small crew of men in an equally small M-3 tank during World War II. The tank’s small-caliber cannon and short firing range make it an unlikely survivor against the enemy’s heavier artillery, but through guile and unexpected warnings it is able to maneuver through a series of combat triumphs. The warnings come from the ghost of Jeb Stuart, a former general in the Rebel army and the namesake of the tank’s spotter. The individual stories are a series of strategic mysteries: how to outwit superior firepower, how to find a “ghost tank” in a battlefield, how to signal to one’s comrades that a spy has infiltrated their unit, and so forth. Despite the enigmatic clues provided by the guardian ghost, the odds never feel like they are unrealistically stacked, and the victories of the M-3’s crew seem fairly won, and hard won, which creates a satisfying suspense. And while the prose is overcooked and the regular reintroduction of the ghost and the fact that only Jeb can see him gets tiresome, the detailed artwork is exceptionally good, with beautiful technical detail and lush, textured shadows. This reprint volume is likely to be better at providing dedicated readers with a fascinating view into a unique story conceit than at finding new readers and exposing them to a historical genre of comics gone by.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, MA

Gr 4-7–Siegel was born to dance. At age six, she began to take lessons in Puerto Rico. When her family moved to Boston, she continued to study ballet and was totally inspired when she saw a performance by Maya Plisetskaya of the Bolshoi Ballet. When she was accepted at the American School of Ballet, her family moved to New York. While she was a student, she performed in numerous ballets of George Ballanchine. Her promising future came to an end at the age of 18 when she suffered a serious ankle injury. However, rather than focusing on this disappointment, Siegel notes that she went on to college and later began dancing again because, “Dancing fills a space in me.” The graphic format works well. The illustrations and story line blend together to create a pleasing whole. The watercolor-and-ink illustrations introduce a theme of fluidity and movement through undulating ribbons like those on a ballerina’s slippers. Through one dancer’s experiences during the 1970s and ’80s, readers are introduced to an important period in the world of ballet and are given an inspiring message about the dedication required to become a ballerina.–Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

Gr 5 Up–These selections from the “Goosebumps” series have been abridged and put in a graphic-novel format, and the fast pace and horror elements make them perfect for this format. The black-and-white illustrations for each one are very different but fit each story well. In “The Werewolf of Fever Swamp,” the artwork bristles much like the hackles on a werewolf’s neck. The smooth, realistic style of “The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight” makes the scarecrow chilling and haunting. The bolder, cartoon style of “The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena” perfectly fits this more humorous tale. This is a great option for younger readers interested in graphic novels, and the nostalgia is there for the older set.–Melissa T. Jenvey, New York Public Library

Gr 12 Up–Living in post-Civil War America, Wes Cutter, a Southern rebel, has returned to Missouri after being detained in a Union prison camp. When he arrives, he finds that his home has been taken over by the Union troops who want Wes to join up with their cause. He is also searching for his wife, who is sometimes seen accompanying him, though readers sense that things are not always what they seem. The story is told in flashbacks that are not always clearly delineated. Wes is a character with questionable morals who wants to reclaim what is rightly his, and he will employ any means necessary–including excessive amounts of violence–to do so. The shadowy art is a perfect complement to this exceptionally dark Western tale. With scenes of appalling violence, coarse language, sex, rape, nudity, and racial epithets, this volume puts the “graphic” back into graphic novel. It will most likely find an audience with fans of Azzarello’s “100 Bullets” series and Garth Ennis’s “Preacher” series (both Vertigo).–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY

Gr 10 Up–John Constantine learns–in part from clues provided in Black Flowers (DC Comics, 2005)–that an animal spirit from the Garden of Eden escaped before Adam could name it, thus rendering it a protean evil spirit without form or boundary. He holds a séance to destroy it, but mistakenly makes it stronger, releasing its bloody, macabre vengeance upon all of humanity through the collective unconscious. With his niece, his sidekick Angie, and his friend Chas, Constantine makes a last-ditch sacrifice to distract the unnamed beast from his global tide of mutilation in order to save humankind. The volume begins with a short tale showing how Gemma is increasingly following in her uncle’s crafty, manipulative footsteps. The artwork is scratchy and moody to good effect, and particularly good at capturing the canny surety of the antiheroic protagonist. The elements of mythology, apocrypha, and high-stakes drama are all in place, and the story is a worthy successor to the long line of mystic apocalypses that the character has faced in the past. However, to portray such infernal matters successfully, the series depicts matters of faith and violence with a particularly cynical hand. Despite excellent craftsmanship, such content and tone will prevent this series from being universally appealing.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, MA

Gr 10 Up–Daigo took an unconscious Hirofumi to the hospital after a car accident. Two years later, Hirofumi’s health returned, but he couldn’t remember his former life. Instead he latched on to his rescuer, who turned out to be needy to the point of obsession. Over time, the boys entered into a romantic and sexual relationship. Hirofumi was told that if his amnesia ever cleared up, he would lose all memories of his life since the accident, so he wrote a letter in which he explained to his “future self” how his relationship with Daigo developed. This story begins the day that Hirofumi’s amnesia vanishes, and he doesn’t recognize this strange boy who is paying him so much attention. Even after reading the “Dear Myself” letter and his journal, Hirofumi has trouble accepting that he could have ever had a homosexual relationship. He continues to rebuff Daigo’s advances, but Daigo’s pleading (and his own unconscious physical memory) start to break down Hirofumi’s homophobic walls. The book is filled with images of longing glances peeking out from beneath stylish bangs and has a striking image of the boys embracing on the cover. Some readers might find the ending romantically fulfilling. Others might wish for a team of social workers to help these boys (who both have histories of being molested by their elders) to deal with their problems and to develop as individuals. A thought-provoking story for mature readers.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 10 Up–Beloved around the world, the Moomins are fanciful creatures that look quite a lot like upright hippopotami. They are peaceful, dreamy sorts who occasionally yearn for adventure, but always come back to their home. This is the first collection of the comic strips, which were begun by Jansson in 1954 and carried by the London Evening News. Adventures in this volume include sophisticated issues, such as dealing with houseguests who have overstayed their welcome, a trip to the French Riviera, pirate attacks, and critiques on modern art. Whimsical, yet deep, they will appeal to fans of Charles Schultz’s “Peanuts” strip. Black-and-white illustrations are simple, but stylistically unique and charming. Appeal may be mixed due to the slightly dated language and philosophical tendencies of the characters, which, in this incarnation, were written for adults, but teens with a taste for the absurd will find this offering quite adorable.–Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Gr 10 Up–More than 100 years ago, an exorcist sealed Guilt-na-Zan into a cross. Kyoji, a descendant of the exorcist, brings the aristocratic vampire back as a female doll who must now act as his maid and serve him and his sister, Tonae. If Guilt-na-Zan imbibes a small amount of Tonae’s blood, he can then become his true male form. When he is reunited with his servant, Vincent (now also a servant of Kyoji), the two are ordered by Kyoji to go to school with Tonae to protect her from an enigmatic demon named Dune who is sucking the wickedness out of her male classmates and quickly turning her school into a setting of a boys’ love manga. This plot, with its twists and turns, offers little resolution or development. Moving at a frenetic pace, the story is disorienting and unorganized; comic strips that have little relevance to the story appear between many of the chapters and interrupt the flow of the narrative. Still, the goth-styled characters and vampire themes have appeal, and teens with interest in these areas will naturally gravitate toward this book.–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY

Gr 10 Up–Haruhiko, 17, has a reputation for being able to fix things. He picked up this skill trying to impress his neighbor, Yika, a sweet young woman who is now a teacher at his school. His bumbling crush on her is his greatest concern, until a bizarre twist transforms the story from a typical high school romance into an occult fantasy. Suddenly, Haruhiko finds himself the object of attention of a demon named Eukanaria, who just happens to be the spitting image of his love (except that she is dressed in incredibly skimpy clothing and has wings). She was drawn to Haruhiko because he smells like her dead master, whose soul she is trying to find a vessel for, and to preserve the safety of the school and the woman he loves, Haruhiko needs to help Eukanaria. While there is no actual nudity, the erotic tension of this book runs high, and the demon girl’s various poses are both revealing and highly provocative. Even the main character is uncomfortable at times. Because of its sexy humor and art, this is for older teens.–Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Gr 10 Up–Through memorable characters drawn in clean, cartoon lines and colored in soft pastels, Kelso tackles serious subjects and delivers thoughtful dialogue. The 14 stories, ranging from fiction to memoir to historical essay, build slowly, panel by panel. Readers are never quite sure of the direction these selections are taking, but, with the last panel, everything suddenly makes sense. “Meow Face” is the heart-wrenching tale of a young girl who is purposefully locked out of the house and how the experience becomes the singular moment that defines her adult life. Two separate but related pieces–“Publius” and “The Duel”–begin as simple character studies of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, but develop into thoughtful explorations of society today. The complexity of writing that Kelso delivers in a small space is akin to the work of short-story authors like Alice Munro. Kelso can be a little too subtle, making her meaning a bit difficult to follow for readers looking for a fun read, but those willing to dig into the layers of subtext will find a unique vision well worth encountering.–Matthew L. Moffett, Ford’s Theatre Society, Washington, DC

Gr 10 Up–Yamato has moved to Tokyo to live and work at his aunt’s spa and ladies’ apartment complex. When he first sees Suzuka performing a high jump, he is instantly captivated by her beauty and athleticism. When he sees her again, she gets the first of several wrong impressions about him because he’s in the first of several compromising positions. In fact, the girl sitting on top of him is there because she fell on him, and will fall on him again in various stages of undress throughout the course of this book. This is one of several examples of nudity (realistic but not graphic) being used to comedic effect. The artwork is stylish, becoming more outlandish and cartoony as the humor becomes broader. Most of the story revolves around Yamato trying to win Suzuka over. In the last chapter, a new girl cares enough to cook for him when he’s sick, and this finally awakens some caring instincts in Suzuka. The egg dishes she makes in the microwave are a complete disaster, but he eats them anyway. By the end of the book an egg has exploded in Yamato’s face and their relationship promises to move onward and upward in the next installment.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library