Graphic Novels: From Sailor Moon to Spiderman

Prepared by Bonnie Kunzel, Youth Services Consultant
New Jersey State Library

Larson, Gary . There's a Hair in My Dirt . HarperCollins, 1998. 0-06-019104-X. (YA)

When young worm finds a hair in his dirt, father worm regales him with an ecological and hilarious fable that explains how it got there. Also: Far Side Series

Lee, Stan and John Buscema. How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way . Simon & Schuster, 1984. 0-671-53077-1. (Gr. 4+)

Two veterans of the comic book industry collaborated on this comics compendium. The result is an encyclopedia that provides all the information you need for creating your own superhero comic strips.

Loeb, Jeph. Batman: The Long Halloween. DC Comics, 1999. 1-56389-469-6. (Gr. 8+)

Batman was created by Bob Kane. Set in the early days of Batman's career, this is an account of his encounter with the Holiday killer. The origin of arch-villain Two-Face is also included.

Mccloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: (The Invisible Art). HarperCollins, 1994. 0-06-097625-X. (Gr. 7+)

Indispensable book that explains how comics work: how they are composed, read and understood, written in comic-book format. Also: Reinventing Comics.

Miller, Frank. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. DC Comics; 10th edition, 1997. 1-56389-342-8. (Gr. 8+)

Although Bruce Wayne has retired as Batman, he is forced to take on the role of the Dark Knight once again as Gotham 's civilization crumbles around him. Also: Batman: Year One. Daredevil Visionaries.

Millar, Mark. Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People. Marvel, 2001. 0-7851-0788-6. (Gr. 7+)

A group of young mutants, ostracized by "normal" humans, form a team called the X-men to battle the militant Brotherhood lead by Magneto.

Miyasaki, Hayao. Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, Perfect Collection: Volume 1. Viz Communication, 1995. 1-56931-096-3. (Gr. 8+)

Miyazaki 's Nausicaa is a passionate defender of the natural world, with an almost magical ability to commune with the creatures of the forest.

Moore, Alan. Watchmen. Warner Books, 1995. 0-930-28923-4. (Gr. 9+)

Moore deconstructs the American super-hero with the heart-felt characters he developed in this sophisticated work. It has been said that WATCHMEN redefines comics. Also: Promethea: Book One. Batman: The Killing Joke. From Hell. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 1899. Saga of the Swamp Thing. Top Ten Book One.

Moore, Terry. Strangers in Paradise : High School! featuring Princess Warrior. Abstract Studio, 1999. 1892597071. (Gr. 9+)

An entertaining and poignant look at the relationship between two young women as they cope with the twists and turns that life throws at them. Also: Collected Strangers in Paradise .

Morrison, Grant. JLA: New World Order. DC Comics, 1997. 1-56389-369-X. (Gr. 7+)

The world's greatest heroes reunite to battle the world's new champions: deadly aliens called the Hyperclan. Also: Batman: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.

Nishiyama, Yuriko. Harlem Beat #1. TokyoPop, 1999. 1-89221-304-4. (Gr. 6+)

Away from the spotlight and the glory of organized basketball, Nate discovers street hoops. All through school, Nate was known as a quitter, but now he's found something he cares about, something he can excel at.

Otomo, Katsuhiro. Akira #1. Dark Horse Comics, 2001. 1-56971-498-3. (Gr. 9+)

Set in post-apocalypse Neo-Tokyo of 2019, the lives of two friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda, change forever. Dormant paranormal abilities begin to waken in Tetsuo who then becomes a target for a shadowy government operation. Also: Akira #2. Akira #3. Akira #4. Akira #5. Akira #6.

Petrie, Doug. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Ring Of Fire. Dark Horse Comics, 2000. 1-56971-482-7. (Gr. 7+)

This story is set in Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season. She and her vampire love, Angel, have shared a night of perfect bliss. As a result, Angel loses his soul and reverts to pure evil. In his effort to destroy Buffy, he brings a demonic samurai back to life. Now Buffy must defeat Kelgor or die.

Rennie, Gordon. Starship Troopers . Dark Horse Comics, 1998. 1-56971-314-6. (Gr. 9+)

Inspired by the classic Robert A. Heinlein novel, this is an account of mankind's on-going battle against alien attack, the starship troopers of Earth against some of the nastiest "bugs" you've ever seen.

Ross, Alex. Earth X. Marvel, 2000. 0-7851-0755-X. (Gr. 7+)

After a terrible accident, all humans left on the Earth develop superpowers. Now the super-heroes of the Marvel universe find themselves facing a world of super beings. What's going to happen to our heroes, now that they are essentially "normal." Sequels: Universe X: Volume 1. Universe X: Volume 2.

Sakai, Stan. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter. Dark Horse Comics, 1999. 1-56971-413-4. (Gr. 5+)

The tale of Usagi Yojimbo is a masterful adaptation of samurai legend. This is a parable of sixteenth century Japan that is told by using characters who are all anthropomorphized animals.

Samura, Hiroaki. Blade of the Immortal: Secrets. Vol. 10. Dark Horse Comics, 2002. 1-56971-746-X. (Gr. 11+)

Manji, a ronin warrior of feudal Japan , has been cursed with immortality. The only thing that will life the curse is for Manji to kill 1,000 evil men. He has his work cut out for him! Series: #1 Blood of a Thousand. #2 Cry of the Worm. #3 Dreamsong. #4 On Silent Wings. #5 On Silent Wings II. #6 Dark Shadows. #7 Heart of Darkness. #8 The Gathering Vol 1. #9 The Gathering Vol 2.

Scieszka, Jon. The Stinky Cheese Man And Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Illustrated by Lane Smith. Viking, 1992. 0-670-84487-X. (Gr. 2+)

Fractured Fairy Tales were never so funny. This looks like a picture book for children. But you need to know the tales to appreciate the humor, the satire, the wit. Teens love this collection. (Caldecott Honor 1993) Also: Baloney. Math Curse. Squids Will Be Squids. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.

Smith, Jeff. Bone: Out from Boneville. Vol. 1. Cartoon Books, 1995. 0963660993. (Gr. 5+)

The three Bone cousins are separated after being run out of Boneville. Their travels take them from an uncharted desert to a deep, forested valley full of terrifying creatures. Others in Bone series: #2 The Great Cow Race. #3 Eyes of the Storm. #4 The Dragonslayer. #5 Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border. #6 Old Man's Cave. #7 Ghost Circles. #8 Treasure Hunters.

Smith, Kevin. Daredevil Visionaries. Marvel, 1999. 0-7851-0737-1. (Gr. 7+)

Movie director and writer and actor Kevin Smith has his own comic book store and his own vision for blind Daredevil. Tough moral choices face our super-hero. Expect demand because of the movie.

Spiegelman, Art and Francoise Mouly. Little Lit: Folklore And Fairy Tale Funnies. HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-028624-5. (K-Gr. 6)

Traditional and new fairy tales, comic book style, by several famous artists including Art Spiegelman and David Macaulay. There is also a "Fairy Tale Road Rage" board game in this oversized book. Get the entire series. These books are so much fun! Others in Series: Little Lit: Silly Stories. Little Lit: Strange Stories.

Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor's Tale. My Father Bleeds History. (Vol. 1) Pantheon Books; Reprint edition, 1997. 0679406417. (A/YA)

This is a Pulitzer Prize winning-memoir, done in graphic novel format, of the life of the author's father, Vladek, who was a survivor of Hitler's plan to exterminate the Jews. Jews are portrayed as mice; Nazis as cats; Americans as dogs and the French as pigs. Sequel: Maus: A Survivor's Tale. And Here My Troubles Began. (Vol. 2)

Stavans, Ilan. Latino USA : A Cartoon History. Basic Books, 2000. 0-4650-8221-1. (Gr. 9+)

By turns humorous and serious, this cartoon history of the Latino experience in the U.S. is irreverent, sweeping, political, and very funny.

Takahashi, Rumiko. Ranma 1/2: Volume 1. Viz Communication, 1993. 0-92927-993-X (Gr. 8+)

Ranma 1/2 is a keen social satire about a young martial artist who turns into a girl every time he is splashed with cold water. He is accompanied by his father who turns into a Panda when he is splashed with cold water. Truly bizarre, and a lot of fun.

Takaya, Yoshiki. Bio-Booster Armor Guyver. Volume 1. Viz Communication, 1995. 1-56931-032-7. (Gr. 8+)

The Guyver is an alien who endows Sho with superpowers when he adopts his body. . Unfortunately, the secret organization Chronos is looking for the Guyver unit it lost. And they will stop at nothing to get it back. Others in the Bio-Booster Armor Guyver series: #2 Revenge of Chronos. #3 Dark Masters. #4 Escape from Chronos. #5 Guyver Reborn. #6 Bio-Booster Armor Guyver: Heart of Chronos. #7 Armageddon.

Takeuchi, Naoko. Sailor Moon . TokoyoPop, 1998. 189221301X. (Gr. 3-7)

Sailor Moon and her friends, the Sailor Scouts, battle evil while trying to live like typical teens. Sailor Moon Series has numerous volumes.

Talbot, Bryan . Tale of One Bad Rat . Dark Horse Books, 1995. 1569710775.

In this graphic novel, Helen runs away from home to flee her abusive father and tries to make her way alone on the streets of London.

Tanaka, Masashi. Gon . DC Comics, 2001. 1-56389-749-0. (Gr. 3-7)

Size doesn't matter! He's king of the dinosaurs.and he's barely twelve inches tall! there's no more fearsomely funny creature on the planet. One of several Gon books. A tiny dinosaur with a feisty attitude marches across the wilderness defending the friendly and furry from the mean and hungry. Others: Gon Again! Gon on Safari. Gon Swimmin'. Gon Underground. Gon Wild!

Vankin, Jonathan. The Big Book of Grimm. DC Comics, 1999. 1-56389-501-3 (Gr. 7+)

Here are the original, uncensored Grimm's fairy tales in all their grim glory. All the gruesome parts have been restored, and fully illustrated in this graphic novel version. "Truly scary fairy tales to frighten the whole family!" --Cover. Others: The Big Book Of Bad. The Big Book of Scandal!

Waid, Mark. Kingdom Come. DC Comics, 1998. 1-56389-330-4. (Gr. 8+)

In the mid-21 st century, it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad. Until Superman comes out of seclusion to put things back on the right track, ably assisted by other elderly superheroes, including Wonder Woman and Batman. Also: Justice League: A New Beginning. Superman Batman: Alternate Histories.

Watson, Andi. Geisha. ONI Press, 1999. 0966712722. (Gr. 9+)

Jomi Sohodo is an android. Adopted by the Kami family, she was raised with human brothers. But when she can't make ends meet as an artist, she joins the family business -- as a bodyguard for hire.

Winick, Judd. Pedro And Me: Friendship, Loss, And What I Learned. Henry Holt, 2000. 0-8050-6403-6. (Gr. 9+)

In a graphic novel format, this book describes the friendship between two roommates on the MTV show The Real World, one of whom died of AIDS. Also: The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0.

Wolfman, Mary. Crisis On Infinite Earths. DC Comics, 2001. 1-56389-750-4. (7+)

In 1985, the shape of the DC Universe was changed by the legendary 12-issue series Crisis on Infinite Earths . Now that epic, which includes the deaths of the original Flash and Supergirl, has been given new life in this trade paperback.