Graphic Novels: From Sailor Moon to Spiderman

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

Arnoldi, Katherine. The Amazing True Story of a Teenage Single Mom . Hyperion, 1998. 0-7868-6420-6. (Gr. 9+)

Teen mom struggles to support and educate herself in this true-to-life graphic novel.

Beatty, Scott. Superman: The Ultimate Guide To The Man Of Steel. Dorling Kindersley, 2002. 0-7894-8853-1. (Gr. 6+)

The usual DK extravaganza - incredible art from the archives of DC Comics, combined with lots of information about Superman, crucial events in his life as well as the characters that accompany him.

Bendis, Brian Michael. Ultimate Spider-Man: Power And Responsibility: Volume 1. Marvel, 2001. 0-7851-0786-X. (Gr. 5+)

Peter Parker goes from ordinary teenager to superhero after a radioactive spider bite gives him "spider powers." The story of Spider-Man has been re-imagined to appeal to today's hi-tech, media savvy youth. Sequels: Ultimate Spider-Man: Volume 2. Ultimate Spider-Man: Double Trouble: Volume 3. Ultimate Spider-Man: Volume 4. Ultimate Spider-Man: Public Scrutiny: Volume 5. Also: Spider-Man the Ultimate Guide by Tom DeFalco.

Bissette, Steve. Godzilla: Age Of Monsters. Dark Horse Comics, 1998. 1-56971-277-8. (Gr. 5+)

Noriko's father discovers the big "rock" and her life changes. That discovery was the wake-up call for Godzilla and gave her a goal for her life's work--studying the King of the Monsters.

Brennan, Michael. Electric Girl, vol. 1. Mighty Gremlin, 2000. 0970355505. (Gr. 6-9)

Virginia is the Electric Girl, able to release electricity from her body at will. These are her adventures, accompanied by her invisible friend, Oogleeoog, a gremlin who is always getting her in trouble. Sequel: Electric Girl, vol. 2.

Busiek, Kurt. Kurt Busiek's Astro City : Life in the Big City. WildStorm, 1999. 156389551X. (Gr. 7+)

In this graphic novel, readers meet heroes who are extraordinary in their powers but refreshingly ordinary in their needs and wishes. Others in Series: Family Album. Confession. The Tarnished Angel. Also: Marvels .

Carlton , Bronwyn. The Books Of Faerie. Vertigo, 1998. 1563894017. (Gr. 9+)

Among the stories in this book is that of the orphan girl from eleventh-century England who becomes Queen Titania of Faerie. Also included is an account of Tim Hunter's first meeting with his father, Tamlin, who is a denizen of Faerie.

Clowes, Daniel. Ghost World. Fantagraphics Books, 2001. 1560974273. (Gr. 9+)

Enid and Becky are best friends until they finish high school. Then Enid wants to attend college and Becky is attracted to the same guy Enid is interested in. Their friendship will never be the same.

Dixon, Chuck. Black Canary/Oracle: Birds Of Prey. DC Comics, 2002. 1-40465-345-7. (Gr. 7+)

Action-packed stories of some of the most intriguing women in the DC Universe--Black Canary, Oracle, Catwoman, the Huntress, and Lois Lane .

Eisner, Will. A Contract With God And Other Tenement Stories. DC Comics, 2000. 1-56389-674-5. (Gr. 9+)

The award-winning Eisner explores the brutality and tenderness possible among people, using stories from his childhood.

Ellis, Warren . Stormwatch: Lightning Strikes. DC Comics, 2000. 1-56389-650-8. (7+)

The individual heroes of the StormWatch team, Jenny Sparks, Hawksmoor, Battalion and Rose Tattoo, battle for truth and justice as they try to make the world a better place. Others in Stormwatch Series: Change or Die. A Finer World. Force of Nature. Change the World. Final Orbit.

Fleming, Robert and Robert F. Boyd, Jr. The Big Book of Urban Legends: Adapted from the Works of Jan Harold Brunvand. DC Comics, 1994. 1-56389-165-4. (Gr. 7+)

These are those true stories. You know they're true because they happened to a friend-of-a-friend. You've heard about them. Now you can read about them in -- 200 in all.

Fujishima, Kosuke. Oh My Goddess!: Wrong Number. Dark Horse Comics, 2002. 1-56971-669-2. (A/YA = Adult Book for Young Adults)

First in a famous manga series. Keiichi is a teenage boy who dials the wrong number and gets the goddess Belldandy instead of his take-out order. She actually comes to him in response to his call. He thinks she's joking when she offers to grant his wish. He tells her he needs a goddess like her to stay with him. So she does. Boy was that a mistake. This title includes material from the previously published OH MY GODDESS: 1-555-GODDESS. Sequels: Oh My Goddess!: Leader of the Pack. Oh My Goddess!: Final Exam.

Gaiman, Neil. Death: The High Cost Of Living. Vertigo, 1994. 1563891336. (Gr. 9+)

Harvey Award-winning fantasy writer Neil Gaiman has written a series about the lives of seven immortals. Not quite Gods, but certainly far more than humans, they are the "D's" who embody realms of psychic experience: Dream, Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delirium, Destruction and most popular of all, Death. She may be the Reaper, but Death is not very grim about it. In fact, she's more like a satanic cheerleader as she goes about her business -- visiting the just-about-to-die and ushering them into their new existence, like the teenage boy contemplating suicide in this work. Also: Sandman Series (for adults and mature teens)

Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the Universe. Volumes 1-7. From the Big Bang to Alexander . Main Street Books. Doubleday, 1994. 0-385-42093-5. (A/YA)

A wonderfully goofball history of the world, with a true global perspective that, according to Carl Sagan, makes it a better way to learn human history than 90 percent of the school textbooks. Sequels: The Cartoon History of the Universe II. Volumes 8-13. From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome . The Cartoon History of the Universe III. From the Rise of Arabia to the Universe.

Groening, Matt. Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror: Spine-tingling Spooktacular. HarperPerennial, 2001. 0-06-093714-9. (Gr. 4+)

From crazed Christmas trees and tattooed circus freaks to school dances and teenage acne, these hilarious tales will keep you in stitches, start to finish. Also: Big Book of Bart Simpson. Simpsons Comics A-Go-Go. Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family.

Hirsch, Karen, ed. Mind Riot: Coming of Age in Comix . Aladdin, 1997. 0-689-80622-1. (Gr. 9+)

An intriguing collection of short stories, done by alternative comic-book artists, who were asked to recall what it was like to be a teen and then draw a story about it.

Hosler, Jay. Clan Apis. Active Synapse, 2000. 096772550X. (Gr. 5-7)

The delightful text, which combines science, humor, and teen angst, presents both a scientific view and a fictitious view of the life cycle of a honeybee, all represented in the character of Nyuki the bee.

Kudo, Kazuya. Mai The Psychic Girl: The Perfect Collection: Volume 1. Viz Communication, 1996. 1-56931-070-X. (Gr. 7+)

Mai is reluctant to use her psychic powers, but when she accepts her destiny to be the protector of Earth, she becomes a skilled warrior. Sequel: Mai The Psychic Girl: The Perfect Collection: Volume 2.