Are you excited when you hear that prose books like Twilight and The Stand are being turned into graphic novels?
Copper Talk with Kazu Kibuishi
Kazu Kibuishi discusses his new collection, Copper, what inspired him and the freedom working on a webcomics series affords him.
The Puppet Masters: An Interview with Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins
Writer Van Jensen and creator-artist Dusty Higgins discuss their critically acclaimed work on Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer, an original, fun, and inventive take on a story that was already far darker than most people know.
Of Gods and Men: An Interview with George O'Connor
George O’Connor has just begun a new series focusing on the gods of myth, a series he's both writing and illustrating. But he took some time out from his busy schedule to answer our questions about the king of the gods, comics collecting, and more.
Sublife Goes On: An Interview with John Pham
Writer/artist John Pham takes us on a journey through his imaginative Sublife.
Power Talk: Comics in the University Classroom
Randy Duncan and Matthew J. Smith have written the book on The Power of Comics, a first-rate resource for college-level comics courses. We talked to the two professors about how they developed their comics criteria and how other teachers can too. Plus: Both share their syllabi from their courses!
Robert Weil
In his long career as an editor, Robert Weil has worked with some of the most successful and revered authors in the world. We talked with him about how he got started working on graphic books, how he edits them, and what it was like to work on two groundbreaking works, Genesis and Stitches.
Guys Read Succeeds
A program aimed at boys in Alaska and helping them develop a love of reading features graphic novels and manga. The library director who implemented the program explains how he did it and how successful it has been.
So Then What Happened?
In the second installment of her ongoing documentation of teaching kids with the classics, Doré Ripley shows how her students took to the graphic adaptation of Metamorphosis.
Teaching Graphic Novels as Literature
English teacher Allen Porter built a new graphic-novel curriculum at his school. Here's the story of how he did it and how he developed a program to engage kids in learning about comics.
Graphic Novel Workshops for Teens
Teens love to get graphic at the library, and librarian Jordan Boaz has the details on how to make it work.
Mobile Comics Apps in the Classroom
Teacher Eric Federspiel earned a grant that allowed him to bring 15 iPod Touches into the classroom. Here’s how he loaded them with comics-related learning opportunities.
Jenny Christopher Randle
Boom! Studios’ Sales Director Jenny Christopher relays her passion for comics and why she’s a fan of the format.
Sari Wilson
Writer, editor, and comics educating consultant Sari Wilson takes some time to answer our questions.
Greg Sadowski
Greg Sadowski is a longtime comics historian and editor who has just announced seven new books to come from Fantagraphics, all focused on the Golden Age of the format. We go Behind the Scenes with Greg.
Bob Almond
An inker with nearly two decades of experience in the job, Bob Almond officially began the Inkwell Awards in January of 2008. We talked with him about his history with comics and his work in the field.
Calista Brill
With a lineup as diverse as First Second’s, you would expect an editor with equally mobile tastes. Calista Brill doesn’t disappoint. The publishing house’s editor took time out of her busy day to answer our profile questions.
The American Booksellers Association presents its list of the top 25 graphic novels for the quarter.
Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Maryland, has just celebrated its grand reopening. We’re joining in on the party with a profile of the store and a look at their bestseller list.
At Green Brain Comics, they love comics and they do they everything they can to celebrate them. In fact, the love is a little bit infectious.
Lobo Anime & Comics is one of the largest comics stores in New Mexico, a veritable treasure trove of games, toys, and, of course, comics.
Meet Atom!, the owner of the 2008 Eisner Award-winning comics shop Brave New World in Los Angeles's Santa Clarita Valley.
How the Great Graphic Novels for Teens List Comes About
The librarians behind the GGNFT list explain how it all comes together.
Comics in the Age of Digital Piracy
We hear about it all the time: digital piracy. The scourge of the entertainment industry, digital piracy has been taken on by music companies, movie studios, and major publishers. But what of comic piracy? Does it affect the industry as a whole? We talked to three people in graphic publishing to see what the state of matters is and how they are combating illegal downloading.
How Graphic Novels Thrive in High-School Libraries: A Discussion
Our tour through the library programs of schools (in relation to graphic novels) finishes here, with a discussion involving some high-school librarians talking about the problems they face, the solutions they’ve uncovered, and the issues they’ve successfully dealt with.
How Graphic Novels and Manga Are Doing in Middle Schools
With comics and manga getting further respect in schools and libraries, we checked in with middle-school librarians to see what they had to say—what issues they faced bringing graphic novels into the schools, what young readers were responding to, and what the positives and negatives are for their jobs.
Elementary Schools, Libraries and Comics
What do elementary librarians face today as they try to bring comics and manga into their schools? We talk to a diverse group of librarians to see what's going on, what's working, what's not, and what they've learned.
Find out what graphic novels and manga are coming up in the months ahead. Check here for a list of new titles coming soon.
Cinema turns to graphic novels for great inspiration! See what's headed to a movie theater near you, and find out what's coming on DVD.
Find out which works have gained the respect and admiration of the industry. These award-winners are the best of the best.
The Best of 2009
Find out what the critics are selecting for the best comics of 2009.
An Award for James Sturm's Adventure
Just got news that James Sturm's Adventures in Cartooning has won the 2010 Gryphon Award, awarded to outstanding books written for kids in kindergarten through fourth grade and administered by the Center for Children's Books. We're big fans of Sturm's work, and he very much deserves this recognition. Congratulations, James!
Zomnibus, Vol. 1
The Zomnibus compilation from IDW doesn’t bring together the best of the zombie-comics world, but the three tales contained within guarantee to provide zombie fans some entertainment value.
The Devil's Trill
The Devil’s Trill brings us two supernatural stories. In one, a vampire tries to be with the woman who makes him happy; in the other, a jeweler makes an unfortunate deal to be young again.
Missile Mouse: The Star Crusher by Jake Parker
Jake Parker's action-packed, star-spanning new series begins with Missile Mouse: The Star Crusher! Get a first look at the book, including a special excerpt, an interview with the author, and a chance to win a copy of the book!
Copper by Kazu Kibuishi
Kazu Kibuishi's latest work, Copper, is a delightful collection starring a boy and his dog. Check out this special profile and excerpt of this new book!
Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650) 266-8233 iPhone and iPod Touch App
Help Cathy solve the mystery before it's too late! The bestselling phenomenon known as Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650) 266-8233 now has an exclusive iPhone and iPod Touch App. Get a sneak preview here and learn how you can help solve Cathy's mystery!
The Good Neighbors, Book Two: Kith
Get a sneak preview of Holly Black's newest book, Kith, the second volume in the bestselling The Good Neighbors series! Plus, read an interview with Holly Black and learn more about the book!
Amulet, Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
An in-depth profile of Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet, Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse, including a special excerpt from the book, an interview with the author, and a contest giving twenty-five lucky readers a chance to win in a copy!
A Good Joe
I heard a little piece of news today that really made me smile...and brought back lots of memories. Writer Charles Santino passed on the news that he had found an artist for his newest project, a graphic adaptation of Ayn Rand's Anthem, to be released by NAL sometime in 2011. The artist in question? Joe Staton, one of my absolute favorites in comics and one who made a huge impression on me growing up. He was the Green Lantern artist in the early '80s, and before that, he had defined the Justice Society and helped create the Huntress.
Library Journal's Best of 2009
The venerable Library Journal enewsletter Book Smack recently sent out word about their best of 2009 list. Some familiar (and well-deserving) faces show up there (yes, that means The Book of Genesis Illustrated, Asterios Polyp, The Photographer, and Logicomix), but some not-so-expected ones make an appearance as well (that includes Sandman: The Dream Hunters, Pluto, and Ooku). Check out the list here.
Missile Mouse: The Star Crusher by Jake Parker Contest
Missile Mouse, a secret agent for the Galactic Security Agency, is a risk-taker and a rule-breaker, which is why he’s in hot water at GSA headquarters. Then RIP, the Rogue Imperium of Planets, kidnaps a scientist who knows about the Star Crusher, a doomsday machine capable of destroying the entire universe.
The Art of Ditko
Several pieces of Steve Ditko's original art are scattered throughout this book, photographed in a loving way that shows off every bit of yellowed paper, crusty correction fluid, and stroke of the brush.
Butterflies, Flowers, Vol. 1
Choko is new to Japan’s corporate universe, and the autocratic Director Domoto seems all too eager to administer her trial by fire in the alternately hilarious and romantic Butterflies, Flowers.
The Chill
An ancient Irish curse comes to the streets of New York City, but no one will believe it...except for one old ex-cop who has seen this evil before.
Smile
Raina Telgemeier documents her teen years, good times and bad, after a chance accident leaves her two front teeth severely injured. Years of surgeries and other treatments follow, making her high-school years awkward and sometimes painful…yet always hopeful too.
Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons
For more than half a century, Gahan Wilson has been producing comic commentary for Playboy. Now this massive three-volume set collects all that work, plus tons of extras, in one extravagantly beautiful place.
Marvel Comics in the 1960s
Step back in time and see how Marvel built a comics empire, one issue at a time, in Marvel Comics in the 1960s, a fascinating issue-by-issue guide to the comics that shaped a decade and an industry.
The Art of Tony Millionaire
From artist Tony Millionaire comes a career-spanning collection of stunning artwork and the tales behind them.
The Year of Loving Dangerously
Cartoonist Ted Rall documents a promiscuous and soul-changing time of his life. Reviewed by John Hogan
La Esperanca, Vol. 4–7
In the second half of this series, Georges and Robert reveal more about their past and learn of unknown connections.
Ludwig II, Vol. 2
Ludwig II, the “mad king” of Bavaria, is slowly losing his battle with madness. With his country caught in the middle of a pending war, his people look to him for leadership; but Ludwig struggles to maintain his grip on the ugliness of reality when all he desires is to live aimlessly in a fantasy world. The love of his aide Hornig is now on the line. Will Ludwig be able to save his country and his lover, or will he sacrifice one to spare the other?
Dokebi Bride, Vol 1–6
Sunbi is a teenager who can communicate with spirits. She inherited the job of shaman from her mother and grandmother.
La Esperanca, Vol. 1–3
Two schoolmates who seem to have nothing in common end up being drawn to each other. They both want to hide their pasts.
My First Graphic Novel Series
A girl who wants to play football, a boy who hates being goalie—these straightforward graphic novels feature average children rising to the challenges posed by various sports. Each slim volume features a straightforward story that introduces the basics of a sport in an easy-to-read graphic novel format.
Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer
Owly is a good-natured little owl who makes new friends and rescues a friend in trouble in these wordless stories. The drawings are simple but the storytelling is surprisingly sophisticated, so these stories are accessible to young and old readers alike.
Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons
Lilly throws a snowball, eats an apple, and does other seasonally appropriate things in this simple comic for early readers. The simple art has a 1930s feel to it, and the stories are short and easy for young readers to figure out on their own.
Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 1: Power and Responsibility
We all know the story of Spider-Man, but few creative teams have managed to capture his essence so wonderfully as Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. For those who have always wanted to get into Spider-Man but were put off by the decades of continuity—or those just looking for some fantastic superhero literature—Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 1: Power & Responsibility will have you cheering as Peter Parker, updated for the new millennium, is transformed into the amazing Spider-Man in this beautifully written tale of a young man who’s just trying to do what’s right.
Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox #1: The Meeting
When Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox decide to move in together, their children Bristle and Grub Badger and Ginger Fox come up with an idea for how to stop their parents, but the idea backfires on them.
