Great Graphic Novels of Fall 2011: Teens
Check out all our Fall 2011 picks in these other categories:
Kids | Tweens | Nonfiction | Adult Fiction
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September
Infinite Kung Fu
by Kagan McLeod
Top Shelf
On sale now
Funk, martial arts, and zombies combine in this epic saga! One reluctant monk must master all the styles of kung fu to save the world from a curse that has brought the dead back to walk the earth.
Witch & Wizard, Vol. 1
by James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet, and Svetlana Chmakova
Yen Press
On sale now
Imagine waking up to find that the world around you—life as you know it—has changed in an instant. That’s what happens to Whit Allgood and his sister, Wisty. They thought that they were just a couple of normal teenagers, until their rude awakening at the hands of a dozen armed police! Charged with being a wizard and a witch, accused of having incredible powers they never dreamed possible, the siblings find themselves the targets of an upstart political regime, The New Order, which has swept the country and vowed to wipe “their kind” from existence. Now Whit and Wisty must fight for both their freedom and their lives as they unlock the powers burning inside of them!
Tantalize: Kieren’s Story
by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Ming Doyle
Candlewick
On sale now
Illustrated by hot new talent Ming Doyle, Cynthia Leitich Smith’s dark fantasy Tantalize is reimagined as a graphic novel seen through Kieren’s werewolf eyes.
Any Empire
by Nate Powell
Top Shelf
On sale September 13
Nate Powell’s follow-up to the Eisner-winning Swallow Me Whole examines war and violence, and their trickle-down effects on middle America. As a gang of small-town kids find themselves reunited in adulthood, their dark histories collide in a struggle for the future.
Spell Checkers, Volume 2: Sons of a Preacher Man
by Jamie S. Rich, Nicolas Hitori de, and Joëlle Jones
Oni Press
On sale September 21
There are two new kids at school. Twin brothers--one straight-laced and buttoned-up, the other a rebel in a leather jacket--and they’ve transferred in with trouble for the Spell Checkers. Jesse finds romance, but for Cynthia, it’s rivalry. She and the good brother compete for student body president, while Kimmie tries to find out who murdered the last one. Dark magic is afoot, as well as dark humor, in the second mystical volume of Oni’s latest hit series.
400 BC: The Story of the Ten Thousand
by Lewis Helfand and Lalit Kumar Singh
Campfire
On sale September 27
They were an unstoppable force, hired to take the crown from the King of Persia. They were a fearless army of Greek soldiers, and one hundred thousand men fighting as one. They were led by the finest and most courageous generals in all of Greece. They were being led to unimaginable wealth, but that was days ago. Now their leaders are dead and their army has scattered. Now their numbers have fallen to ten thousand and nothing remains but fear. Now they are men praying not for victory, but for the slim chance of living one more day. Cut off by impassable terrain and pursued by an army of one million enemy soldiers; they must stand together to survive. To find their way home, one of their own must lead them. And to live one more day...they must fight.
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, Vol. 1
by Eric Powell, Tracy Marsh, and Phil Hester
IDW
On sale September 27
The King of the Monsters rises again and, for the first time in comics, he’s bringing lots of other beloved Toho monsters with him in one destructive saga! When Godzilla appears off the coast of Japan, the Japanese government must respond quickly to contain the disaster...but before long, other monsters start appearing all over the world. Can humanity survive this mysterious onslaught of giant beasts?
October
The Good Neighbors #3: Kind (paperback)
by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh
Graphix
On sale October 1
After biding their time, the faeries have taken control of the human world. The fey and mortals might not be such good neighbors after all. Rue's world is fragmenting. The fey have taken over her city, and now the humans must share. Her grandfather is gone. Her faerie mother is triumphant. Her human father is despondent. And her boyfriend? He would rather be eaten alive by mergirls than be with Rue. Tension between the humans and faeries is growing, and Rue feels pulled in both directions. In some ways, she feels like her place is in the human world-with her friends, her father, and the humans who want to protect themselves. But then there's her fey half-with her beautiful, dangerous mother, the faeries, and her kinship with the natural world. Can Rue fix the rift between the fey and the humans? Or does she have the courage to continue her grandfather's interrupted plan?
All-Ghoul Schoolby Marc Sumerak and David Bryan
IDW
On sale October 4
Becca Norman has everything a high school sophomore could ever want: beauty, brains, money, and popularity. But when she finds herself caught in the middle of a major cheating scandal, Becca's perfect little world comes crashing down around her! There's only one way to redeem herself—by spending the summer at a creepy old boarding school called Darkmoor Academy. Too bad Becca doesn't realize that Darkmoor Academy is secretly a finishing school for young female monsters...and she's been selected as the school's first human student! Unfortunately, Becca's creepy new classmates aren't too happy to have a human lurking in their shadows.
Love and Capes, Vol. 3: Wake Up Where You Areby Thomas Zahler
IDW
On sale October 4
Mark and Abby are home from their honeymoon and ready to settle in for some domestic bliss. But settling in doesn’t mean things will settle down. Mark’s best friend, Darkblade, is now dating his ex-girlfriend, Amazonia. Abby’s landlord is trying to drive her and her bookstore out. And Charlotte is about to graduate from college. Plus, it’s time to tell Abby’s parents about Mark’s super-secret, but will that mean telling Abby’s brother, too?
Black Metal, Vol. 2by Rick Spears and Chuck BB
Oni Press
On sale October 5
Darkness abounds. The Brothers Stronghand return. Unsatisfied with a sword to share, they quest for a second blade of doom. Angels tremble, Demons weep, and Satan himself doesn't dare stand in their way. But alas, a traitor from within does twist words and meanings, setting brother against brother. Will their bond of blood hold them or tear them asunder? Doom’s head comes. All is lost. None survive. Dare read at your peril. You’ve been warned...
Orcs: Forged for War
by Stan Nicholls and Joe Flood
First Second
On sale October 11
Orcs: Forged for War is the first graphic novel in Stan Nicholls’ beloved Orcs universe. The fantasy landscape in this world is brutal and unforgiving, and populated by a race of unlikely protagonists: the powerful and violent warriors, orcs. Orcs: Forged for War is an original story—a new entry in this series, not an adaptation of old material. It follows a ruthless and deadly cohort of warrior orcs as they fight their way free of the dominion of an evil human enchantress. Sitting on an exhilarating peak with high fantasy on one side and the thrilling, gruesome battlefields of graphic novel classics like Frank Miller’s 300 on the other, Orcs presents the world of its ogre-like protagonists with technicolor violence and moments of unexpected sympathy.
Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 2
by Stephenie Meyer and Young Kim
Yen Press
On sale October 11
Having uncovered the dark secret of her enigmatic classmate Edward Cullen, Bella Swan embraces her feelings for him, trusting Edward to keep her safe despite the risks. When a rival clan of vampires makes its way into Forks, though, the danger to Bella has never been more real. Will she make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people dearest to her?
Black Butler, Vol. 7
by Yana Toboso
Yen Press
On sale October 25
Having successfully infiltrated the Noah's Ark Circus as the stage personas Smile and Black, Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his consummate butler, Sebastian, set about gathering clues backstage as to the whereabouts fo the missing children Queen Victoria wishes them to recover. But between the duties required of them as the newest members of the troupe and their death-defying performances, even this most efficient master and servant find themselves short on time! And with the availability of both information and opportunity equally wanting, Sebastian resorts to using his devilish wiles on one of the troupe, while Ciel is forced to do some snooping of his own. As the paths of their investigations converge, they find themselves standing on the doorstep of the tragedy visited upon Ciel all those years ago...
Everlast
by Chad Michael Murray, Trevor Hairsine, Andrew Huerta, Robbi Rodriguez, J.K. Woodward, and Danijel Zezelj
Archaia
On sale October 26
A pre-apocalyptic tale, Everlast follows Derek Everlast, a man whose destiny in life is guiding others to a place of rebirth for mankind called Haven. Following an instinct called the Nudge, bestowed on him by a higher power, Derek is guided to the next chosen human destined to survive, a little girl named Melissa. In a harrowing adventure, he must deliver her safely to Haven before the End of Days. Everlast tells a story of choice, love, friendship, and, most of all, survival.
November
G.I. JOE, Vol. 1: Cobra Civil War
by Chuck Dixon and Javier Saltares
IDW
On sale November 1
A deadly competition within COBRA means trouble for G.I. JOEs as they become the snake’s primary targets. COBRA's new leader will be chosen through a trial by combat and the score is tallied in blood. The body count is rising and the JOEs don't even know the game has begun!
Kill Shakespeare, Vol. 2: The Blast of Warby Conor McCreery, Anthony Del Col, and Andy Belanger
IDW
On sale November 1
And so the curtain falls… The critically acclaimed series ends its first run in this second collection. As Hamlet and Juliet’s affections begin to blossom, Richard and Lady Macbeth’s army marches on the lovers’ Prodigal allies. The rebels’ only hope of survival lies with Hamlet convincing the wizard/God Shakespeare to return to his people. But in this ravaged land, does God even exist?
Super Pro K.O.! Vol. 2by Jarrett Williams
Oni Press
On sale November 2
Be stupefied as King Crown Jr, Tomahawk Slamson, The Other, and the high-flying El Heroe face off in the steel cage! But where's Joe Somiano?! Didn't he set the world on fire with his ferocious tenacity and heart?!?! Not really. He's backstage like a chump, trying to figure out how to win the SPKO fans over. But wait! Who is Romeo Colossus?! Does that ex-baseball superstar really think he can just waltz into Super Pro K.O. and be the ultimate wrestling champion?!? Not if Joe can help it! Find out who goes the distance in this second volume of the high-flying, kick dropping, pile driving, high-octane wrestling series, Super Pro K.O.!
G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes, Vol. 1by Chuck Dixon and Robert Atkins
IDW
On sale November 15
The deadliest JOE featured in his own title at last! Seeking justice for the deaths of his fellow Joes, Snake Eyes heads to the top of the world and the Himalayan fortress of Raja Vikrim Khallikhan. With only Agent Helix, Iceberg and Alpine by his side, Snake Eyes storms the miles-high refuge, confronting his most skilled foes: Slice & Dice!
Skullkickers, Vol. 2: Five Funerals and a Bucket of Blood
by Jim Zub, Edwin Huang, and Misty Coats
Image
On sale November 16
The second Skullkickers adventure is a wondrous tornado of action-adventure: a den of thieves, a city of danger, nobility, stupidity, plant monsters, dinner parties and bloodthirsty faerie folk. Jump on board to see why Ain’t It Cool News says, “Everyone who loves comics should buy Skullkickers.”
December
African-American Classics
by various
Eureka Productions
On sale December 1
African-American Classics presents great stories and poems from America''s earliest black writers, illustrated by contemporary African-American artists. Featured are "Two Americans" by Florence Lewis Bentley, "The Goophered Grapevine" by Charles W. Chesnutt, "Becky" by Jean Toomer, two short plays by Zora Neale Hurston, and six more tales of humor and tragedy. Also featured are eleven poems, including Langston Hughes' "Danse Africaine" and "The Negro," plus Paul Laurence Dunbar''s "Sympathy."
The Dreamer, Vol. 2by Lora Innes
IDW
On sale December 6
Seventeen-year-old Beatrice Whaley and her wildly vivid dreams about the American Revolution are back in this all-new graphic novel, much to her dismay. After barely surviving a battle against the British Army in the first volume, she's relieved to find herself safely in the 21st century again. She determines to forget about her dreams and try to make things work with the handsome quarterback who asked her out. But as soon as she falls asleep again, the dreams pick right back up and she's just as confused as ever. Bea and her Revolutionary friends must escape New York City under the watchful eye of the British Army and the tension of living two lives finally brings her to the breaking point.
Mush! Sled Dogs with Issues
by Glenn Eichler and Joe Infurnari
First Second
On sale December 6
Venus wants Buddy to quit asking her to “make puppies.” Buddy wants Winston’s help wooing Venus. Winston wants Guy’s respect. Guy wants Dolly’s job. Dolly wants to know the meaning of it all. Nobody knows what Fiddler really wants, not even Fiddler. But mostly . . . these sled dogs just want to run.Sounds simple? It should be, but even dogs have their office politics. Office politics with sharp, sharp teeth.From Colbert Report writer Glenn Eichler and dogchanneling artist Joe “Fur” Infurnari comes a postmodern tale of heroism on the tundra, epic romance, and yellow snow. (Hint: don’t eat it.) Mush! is Arrested Development meets Call of the Wild—two great tastes that taste pretty funny together.
Same Difference
by Derek Kirk Kim
First Second
On sale December 6
When Derek Kirk Kim (The Eternal Smile) published his debut graphic novel back in 2003, it made an immediate stir. The story about a group of young people navigating adulthood and personal relationships is told with such sympathy and perception that the book was immediately hailed as an important new work. Seven years later, it’s clear that Same Difference has won a place among the great literature of the last decade. It stands not only with Fun Home, Persepolis, and American Born Chinese as a lasting graphic novel, but with much of the best fiction of this young century. Derek’s distinctive voice as an author, coupled with his clear, crisp, expressive art has made this story a classic. And this classic is now back in print, in a deluxe edition from First Second.
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 5
by James Patterson and NaRae Lee
Yen Press
On sale December 13
The time has come for Max and her winged "Flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution," a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them-but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another?
