The Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2011: Kids
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Click here for a printable list of all the Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2011
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MAY
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Darkwing Duck: Crisis on Infinite Darkwings
by Ian Brill and James Silvani
Boom! Studios
ISBN 978-1608866267
Darkwing Duck, St. Canard’s favorite masked crimefighter, is back in action with trusty Launchpad McQuack and Gosling by his side once more. St. Canard has experienced life without Darkwing to protect it…now, what will the city do when it’s faced with too many Darkwings?
Owly and Wormy: Friends All Aflutter
by Andy Runton
Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-1416957744
Owly and Wormy want butterflies! But when they come home from Mrs. Raccoon's nursery with a milkweed plant that's supposed to attract some fluttering friends, what they get instead are chubby, green bugs. Bold, graphic, and full of fun, this wordless storybook will give pre-readers the wings they need to start reading on their own, and a firm footing on the idea of metamorphosis.
Patrick in a Teddy Bear's Picnic
by Geoffrey Hayes
Toon Books
ISBN 978-1935179092
Geisel Award-winning author Geoffrey Hayes delights young readers with these easy-to-read stories about Patrick Brown, a puddle-jumping teddy bear whose biggest challenge is avoiding naptime...until he has to contend with Big Bear. Meet Patrick, a playful teddy with a sweet spot for Mama, who is put to the test when Big Bear shows up!
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JUNE
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Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity
by Dave Roman
First Second
ISBN 978-1596436206
On sale June 7
Hakata Soy needs a place to hide while his supervillian nemesis is after him. He just never thought it’d be high school!
Phineas and Ferb Comic Reader: Quantum Boogaloo!
by John Green
Disney Press
ISBN 978-1423137399
On sale June 14
A 32-page junior graphic novel based on the Disney XD series Phineas and Ferb.
Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, Vol. 1: Race to Death Valley
by Floyd Gottfredson; edited by David Gerstein and Gary Groth
Fantagraphics Books
ISBN 978-1606994412
On sale June 15
Today everyone knows Mickey Mouse as the cheerful ambassador of all things Disney. But back in the 1930s, Mickey gained fame as a rough-and-tumble, two-fisted epic hero—an adventurous scrapper matching wits with mobsters, kidnappers, spies, and even (gulp!) city slickers! And Mickey’s greatest feats of derring-do took place in his daily comic strip, written and drawn by one of the greatest cartoonists of the 20th century—Floyd Gottfredson.
Yeah!
by Peter Bagge and Gilbert Hernandez
Fantagraphics
ISBN 978-1606994122
On sale June 15
At last, a girl-centered comic book that actually appeals to girls (and even their parents)! Cocreated by comics living legends Peter Bagge (Hate) and Gilbert Hernandez (Love & Rockets), Yeah! is a unique masterpiece of all-ages fun. Originally published as a nine-issue comic book series from 1999-2000 by DC’s Wildstorm imprint, this all-ages gem is collected here for the very first time.
Captain America: The First Avenger Junior Novel
ISBN 978-1423143062
A 144 page junior novel based on Captain America: The First Avenger.
Captain America: The First Avenger Movie Storybook
ISBN 978-1423143079
A 48-page movie storybook that retells the upcoming Marvel Studio film Captain America: The First Avenger.
Captain America: The First Avenger: Operation: Super-Soldier
Captain America: The First Avenger: The Great Escape
Captain America: The First Avenger: America’s Secret Weapon
Marvel Press
ISBN 978-1423146339
Each early reader retells an exciting and essential part of the film Captain America: The Mighty Avenger. These books are perfect for young fans just learning to read on their own.
Captain America: The First Avenger: The Hydra Files
ISBN 978-1423146346
An 8x8 book based on the film Captain America: The First Avenger.
All on sale June 21
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Hulk Versus the World
ISBN 978-1423145585
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Meet Captain America
Marvel Press
ISBN 978-1423142966
On sale June 21
Two 24-page episodic retellings from the action-packed animated series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In the first, all Bruce Banner wants is to be left alone. But ever since he was blasted with gamma radiation and transformed into the Incredible Hulk, the military has been hunting him. To them, the Hulk is dangerous. He is a living weapon that has to be contained. In the second book, the HYDRA war machine extends its reach over the world and one by one, countries are falling at its great power. But one man stands in the way. Witness the story of Steve Rogers, the man who would become Captain America.
The Mighty Thor: An Origin Story
ISBN 978-1423144656
The Amazing Spider-Man: An Origin Story
ISBN 978-1423143178
The Uncanny X-Men: An Origin Story
ISBN 978-1423142997
The Courageous Captain America: An Origin Story
ISBN 978-1423144649
These 48-page picture books retell the classic origins of the world's favorite superheroes.
On sale June 21
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JULY
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Archie Americana, Vol. 1: The '40s
by various
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-931-7
On sale July 5
In 1941, Pep Comics introduced Archie Andrews, "America's newest boyfriend." Since then, Archie and his teenage friends have entertained young and old alike with their hilarious misadventures. Filled with outrageous tales of dating woes, high school hijinx and slapstick mayhem, it wasn't long before Archie became known as "the Mirth of the Nation." Now, IDW Publishing combines both "Best of the Forties" Americana series books into one must-have collection.
Fraggle Rock, Vol. 2
by various
Archaia
ISBN 978-1936393138
On sale July 12
The next volume in the continuing collection of brand-new, all-original Fraggle Rock comic book stories. Travel back down to Fraggle Rock with Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, and Red as they experience all-new adventures.
Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace
by Eric Wight
Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-1416989721
On sale July 26
Frankie's facing his greatest challenge yet: his math quiz. He'd rather live in a world without math, but his quiz has other plans. It transports him to Arithmecca, a world filled with horrible number monsters! Armed with only his pencil, Frankie must learn to divide and conquer if he's going to ace his quiz and defeat the Mathematical Menace.
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AUGUST
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Sibyl-Anne vs. Ratticus
by R. Macherot
Fantagraphics Books
ISBN 978-1606994528
On sale August 3
Sibyl-Anne and her fiancé Boomer live in blissful peace in the French countryside until the evil rat Ratticus, evicted from his previous residence, sets his eye on the quiet acre that the couple share with their friends (a porcupine, a crow, and a rabbit).
Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking
by Philippe Coudray
Toon Books
ISBN 978-1935179122
On sale August 23
Silly and dignified, Benjamin Bear does everything in his own whimsical way, from raking leaves with a bare tree to drying dishes on his rabbit friend’s back. Young readers will adore this series of gags starring a truly unique bear.
Fraggle Rock Classics, Vol. 1
by Stan Kay and Marie Severin
Archaia
ISBN 978-1936393220
On sale August 23
A new reprinting of the original Fraggle Rock comic book series, which first debuted in 1985. Look back into the history of your favorite Fraggles with stories such as "The Magic Time Machine," "The Trouble With Being #1," "The Monster That Could Be Anything," and "The Doozer Who Wanted to Be a Fraggle."
Bake Sale
by Sara Varon
First Second
ISBN 978-1596434196
On sale August 30
Sara Varon returns with an ageless tale as dreamy and evocative as her break-out hit graphic novel Robot Dreams. At once deeply metaphorical and hilariously literal, Bake Sale is a story for anyone who’s ever looked for an easy answer to life’s intractable difficulties. It’s also a cookbook: Varon includes seven delicious recipes, from classic cupcakes to sugared flower petals to marzipan.
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SEPTEMBER
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Disney: The Art of Epic Mickey
foreword by Warren Spector
Disney Editions
ISBN 978-1423148265
On sale September 6
Discover the magic and wonder behind Epic Mickey in this beautifully designed book that touches upon the art of the video game.
Nina in That Makes Me Mad! by Hilary Knight with Steven Kroll
Toon Books
ISBN 978-1935179108
On sale September 27
Eloise artist Hilary Knight brings to life Nina, an unforgettable character who boldly expresses every frustration experienced by young readers--and learns how to quiet down in the process. This reimagining of an undiscovered 1976 classic features new contributions by Hilary Knight and Toon’s signature touches, including a redesign and rewriting with controlled vocabulary just right for early readers.
