The Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2011: Teens
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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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Batman & Robin:
Batman Must Die
by Grant Morrison, Cameron Stewart, Frazer Irving, and David Finch
DC Comics
ISBN 978-1401230913
On the eve of Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham City, the new Batman and Robin team that battled crime during his absence must deal with the deadly return of The Joker.
Captain America: The Trial of Captain America
by Ed Brubaker and Daniel Acuna
Marvel
ISBN 978-0785151197
Not even Captain America can escape the sins buried in his past, and Bucky Barnes’ future hangs in the balance as evidence of the Winter Soldier’s crimes comes to light. And with Bucky’s trial distracting our heroes, the new Red Skull plots a terror attack at the heart of America.
Fairy Tail 13
by Hiro Mashima
Kodansha
ISBN 978-1-935429-32-6
Fairy Tail takes place in a world filled with magic. Seventeen-year-old Lucy is an attractive mage-in-training who wants to join a magician's guild so that she can become a full-fledged magician. The guild she dreams about joining is the most famous in the world, and it is known as the Fairy Tail. One day she meets Natsu, a boy raised by a dragon who mysteriously left him when he was young. Natsu has devoted his life to finding his dagon father. When Natsu helps Lucy out of a tricky situation, she discovers that he is a member of the Fairy Tail magician's guild, and their adventure together begins.
Fantastic Four, Vol. 4
by Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-4891-3
The War of Four Cities has begun—and when it’s run its course, one member of the Fantastic Four will have breathed their last. Featuring the return of Doctor Doom and Galactus, a trip to Nu-World, the Old Kings of Atlantis and Namor, the all-new Yancy Street Gang, the day the Thing becomes human again, and more!
Arisa 2
by Natsumi Ando
Kodansha
ISBN 978-1-935429-16-6
On sale May 17
Twin sisters, Arisa and Tsubasa, are separated by their parent's divorce. The twins secretly exchange letters with each other during their separation. They are finally united after three years and Arisa asks Tsubasa to pretend to be her and spend a day in her school just for fun. At school everyone seems very nice to Tsubasa (who is pretending to be Arisa) and everything seems normal...until she finds a strange note in her sister's shoe locker. When Tsubasa hands over the letter to Arisa, Arisa tries to kill herself by jumping out of a window. Arisa survives but remains in a coma. The letter reads, "Arisa is a traitor." After her sister's suicide attempt, Tsubasa is determined to unravel the mystery behind the letter and her sister's suicide attempt, so Tsubasa continues to go to school as Arisa...will she find out who sent the note and why it had such an effect on Arisa?
Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Foundation
by John Barber and Andrew Griffith
IDW
ISBN 978-1600109188
On sale May 17
Did you ever wonder how the rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron began? What set these two friends off on such a climactic collision course? Transformers: Foundation is the answer. Unlock the most hidden secrets of Cybertron and witness the dawn of the most bitter rivalry in the galaxy.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Rising Storm
by John Barber and Carlos Magno
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-919-5
On sale May 17
Leading right into the mega-events of Transformers 3, Rising Storm sets the stage for the biggest, boldest threat to both Earth and Cybertron yet.
The Flash Omnibus
by Geoff Johns, Angel Unzueta, Doug Hazlewood, Scott Kolins, Ethan van Sciver, et al.
DC Comics
ISBN 978-1401230685
On sale May 18
In this volume, Wally West finds himself without his superspeed in a darker, mirror version of Keystone City. Can a powerless Flash defeat Captain Cold and Mirror Master to save the city he loves? Plus, The Flash is shocked to learn that a strange cult is killing all the people he has ever rescued.
Transformers 3 Movie Adaptation
by John Barber and Jorge Jimenez Moreno
IDW
ISBN 978-1600109171
On sale May 25
This beautifully illustrated adaptation of the movie is the best place to live and relive the adventure of Transformers 3 over and over! Join your Optimus Prime and Bumblebee as they face off against the wretched villains Megatron and Starscream.
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JUNE
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Thor: The World Eaters
by Matt Fraction and Pasqual Ferry
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-4838-8
On sale June 1
In the wake of Siege, Asgard must take its proper place as the Golden Realm, most glorious of the nine worlds of myth. But that means Thor's home isn't just a beacon...it's a target. And what happens to the Asgardians and the denizens of all nine worlds--including Earth--when a dark, destructive force from another reality comes on the warpath?
Anya's Ghost
by Vera Brosgol
First Second
ISBN 978-1596437135
On sale June 7
Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century. Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs. Or so she thinks.
Soldier Zero, Vol. 1
by Stan Lee, Paul Cornell, and Javier Pina
Boom! Studios
ISBN 978-1608860470
On sale June 7
When an alien parasite falls to Earth, wheelchair-bound war veteran Stewart Travers becomes infected and goes through superhuman changes that no mortal could imagine. Forced into a galactic war that’s chosen Earth as the battlefield, Stewart defends the front line as Soldier Zero.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 1
by Kenji Kuroda and Kazuo Maekawa
Kodansha
ISBN 978-1-935429-69-2
On sale June 14
A courtroom drama manga full of twists and turns and wacky humor, based on the hit Capcom game. Fans of the Ace Attorney video games will love this manga, which follows Phoenix Wright and his courtroom triumphs.
Green Lantern: Brightest Day
by Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Shane Davis, and Christian Alamy
DC Comics
ISBN 978-1401231811
On sale June 15
Forced to band together during the rise of the Black Lanterns, Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Saint Walker, Atrocitus, Indigo-1, and Larfleeze must agree to disagree if their next mission is to succeed. But when one of the strangest beings from Green Lantern's past returns, the future of the Lanterns and the universe at large once again falls into question.
Monster Hunter Orage 1
by Hiro Mashima
Kodansha
ISBN 978-1-935429-49-4
On sale June 28
As a child, Shiki was taken in as an apprentice to the monster hunter Gurelli. Years later, after Gurelli's death, Shiki returns to his former master's town Akamaya, looking to join a monster hunter's guild. Once in a guild, he meets Irie, whom he discovers is Gurelli's daughter. Shiki partners up with Irie to take up Gurelli's life long goal of hunting down the legendary monster Miogaruna.
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JULY
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The Traveler
by Stan Lee, Mark Waid, and Chad Hardin
Boom! Studios
ISBN 978-1608860500
On sale July 5
A mysterious hero known only as the Traveler battles the forces of evil in a time-bending thriller that finds all of history and the future hanging in the balance.
Wandering Son: Book One
by Shimura Takako
Fantagraphics
ISBN 978-1606994160
On sale July 5
The fifth grade. The threshold to puberty, and the beginning of the end of childhood innocence. Shuichi Nitori and his new friend Yoshino Takatsuki have happy homes, loving families, and are well-liked by their classmates. But they share a secret that further complicates a time of life that is awkward for anyone: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy. Written and drawn by one of today’s most critically acclaimed creators of manga, Shimura portrays Shuishi and Yoshino’s very private journey with affection, sensitivity, gentle humor, and unmistakable flair and grace. Volume one introduces our two protagonists and the friends and family whose lives intersect with their own. Yoshino is rudely reminded of her sex by immature boys whose budding interest in girls takes clumsily cruel forms. Shuichi’s secret is discovered by Saori, a perceptive and eccentric classmate. And it is Saori who suggests that the fifth graders put on a production of The Rose of Versailles for the farewell ceremony for the sixth graders—with boys playing the roles of women, and girls playing the roles of men.
X-Men: Age of X
by Mike Carey, Simon Spurrier, and various
Marvel
ISBN 978-0785152897
On sale July 6
Legacy. Magneto. Gambit. Basilisk. In a world where the X-Men never existed and mutantkind has been hunted to extinction, the few remaining mutants make their last stand. Who are they? And just how far will they go to survive?
Captain America: First Vengeance
by Fred Van Lente, Luke Ross, and Neil Edwards
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-5725-0
On sale July 20
The official comics prequel to the Marvel Studios summer blockbuster begins here! As Captain America, Steve Rogers is the inspiration for millions during the dark days of World War Two—but where did he get his inspiration from? How did he meet his best friend, “Bucky” Barnes? And what set him on the path to becoming the First Avenger?
Captain America: Hail Hydra
by Jonathan Maberry, Sergio Cariello, Tom Scioll, and various
Marvel
ISBN 978-0785151272
On sale July 20
From the dark days of World War II to the Heroic Age, witness the brutal battle between Captain America and the immortal evil known as Hydra. How far back has the gruesome group been killing its way to capture the secrets of eternal life? What can Steve Rogers do to halt its sinister spread when the horrific hordes of the undead rise to stop him?
Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles: The Authorized Adaptation
by Dennis Calero; introduction by Ray Bradbury
Hill & Wang/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN 978-0809067930
On sale July 26
The Earthmen came by the handful, then the hundreds, then the millions. They swept aside the majestic, dying Martian civilization to build their homes, shopping malls, and cities. Mars began as a place of boundless hopes and dreams, a planet to replace an Earth sinking into waste and war. It became a canvas for mankind’s follies and darkest desires. Ultimately, the Earthmen who came to conquer the red-gold planet awoke to discover themselves conquered by Mars. Lulled by its ancient enchantments, the Earthmen learned, at terrible cost, to overcome their own humanity.
Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes: The Authorized Adaptation
by Ron Wimberly; introduction by Ray Bradbury
Hill & Wang/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN 978-0809080441
On sale July 26
Cooger and Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show howls into Green Town, Illinois, at three in the morning a week before Halloween. Under its carnival tents is a mirror maze that steals wishes; a carousel that promises eternal life, in exchange for your soul; the Dust Witch, who unerringly foresees your death; and Mr. Dark, the Illustrated Man, who has lived for centuries off the misery of others. Only two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, recognize the dark magic at work and have a plan to stop this ancient evil—that is, if it doesn’t kill them first.
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AUGUST
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Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery: Graphic Classics, Vol. 21
by Edgar Allan Poe and various
Eureka Productions
ISBN 978-0982563021
On sale August 1
Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery features a new full-color comics adaptation of Poe's seminal detective story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," "The Man of the Crowd," "MS Found in a Bottle," and nine more stories and poems by the creator of the mystery genre. Artists include Michael Manning, Reno Maniquis, Brad Teare, Nelson Evergreen and Lisa K. Weber.
Infestation, Vol. 1
by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Mike Raicht, David Messina, Nick Roche, and Giovanni Timpano
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-977-5
On sale August 2
It begins here: the first-ever IDW event. Something goes horribly awry in the IDW universe: a dimensions-spanning zombie outbreak of epic proportions, which threatens to tear many of IDW’s biggest realities asunder.
Starborn, Vol. 1
by Stan Lee, Chris Roberson, Khary Randolph
Boom! Studios
ISBN 978-1608860593
On sale August 2
Benjamin Warner is a failed fantasy novelist, always dreaming of far-off worlds and exciting adventures. But when a familiar face reenters his life, and devastating trouble follows, Benjamin learns his rejected stories weren't fiction but memories of his home planet. Benjamin's forgotten past comes crashing down around him as he finds himself at the center of a galactic war and he's forced to face the truth that he is not of this world.
Petrograd
by Phil Gelatt and Tyler Crook
Oni Press
ISBN 978-1-934964-44-6
On sale August 3
During the height of the first World War, a reluctant British spy stationed in the heart of the Russian empire is handed the most difficult assignment of his career: orchestrate the death of the mad monk, the Tsarina's most trusted adviser and the surrogate ruler of the nation. From the slums of the working class into the opulent houses of the superrich, he'll have to negotiate dangerous ties with the secret police, navigate the halls of power, and come to terms with his own revolutionary leanings, all while simply trying to survive.
Angel Omnibus, Vol. 2
by Scott Tipton, David Tischman, Stephen Mooney, Elena Casagrande, Franco Urru, and David Messina
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-968-3
On sale August 9
The second Angel omnibus collects Smile Time, A Hole in the World, Barbary Coast, Only Human, and Not Fade Away.
Any Empire
by Nate Powell
Top Shelf
ISBN 978-1-60309-077-3
On sale August 9
Nate Powell, hailed by the London Times as "a writer-artist of genius," is back. His new book, Any Empire, is a vivid examination of war and violence, and their trickle-down effects on middle America. First, a group of small-town kids find themselves bound together by geography, boredom, and a string of mysterious turtle mutilations. Years later, with Army tanks rolling through the streets of their hometown, these young adults are forced to confront painful questions of privilege, duty, betrayal, and courage. Any Empire recalls aimless summers of Nancy Drew and GI Joe, treehouses and army surplus stores...but when fantasy starts to bleed into reality, whose mission will be accomplished?
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Vol. 2
by Larry Hama, S.L. Gallant, and Gary Erskine
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-941-6
On sale August 9
Excitement? Adventure? Military action? This wouldn’t be G.I. Joe without ‘em! The battle between COBRA and G.I. Joe heats up, as their former comrade, Dark Snake Eyes, is unleashed on the Joes. With Storm Shadow on their side, though, they may still be able to turn the tables. Can the Joes beat back the COBRA offensive? Is Storm Shadow really to be trusted?
Infinite Kung Fu
by Kagan McLeod
Top Shelf
ISBN 978-1-891830-83-9
On sale August 9
Catastrophe has knocked most of the world back to the middle ages—and to make matters worse, the dead are rising from the grave as zombies (reincarnation gone wrong)! In this world, where the way of the fist is a way of life, ex-soldier Lei Kung must infiltrate the evil emperor’s five kung fu armies and stop him from destroying all life on the planet. Allegiances are blurred as techniques are perfected, and Lei Kung becomes less certain who’s friend and who’s foe in each chapter!
Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine
by Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-4890-6
On sale August 10
Spidey and Wolvie go to the edges of the Marvel Universe as they face such awful beings as The Czar, Big Murder, and Doom the Living Planet. But who is the major Marvel villain pulling the strings? And can Spidey & Wolvie refrain from killing one another long enough to find out?
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors
by Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, and Cam Smith
DC Comics
ISBN 978-1401230791
On sale August 10
Green Lanterns Guy Gardner, Kilowog, and Arisia explore the unknown sectors of the galaxy, determined to shine their emerald light in the darkest corners of the uncharted to bring order to the universe. But what is Guy's secret mission for the evil Red Lantern, Atrocitus, that brings him into conflict with Hal Jordan?
Spider-Man: Big Time
by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-4624-7
On sale August 17
Big changes are happening for the Amazing Spider-Man: Bigger threats, bigger guest-stars, and a big opporunity that could turn Peter Parker's life around. Which cast members are staying and who's saying goodbye? Find out as we're introduced to new characters and reintroduced to a number of Spidey villains as they return.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun: Ianto's Tomb
by Alex Irvine, Peter Burgting, and Andy Brase
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-996-6
On sale August 23
Beneath a crimson sun lie wastelands of majestic desolation and cities of cruel splendor, where life hangs by a thread. Welcome to Athas! When an imprisoned gladiator named Grudvik escapes the city of Tyr, a part-time slave hunter and full-time dune trader is hired to bring back the fugitive. But after crossing swords, the pair must join forces to survive the harsh desert.
Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms—Legends of Drizzt Omnibus, Vol. 1
by R.A. Salvatore, Andrew Dabb, and Tim Seeley
IDW
ISBN 978-1-60010-997-3
On sale August 23
Adapted from the famous books by R.A. Salvatore, Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms—Legend of Drizt Omnibus, Vol. 1 delivers the first three graphic novels in the Dark Elf Trilogy—Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn—into one great book. This story takes you from the moments before the birth of Drizzt to the point where he leaves his home world and ventures to the unknown.
Infestation, Vol. 2
by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Scott Tipton, David Tipton, Erik Burnham, Casey Maloney, Kyle Hotz, and David Messina
IDW
ISBN 978-1-61377-003-0
On sale August 23
The first-ever event in IDW Publishing’s history crosses over into the Star Trek universe! A routine visit to a colony world takes a horrifying turn when Admiral Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy find themselves surrounded by hordes of the undead. Then, the event continues into the Ghostbusters universe, thanks to a plague of poltergeists that resist long-term storage in the containment grid, the Ghostbusters are dealing with a surplus of work... and their job is only going to get harder when Britt's zombies try to take a nibble out of the Big Apple! And, finally, back to the IDW universe for the grand finale. Britt has returned, armed with new technology that will spread the Infestation across all known realities. Zombie apocalypse looms and the remaining members of CVO are running out of options.
The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury
by Brandon Thomas and Lee Ferguson
Archaia
ISBN 978-1936393152
On sale August 23
Miranda Mercury, the greatest adventurer in this or any other galaxy, is dying, and there's no possible cure. With only one year left to live, Miranda is forced to wage the greatest fight of her life, and secure the heroic legacy that has defined her since she was a young girl. Her morality will be tested, her values shaken, and the partnership that means everything to her will never be the same. For Miranda, victory is once again impossible - but that's never stopped her before.
Tantalize: Kieren's Story
by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Ming Doyle
Candlewick
ISBN 978-0763641146
On sale August 23
As a hybrid werewolf, Kieren is destined to join an urban Wolf pack and learn to master his shift. Soon, he’ll leave everything behind: home, school, his family, and Quincie, his human best friend...who’s beginning to be a whole lot more than a friend. For years, Kieren has managed to keep his desires--and his wolf--at bay. But when the chef at Quincie’ s family restaurant is brutally murdered, Kieren resolves to be there for her, even if it means being framed. Even if it means watching Quincie’s beloved restaurant morph into a vampire lair. But when the new chef begins wooing her, how long can Kieren control his claws? How long can he protect Quincie--and himself?
Spider-Man: The Fantastic Spider-Man
by Dan Slott, Christos Gage, Javier Pulido, Stefano Caselli, and Reilly Brown
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-5106-7
On sale August 24
The Sinister Six vs. Spider-Man and the FF—the entire Future Foundation! Know what’s not a good place for children, even superpowered kids? A full-scale battle with the world’s deadliest supervillains! This is a high-stakes battle, and there’s no way it will end well.
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SEPTEMBER
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Carnage: Family Feud
by Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-5112-8
On sale September 7
The fan-favorite villain returns to rock the Marvel Universe, with the Amazing Spider-Man and the Invincible Iron Man first on his hit list. But just why--and how--has Carnage returned, and how many of Marvel's heroes will it take to stop him?
Fantastic Four, Vol. 1
by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting, Paul Mount, and Barry Kitson
Marvel
ISBN 978-0-7851-5144-9
On sale September 7
A bold new direction for Marvel’s First Family featuring new members, old friends, older enemies and uneasy alliances that will send shockwaves through the Marvel Universe.
Codename: Sailor V 1
by Naoko Takeuchi
Kodansha
ISBN 978-1-935429-77-7
On sale September 13
Codename Sailor V is the prequel to Sailor Moon, and it has never been available in English before now. Like Sailor Moon, Minako Aino is a normal 13-year-old schoolgirl until a fateful day when a white cat introduces himself to her and tells her she has the power to transform into the hero Sailor V. Using a magic pen to transform, Sailor V fights the evil agents of the Dark Agency as she strives to protect the earth.
Sailor Moon 1
by Naoko Takeuchi
Kodansha
ISBN 978-1-935429-74-6
On sale September 13
Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil.
