So what is this list of the Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer, you might be asking? Well, it's the start of what's going to be an annual tradition here at GNR: an upfront look at the best of the best summer reading, the stuff you're going to want to bring with you to the beach or pool, on the plane, on vacation, or just anywhere else you'll be this summer. It's not just the good stuff; it's the really good stuff. And we spent a lot of time making sure we had plenty of different genres represented (there really should be something for everybody here), so you can pick graphic novels for yourself, for others, as we have broken out our selections as follows --- Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Teens, Tweens and Kids. We're going to keep adding content to these pages all summer long: That means you'll often find interviews with the creators, excerpts, and more, in addition to the book descriptions you see now, for these special picks. This is the biggest feature we've done on the site so far, but it's clearly pointing us in a direction for the future.

I spent last weekend at BookExpo America. For years, I attended this as the editor of Pages, meeting with publishers and talking books, so I love shopping the aisles and seeing what's coming up (and what galleys are being given away). This year was no exception to that, but I had the distinct pleasure of being able to spend most of my time in the graphic novel section of the show, which was lively and fun. Maybe I'm just biased. No, I really think that area was more fun.

As with any conference, the cool people make it worth sacrificing your weekend to work. BEA is no exception. Those people include, in no particular order, John Shableski and Kuo-Yu Liang from Diamond; Jim Zubkavich and Stacy King from Udon, who are both the most fun people to talk to; Alan Payne from IDW; Joe Keatinge from Image; Gina Gagliano from First Second; Filip Sablik from Top Cow; Alex Simmons from Kids Comic-Con; Dirk Wood and Jeremy Atkins from Dark Horse; and Cory Casoni from Oni Press. And probably more people I'm momentarily blanking on (my apologies to those I missed; my brain still hasn't caught up). Thanks, you guys, for making the BookExpo a really fun place to be.

Also at the show, I attended the panel on the big graphic novels for the fall and was very impressed by the breadth of the list. Check my blog entry about it to see the complete list of books selected. I guess that goes to show that, after you finish with the hottest graphic novels of summer, you'll still have plenty of books on your to-do list in the fall. And that's pretty cool.

Happy reading!

John Hogan (John@bookreporter.com)

The Song Remains the Same
Small presses face innumerable challenges starting out today. One indie owner, Rachel Dukes of Poseur Ink, discusses the ups and downs of running a small press, as well as her new anthology, Side B, in this interview.

Frankie in Earnest
Young readers are in a Pickle and loving it. Eric Wight's funny series is catching on with beginning readers, and we caught up with him to ask him how he created the character and the books.

Making UDON
UDON's manga line recently debuted, making a huge impact with its new releases, translations of popular Japanese manga aimed specifically at kids ages 7 to 12. This long-ignored market is getting some special attention with this new line.

Stitches Is the Big Book at BEA

Top Shelf 2.0 Turns 1

Check the Booths at BEA

Some Recommended Reading

As Seen on TV

Future Lovers by Saika Kunieda
Can two men overcome their respective prejudices and find bliss together? Although "happily ever after" won't ever be quite what one of them imagined, perhaps they still have a future together. Reviewed by Casey Brienza.

The Color of Earth by Dong Hwa Kim
Dong Hwa Kim's The Color of Earth captivates with the ritualized style of traditional Korean folktales and titillates with Freudian undertones of a beautiful girl's sexual awakening. Reviewed by Casey Brienza.

The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard by Eddie Campbell and Dan Best
Eddie Campbell and Dan Best team up for a rollicking story that's as fun as a day under the big top --- a three-ring gallery of humor and adventure. The creators delve into history in a wonderfully inventive way. Reviewed by John Hogan.

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan and Takahiro Arai
Darren's fascination with spiders and other creepy things leads him somewhere he never should have gone: the Cirque du Freak, a scary collection of horrors that will lead Darren to make the ultimate sacrifice. The circus is just Darren's first stop in this tale of frightful fun. Reviewed by John Hogan.

G-Man: Learning to Fly by Chris Giarrusso
How hard can it be to fly? Not too hard if you have the right book. A magic cape helps too. All these things come in very handy for two young brothers in G-Man: Learning to Fly. Reviewed by John Hogan.

Side B by various authors
The personal response we all have to music, and the heartfelt ways it can touch us, is explored in the indie release Side B. Covering all types of music, not to mention all types of writers and illustrators, the collection is a sprawling tribute to the music that moves us all. Reviewed by John Hogan.

Do you think comics and graphic novels should be rated?

Yes, it would be helpful to parents, librarians, and booksellers.
Maybe, if it were done fairly and properly.
No, it goes against free speech.
No, it would be too difficult to do correctly.
I don't know.

-Click here to answer our poll.

Question:

Which hot graphic novel of the summer are you most looking forward to reading?

-Click here to answer our question.
-Click here to check out our Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2009 Feature.

Word Of Mouth Contest

We want to know what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on June 30, 2009 to ensure that you are in the running to win one of five copies of Invincible: Who's the Boss? by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley. Last month's Word of Mouth winners were Renee from Guelph, ON; Laural from Portland, OR; Chris from Burbank, CA; and Ken from Guelph, ON. Congratulations to all the winners!