I didn't start out trying to plan a lady-centric update to GraphicNovelReporter this time out. It just seems to have worked out that way. But obviously, given that Mother's Day is right around the corner, it fits pretty well.

Our lineup of fine ladies kicks off with my interview with Alison Bechdel. I've enjoyed Alison's wit since the 1990s, when I first discovered Dykes to Watch Out For, and of course through Fun Home. I also interviewed her last year, when she was the guest editor brought on for The Best American Comics 2011. But I was really blown away by how fun my conversation with her was when we discussed her new book, Are You My Mother? I talked to Alison a couple of weeks ago, just days after she had gotten her first bound copies of the official release of the book. It's an interview I'm really pleased with, and I'm happy to present it to you here.

For a few weeks now, we've been running a contest for Are You My Mother? Fifty lucky winners will receive a free copy of the book. The contest is open until Monday, May 14th at 11:59PM ET, so you still have a chance to enter to win! Sign up and get your chance to win this incredible new memoir, easily one of the best books of the year.

Last month, I reviewed the book Darkroom for GNR. It's Lila Quintero Weaver's true story of her childhood in the South in the 1960s, facing racism through a Hispanic lens. I was intrigued by her story; so much so that I wanted to talk about it with her more. Her interview is, I think, every bit as insightful as her book, which is deserving of widespread attention.

Several years ago, DC launched a girls' graphic novel line called Minx. It was a bold effort, and I enjoyed several of the books published. Ultimately, the line didn't last very long, but one of the standout titles was Cecil Castellucci's The P.L.A.I.N. Janes. Castellucci has spent a lot of years doing some very impressive YA work, so I jumped at the chance to interview her when I saw she had a new book out, The Year of the Beasts. Beasts is half novel, half graphic novel, telling two parallel stories. But don't worry, we just did one straightforward interview.

One of the questions I asked Castellucci in that interview sparked an idea in my mind.

Throughout the world of graphic novels, I see and admire so many female writers and artists. I was curious, then, how women in the comics field today felt comics were doing when it came to attracting and appealing to girls. Does the format actively draw in these readers, and then does it subsequently do enough to keep them? I thought it would be an interesting idea for a roundtable discussion with a few women. But where to begin? With all the amazing women working in comics today, this roundtable could fill books if we let it. I think the women who stepped up to this challenge really represent some diverse views here, and hopefully their answers will spur further discussion for readers: First Second Books' marketing and publicity pro, Gina Gagliano; writer/artist Jennifer Hayden, whose Underwire is one of my favorites of the past year; New Jersey schoolteacher (and great comics enthusiast) Leigh Brodsky; librarian and writer Cathy Camper; and Diana Maliszewski, a Canadian teacher-librarian who answered the questions along with her teenage daughter, Mary.

By the way, Cathy Camper also recently wrote an article for ChildrensLiteratureNetwork.org about what was right with children's books. The short answer is graphic novels. In her article, she details some of her favorites and explains why they're perfect tools to use to get more kids reading. It's well worth checking out for the teachers and librarians in our audience, as well as the parents of young readers.

We do have some testosterone represented in this update. A few weeks ago, I started reading Ryan Inzana's Ichiro and was blown away by it. It's the kind of YA epic that appeals to readers of all ages, a sprawling adventure that combines modern-day problems with old-world Japanese mythology. It's a gripping tale that I would recommend to almost anyone who loves graphic novels. So I was thrilled to interview Inzana this time out and see what he had to say about making the book happen.

Kevin C. Pyle's Take What You Can Carry is not the same type of YA adventure story, but it's just as gripping. His latest book focuses on the relationship that develops between a wayward teen in 1970s Illinois and the Japanese storekeeper he shoplifts from. After the teen is caught, he is sentenced to do some work for the store owner, and he begins to learn some interesting things about the way the world works. If you know Pyle's work on Katman and his other YA books, you know how deft a storyteller he is, a talent he continues here.

I have some exciting news about BookExpo America, which is coming to New York City's Javits Center next month. The largest gathering of publishers from around the world will feature a panel entitled The Hottest Graphic Novels of 2012, moderated by yours truly. I'm really excited to be hosting the panel, especially considering the amazing people lined up for it: comics journalist and one of this year's Eisner judges Brigid Alverson; Columbia graphic novel librarian Karen Green; The Beat/Publishers Weekly Comics blogger Heidi MacDonald; from Los Angeles, Skylight Books' bookseller Emily Pullen; and Josh Christie, a staff writer for iFanboy.com and a bookseller at Sherman's Books & Stationery in Freeport, Maine.

On a side note, Carol typically works at home on Fridays, but she was lured back into the city a week ago Friday for lunch with Derf Backderf, the author of My Friend Dahmer. Derf grew up with Jeffrey Dahmer and went to high school with him. Carol read the advance copy of the book last November, and while we all know that serial killers lived their lives among their communities, it's quite wild to think that the boy in your class went on to this macabre notoriety. As she read it, she found herself thinking about Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me, where she talked about the time she spent seated next to Ted Bundy working on a suicide hotline. Carol says it was nice to meet Derf in person (see the photo above), and while the entire book is wonderful, everyone who attended the lunch was talking about the one-two punch that he gives readers in the final epilogue. So well done.

I wish I could tell you I saw The Avengers last weekend, but I didn't, so I can't. My desire to see it was overwhelmed by my loathing of long lines and huge crowds, so I'm waiting for a chance to see it at a less frenetic time than opening weekend. But those of you who did see it: What did you think? Did it live up to the hype?

We've recently added some new reviews to the site. There are some books I've been truly enjoying a lot lately, including Richard Marazano and Jean-Michel Ponzio's topical and timely Genetiks; Humayoun Ibrahim's adaptation of Jack Vance's sci-fi classic The Moon Moth; and Powers: Anarchy, the latest in Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's redoubtable series, all of which are reviewed on the site now. Our resident manga reviewer David Gromer also reviews some big titles, including the eleventh volume of Sumomomo Momomo, volume six of Omamori Himari, and the creepy adult thriller No Longer Human.

Enjoy,

John Hogan (John@bookreporter.com)

Alison Bechdel won an Eisner Award for Fun Home, her memoir regarding her father’s closeted homosexuality and suicide, and the personal aftermath she faced from both. The book was named as a best book of the year by several publications, and she is also best known for her long-running comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For. In her latest book, she tries to unlock the secrets of her relationship with her mother by delving into why her mother stopped hugging her at a very young age, how her mother encouraged and discouraged the work Bechdel does, and how all of it impacted her relationships with friends, lovers, and therapists throughout her life. By John Hogan

In the early 1960s, Lila Quintero Weaver’s family moved to the very small southern town of Marion. While they were Hispanic, their skin tones were “different” enough that they saw racism rear its ugly head. We talked to the author about her deeply personal memoir. By John Hogan

Bestselling YA author Cecil Castellucci tackles a dual challenge in her new book, The Year of the Beasts, a hybrid novel and graphic novel. Here, she talks about the book and its unique format. By John Hogan

In her highly anticipated follow-up to Fun Home, bestselling author Alison Bechdel searches for the meaning of motherhood in her own life, not only from her actual mother but also from therapists, lovers, writers, and more. Are You My Mother? is a poignant, compelling, and utterly fascinating journey from one of the most profound graphic creators of our era. Enter here to win one of 50 free copies of Are You My Mother?

The Graphic Canon, Vol. 1 will be published on May 22. But you can get a sneak peek at it here, and get a look at such legendary works as The Inferno, King Lear, the Book of Revelation, and more, all in glorious comics form!

The Avengers Has a Record Weekend

Free Comic Book Day Is May 5

There's Still Time to Get Your MoCCA Tickets!

Diablo Valley College Awards Its Students' Graphic Ambitions

Kids Comic Con Has a New Location

Congratulations, Carla Speed McNeil!

Powers: Anarchy by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
In a world that is turning on its superheroes, two homicide detectives are tasked with investigating superhero-specific murders. This gripping new volume is a hard-hitting and edgy book. Reviewed by John Hogan.

Omamori Himari, Vol. 6 by Milan Matra
Yuuto has more problems on his hands than ever, and a big one is coming from within his inner circle. Reviewed by David Gromer.

No Longer Human, Part 2 by Usamaru Furuya and Osamu Dazai
No Longer Human is a manga not to be taken lightly. This is a dark and psychological story. Reviewed by David Gromer.

Genetiks by Richard Marazano and Jean-Michel Ponzio
In a bleak future world, one man belongs body and soul to a genetic-engineering company. But what does that mean for the future…his future and the world’s? Reviewed by John Hogan.

Cage of Eden, Vol. 2 by Yoshinobu Yamada
Cage of Eden may look like your everyday manga upon first impression, but underneath, readers will find a world of little hope that they nevertheless cannot help but enjoy. Reviewed by David Gromer.

Sumomomo Momomo, Vol. 11 by Shinobu Ohtaka
Treachery is afoot in this latest volume of Sumomomo Momomo. The plot to kill the Dragon and the Dog is in its final stages of preparation, and the young heroes are scrambling to undermine the nefarious plot of the nine rebellious clans. Reviewed by John Hogan.

The Moon Moth by Jack Vance; adapted by Humayoun Ibrahim
Jack Vance’s classic sci-fi short story is reborn in graphic-novel form. Reviewed by John Hogan.

Fantastic Four: Season One by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and David Marquez
A new reimagining of the classic tale that changed the history of comics and created the world’s greatest superhero team. Reviewed by John Hogan.