In the Library With a Comic Book Presents:

Favorite Graphic Novels Since Last ALA

by Jack Baur, Casey Gilly, and Amanda Jacobs Foust

ALA Annual, June 29th, 2015

Note! This list is totally subjective and far from exhaustive!

Did we miss your favorites? Let us know!

Need more suggestions? Just ask!

Reach us at inthelibrarywithacomicbook@gmail.com

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Kids

Allegri, Natasha (auth., illus.), Jackson Garrett (auth.) and various illustrators. Bee and Puppycat. KaBoom!,

2015. 128p. 978-1608864874.

Adorably bizarre, borderline nonsensical, and utterly charming, Bee and Puppycat is a wonderfully strange book

in the spirit of Adventure Time (which Allegri has also worked on). Bee is an unemployed 20-something who is

at her wits end when she meets the mysterious PuppyCat who quickly becomes her best friend and introduces

her to a cosmic temp agency. Bee takes a series of odd jobs from TempBot that take her to the far reaches of

the galaxy, though don’t completely free her mundanity of her own life. The world Allegri has created is cute and

quirky, and will definitely appeal to young fans of “magical girl” shojo manga like Sailor Moon or Kitchen

Princess. The distinctly older heroine make this title appropriate for Teen collections as well.

Eaton III, Maxwell. Andy Also. Blue Apple Books, 2014. 96p. 978-1609054571.

Andy the alligator is not pleased when his buddy Preston decides to try on the name Andy for himself. He’s also

not pleased when Preston decides to start a band. Or when Preston sends an army of rabbits to chase after

Andy. A laugh-out-loud chapter book for beginning readers by the creator of the Flying Beaver Brothers series,

this graphic novel will satisfy Elephant and Piggie fans who are ready for more of a challenge.

Griffith, Saul (auth.) with Ingrid Dragotta (auth.) and Nick Dragotta (illus.). Howtoons: Tools of Mass

Construction. Image Comics, 2014. 360p. 978-1632151018.

This series of strips uses comics to present Maker-esque projects that kids can make from easily scrounged

materials. The stars are a brother and sister duo-- Celine and Tucker--who actively engage in the world around

them, learning through play, creativity, and problem-solving. The result is an interactive title perfect for kids

interested in the Maker movement and looking for inspiration in their everyday play. HowToons is a triple

threat: a fun, educational, project-driven comic that will surely be in high-demand. Perfect for 4th grade and up.

Holm, Jennifer (ed.), Matthew Holm (ed.), and Jarrett Krosoczka (ed.). Comics Squad: Recess. Random House,

2014. 144p. 978-0385370035.

An incredible line-up of kid’s comics royalty contributed to this anthology, edited by the creators of Babymouse

and Lunch Lady. Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Gene Yang, Dan Pilkey, and many others offer short stories on

the theme of “recess.” Each of the funny stories showcase unique styles of the different creators, making this a

great introduction to the world of kid’s comics. A perfect comics primer for third graders on up.

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl. Dial Books, 2015. 240p. 978-0803740167.

The second 12 year old Astrid sees a roller derby match, she knows she is destined to be a derby girl. She signs

up for a summer camp where she can learn the ropes, but right away runs into some stumbling blocks: almost all

the other girls in the camp are much older than her, and her best friend with whom she has always done

everything would rather go to ballet camp with the preppy girls. Alone, Astrid works to overcome her

insecurities and hits the rink build her skills in the hopes of living up to her derby idol, Rainbow Bite. A pithy

blurb for this book could read “Raina Telgemeier for jocks,” as first-time creator Jamieson injects her tween

angst with the sense accomplishment that can come with working hard and striving for glory. Bright, fun, and

uplifting.

Lawson, JonArno. Sidewalk Flowers. Groundwood Books, 2015. 32p. 978-1554984312.

A stunningly beautiful, silent graphic novel about a young girl on a walk with her distracted dad, picking flowers

as they travel through their town. The pages are mostly black and white at first (the girl’s red coat jumping out

from the background) but as she goes along picking and gifting flowers along the way, her simple acts of joy and

kindness bring color to the world around her. The book touches on the issue of mortality when the girl stops to

place flowers on the body of a bird, creating a brief opportunity to let young readers reflect on how we

remember and celebrate the dead. It’s a sad little moment, but as it falls in the course of this otherwise light

story it doesn’t bog the book down. Overall the book is full of great little details, and young readers will want to

take this walk again and again.

Maihack, Mike.

Cleopatra in Space. Graphix. 2014-present. 2 volumes, ongoing.

A young Cleopatra (yes, THAT Cleopatra!) accidentally transports herself far into the future to the planet Mayet

in the Nile Galaxy, where she is quickly determined to be the long-prophesied liberator and leader in the

approaching intergalactic war. Despite her royal upbringing, Cleopatra is a delinquent-- she struggles to make

friends, skips classes, and performs poorly academically. But over time she makes connections and learns to love

her tactical lessons (which, incidentally, come from a council of talking cats). This all-ages title delivers on its

mashup concept and is as cute as you can get. Maihack’s artwork is energetic and fun while his writing is fast-

paced and concise.

Vol. 1: Target Practice. 2014. 178 p. 978-0545528436.

Vol. 2: The Thief and the Sword. 2015. 192p. 978-0545528450.

Naifeth, Ted. Princess Ugg. Oni Press, 2015. 120p. 978-1620101780.

Princess Ulga isn’t your typical fairy tale princess. Instead of a refined, boy-crazy fashion plate, Ulga has lived a

practical, rough and tumble life -- outdoors, hands-on, with plenty of fighting! But in honor of her Mother’s

dying wish, Ulga goes down the mountain to attend Princess Academy. There she finds herself in an unfamiliar

world of mean girls only interested in marrying the right prince and at odds with everyone. Ulga won’t quit

despite the adversity and is determined to stick it out. The storyline has roots in both Norse mythology and

medieval fairy tales while presenting plenty of female protagonists and fun action.

Pien, Lark. Long Tail Kitty: Come Out and Play. Blue Apple Books, 2015. 80p. 978-1609053949.

Pien has at long last returned to Long Tail Kitty (2009) with a companion volume of five new stories introducing

new friends. Long Tail Kitty embarks on whimsical new adventures focusing on life and friendship in a way that is

full of charm and magic. Pien’s straightforward art and lettering combined with her thoughtful use of color and

creative panel designs will make this a favorite bedtime story.

Stevenson, Noelle (auth.), Grace Ellis (auth.) and Brooke Allen (illus.). Lumberjanes vol. 1. BOOM! Box, 2015.

128p. 978-1608866878.

Friendship to the max! The Lumberjanes are brave and hilarious scouts whose forays into the woods around

their summer camp quickly reveal supernatural adventures. This winning new series stars a group of girls who

represent a wide range of cultures, body types, interests, and orientations. The plots are simple and fun, and

full of messages about being interested in the world around you, being confident in your own abilities, and

always trusting in your friends. So much more positive the catty drama that typifies so many books of this

genre! Girls and guys will be clamoring for future volumes.

Teens

Aaron, Jason (auth.) and Russell Dautermann (illus.). Thor: Goddess of Thunder. Marvel, 2015. 136p. 978-

0785192381.

Thor has become unworthy of his beloved and magical hammer Mjolnir and is now known as Odinson. A

woman, her identity unknown, proves worthy of the hammer and is transformed into a new Thor. Facing an

attack from the Frost Giants and their allies, she is now positioned to protect the Earth, even if she must also

endure challenges and conflict from Odinson. Aaron’s writing is deft and action-packed while Dautermann’s art

is fluid and vivid. The character development around the former Thor and the ways his family, friends and

colleagues cope with his loss of Mjolnir and his title is compelling and surprising. But the star of the show is the

new Goddess of Thunder, who is a fascinating character in her own right. The mystery of her identity is sure to

keep Marvel fans intrigued.

Aguirre-Sacasa, Roberto (auth.) and Francesco Francavilla (illus.). Afterlife With Archie: Escape From Riverdale.

Archie Comics, 2014. 160p. 978-1619889088.

On its face it sounds utterly ridiculous: Jughead’s beloved dog dies, he asks Sabrina the Teenage Witch to bring

him back, and suddenly zombies are set loose on Riverdale. This is certainly a far cry from the Archie we’re used

to! But amazingly it all works. The writing by comics veteran Aguirre-Sacasa keeps all the characters true to their

classic iterations but doesn’t shy away from the grim danger of the plot. And Francavilla’s gorgeous, pulpy art is

full of deep dark shadows, relishing in the horror of it all. It’s spooky, funny, and still -- somehow -- undeniably

Archie.

Carroll, Emily. Through the Woods. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2014. 208p. 978-1442465954.

Carroll’s work has been popping up online for a while now, but this collection should greatly expand her

audience and secure her spot in the pantheon of great modern cartoonists. Through the Woods is a collection of

grim fairy tales, mostly centering around characters discovering hideous things in the dark woods at the borders

of their daily lives. The simple plots and delicate voice perfectly capture the tone of myths. Carroll uses unique

panel layouts and bold, dark blacks to convey all the creeping dangers. Get a taste of her work at

http://emcarroll.com.

Cloonan, Becky (auth.), Brendan Fletcher (auth.) and Karl Kerschel (illus.). Gotham Academy vol. 1: Welcome

to Gotham. DC Comics, 2015. 150p. 978-1401254728.

Gotham Academy takes the usual tropes of a mystery set in a “special” boarding school and sends them for a

spin around Planet Batman. Olive Silverlock can’t remember what happened over the summer, but she knows it

was something traumatic. Despite the unsettling holes in her memory, she’s still starting a new year at Gotham

Academy where she’s tasked with providing freshman Maps Mizoguchi (the younger sister of her estranged

boyfriend) an orientation to the school. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Gotham City boarding school,

complete with secret passageways, a haunting, secret society, and visits from weirdo benefactors like Bruce

Wayne. Olive is a compelling protagonist and Cloonan piles on the mysteries in the plot. Meanwhile Fletcher’s

art spotlights appealing character designs and manga-inflected style. An enjoyable read for teens, sans the

baggage of decades of DC continuity that can bog down other titles.

Doctorow, Cory (auth.) and Jen Wang (illus.). In Real Life. First Second, 2014. 192p. 978-1596436589.

Having recently moved to a new state, teenaged Anda finds identity and solace playing as a fearless warrior on

her favorite massively-multiplayer role playing game Coarsegold. She is recruited by another player to hunt and

kill in-game gold farmers, who work 12-hour shifts in sweatshops in developing countries to break the game

rules to harvest and sell to wealthy players. Anda soon befriends a particular gold farmer and must learn how to

navigate her personal ethics, cultural differences, political activism, and the consequences of good intentions

that can lead to bad results. Wang’s artwork is a revelation. The weight and balance of Anda’s real word with its

murky and glum colors are in sharp contrast to her rich and colorful game life and idealized warrior form. A

wonderful and thoughtful (and exciting!) look at the modern world and the power of online communication.

Montclare, Brandon (auth.) and Amy Reeder (illus.). Rocket Girl vol. 1: Times Squared. Image Comics, 2014.

120p. 978-1632150554.

DeYoung Johansson, a teenage cop from the far-flung future of 2014, travels back in time to 1986 New York City

to investigate a series of time crimes that seem to point back toward 2014’s most powerful corporation. The

fish-out-of-water humor of DeYoung adjusting to her new 20th Century surroundings is amusing, but the real

star here is Reeder’s dynamic art. From her open, manga-inflected character work to her full page action scenes,

Reeder fully brings us into a neon world populated by fun, capable characters. Flip through this once and you’ll

be sold.

Prince, Liz. Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir. Zest Books, 2014. 256p. 978-1936976553.

Prince’s memoir about growing up in defiance of gender norms is hilarious, touching, and inspiring. The titular

Tomboy never felt comfortable doing girly things, preferring to play baseball with the boys and hide her body in

baggy, neutral clothing. This disregard of “typical” behavior predictably makes her the target of bullies and

complicates relationships with her friends. One of the fascinating and all-too-true things about Prince’s story is

the way that the labels that others try to throw on her (people maliciously assume that she’s gay or that she’s

trans) become categories that she has to wrestle with and questions that she has to try to answer for herself,

perhaps before she’s really ready. Eventually Prince finds solace and community among early-90’s punk rock

zinesters and riot grrrls and she develops a greater understanding of -- and confidence in -- herself. A great read

for all outsiders.

Remender, Rick (auth.) and Jerome Opeña (illus.). Avengers: Rage of Ultron. Marvel, 2015. 112p. 978-

0785190400.

The unexpected return of Ultron finds the Avengers much different than their past encounter, while Ultron’s

plan to eradicate life on Earth remains unchanged. Remender’s storyline focuses on the tensions between Hank

Pym (Ant-Man) and The Vision as they struggle to overcome Ultron’s plan of destruction, but also focuses

closely on the responsibility and dynamics of fatherhood. Vision and Ultron are both cybernetic consciousnesses

created by Pym, so when Pym suggests that Ultron need be destroyed and strives to justify radical measures,

Vision is understandably upset. In addition to these heady concerns, this book soars in delivering classic

Avengers action, with fan-favorite characters bouncing off of each other in thrilling ways.

Tamaki, JIllian. SuperMutant Magic Academy. Drawn and Quarterly, 2015. 224p. 978-1770461987.

Collecting the strips of Tamaki’s long running webcomic, this hilarious and surreal graphic novel follows the lives

of high school students at a prep school for gifted and magical teens. Wavering between existential melodrama,

budding romance, quiet intergalactic adventures and supernatural academics, a cohesive story develops that

sees the teens through a school year. While the nerd culture jokes will appeal to fans of Harry Potter and X-

Men, the story captures all readers thanks to Tamaki’s utterly twisted humor and instantly relatable characters.

SuperMutant Magic Academy has been the winner of two Ignatz awards and this volume includes brand-new

comics never before published.

Wilson, G. Willow (auth.), Adrian Alphona (illus.) various illustrators.

Ms. Marvel. Marvel Comics, 2014-present. 3 volumes, ongoing.

Kamala Khan is a Pakistani American teenage nerd. She’s obsessed with superheroes and carefully balances the

expectations imposed on her by her Muslim family while pining for the freedom of secular American teens. One

night she sneaks out to attend a party and encounters an alien force that gives her incredible powers. Inspired

by the heroic Carol Danvers -- an Avenger who recently dropped the “Ms.” from her name to go by Captain

Marvel -- Kamala takes up the Ms. Marvel mantle and tries to add “superhero” to her swirling constellation of

identities. Like Brian Michael Bendis’ Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man stories featuring Miles Morales, Ms. Marvel

brings us a rousing story of a kid grappling with an outsider identity while trying to live up to the legacy of a

great superhero. Buoyed by warm characterizations from novelist Wilson and occasionally surreal art by

Alphona (of Runaways fame), this is beautiful, inspiring stuff that reminds us why we read superhero comics in

the first place.

Vol. 1: No Normal. 2014. 120p. 978-0785190219.

Vol. 2: Generation Why. 2015. 136p. 978-0785190226.

Vol. 3: Crushed. 2015. 112p. 978-0785192275.

Adults

Chast, Roz. Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir. Bloomsbury USA, 2014. 240p. 978-

1608198061.

Celebrated New York Times staff cartoonist Roz Chast breaks new ground with this graphic memoir, which was

shortlisted for the National Book Award. With honesty and humor, Chast relates her experience of the last few

years of her parents’ lives. By presenting the practical worries, the stubborn fights, the bitter frustrations, and

the mounting concerns for their health, Chast offers a “warts-and-all” account of her parents decline that is all

the more moving for being so honest. The last few pages about her mom -- where Chast’s comics give way to a

series of sketches of her mother in a hospital bed -- are a stunner. Given our culture’s reluctance and to talk

honestly about death it is refreshing to have a book on the topic that is so inviting and so moving. One of those

Very Important Books that should have a long shelf-life.

Gillen, Kieron (auth.) and Jamie McKelvie (illus.).

The Wicked + The Divine. Image Comics. 2014-2015. 2 volumes, ongoing.

Every 90 years, a cross-cultural group of gods known as the Pantheon is resurrected. For two years, they are the

biggest stars on the planet. And then they die. In the year 2014, near the beginning of the latest Recurrence of

the Pantheon, Lucifer is framed for murder and Laura, a twentysomething devotee of the Pantheon, wants to

solve the mystery of why. The Wicked + The Divine (known as “WicDiv” to the series’ fans) is the latest

collaboration by the team behind Phonogram and Young Avengers (2013-2014) and here they are really letting

loose. By mapping gods from across human history on modern rock stars, Gillen gets to explore the 21st

Century’s obsessive fascination with fame and power while also delivering a grand, cosmic mystery and a

sprawling cast of diverse characters. McKelvie’s clear artwork is in top-form as well. He has an unparallelled eye

for design, from the characters’ fashions to the experimental layouts. WicDiv is definitely worth every reader’s

devotion.

Vol. 1: The Faust Act. 2014. 144p. 978-1632150196.

Vol. 2: Fandemonium. 2015. 168p. 978-1632150196.

Hernandez, Jaime. The Love Bunglers. Fantagraphics, 2014. 104p. 978-1606997291.

Readers of The Hernandez Brothers’ Love and Rockets will be familiar with the primary protagonists of The Love

Bunglers, as Maggie and Ray have been a central figures in the series for decades. Now that the characters are

deep in middle age, Hernandez is tackling the culmination of their on-again, off-again relationship while

honoring the complexity of their lives and shared history. The writing is concise and the art is simple, but

together, the storytelling is phenomenal. Though longtime Love and Rockets readers will probably get the most

out of it, new readers will be able to see the brilliance of Jaime’s storytelling.

Luce, Ed. Wuvable Oaf. Fantagraphics, 2015. 264p. 978-1606998168.

Set at the unlikely junction of San Francisco’s gay scene and its heavy metal scene, Wuvable Oaf is an equally

unlikely love story. Oaf is a large, hairy, gay man who is obsessed with cats, Morrissey, and heavy metal. He’s

also endearingly naive about the ways of love, and while many men desire him sexually (he’s a prototypical

“bear” in the parlance of the scene) Oaf is really looking for romance. Enter Eiffel, the diminutive but forceful

lead singer of the speed metal band Ejaculoid. Oaf falls head-over-heels and soon is hitting the road with the

band on their big tour. There’s also some stuff about demonically-possessed cats and Oaf’s secret identity as a

beloved luchador. It’s all very weird and idiosyncratic, obviously representing the obsessions of creator Ed Luce,

who has been self-publishing the book for nearly a decade. It’s also occasionally explicit, though without ever

being porny. Mostly, it’s full of charm and mature readers of all orientations are sure to find something to love.

McCloud, Scott. The Sculptor. First Second, 2015. 496p. 978-1596435735.

McCloud is a treasure in the world of comics. He’s the creator of the groundbreaking Understanding Comics, a

warm and charming advocate for taking comics seriously as an art form, and a restless experimenter in his own

right. The Sculptor is the first long-form narrative work he’s done in more than two decades, and it’s clear that

every moment he’s spent thinking about how and why comics work has gone into this book, as each one of its

nearly 500 pages has something fascinating happening on it. The story about the titular sculptor who makes a

Faustian bargain -- the ability to manipulate any physical material in exchange for only 200 days of life -- lets

McCloud muse on the power of artistic expression, legacy, and the balance between creating and living. It’s a

thoughtful and moving work of comic art by the medium’s foremost theorist.

McGuire, Richard. Here. Pantheon, 2015. 304p. 978-0375406508.

One space, millions of years of history. Here is a bold experiment in comics and a completely unique work of art

in that the reader’s field of vision never changes, but panels are used to indicate events happening decades or

centuries apart all occurring in the same, fixed space. Imagine a movie in which the camera stays perfectly still

but ghosts of events flicker in and out of the frame and you’ll get the idea. The result is simple, sublime, and

surprisingly accessible. Not a book for everyone (plot is nonexistent and the jumbled chronology makes

following the characters difficult) but rewarding for those with an interest in the art of comics.

Millar, Mark (auth.) and Goran Parlov (illus.). Starlight. Image Comics, 2015. 152p. 978-1632150172.

The writer behind Kick-Ass, The Secret Service, and Marvel’s Civil War, Millar is a known provocateur in the

comics world, but Starlight is something different. Eschewing the high-concepts, cynical politics, and

questionable morality of his usual fare, Millar instead delivers a straightforward and sincere paean to the classic

adventure stories of the ‘40s and ‘50s. A tough-as-nails pilot from Earth, Duke McQueen was whisked out into

space to be the swashbuckling savior of an alien race. But on his return no one believed him, and he lived out his

life as a laughingstock. But then, 40 years later and shortly after the death of his wife, destiny comes calling

again! Starlight boasts beautiful art by Parlov, whose European style and dynamic layouts capture the

excitement of the pulp adventures it’s emulating. And the first chapter -- with its jumps between Duke’s past

and heartbreaking present -- is one of the best single issues I’ve ever read.

Pond, Mimi. Over Easy. Drawn and Quarterly, 2014. 272p. 978-1770461536.

In this semi-autobiographical tale, Margaret is forced to drop out of art school due to a lack of financial aid and

needs a job. Soon she is a working waitress at the Imperial Cafe (which Oaklanders will recognize as Mama’s

Royal Cafe on Broadway!), where she is takes the name Madge and enters a world romantic entanglements,

casual drug use, and Pink Squirrel cocktails. Pond’s singular green palette adds to both the nostalgia of the late

1970’s and the diner aesthetic of the comic, while her hand-lettering and art create an intimate reading

experience. She spent 15 years creating this book and that care and dedication show through on every page.

Snyder, Scott (auth.) and Jock (illus.). Wytches, vol. 1. Image Comics, 2015. 144p. 978-1632153807.

Doing horror in comics is hard. The writer and artist have a limited control over the pace that readers get

information, making the cultivation of suspense a challenge and jump scares a near impossibility. So leave it to

the all-star team of Snyder and Jock to deliver what is probably the most frightening comic of all time. The Rook

family moves to the town of Litchfield, NH to get a fresh start after the disappearance of a bully made teenage

daughter Sailor the subject of small-town speculation in their old home. But the Rooks soon find themselves

under the sway of the wytches, ancient and terrible creatures who can give you anything you want… for a price.

Dripping with pure dread and brought to life through the dizzyingly psychedelic art of Jock.

Soule, Charles (auth.) and Javier Pulido (illus.).

She-Hulk. Marvel Comics, 2014-2015. 2 volumes.

She-Hulk is Jennifer Walters: an oversized, green-skinned lawyer, who works as an Avenger in her spare time. In

this relaunch of her solo title, many of the chapters are stand-alone stories involving the greater Marvel universe

as She-Hulk starts a new private practice, while an overarching story surrounding the mysterious ‘Blue File’

simmers in the background. Pulido’s art is distinctively flat and colorful, playing up She-Hulk’s enormous

strength and stature. Throughout, energetic action sequences are balanced by quieter, humorous moments of

her professional life. A stand-out superhero title in a year of breakout relaunches.

Vol. 1: Law and Disorder. 2014. 136p. 978-0785190196.

Vol. 2: Disorderly Conduct. 2015. 136p. 978-0785190202.