These days, comic books are not just for superhero fans. There is a huge array of graphic novels to choose from and the list grows every day. Below are some of my favourites of all time:
• The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman: Police officer Rick Grimes awakes from a coma to find the world a very different place than he remembers. The living dead — zombies who feed on human flesh — have overrun the world. He struggles to unravel the new reality as he searches for his family and tries to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. This comic series has birthed a popular TV series by the same title. Both the graphic novel and the television show have garnered critical acclaim.
• Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi: Although the Amulet series is aimed at a younger audience, it has quickly became one of my favourite series. Emily and her younger brother Navin enter a dangerous and secret underground world after a strange tentacle creature kidnaps their mother. Their journey to find her in this new world is a thrilling and magical tale complete with robots, evil elves and talking animals. This is a perfect read for fantasy lovers and has even won a Young Readers Choice Award.
• Watchmen by Alan Moore: If you are a lover of the superhero genre, this cult classic is necessary read. This superhero graphic novel first graced shelves in 1987 and has since won a Hugo Award and been called one of the most influential graphic novels of all time. The story follows a group of all too human superheroes who are fallen from society’s graces as they battle an unknown assassin. It is a dark and thought-provoking tale that is sure to be popular and relevant for years to come.
• Smile by Raina Telgemeier: It’s hard to pick a favourite out of Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels. Smile was the first one she wrote but all three — Ghost and Drama are the other two — have found a place in the heart of millions of middle school kids. Based on the author’s own life, Smile is the story of sixth grader Raina’s dental journey after tripping and losing her two front teeth. A touching coming-of-age tale about friendship, acceptance and harrowing dental experiences, it is full of laughs and love, and might bring back a few reminders of what life in middle school is like.
• Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba: Manga, also known as Japanese comics, have been growing in popularity for years. There are many different genres of manga but if you have never read one before, Death Note is one to try. Light Yagami is a just a regular teenager and an ace student until he discovers a notebook. The death note, as it’s called, was dropped on Earth by a rogue Shinigami, a death god. Any person whose name is written in the notebook dies. Light begins to use the book to rid the world of evil and that is where his journey begins. Death Note is a thrilling tale of good versus evil and the morality of making a bad choice for the right reasons.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Mikaela Martens works at PoCo’s Terry Fox Library.
