Fiction

Crilley, Mark
Akiko: The Menace of Alia Rellapor, Vols 1, 2 & 3
Japanese anime-inspired Akiko offers an intergalactic adventure and a spunky, likable heroine who is surprisingly down-to-earth for being so often in outer space.

Davis, Jim
Garfield
Comic strips chronicling the adventures of a naughty, overweight cat.

Eisner, Will
The Last Knight
A simple introduction to Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes.

Evanier, Mark
*Shrek
The world's most loved ogre is now in comic format.

Groening, Matt
Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror: Heebie Jeebie Hullabalo
Simpsons Comics Big Bonanza
Simpsons Comics on Parade
Simpsons Comics Strike Back!
If you are a fan of the TV show, you'll be a fan of the comics!

Herge
The Adventures of Tintin
J FIC
Tintin and his trusty canine companion, Snowy, have many adventures.

Herriman
*Krazy and Ignatz
This strip's basic situation is simple: Ignatz Mouse loves to bop Krazy Kat on the head with bricks. Krazy, who loves Ignatz, receives each blow as if it were a token of affection, and Officer Pup, who loves Krazy, tries to thwart Ignatz's abuse.

Lee, Stan
Essential, The Uncanny X-Men, Vol 1
Here we have the original X-Men, setting the stage for the uneasy coexistence of humanity and mutants. It's super-hero action combined with teen angst.

Spiderman: The Official Comic Adaptation

Raboy, Mac
*Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Vol 1

Smith, Jeff
Bone series
Bone is a Tolkien-meets-Pogo fantasy about the Bone cousins, who leave their home, Boneville, for adventures in the outside world. There they confront monsters and dragons and are befriended by the winsome Thorn and her cantankerous Gran'ma Smith.

Spiegelman, Art, Editor
Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies
Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids
*"It was a Dark and Silly Night"
Spiegelman asked many different artists and writers to contribute to theme-based, large format, comic books. It is an excellent beginning to the genre for all ages.

The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode I
Star Wars: Episode II
Graphic novelizations of the famous movies

Tolkien, J.R.R.
The Hobbit
An illustrated edition of the fantasy classic.

Watterson, Bill
Calvin and Hobbes Collections
Calvin, the trouble-making kid, funny and imaginative, likes to have fun and play games with his "real" pet friend, Hobbes, the tiger.

Nonfiction

Benton, Mike
Masters of Imagination
J 741.5 BENTON

Benton, Mike
Superhero Comics of the Golden Age
Q 741.5 BENTON

Goodall, John S.
Story of a Castle
J 940.1 GOO

Maddocks, Peter
Cartooning for Beginners
J 741.5 MAD

Sassierue, Paul
The Comic Book: the One Essential Guide for Comic Book Fans Everywhere
J 741.5 SAS

Web Sites

DC Comics Online

Marvel Comics

No Flying No Tights
Check out the link "Sidekicks for Kids". You will find core lists of the best, definitions and a note to librarians, parents and teachers. It is an excellent site to learn more about comics and this unique art form.

* Denotes new titles in our collection

What are Comics?
Comics can be short - maybe 3 or 4 panels long, usually telling a very short plot or joke: for example, those found in newspapers. Comics tend to be either black and white or solid colors. Comics books are longer, usually around 20 pages. Comic book art tends to be more complex than newspaper comics, although every artist has their own unique style. They are as visual as art and film, but they are full of dialogue (text bubbles) and short descriptions like screenplays.

What is the Difference Between Comics and a Graphic Novel?
The whole storytelling format is taken one step further: a book-length comic. Artists and writers create longer plots, and the artwork and layouts can get more adventurous.