Need a change of pace? Textbooks got you down? Why not try a graphic novel!
What’s your pleasure?
Something fun? We have some of The Sandman
Memoir? Take a look at Persepolis
Historical? How about Barefoot Gen: Life After the Bomb
Heartbreaking? Cancer Vixen
Want Shakespeare? Henry V : the graphic novel
Scientific? Try DNA : a graphic guide to the molecule that shook the world.
Mathematical? I’m thinking Manga guide to statistics
What’s that? A comic book ABOUT comic books? Understanding comics : the invisible art
And now, a few definitions from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary to get us started…
- Cartoon: a preparatory design, drawing, or painting (as for a fresco); a drawing intended as satire, caricature, or humor. First Known Use: 1671.
- Comic Strip: a group of cartoons in narrative sequence. First Known Use: 1920.
- Manga: a Japanese comic book or graphic novel; Japanese, comic, cartoon, from man- involuntary, aimless + -ga picture. First Known Use: circa 1951.
- Graphic Novel: a fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book. First Known Use: 1978.
- Anime: a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes. First Known Use (outside of Japan): 1988.
Graphic Novels and Comics
Akira. Book one / Katsuhiro Otomo. 808.838762 O88a 2000
American born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang. 813.6 Y22a 2009
Arrival / Shaun Tan. 305.906912 T161a 2007
Book of Genesis / illustrated by R. Crumb. 222.11 B724 2009
Cancer vixen : a true story / Marisa A. Marchetto. 362.196994 M317c 2006
Cartoon history of the modern world / Larry Gonick. 909.08 G638c 2007
David Boring / Daniel Clowes. 813.54 C648d 2000
Domu : a child’s dream / Katsuhiro Otomo. 808.838762 O88d 2001
Epileptic / David B. 843.92 B111ep 2005
Flood! : a novel in pictures / by Eric Drooker. 741.5973 D786f 1992
Golem’s mighty swing / by James Sturm. 813.54 S936g 2003
Henry V : the graphic novel / William Shakespeare ; script by John McDonald. 822.33 W3 M478h 2010
In the shadow of no towers / Art Spiegelman. 741.5973 S755i 2004
Incognegro / written by Mat Johnson ; art by Warren Pleece ; lettered by Clem Robins. 323.1196073 J68i 2008
Manga guide to statistics / Shin Takahashi,Trend-pro Co. 519.5 T136m 2009
Odysseus and the Cyclops / story, Gilly Cameron Cooper ; illustrations, Bookmatrix. 398.20938 C776o 2007
Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi. 955.0542092 S253p 2003
Buddha. 1, Kapilavastu / Osamu Tezuka. 294.363 T356b 2006
Books on Graphic Novels and Comic Books
Understanding comics : the invisible art / [Scott McCloud]. 741.5973 M127u 1994
Artists on comic art / Mark Salisbury. 741.56922 S167a 2000
Opportunities in cartooning and animation careers / Terence J. Sacks. 741.5023 S121o 2008
Manga : the complete guide / Jason Thompson. 741.5952 T473m 2007
Manga : masters of the art / Timothy Lehmann. 741.5952 L523m 2005
Movies based on Graphic Novels
Alternate literary voices and vehicle: Films Media Group,  Streaming video
Akira [videorecording]; written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. 791.4372 A3154 2001
Crumb [videorecording] / David Lynch 741.5692 C956 2006