Do you prefer to read comic books in single issues or in trade collections?
Is there a prose book you would love to see adapted into a graphic novel?
Click here to answer our question
The Power of Fables: An Interview with Bill Willingham, Part 1
Bill Willingham discusses his work on Fables, including the new prose novel based on it, as well as the politics of the comics industry, his upcoming work on Justice Society, and more.
The Power of Fables: An Interview with Bill Willingham, Part 2
Bill Willingham discusses his work on Fables, including the new prose novel based on it, as well as the politics of the comics industry, his upcoming work on Justice Society, and more.
The Power of Fables: An Interview with Bill Willingham, Part 3
Bill Willingham discusses his work on Fables, including the new prose novel based on it, as well as the politics of the comics industry, his upcoming work on Justice Society, and more.
Black Book: Laurie Faria Stolarz Interviewed
Laurie Faria Stolarz is the acclaimed author of such young adult books as Bleed, Project 17, and the Touch series. In this interview, Stolarz explains what inspired her to create her latest work, Black Is for Beginnings, as a graphic novel companion to her Blue Is for Nightmares series and discusses how she was able to transition easily between the two formats. She also describes how her upbringing in Salem, Massachusetts, influenced her writing and research on the paranormal subjects in her work and reveals how she stays current on what’s important to her teen audiences.
New York Story: Kevin Baker's Luna Park
Bestselling prose author Kevin Baker breaks into comics with the brilliant and powerful Luna Park. Here, the writer shares what it was like to take on comics for the first time, how his story was inspired, and what he’d like to do next.
Robert Weil
In his long career as an editor, Robert Weil has worked with some of the most successful and revered authors in the world. We talked with him about how he got started working on graphic books, how he edits them, and what it was like to work on two groundbreaking works, Genesis and Stitches.
A Universal Language
Young-adult librarian Lisa Elliot has tried to bring more Spanish-language graphic novels to her library. But it’s not so simple. With a lack of resources, ordering help, and distribution, she’s been thwarted several times in her attempts to serve her patrons better. Here’s her first-hand account of her experiences.
Graphic Texts in the College Classroom
Doré Ripley, a lecturer at Cal State East Bay, has been using graphic novels in her college classrooms for a while now, using them to teach remedial reading and writing to her students. But now she's about to embark on a new graphic-novel endeavour. She explains how it will work and what she's expecting.
Act of Creation
When a writer and an artist both contribute to the creation of a character in comics, who owns the rights? Is the character's powers more defining and more important than the creation of the world he inhabits? That's the question, and the cause of many feuds in the comics industry.
If You Were a Graphic Novel, Where Would You Live?
Where should graphic novels be shelved in bookstores? With similar genres, with other graphic novels, or elsewhere? Here’s one view on the issue.
The Call
Bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz (The Crime Writer, Last Shot) explains how he came to write his childhood antihero, the Punisher. And he gives you a chance to enter a contest related to his new thriller, Trust No One!
Greg Sadowski
Greg Sadowski is a longtime comics historian and editor who has just announced seven new books to come from Fantagraphics, all focused on the Golden Age of the format. We go Behind the Scenes with Greg.
Bob Almond
An inker with nearly two decades of experience in the job, Bob Almond officially began the Inkwell Awards in January of 2008. We talked with him about his history with comics and his work in the field.
Calista Brill
With a lineup as diverse as First Second’s, you would expect an editor with equally mobile tastes. Calista Brill doesn’t disappoint. The publishing house’s editor took time out of her busy day to answer our profile questions.
James Bucky Carter
James Bucky Carter is one of the most influential people marrying the wealth of comics potential with the classroom. An assistant professor of English education at the University of Texas at El Paso, he has studied comics and pop culture for years and has promoted comics’ use in building literacy (in fact, he wrote a book called Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels). Here, he discusses his history as a comics fan.
Peter Coogan
Peter Coogan, the director of the Institute for Comics Studies, has spent years studying comics and promoting their use as an educational tool. Here, he goes back to his roots as a comics collector and talks about how he came to love the format so much.
Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Maryland, has just celebrated its grand reopening. We’re joining in on the party with a profile of the store and a look at their bestseller list.
At Green Brain Comics, they love comics and they do they everything they can to celebrate them. In fact, the love is a little bit infectious.
Lobo Anime & Comics is one of the largest comics stores in New Mexico, a veritable treasure trove of games, toys, and, of course, comics.
Meet Atom!, the owner of the 2008 Eisner Award-winning comics shop Brave New World in Los Angeles's Santa Clarita Valley.
Whitehall, PA's Comicmasters is a constantly changing store that serves its customers needs in new and diverse way. Meet the owner of the store and see what his hottest titles are right now.
Comics in the Age of Digital Piracy
We hear about it all the time: digital piracy. The scourge of the entertainment industry, digital piracy has been taken on by music companies, movie studios, and major publishers. But what of comic piracy? Does it affect the industry as a whole? We talked to three people in graphic publishing to see what the state of matters is and how they are combating illegal downloading.
How Graphic Novels Thrive in High-School Libraries: A Discussion
Our tour through the library programs of schools (in relation to graphic novels) finishes here, with a discussion involving some high-school librarians talking about the problems they face, the solutions they’ve uncovered, and the issues they’ve successfully dealt with.
How Graphic Novels and Manga Are Doing in Middle Schools
With comics and manga getting further respect in schools and libraries, we checked in with middle-school librarians to see what they had to say—what issues they faced bringing graphic novels into the schools, what young readers were responding to, and what the positives and negatives are for their jobs.
Elementary Schools, Libraries and Comics
What do elementary librarians face today as they try to bring comics and manga into their schools? We talk to a diverse group of librarians to see what's going on, what's working, what's not, and what they've learned.
Adapting Prose to Comics
Beyond the original content the graphic novel and manga industries create year after year, a burgeoning marketplace has formed for adaptations of prose literature. Whether they are current ongoing series, literary classics, or modern books looking to reach a broader audience, comics adaptations are catching on with readers as well as bringing new people to the format. We talked to several pros to find out what they do and how it works.
Find out what graphic novels and manga are coming up in the months ahead. Check here for a list of new titles coming soon.
Cinema turns to graphic novels for great inspiration! See what's headed to a movie theater near you, and find out what's coming on DVD.
Find out which works have gained the respect and admiration of the industry. These award-winners are the best of the best.
Our Picks
We reveal our 10 favorites of 2008. Also, see what others selected as their favorites of the year.
Sleeper Season One
Comic-book superstar Ed Brubaker and longtime collaborator Sean Phillips’ first work together covers just about everything that can go wrong when you’re a superpowered secret agent trying to take down the most evil man in the world. Sleeper: Season One combines elements from the superhero, spy, and crime noir genres and gives readers something fresh, original, and horribly ruthless, setting it apart from anything else on bookshelves today.
New York Story: Kevin Baker's Luna Park
Bestselling prose author Kevin Baker breaks into comics with the brilliant and powerful Luna Park. Here, the writer shares what it was like to take on comics for the first time, how his story was inspired, and what he’d like to do next.
Batting 1,000
Tony Isabella shares his massive list of 1,000 Comic Books You Must Read. Here, he talks about what made the list, what didn’t, and much more.
The Good Neighbors, Book Two: Kith
Get a sneak preview of Holly Black's newest book, Kith, the second volume in the bestselling The Good Neighbors series! Plus, read an interview with Holly Black and learn more about the book!
Amulet, Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
An in-depth profile of Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet, Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse, including a special excerpt from the book, an interview with the author, and a contest giving twenty-five lucky readers a chance to win in a copy!
A Bit of Shameless Self-Promotion
Yesterday, the judges for the 2010 Eisner Awards (which will be held at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 23 of next year) were announced, and yours truly is one of them. I'm really honored to be among these other great judges (get to meet them all here) and I'm looking forward to taking part in the whole process, which is going to be rigorous, challenging, and a whole lot of fun. Here's hoping I'm up to the task!
Jumping the Gun: A Big Thumbs-Up
Check back tomorrow for a full review of Luna Park and an interview with its author, Kevin Baker, but in the meantime, run out now and get it. I'm mesmerized by this graphic novel. Baker brings the noir prose storytelling technique he employed in such books as Dreamland and Strivers Row to the comics format, and it works beautifully. Perhaps it works so well because of Danijel Zezelj's incredible artwork and the gorgeous tones employed throughout.
TV Check
Two TV shows with comics-related content have caught my attention this season, one new and one old. The new one, which I'm enjoying quite a bit, is the new conspiracy puzzler FlashForward. I love it (and by the way, I'm going to say I love what ABC is doing this season by preparing for Lost's end with FlashForward and the new V...even if their execution isn't always perfect, I think it's great that the opportunity for good sci-fi on TV is there). Anyway, one of the mysteries of FlashForward is the identity of a person named "D.
Miami Book Fair
At the Miami Book Fair this year there will be a number of events for graphic novel and comics enthusiasts. Here is a listing of the events.
Amulet, Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse Giveaway Contest
Emily and Navin’s mother is in grave danger, and there’s only one place to find help: Kanalis, the bustling, beautiful city of waterfalls. Leon Redbeard, a mysterious fox, joins Emily, Navin, and Miskit on their journey, as they are pursued by the Elf King’s son, Trellis, and his dangerous guard. In order to save them all, Emily has to unleash the power of the amulet—but can she do so without destroying herself?
The Ghost in the Shell, Vol. 1
You may already be familiar with The Ghost in the Shell from its often stunning anime franchise, but if you’ve never read Shirow Masamune’s manga, you’re missing out on a groundbreaking work of both graphic fiction and science fiction.
100 Bullets, Vol. 1-13
Brian Azzarello’s and Eduardo Risso’s 100 Bullets is a testament to the collaborative effort of the comics medium in its 100-issue run. With crime twists and turns around every corner, it never lets up with its violent tales of morality.
Mijeong
A vast, sprawling collection of seven short stories, Mijeong is a somber work of manhwa from one of its rising stars. Through each of its dark tales, a theme of humanity, and sometimes hope, manage to peer through.
Ball Peen Hammer
In a dismal future, human beings are forced to perform cruel functions in order to survive. Ball Peen Hammer shows glimpses into the lives of a few unfortunate people thrown into this deadly mix.
Trotsky: A Graphic Biography
The life of Leon Trotsky—reviled by many, beloved by others—comes alive in this new biography.
Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation
One of the most controversial books ever written gets adapted to comics in this clever new book.
Akira, Vol. 1
Truth be told, there’s more kinetic energy within Otomo’s panel borders than in most Hollywood action movies. In short, this first volume of the classic early ’80s series may be one of the top sci-fi “movies” you’ll catch this year.
Years of the Elephant
A remarkable true story of parents coping with the death of a child, Years of the Elephant is one of the saddest and yet most compelling books of the year.
Vlad the Impaler: The Man Who Was Dracula
The brutal life story of Vlad the Impaler is told in graphic novel form. If you’ve ever wondered where the name “Dracula” originated, you can get your answer here.
Zombie Loan, Vol. 1
Michiru tries to keep her head down and go on as if life is normal, but she can tell when people will die. She has the Shinigami eyes, and it gets her involved with zombies and the undead.
Narration of Love at 17, Vol. 1-4
Seventeen-year-old Seyoung confesses her love to the boy she likes, but things don’t go as planned. Complete in four volumes, Narration of Love at 17 is a sensitive and heartfelt read.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Vol. 1-3
Kyon is just an average teenager. Merely human. Mostly harmless. On his first day of high school, he meets a rather unusual girl named Haruhi Suzumiya. The eccentric girl quickly grabs Kyon’s attention. Little does he know that in Haruhi’s world, what may seem drearily normal is anything but ordinary!
Rin-Ne, Vol. 1
Ever since she got lost in the woods as a little girl, Sakura Mamiya has been able to see ghosts, though she doesn’t know why. A strange new classmate with the power of exorcism may hold the key to Sakura’s abilities, though.
Black Is for Beginnings
College student Stacey Brown has been having nightmares about Maura, the little girl she used to babysit, even though it’s been about six years since the child was murdered. What do the dreams mean, and what dangers await for Stacey and her friends?
Domo: The Manga
You know the kid who always got carried away and ended up wrecking stuff? That’s Domo, a big, lovable slab of fur with more enthusiasm than common sense and a knack for getting himself in trouble.
Claire and the Bakery Thief/Claire and the Water Wish
Claire is not happy about moving to the country and leaving her old friends. But a friendship and a double dose of mystery will help her learn to love her new home!
Hatter M: Mad with Wonder
Hatter Madigan’s search for Alyss Heart, future queen of Wonderland, takes him to the American South and the Civil War. Somehow, evil Queen Redd is mixed up in the war, and Hatter is not guaranteed to escape unscathed. Will he finally find Alyss—or die trying?
Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars, Vol. 1
As a companion series to Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars trilogy, the Hatter M graphic novels explore the 13 years when Hatter Madigan, royal bodyguard, searched the globe for the lost Alyss Heart. This first volume starts at the beginning of Hatter’s journey—and he doesn’t know whom to trust.
Salt Water Taffy, Vol. 1-3
Jack and his brother Benny weren’t very excited about spending the summer in Chowder Bay, Maine, until they moved there and discovered that in Chowder Bay adventure is always waiting just outside, though it might not take the form they expect.
