Is there such a thing as an old year’s resolution? That’s what I feel I’ve been doing recently. As we’re racing toward the end of the year, I’m looking at the stacks of very good graphic novels accumulating around me and I’m getting nervous. I’m thinking about how I’ve just gotten to get them reviewed soon because some of them are too good not to talk about. It would be easier if they weren’t good; then I wouldn’t have to bother with them at all. But these are books I really want to talk about, to spread the word about them, and to give them just a little bit of recognition.

So you’ll notice this time out (and probably the next few updates as well) there will be a treasure trove of reviews here, much more than we usually do. (Is it wrong that I always seem to have a guilty conscience about having accumulated so many books and being behind on reviewing them? You can take the boy out of Catholic school, I guess, but you can’t take it out of the deadline-stressed reviewer.)

I think you’ll enjoy the wide selection of books we are looking at as they run the gamut from superhero exploits to seafaring adventure to suspense to…well, just about everything in between. This is all done in a huge effort to clear the decks before the new year begins and I can start being buried under even more. Oh, the pleasures of reviewing. (I really do love it. Seriously.)

More news: We’ve recently begun a new section on GNR called Events and Conventions, a new resource for people who like to attend comics-related events. We begin with a special look at the Miami Book Fair and its upcoming School of Comics. Did I mention this is a GNR-sponsored event? The entire weekend will be full of panels and educational discussions --- and also full of diverse and interesting content. If you’re near Miami, you’ll want to check it out. It’ll be worth it.

One standout from the weekend is going to be the Color of Comics program, brought about by Alex Simmons (creator of Kids Comic-Con and a contributor to GNR) and nutured along by a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz. As soon as I heard that, I leapt at the chance to interview Junot (see below). He’s a real comics fan! And I mean the dyed-in-the-wool kind of comics fan. Pretty cool, and he’s a great guy to boot.

By the way, if you know of other conventions or events that would be a good fit for coverage on GNR, please send me an email. I hope to grow this section and keep making it a useful resource for our readers.

I also want to give you a heads-up to be sure to look for us on Facebook. That’ll be your quick and easy way to follow what GNR is doing and keep track of our new updates. Please check it out and become a fan!

That’s it for this time. I hope you enjoy the new content in this update. Seriously, check out all the reviews; you’ll find some great stuff there.

Happy reading,

John Hogan (John@bookreporter.com)

Are We in a New Golden Age?

YALSA Unveils Its Graphic Nominees

Do You Know Where You’re Going To?

The Squirrel Machine by Hans Rickheit
Surreal, gorgeous, and both satisfying and confounding, The Squirrel Machine is a hypnotic, occasionally repulsive, always entertaining, and wildly creative graphic novel. It does not invite rereading so much as demands it, and each encounter reveals new and different details and interpretations. Reviewed by Christian Zabriskie

Ball Peen Hammer by Adam Rapp and George O'Connor
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. Reviewed by John Hogan

Mijeong by Byun Byung-Jun
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. Reviewed by John Hogan

Vlad the Impaler: The Man Who Was Dracula by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon
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. Reviewed by Danica Davidson

Refresh, Refresh by Benjamin Percy, James Ponsoldt, and Danica Novgorodoff
Teenage boys in small-town Oregon await news on their fathers, who are off fighting in Iraq, while trying to cope with adolescence and their own needs to determine what it means to be a man. Reviewed by John Hogan

American Jesus by Mark Millar and Peter Gross
A teenage boy discovers that he is much more than human --- he can perform miracles! And more than that, his birth here on Earth signifies an oncoming battle to end all battles. Reviewed by John Hogan

Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter by Kieron Gillen, Kano, and Dan Brereton
From the pages of Thor comes a new kind of hero: an alien with the heart, courage, and power to match the legendary Norse god. In this epic adventure, he's out to take on the most powerful villain of them all --- the dreaded Galactus. Reviewed by Stephen Giordano

The Tiny Tyrant, Vol. One: The Ethelbertosaurus by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme
Ethelbert lives every kid's dream --- he's the king, so he gets everything he wants, even if he wants to clone his own dinosaur or have Santa Claus give his chef cooking lessons. Of course, nothing ever ends up the way he plans, but that's when the fun really starts. Reviewed by Brigid Alverson

Kit Feeny: On the Move by Michael Townsend
When Kit's family moves away from the farm and into the big city, he knows he'll be lonely without his best friend, Arnold, so the two come up with a terrific plan to stay together. Now if only they'd remembered to put a toilet in the moving box! Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith

The Incredibles: Family Matters by Mark Waid and Marcio Takara
The superpowered family known as The Incredibles returns for another adventure, but this time the danger's even more pressing, since Mr. Incredible has lost his powers! Reviewed by John Hogan

Salt Water Taffy, Vol. 1-3 by Matthew Loux
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. Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith

1,000 Comic Books You Must Read by Tony Isabella
Comics columnist and reviewer Tony Isabella journeys back through 70 years of comics history to distill the 1,000 comics that are essential reading. But as he puts it, "Just 1,000?" It's a start, and a very fun one. Reviewed by John Hogan

Drawing Manga Animals, Chibis, and Other Adorable Creatures by J.C. Amberlyn
J.C. Amberlyn presents an art book that instructs on how to draw cute creatures from manga. It has everything from tiny squirrels to mythological kappa. Reviewed by Danica Davidson