Graphic Novels and Comics: READING LISTS

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Readings for Special Interests

Women and Comics

  Book cover of "Dangerous Curves," showing woman, armed with guns                Book cover of "Graphic Women," with drawing of women wearing flaming goggles              Book cover of "The Supergirls," showing superheroine with black and red, caped costume 

Recommended Comics Titles: Ghost World, The Lumberjanes, The Rat Queens, Ms. Marvel

Characters of Diversity

   Book cover "Multicultural Comics," with black and white close portrait of an Asian man                Book cover of "Black Superheroes, Milestone Comics, and Their Fans," showing a black man in a superhero costume               Book cover of "Native Americans in Comic Books," showing Native American in ceremonial feathered headdress

Recommended Comics Titles: The Shadow Hero, The Silence of Our Friends, Persepolis, Fun Home

Comics and Religion

   Book cover of "Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels," showing a group of colorful characters of religious folklore               Book cover of "Jewish Images in the Comics," with the Star of David and images from comics in each triangle              Book cover of "From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books," showing comic artist at the drawing board          

Recommended Comics Titles: MAUS, The Book of Genesis, Habibi, Boxers and Saints, The Rabbi's Cat

Learning from Superheroes

  Plain blue book cover of "The Science of Superheroes"                Book cover of "The Avengers and Philosophy," showing the Avengers' logo              Book cover of "Superman on the Couch," showing caped superhero on an inclined couch talking to a psychologist 

Recommended Comics Titles: Watchmen, Batman: Dark Knight Returns, Deadpool, Marvel: Civil War

International Comics

  Book cover of "Asian Comics," showing a collage of Asian comic book characters                 Book cover of "Reading Bande Dessinee," showing illustration of rooms in a house from a bird's eye view              Book cover of "Manga," showing a crowd of manga-style animated characters     

Recommended Comics Titles: Tin-tin, Akira, Deathnote, Palomar: Heartbreak Soup

The Comic Classics

  • Watchmen
  • The Sandman
  • MAUS
  • Persepolis
  • Blankets
  • Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
  • A + E 4Ever
  • Ghost World
  • American Born Chinese
  • The Book of Genesis
  • Anya's Ghost
  • The Silence of Our Friends
  • Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth
  • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
  • A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
  • The Origin of the Species
  • Akira
  • Naruto
  • Death Note
  • Fruits Basket
  • V for Vendetta
  • Bone
  • Scott Pilgrim
  • Calvin and Hobbes
  • Asterix
  • Tin-tin
  • Fables
  • Saga
  • Palomar: Heartbreak Soup
  • Habibi
  • The Graphic Canon

What Are Your Favorites?

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  • Last Updated: Dec 21, 2023 2:33 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.gvsu.edu/graphicnovels