Panel Power by Betsy Gomez

ake M o t s c i m Using Co Readers! Lifelong

Comics! Not only are they fun, they’re an incredible tool for helping create a genuine love of reading. While the connection of words and pictures at first seems playful, the skills readers develop help provide a practical foundation for other kinds of learning. From verbal and visual literacy to critical thinking and memory, comics are a great tool to give young readers a head start. In Panel Power, we’ll talk about what comics and graphic novels offer young readers, show what goes into reading a comic, and provide some recommendations for ways to create reading activities for individuals and groups. We’ll also give you directions to resources you can look at next. Here’s to comics, and how they’ll help your kids love to read! —Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times bestselling children’s author and Newbery Honoree

Where you can find comics: CBLDF Retail Members: http://cbldf.org/about-us/retail-members/ Comic Shop Locator: www.comicshoplocator.com, 1-888-COMIC BOOK. Free Comic Book Day: https://www.freecomicbookday.com/ Your local library: https://www.worldcat.org/libraries Your local bookseller comiXology: https://www.comixology.com/ CBLDF thanks our Guardian Members:

COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, educators, and readers. CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals.

STAFF

Charles Brownstein, Executive Director Alex Cox, Deputy Director Georgia Nelson, Development Manager Betsy Gomez, Editorial Director Maren Williams, Contributing Editor Robert Corn-Revere, Legal Counsel

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Larry Marder, President Milton Griepp, Vice President Jeff Abraham, Treasurer Dale Cendali, Secretary Jennifer L. Holm Christina Merkler Chris Powell Reginald Hudlin Katherine Keller Jeff Smith Paul Levitz

ADVISORY BOARD

Neil Gaiman & Denis Kitchen, Co-Chairs Susan Alston Louise Nemschoff Greg Goldstein Mike Richardson Matt Groening William Schanes Chip Kidd Jose Villarrubia Jim Lee Bob Wayne Frenchy Lunning Peter Welch Frank Miller

CREDITS

Betsy Gomez, Designer & Editor Charles Brownstein, Contributor Maren Williams, Researcher Katherine Keller, Reviewer Carla Riemer, Reviewer

James Wood Bailey, Grant Geissman, and Philip Harvey

Cover art by Matthew Loux. Logo and layout by Betsy Gomez.

CBLDF’s education program made possible with the generous support of the Gaiman Foundation and supporters like you!

CORPORATE MEMBERS

How do we get kids to read? Our kids are busy. Between school, sports, and interests like movies, television, and video games, how do we encourage reading? One way to make them readers is to offer them something that they enjoy and that can compete with other distractions: comics!

Comics are perfect for kids! Kids read more when it’s fun, and comics are among the most entertaining reading materials around! Bright colors! Action! Humor! Comics engage the imaginations of even the youngest readers through vivid art and economical language. Because many comics are short, even the busiest kid will have time to read them. Some comics also feature characters from movies, television shows, and video games that kids already enjoy. So, comics are a great gateway to reading.

Comics are everywhere! Comics characters don’t just dominate screens big and small — the books themselves are immensely popular around the world. Bookstores, schools, and libraries have all expanded their comics sections to include more titles. And the number and kinds of comics are increasing all the time — there are comics that appeal to any interest and reading level!

Comics are rewarding! Kids get big rewards from reading comics! Prose books can be pretty intimidating for young readers. The images and smaller sections of text in comics are less scary for readers while giving them the same rewards — an exciting story and improved reading skills. The images in comics have a further reward: they improve visual literacy in a way that prose books cannot.

OWLY, an all-ages comic by Andy Runton, is wordless, which helps readers develop inference skills.

Kids are also empowered when they are given the freedom to choose what they read. It’s important to offer them a variety of books, including comics, and let them read what interests them regardless of whether we think that material is “quality” enough for them. If we push them to read only classics that they don’t have any interest in, kids will think of reading as work and lose interest. OWLY ©Andy Runton. Courtesy of the artist.

Shown here i

What are comics? Comics are an incredibly diverse medium that uses images in sequence, often (but not always) with text, to tell a story. Most people think of short, magazine-style periodicals or the comic strips in the newspaper, but comics come in all shapes and sizes. To better understand comics and how they are read, it’s important to know some basic vocabulary about the format.

PAINTING HER NAI

I JUST THIS C

➋

➊ Balloon: a section of speech that is usually framed with its own border and that has a tail indicating which character is speaking. Balloons may contain speech, thoughts (the tail may have progressively smaller circles), and other narrative information. Also called speech balloon or speech bubble.

I'M GOOD AT PAINTING!

HMM. STUCK

➋ Caption: similar to a balloon, a caption often has its own frame,

but contains narrative speech that doesn’t have a designated speaker. Sometimes called narrative blocks, boxes, or staging balloons, captions can provide information like a change of location or time.

➌ Emanata: visual elements that communicate information about a ➐ character without words (for example: sweat beads when a character is nervous, lines projecting from the character’s head to denote shock).

➍ Font: the style of the text in a comic. Different font styles are used to convey different meanings and emotions or to help differentiate between characters.

Graphic novel: a standalone (non-serialized) comics story that is longer in length.

➎ Gutter: the space between panels. Issue: in serialized comics, a single unit, usually consisting of 24–36 pages. In many cases, the issues of a series come out monthly.

➏ Panel: a single unit in a comic story sequence, usually

A quick note: The term comics has been applied to work as short as a single panel up to much longer multipage works called graphic novels. For the purposes of this publication, we’re using the term comics to apply to sequential, image-based storytelling of any length.

(but not always) bounded by a border line or box.

➐ Sound effect: a word that communicates or mimics

sound (onomatopoeia). Examples include “BOOM” and “CRASH”. Splash page: a page or spread of a comic that consists of one large panel. Spread: two facing pages in a comic. Trade: a collection of issues (usually 4–6) from a comic series that is bound together in one book.

is a spread from BABYMOUSE by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm.

ILS HAD TO BE LESS DANGEROUS.

T LOVE COLOR!

. K.

➊

OOH! ME TOO!

HMM…

➌

➍

STUPID BOTTLE!

BABYMOUSE!

EEP! SORRY…

MY FUR!

w Holm. Courtesy of the creators.

➎

➏

What is manga? Manga, or Japanese comics, makes up nearly a quarter of all book sales in its home country and is enjoyed by readers of all ages. Manga has become one of the fastest-growing publishing sectors in the U.S. and is a perennial favorite among fans, especially tween and teen readers. In Japan, books are read right to left rather than left to right, and what Western audiences normally consider the back of the book is instead the front. This is also true for manga. Sometimes, English translations of manga are “flipped” so the book can be read left to right, but most manga in the U.S. is released in the original Japanese format. Many manga, such as Akira Toriyama’s DRAGON BALL series, are read from right to left. DRAGON BALL ©1984 by BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA Inc.

How are comics good for kids? Comics are a challenging and stimulating medium for readers of all ages, but they can be especially beneficial for younger audiences. There are many ways that comics benefit kids and encourage them to become lifelong readers.

Comics build confidence. For some readers, a page of text can be pretty intimidating. But the text in comics is parceled out in more manageable pieces, often in short and easier-to-read sentences accompanied by images that offer visual clues about the story. Even the shortest comic can give a reader a sense of accomplishment when they finish the book. And some comics are very long â&#x20AC;&#x201D; imagine how finishing one of these books can boost the confidence of a young reader! The diversity of topics and art styles in comics mean that there are many opportunities for readers to find characters with which they identify. When kids encounter a character that looks like them, talks like them, or reflects some other aspect of their lives, they engage more deeply with the material and may experience a boost in self-esteem. The latter is especially true if the character that they identify with does something heroic or develops in some significant way. Comics are already very popular among younger readers and teens, so your kids or students may know comics better than you do! This gives you an opportunity to let them show off their expertise. Ask them for their input. Not only can you identify fun reading material, you can inspire confidence among young comics experts.

Comics boost the amount of reading.

Kids may experience a boost in selfesteem if they identify with Ms. Marvel (above), a teenage Pakistani-American superhero from New Jersey, or Jin Wang from AMERICAN BORN CHINESE (right), who is trying to fit in at his new school.

How much kids read has a stronger connection to their becoming lifelong readers than what they read does. This means that the number of books they read or amount of time they spend reading is more important than what is in the books they read. The serial nature of many comics encourages more reading because kids who like one book in a series will want to read the other volumes. Kids will also seek out other comics that star a character they like.

Comics are good practice. Reading takes practice, and repetition reinforces reading skills. Comics are tremendously rereadable. When kids like a comic, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not unusual for them to read it again.

From AMERIC Roaring Brook

MS. MARVEL © and ™ Marvel Comics. Art by Adrian Alphona. Used with permission.

With successive readings, they will find things they missed — a new word, a visual clue in a panel, an understanding of a character’s motivations. The process reinforces both verbal and visual literacy while also ensuring that they’re reading more. Comics also have verbal and visual motifs that can span multiple volumes and even unrelated series. As kids encounter and learn to recognize these motifs, they can learn more vocabulary, recognize common literary themes, understand how to make inferences, and more.

Comics inspire creativity. Comics are one of the most accessible forms of literature — and creativity! Anyone with pencil and paper (or a tablet or computer) can make comics! As kids read more comics, they learn more about their personal preferences with regard to literature and visual arts. They can also learn about different art styles and techniques. Often, young readers are inspired to emulate the work they enjoy, sometimes by redrawing it or by telling sequential stories of their own. Kids can also learn how to work with other people as comics inspire their creativity. For example, kids who are intimidated by the idea of drawing might instead write a story for a friend to draw. Or they might discover a talent for writing funny captions or coloring other people’s art. As kids work together to make their own comics, they develop an understanding of storytelling and learn communication and interpersonal skills that will benefit them in other areas of their lives.

What are some misconceptions about comics? For many years, comics were considered low value speech, and people still have misconceptions about the format despite its popularity.

Comics aren’t literature. Even though comics are gaining acceptance in libraries and schools, some people don’t think that comics are valuable reading material. These people argue that comics aren’t challenging enough, are too childish, or are too lowbrow to be considered “real” literature. But comics tell stories every bit as complex and sophisticated as any prose novel. Comics also win awards that are usually given to prose novels, such as the Pulitzer, National Book Award, Michael L. Printz Award, and Newbery and Caldecott Honors. Tied to the belief that comics aren’t literature is the erroneous idea that comics are “dessert reading” — the type of books that are used after kids “read all their vegetables.” But in many ways, comics are more reading, not less. In addition to helping kids learn the basics of reading text, comics involve the use of a wide range of skills, such as interpreting images and art appreciation, that don’t factor into reading a prose book.

Comics are / aren’t for kids. Comics were never exclusively for children or adults. There are stories for readers of all ages and reading levels. Many of the most popular comics are written for tween and teen audiences, but there are also board books for the youngest readers and mature stories for more advanced readers and adults.

Comics are all superheroes. Given how popular superheroes have become on the big screen, some people may think that comics are just about superheroes. Comics are as diverse as any other creative medium, from prose books to television and film. There’s a comic that suits any interest, from nonfiction, such as history, science, and biographies, to every genre of fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, romance, humor, and yes, superheroes.

Comics are just marketing tools. Movies and television shows based on comic book characters are immensely popular right now, so some people think that comics are simply marketing tools for studios and toys. But many of these characters existed well before film and television became a major form of entertainment. Yes, comics inspire other media and merchandise, but comics are rarely made only to support the marketing of them. Comics aren’t just superheroes — they cover all sorts of topics, including dinosaurs!

How can comics be used in the classroom? Comics help kids learn a number of skills in educational settings, from literacy to inter personal skills. Comics are now a part of many school curricula and classroom collections, where they support all sorts of learners.

Comics engage verbal and visual literacy. Comics contribute to the development of both verbal and visual literacy skills, as well as the integration of these skills to understand the meaning of media that use both words and pictures. The verbal and visual literacy skills that kids learn by reading comics can be applied to other media, such as televised news reports, the internet, or video games. Comics also present complicated ideas in more accessible ways. For example, comics can be used to describe complex scientific processes in a way that boosts understanding. The combination of images and words also helps students recall the information.

Comics teach vocabulary and basic grammar skills. Comics may not have as many words as prose novels, but the words that appear in comics can be quite high level and sophisticated. Comics contain visual cues that can help readers understand the definitions of those terms. The pictures also reinforce recall of high-level vocabulary by acting as mnemonic devices. Because sentences often appear as discrete units in balloons or captions, comics can also help kids recognize the rules of sentence structure and punctuation. From SCIENCE COMICS. Illustrations ©2016 by Joe Flood. Reprinted by permission of First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. All Rights Reserved.

Comics improve observation and inference skills. Observation involves using senses, such as sight, to gather information about a thing or event. Inference is reaching a conclusion based on evidence, such as observations, and reasoning. Comics develop both skills: readers observe the art and words in comics and use them to make inferences about the characters, plot, and themes in the story. This ability to “read between the lines” is critical not just to literature; it’s also important to understanding conversations, movies and television, fine art, and more.

Comics engage a variety of readers. Comics are enjoyed by a variety of readers, from the most reluctant to the most voracious. For reluctant readers, comics can offer the fun that they think is lacking in prose books. For advanced readers, comics can offer a new reading experience that incorporates visual learning. Comics can help kids with autism learn to recognize and understand facial expressions and other forms of nonverbal communication. For kids with dyslexia, the images in comics offer plot clues and details that enhance recall and improve understanding of text. Further, the limited amount of text on the comics page is less frustrating than a page of prose would be, giving dyslexic students a sense of accomplishment. For struggling readers, comics don’t just help develop core reading skills. They

can also prevent embarrassment. Consider a middle school student whose reading skills are under developed. That student isn’t going to be comfortable reading a picture book meant for the youngest readers, especially in the company of peers. But a comic book can be a clever and socially acceptable way to help these students catch up with their peers while improving the confidence and self-esteem of the reader. Finally, comics are an invaluable tool in helping kids learn another language, whether that language is English or otherwise. In addition to offering visual cues for unfamiliar works, many comics or cartoon strips are available in multiple languages, so kids can compare comics in their native language with comics in the language they are trying to learn.

Artwork by Noelle Stephenson. LUMBERJANES © and ™ BOOM! Entertainment Inc. Courtesy BOOM! Box.

LUMBERJANES would pair well with literature about friendship.

Comics are great companion pieces. Students may be intimidated by or disinterested in the prose literature that is part of the curriculum. One way to foster interest in these books is to pair them with comics that either adapt the work or explore related themes. Comics can also be used to support and enhance lessons in history, civics, science, and art.

Teachers: Know your rights. If you’re a teacher, your rights and ability to determine curricula and develop classroom reading collections can vary by school or school district. Government entities like public schools are bound by the First Amendment, but private schools can have a narrower set of guidelines. Be sure to acquaint yourself with your institution’s collection development and challenge policies. If your school lacks such policies, volunteer to help craft them. Generally speaking, parents can object to reading materials and assignments and request alternatives for their children, but they can’t make you remove content. A complaint or challenge shouldn’t override the professional judgment of educators in shaping curriculum.

What are some fun activities with comics? Comics-related activities can reinforce the love of reading and help kids learn new skills and encourage creativity!

Reading along Many prose novels have comic book adaptations, and some comics have movie adaptations. Have kids compare the comic to the book it is based on or to the movie that is based on the comic. Making comparisons will reinforce composition skills, verbal and visual literacy, and critical thinking. Comics are also great for book clubs! If your kids are already part of a book club, encourage them to include comics! Or, start a comic book club in your neighborhood or school.

Complete a comic Completing a comic can help kids learn storytelling skills. This activity can be done in many different ways. One way to do it is to show kids a page in a comic and then ask them to draw the next page (without peeking, of course). Or, you can give kids a panel of a comic and ask them to draw the next panel or panels. To reinforce writing and inference skills, give kids a comic that either doesn’t have dialogue or a comic that has had the dialogue removed. Ask them to write the dialogue based on what they think is happening in the pictures.

Character design Provide kids with paper and colored pencils or markers, and ask them to design a super hero and the hero’s enemy. Before they start, talk with them about visual clues that help readers know if a character is a “good guy” or “bad guy.” Ask kids to include information about their superhero’s powers in the drawing and how the costume reflects those abilities.

Translation practice For kids who are learning a new language, comics are a great way to practice translation. Give your language learner a comic book or page from a comic, and ask them to translate the dialogue into the language they are learning. As kids become more comfortable with translation, ask them to do it without a dictionary. This will help them learn how to use visual cues in the comic to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Many comics have been translated into other languages, so you can also try to find comics in the language kids are learning to practice their language skills. Or, let them read the comics side-by-side to reinforce their skills.

Mini comic convention Host a mini comic convention for younger readers in your home, classroom, library, or local comic shop. Kids can sell or trade copies of their own comics, show off their knowledge about comics or costume skills, and meet other people who share their interests. A mini comic convention encourages creativity and can help develop communication skills.

Resources for Parents and Educators Fortunately, as comics have gained popularity, the resources for parents, librarians, and educators have also increased. Here are just a few.

Print Resources Boerman-Cornell, William, and Kim, Jung, and Manderino, Michael L. Graphic Novels in High School and Middle School Classrooms: A Disciplinary Literacies Approach (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2017). Examines interdisciplinary applications of graphic novels in middle school and high school classrooms. Goldsmith, Francisca. The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Graphic Novels, Second Edition (ALA Editions, 2017). Provides background on the format and offers age-related reading suggestions and guidance for connecting readers with titles they will enjoy. Jaffe, Meryl, and Monnin, Katie. Using Content-Area Graphic Texts for Learning: A Guide for Middle-Level Educators (Maupin House, 2013). How comics enhance multimodal literacy in classroom settings. McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art (Harper Perennial, 1993). A comic book about comics that explains how they work, examines the history of the format, and explores their significance. Novak, Ryan. Teaching Graphic Novels in the Classroom: Building Literacy and Comprehension (Prufrock Press, 2013). Offers specific tips for using comics in the classroom, including lessons, activities, discussion questions, and more. Syma, Carrye Kay, and Weiner, Robert G, editors. Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom: Essays on the Educational Power of Sequential Art (McFarland, 2013). Essays about current practices using comics in classroom settings for all ages.

Web Resources Comics Worth Reading: https://comicsworthreading.com/ Diamond BookShelf: http://www.diamondbookshelf.com/ ImageTexT: Interdisciplinary Comics Studies: http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/ Kirkus: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews /graphic-novels-comic-books/ Manga Bookshelf: http://mangabookshelf.com/ No Flying No Tights: https://noflyingnotights.com/ SANE Journal: Sequential Art Narrative in Education: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/sane/ School Library Journal’s Good Comics for Kids: http://blogs.slj.com /goodcomicsforkids/ YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens List: http://www.ala.org/yalsa /great-graphic-novels For an expanded list of resources and research references, please visit http://cbldf.org/panel-power/

CBLDF Resources CBLDF has several tools to keep people informed about censorship and to help retailers, educators, and librarians explain the benefit of comics.

Call 1-800-99-CBLDF or email info@cbldf.org at the first sign of a First Amendment emergency!

Web Resources Raising a Reader: Follow Panel Power with this advanced resource about the learning benefits of comics in the Common Core and more. Written by Dr. Meryl Jaffe. http://cbldf.org/resources/raising-a-reader/ Using Graphic Novels in Education: In this column, we examine graphic novels, including those that have been targeted by censors, and provide teaching and discussion suggestions. http://cbldf.org/using-graphic-novels/ Adding Graphic Novels to Your Library or Classroom Collection: Provides specific information about comics, including reviews, praise, awards, and CBLDF resources, that educators and librarians can use to justify adding a book to their collections. These resources can also be used to address challenges. http://cbldf.org/adding-graphic-novels/ CBLDF Discussion Guides: Tools that can be used to lead conversations about challenged graphic novels. http://cbldf.org/cbldf-discussion-guides/ CBLDF Comics Connector: A resource that lists comics creators and industry professionals who are able to provide lectures and workshops for schools and libraries. http://cbldf.org/resources/comics-connector/

Publications Book Club Handbooks: Learn how to start and make the most of book clubs for comics and manga with the Comic Book Club Handbook and the Manga Book Club Handbook! http://cbldf.org/book-clubs

RIGHT TO READ! DEFEND YOUR

C B L D F p r e s e n t s

banned books week handbook 2017

CBLDF Banned Books Week Handbook: Celebrate the freedom to read with the CBLDF Banned Books Week Handbook, an essential annual guide to the banned and challenged graphic novels every book lover needs to read! http://cbldf.org/librarian-tools/cbldf-banned-booksweek-handbook/ CBLDF Defender: CBLDF Defender is our free quarterly news magazine, coming to you from the front lines of the fight for free speech! You can find it at comic book stores across the nation, via comiXology, and on the CBLDF website! http://cbldf.org/cbldf-defender/ CBLDF Presents: She Changed Comics: This concise, lively history is a vital guide to the women whose work advanced free expression! CBLDF has also developed teaching guides and other resources to support the book. http://cbldf.org/she-changed-comics/

Visit cbldf.org to learn more!

Volume 2, Issue 1 â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2017

G. WILLOW WILSON:

CREATING A SYMBOL OF UNITY

RISKS AT THE BORDER WOMEN ON CENSORSHIP

Recommended Reading Comics are as expansive and as diverse as prose, and there’s something available for any age group, maturity level, and interest. We’ve compiled a list of just a few titles to get you started, but there’s so much more to explore! Ask your local librarian or comic shop proprietor for their recommendations as well. *Age groups based on publisher classifications. If no age group is listed, the publisher did not specify an intended audience, so consult your librarian or comics bookseller for recommendations. Title

Creator(s)

Publisher

Genre

Age Group*

Description

Dragon Ball Akira (series) Toriyama

VIZ Media

Fantasy / Adventure

All Ages

Goku's quiet life is disrupted when he meets Bulma, who is searching for seven Dragon Balls.

Owly (series)

Andy Runton

Top Shelf

Fantasy

All Ages

A wordless comic series about an adorable owl. Winner of Harvey, Ignatz, and Eisner Awards.

Princeless (series)

Jeremy Whitley, various

Action Lab Entertainment

Fantasy

All Ages

A teenage princess decides she's going to forge her own path.

My First Comics (series)

Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm

Random House

Humor

Humorous board book series that introduces the youngest readers to comics.

Babymouse (series)

Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm

Random House

Humor

A humorous series about a young mouse trying to figure out school, friendship, and family.

Amulet (series)

Kazu Kibuishi

Scholastic

Fantasy

Em discovers a magic amulet in her great-grandfather's house, opening the door to a whole new world.

Beanworld (series)

Larry Marder

Dark Horse

Fantasy

A fanciful and moving look at the interconnectedness of the world.

Nathan Nathan Hale’s Haz- Hale ardous Tales (series)

Amulet Books

History

Uses humor to showcase major events in U.S. history.

Secret Coders (series)

First Second Science / Mystery

This series combines logic puzzles and info about computer coding.

Star Wars: Jeffrey Jedi Acade- Brown my (series)

Scholastic

Science Fiction

Enjoy the adventures of a middle school in a galaxy far, far away…

Science Comics (series)

various

First Second Science

Lighthearted series that presents scientific information about various topics, such as sharks, dogs, dinosaurs, flying machines, and more.

Drama

Raina Telgemeier

Scholastic

RealityBased

10+

Callie deals with the on- and off-stage drama of her middle school play.

Bone (series)

Jeff Smith

Scholastic

Fantasy / Humor

11+

Follows an epic hero quest. Winner of multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards.

American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang

First Second RealityBased

12+

Jin Wang just wants to be an all-American boy. Winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award.

Gene Luen Yang, Mike Holmes

Title

Creator(s)

Publisher

Genre

Age Group*

Description

Black Panther (series)

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze

Marvel Comics

Superhero

12+

T’Challa, the king of Wakanda and the Black Panther, faces violent unrest in the country he rules.

Ms. Marvel (series)

G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona

Marvel Comics

Superhero

12+

Kamala Khan is a Pakistani-American New Jersey teen with a secret life as a superhero. Winner of a Hugo Award.

This One Summer

Jillian Tama- First Second RealityBased ki, Mariko Tamaki

12+

A story that examines a summer of secrets, sorrow, and growing up. Winner of Caldecott and Printz Honors.

Astro Boy (series)

Osamu Tezuka

Dark Horse

Science Fiction

13+

The robotic Astro Boy protects the world.

The Best We Thi Bui Could Do

Abrams

Memoir

13+

An autobiographical account of a family’s escape from Vietnam to the U.S. in the 1970s.

Attack on Hajime Titan (series) Isayama

Kodansha

Science Fiction

16+

Humans in a post-apocalyptic wasteland battle the gigantic Titans.

Ranma 1/2 Rumiko (series) Takahashi

VIZ Media

Humor / Martial Arts

Teen Plus / 16+

The gender-bending tale of martial artist Ranma.

The Sandman (series)

DC Comics

Fantasy

17+

Gaiman’s epic tale of Dream and his siblings. Winner of multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Barefoot Keiji Gen (series) Nakazawa

Last Gasp

War / Memoir

Nakazawa’s classic memoir of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and its aftermath.

El Deafo

Abrams

Memoir

A semi-autobiographical look at being deaf at a young age. Winner of a Newbery Honor and an Eisner Award.

BOOM! Box

Action / Fantasy

Five friends fight off monsters at summer camp. Winner of two Eisner Awards.

Neil Gaiman, various

Cece Bell

Lumberjanes Shannon (series) Watters, Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson, Brooke Allen March (trilogy)

John Lewis, Top Shelf Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

Memoir / History

Congressman John Lewis' experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. Winner of the National Book Award, Eisner Awards, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Printz Award.

Maus

Art Spiegelman

Pantheon

Memoir

Art Spiegelman’s devastating account of his parents’ lives in WWII concentration camps. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Nimona

Noelle Stevenson

HarperTeen

Fantasy

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter and sidekick to a supervillain.

Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi

Pantheon

Memoir / History

Marjane Satrapi’s coming of age story, set during the Iranian Revolution.

For more reading recommendations, visit http://cbldf.org/panel-power/

Compliments of:

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97204 www.cbldf.org info@cbldf.org 1-800-99-CBLDF

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qq Online (Visit us at http://cbldf.myshopify.com/collections/memberships) qq By check (Please make checks payable to CBLDF.) qq By credit card (Please complete the following.) Card Number Exp. CVV Type of Card Signature

Thank you for your support! CBLDF is recognized by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 institution, and donations are tax-deductible in the year in which they are given. Please contact us for information on deductible amounts for CBLDF premiums, and consult your tax advisor as to the extent to which your donation is tax deductible.