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Welcome to Bookshelf T he G raphic Nov el Resource for Educators and Librarians Graphic Novels have a lot to offer as literature, educational tools, entertainment and more! Whether you are a teacher or reading specialist seeking to incorporate graphic novels into the classroom; or a librarian or media specialist looking to add graphic novels to your collection, our mission with the Diamond BookShelf is to provide you with comprehensive information on the latest graphic novel news, reviews and events.
On Our Cover The creative team behind Return of the Dapper Men present their latest work, a sci-fi tale of high stakes adventure in Image Comics’ Lost Vegas. Read the interview with writer Jim McCann on page 12.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES 10
19
Special Features Puzzles and Pugs...............................................................9 An interview with Mike Norton, creator of Battlepug and The Answer!
Kung Fu Teaching..............................................................10 An interview with Dim Sum Warriors creators Colin Goh and Yen Yen Woo
High Stakes Sci-Fi..............................................................12 An interview with Lost Vegas writer Jim McCann
Girl Power!.......................................................................19 A preview of IDW Publishing’s Powerpuff Girls Vol. 1: Power Party
Educators Presenting the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List............................................................ 15 Katie’s Korner.................................................................. 22 Prof. Katie Monnin reviews Spera Vol. 2 and Skippy Vol. 1, with suggestions for how they can be used in the classroom
Librarians Shop Assistance.................................................................18
HOW TO USE THIS PUBLICATION The BookShelf magazine was created as a compliment to Diamond’s BookShelf website. With this publication, you’ll find articles designed to introduce you to the world of graphic novels and help you learn how to integrate them into your classroom or library. You’ll also find reviews, core lists, reference recommendations and special extras to help you get started. If you want to know what comics and graphic novels are and how or why to use them, or if you are already familiar with graphic novels and are looking for a great resource to improve your collection… Read on!
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How libraries and schools can work with retailers
DEPARTMENTS Graphic Novels 101.............................................................3 News and Notes................................................................ 6 Reviews............................................................................24 Core Lists........................................................................ .26 Resources........................................................................ 29
Editor: Mark Banaszak Contributing Writers: Katie Monnin, Caitlin Plovnick Designer: Matt Barham Special Thanks to: Cindy Anderson, Roger Fletcher, Steve Geppi, Allan Greenberg, Kuo-Yu Liang, Dan Manser, Tom Sadowski PRINTED IN CANADA
© 2013 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, Diamond Books logo, Diamond BookShelf logo and diamondbookshelf.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective copyright owners.
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Graphic Novels 101 W h a t A r e Graphic Novels a nd C omics? GRAPHIC NOVEL can be used to denote both the content and the format of a book. When speaking of content, a graphic novel is a long, self-contained story depicted as a pictorial narrative, often taking the form of a comic book. In terms of format, however, the words “graphic novel” can be used to describe any pictorial narrative that looks like a book, whether it is a self-contained story, a chapter in a longer serial, an anthology of different work or a non-fiction text depicted in comic book form. A COMIC BOOK is the traditional periodical form most people are familiar with. A comic book can stand on its own or be part of a SERIES. A series is also sometimes called a “title,” which refers to the entire series, not a single discrete unit.
DON’T BE. Before taking the plunge and using comic books in your instruction, you may be hesitant about the appropriateness of the content of the comic. Some misperceptions of the comic book medium are that it is rife with graphic depictions of sex, nudity, or worse. But while there certainly are titles that meet that description, it is impossible to pigeonhole the diverse landscape of comics into a single slot. As with any form of literature, comics and graphic novels run the gamut from kid-friendly to adult and represent every kind of genre imaginable. Also like other forms of literature and entertainment, not every comic book or graphic novel may be suitable to your classroom. Remember, the comic book is a format, not a genre. It is just another unique medium used to tell a story.
Sometimes multiple issues of a series are collected into one volume. It can be hardcover or softcover. Softcover editions are often called TRADE PAPERBACKS or just TRADES, regardless of size. A smaller size paperback (the typical size for manga collections) can also be referred to as a DIGEST.
Yes: some comics may contain objectionable language, graphic depictions of violence, or sexual content. However, this is also the case when talking about prose novels, films, television programs, computer games, etc. Your students are most likely already exposed to such thing on television, in the music they listen to, and in the video games they play.
When a story is published in the hardcover or softcover format first (that is, without periodical serialization), it is referred to as a GRAPHIC NOVEL and only a graphic novel. Many of these terms are interchangeable, as you can see. A “graphic novel” can refer to a hardcover or softcover, to a reprint collection or an original story. Similarly, all of the formats referenced can be called “comics” or “comic books.” GRAPHICA and SEQUENTIAL ART are both terms frequently used in the academic community to describe all of these formats.
www.DiamondBookShelf.com
provides more great introductory information about graphic novels and comics, including: • What is Manga? • A Brief History of Comics • A Brief History of the Graphic Novel • A History of Comics in Education • A Glossary of Frequently Used Terms And more! Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DiamondBookShelf and Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DiaBookShelf
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CONCERNED ABOUT COMICS?
“But that doesn’t mean they should be exposed to such things in my classroom,” you may reply. And we agree with you wholeheartedly. Any comic found objectionable should be excluded from your classroom or school library. We ask only that you realize that not all comics — or even the majority of comics, for that matter — should be so excluded. Obviously, when choosing a particular title, some discretion will be involved. But for every objectionable or offensive title in the market, there are many, many more that are not only appropriate, but also critically acclaimed and respected works of art. Even as conservative an organization as the Parents Television Council has endorsed comic books in schools, commenting that they “may be the best thing to happen for kids who resist the written word.”* Your community standards and mores will prevail, as they should: Be sure to investigate a new comic book or graphic novel with the same vigor and critical eye you would apply to any addition to your classroom. Depending on the class and/or lesson you are teaching, a comic’s suitability can vary; preview the graphic novel’s content before assigning it to your students. Taking a few simple steps to educate yourself will prepare you for the concerns of others and alleviate your own as well! * Gustafson, Rod. “Help for Reluctant Readers” (06/29/04)
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Graphic Novels 101
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St a r t ing a gra phic nov el collectio n Deciding to include comic books and graphic novels in your collection is the first step into a larger world. Now, you must decide what to do once you’re there. Here are some basic steps on your path to using graphic novels in your collection:
1. Determine Needs
First, you need to ascertain what books you would like to incorporate into your collection. Perhaps you have one or two graphic novels already, or you may be deciding to carry these books for the first time. You’ll need to decide which books would be appropriate for your community of readers, which books they’re hankering for, and which books would delight and surprise them.
2. Find An Expert
You don’t have to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of comics and graphic novels to successfully integrate them into your library’s offerings. There are people out there who can advise you on what books are valuable. For instance, you almost certainly already have readers in your library community with an understanding and love of graphic novels. You can also reach out to the independent comic book retailers in your area who are armed with detailed information about this area of reading they have a vested interest in supporting. (See “How to Order Comics & Graphic Novels” at the back of this publication for information on how to find and work with your local comic book store.) And, of course, you can also feel free to contact those of us at the Diamond BookShelf!
3. Purchase Graphic Novels
Once you have consulted with your readers, experts in the field, and any others who can offer insight, you’ll be ready with a list of titles of graphic novels to acquire for your library.
4. Decide How To Catalog/ Where To Shelve
Now you need to decide where to put them! Diamond provides information on cataloging to make integrating graphic novels into your collection easier. You can find these tools at www.DiamondBookShelf.com. In terms of shelving you have a number of options. See “How to Catalogue Comics” for a comprehensive look at cataloging and shelving options and resources.
5. Promote Your Graphic Novels
You could have the finest graphic novel collection in history, but if no one knows about, it won’t matter. The success of your collection relies on a certain level of promotion. If you don’t get the word out, no one will know the books are there. Start including the news about your graphic novels into your existing newsletters, pamphlets, and other promotional materials. Put up easy-to-read signs at the entrances to your library so that nobody who enters will fail to know about the new additions. Add the news to your e-mail correspondence. Contact your local media and encourage them to do a story about your library’s efforts to expand and enhance readership through this vital art form. Stage contests, offer giveaways, and plan fun events. Coordinate promotions with your local comic book retailer.
6. Evaluate Success/ Circulation Data
After a certain period of time, you’re going to want to crunch the numbers. Measuring the graphic novel circulation at your library indicates the extent to which your readers are using this new library resource and will help you evaluate the success of the program. It will There is no national standard when it comes to the also point you in appropriateness or selection of graphic novels. Therefore, the best the right direction titles to include can vary from library to library. It is vital — once as to which titles and series to snap you’ve decided on a particular book — to read through the book up in the future!
yourself. What might pass muster in some communities may not pass muster in yours. This website and the various resources listed throughout are your best starting points if you are approaching comics from a starter’s perspective.
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THREE CATEGORIES TO KEEP IN MIND:
7. Poll Patrons
Never forget to meet the needs of your readership. Consulting the experts and embarking on your own research into which titles to carry is a necessary element of this program, but asking your patrons what they want is also crucial. Poll your patrons to find out what other titles they’d like to add to the collection. The flourishing graphic novel collection at a library will greatly depend on the actual requests of the readers being served.
8. Make Graphic Novels a Regular Part of Your Ordering Cycle
Once you’ve talked to your readers and assessed your circulation data to see how successful the addition of comic books and graphic novels has been, you’ll want to keep the ball rolling. An established graphic novel program in your library needs to be sustained, and making graphic novels a regular part of your ordering cycle will ensure the vibrancy of your collection. Including these titles in your regular decisions on what books to carry will help make them a significant and popular segment of your library.
1. BESTSELLERS Lists of bestselling graphic novels can be obtained each month from w w w. D i a m o n d B o o k S h e l f . c o m . Additionally, resources such as the New York Times’ weekly Graphic Books Bestseller List and BookScan: www.bookscan.com
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similar information for the highest selling graphic novels in the bookstore market.
2. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED TITLES Graphic novels that have received stellar reviews and won literary awards ate
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As with any collection development, there is a period of experimentation during which you will learn which titles will circulate and which will not. You cannot judge the effectiveness of a graphic novel collection with a handful of titles, any more than you would do so with a handful of DVDs or audiobooks. If there’s no room in your budget to make a large initial purchase, start small and evaluate regularly. Add titles as you can, polling your patrons, reading review sources, and keeping diversity in mind. As time goes on, you will find the right combination for your readership and community.
literary publications that review graphic novels, including Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA and others. See pages 26-27 for a selection of recent reviews.
3. MEDIA TIE-INS Titles that tie in to hit movies, games, novels and TV shows are sure to appeal to fans of the same. Many Manga titles are also TV cartoons, and many blockbuster movies are adapted from comic books. The BookShelf newsletter stays
Soon, you’ll come to realize that comic books and graphic novels are an engaging and vibrant form of literature, and the promotional possibilities for your library are endless!
current with the latest media tie-ins and adaptations.
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News and Notes CBLDF Offers Two New Graphic Novel Resources The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund offers two new resources for parents, librarians and educators, and fans of comics. Raising a Reader! How Comics & Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love To Read! offers information for parents and educators, including a look at the skills that comic reading imparts on kids, how comics can be used in classroom lessons, and more. The 12-page guide is written by Dr. Meryl Jaffe, a teacher of visual literacy and critical reading at Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth OnLine Division, and features an introduction by Newberry Award winner Jennifer L. Holm, co-creator of the Babymouse series. Raising a Reader! is available through ComiXology or the CBLDF’s website at www.cbldf.org. The CBLDF has also teamed up with Dark Horse Comics to publish the handbook CBLDF Presents Manga: Introduction, Challenges, and Best Practices ($15.99, 978-1-61655278-7). The book offers a concise overview of manga, including its history, genres, and challenges, and is designed for librarians, booksellers, or just fans of the format. The guide assembles contributors from both Japan and North America and features both scholars and manga creators, including School Library Journal’s Robin Brenner and Katherine Dacey, Vertical Inc. Marketing Director Ed Chavez, Viz editor and Otaku USA contributor Shaenon Garrity, and edited by Manga Bookshelf editor Melinda Beasi. CBLDF Presents Manga: Introduction, Challenges, and Best Practices will be available for purchase in December.
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PBS to Air Superhero Comic Book Documentary This Fall This October PBS will air the three-part documentary Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle from filmmaker Michael Kantor, offering a look at the superhero genre from its creation in the 1930s up to the present day. The series is scheduled to air in three hour-long segments, and will feature interviews with a number of comic luminaries including Stan Lee, Joe Simon, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, and Jules Feiffer, and will be hosted by actor Liev Schreiber, who played the mutant villain Sabretooth in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Accompanying the documentary will be the book Superheroes! Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture ($40.00, 978-0-38534858-4), told Publishers Weekly, is to be the first “really comprehensive illustrated history of comic books.” The first segment of Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” will air October 8 at 9 p.m. ET, with the following two segments, “Great Power, Great Responsibility” and “A Hero Can Be Anyone” airing the subsequent two weeks. Superheroes! Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture will be released by Random House imprint Crown Archetype October 1.
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News and Notes 2013 Eisner Award Winners On Friday, July 19, Comic-Con International (Comic-Con) announced the winners for the 25th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. One of the night’s big winners, Image Comics’ Saga, took home Best Continuing Series, Best New Series Best Writer. Also of note was Chris Ware’s critically acclaimed Building Stories (published by Pantheon) who won for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/artist, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design.
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Dark Horse received Eisners for Best Anthology for Dark Horse Presents and for Best U.S. Edition of International Material for Blacksad: A Silent Hell - with artist Juanjo Guarnido winning Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art). While artist David Aja was honored for his work in Marvel’s Hawkeye with two Eisners, including Best Cover Artist and Best Inker/Penciller. Earning his fifth Eisner with IDW, Darwyn Cooke received the award Best Adaptation From Another Medium, an award that was re-introduced this year, for his graphic novel, Parker: The Score. The full list of winners, as chosen by comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers, are below.
Best Short Story: “Moon 1969: The True Story of the 1969 Moon Launch,” by Michael Kupperman, in Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics Books) Best Single Issue (or One-Shot): The Mire, by Becky Cloonan (self-published) Best Continuing Series: Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image Comics) Best New Series: Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image Comics) Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7): Babymouse for President, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House) Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12): Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (BOOM! Studios/kaboom!) Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17): A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (FSG) Best Humor Publication: Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle) Best Digital Comic: Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain) Best Anthology: Dark Horse Presents, edited by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse Comics) Best Reality-Based Work (tie): Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney Hyperion); The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song, by Frank M. Young and David Lasky (Abrams ComicArts)
Best Graphic Album—New: Building Stories, by Chris Ware (Pantheon)
Best Cover Artist: David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel Comics)
Best Adaptation from Another Medium: Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW Publishing)
Best Coloring: Dave Stewart, Batwoman (DC Comics); Fatale (Image Comics); B.P.R.D., Conan the Barbarian, Hellboy in Hell, Lobster Johnson, The Massive (Dark Horse Comics)
Best Graphic Album—Reprint: King City, by Brandon Graham (TokyoPop/Image Comics) Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips: Pogo, Vol. 2: Bona Fide Balderdash, by Walt Kelly, edited by Carolyn Kelly and Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics Books) Best Archival Collection/Project— Comic Books: David Mazzucchelli’s Daredevil Born Again: Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW Publishing) Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Blacksad: A Silent Hell, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (Dark Horse Comics) Best U.S. Edition of International Material— Asia: Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Comics Reporter, edited by Tom Spurgeon www.comicsreporter.com Best Comics-Related Book: Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, by Sean Howe (HarperCollins) Best Educational/Academic Work: Lynda Barry: Girlhood Through the Looking Glass, by Susan E. Kirtley (University Press of Mississippi) Best Publication Design: Building Stories, designed by Chris Ware (Pantheon Books)
Best Writer: Brian K. Vaughan, Saga (Image Comics)
Hall of Fame Judges’ Choices: Lee Falk, Al Jaffee, Mort Meskin, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Joe Sinnott
Best Writer/Artist: Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon Books)
Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: Russel Roehling
Best Penciler/Inker (tie): David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel Comics), Chris Samnee, Daredevil (Marvel Comics); Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom (IDW Publishing)
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Chris Sparks and Team Cul deSac
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art): Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse Comics)
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Best Lettering: Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon Books)
Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award: Steve Gerber, Don Rosa Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award: Challengers Comics + Conversation, Chicago, IL
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Puzzles and Pugs
An Interview with Mike Norton B y M ar k B ana sza k
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ibrarians as adventure heroes! Pugs as mythical beasts! These are just two elements of the latest works from comic creator Mike Norton. Gaining notoriety in the last decade for his artwork on titles such as Marvel Comics’ Runaways and Image Comics’ Revival, Norton has turned his talents to his own creations lately, two of which are collected by Dark Horse Comics. Battlepug Vol. 2: This Savage Bone ($14.99, 978-1-61655-201-5, currently available) is the second volume collecting Norton’s hit webcomic starring a Conan the Barbarian-type hero and his steed, a giant pug – an idea that began as a t-shirt design and due to demand grew into an actual, Esiner Award-winning comic.
created from scratch at a time when I was wondering if I could actually make a career making my own comics. It was extremely gratifying.
t What was the inspiration behind The Answer?
Lots of things. It was born out of the comics I loved as a kid. Heavily influenced by old Romita Spider-Man and Ditko superhero stories. Add a dash of mystery and creepy cult stuff (I have a weird fear of cults, for some reason.) and there’s The Answer. Also, I just really liked the costume when I drew it the first time!
A more relatable (to readers of this publication, at least) hero appears in The Answer! ($12.99, 9781-61655-197-1, November release) in which a librarian super-genius solves an impossible puzzle and encounters a mind-bending conspiracy, a life-altering offer, and an inexplicable costumed adventurer.
t The protagonist of The Answer is a librarian. Was that part of the initial concept, and how did you decide to go with a librarian hero?
BookShelf spoke with Norton about Battlepug and The Answer!
Yes. She was also a librarian. I wanted her to be a woman and a librarian. I wanted her to be a real woman. The only difference is that she’s the smartest person in the world. It was important for me to do that. I liked the idea of her hiding behind her books and puzzles until she was forced to fight for her life and the fate of the world.
t Since Battlepug started as a t-shirt design, how easy was it to expand this initial image into an ongoing comic?
Extremely. I was afraid I wouldn’t have any ideas for it, but it was much quicker to come to mind than I thought. It was just purely me pulling stuff out of thin air. I just turned my imagination on and it all came out. Since I was given no restrictions by any bosses, I did whatever I wanted. So much fun.
t There’s a lot of humor in the comic, but there’s also a great deal of appropriately epic adventuring. Do you have to work to strike the right balance between the two, or does that come naturally?
Yeah, but I’m finding it kind of natural to do. My one rule when writing is to ONLY do what I think FEELS right. I knew that I wanted it to be a fun story, not necessarily a FUNNY story. There are much funnier guys out there making comics, I’m not ready to jump into that pool yet.
t How did it feel to win the Eisner for Battlepug?
Incredible. It’s one of those things you always want as an artist, you know? Validation. And I won for something I
t Why aren’t there more librarian heroes?
Who knows? It’s probably the opposite of what people think of when they think of heroes. I figured somebody with all that knowledge would incredibly useful as a hero. Even if she doesn’t know it quite yet!
t Why did you go with Dark Horse for these books?
I’ve been an admirer of the company for a long time! They were interested in putting Battlepug out in the beautiful format that it exists in today, and they’ve been quite supportive of The Answer. Of course, I went with them! I plan on doing a lot more with Dark Horse in the future as well!
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Kung Fu Teaching
An Interview with the Creators of B y M ar k B ana sza k
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ood that fights for justice and helps teach language skills? That’s the concept behind the Dim Sum Warriors, a digital comic app that comes to print in the graphic novel Dim Sum Warriors Volume 1: Enter the Dumpling ($12.99, 978-0-9881899-0-4). Envisioned by cartoonist/satirist Colin Goh and associate professor of education Yen Yen Wah and created by their company Yumcha Studios, the Dim Sum Warriors app is designed to help English speakers learn Mandarin Chinese (and vice-versa) through numerous interactive audio and visual features. BookShelf spoke with Goh and Woo about the inspiration for the Dim Sum Warriors and teaching with comics. (To read the full interview, visit www.DiamondBookShelf.com)
t For those who may not be familiar, can you introduce Dim Sum Warriors? Yen Yen: Dim Sum Warriors is about a group of anthropomorphic dumplings who have to battle an evil mutant pot of ramen. It will make you laugh! Cry! A little hungry! Colin: We see it as the collision of Harry Potter and a Chinese restaurant menu! t Where did the idea come from? Why talking food? Colin: We started out making feature films. Our last movie, Singapore Dreaming, picked up a bunch of awards and we were gearing up for the next film when our daughter was born very prematurely. We decided to shelve filmmaking and its very erratic schedules to make sure she was alright. Yen Yen: But we still wanted to do something creative, with what we had at hand. And since a major reason we moved to New York in the first place was because Colin is a lifelong comic fan and has had a daily cartoon strip in the papers for many years, we thought: why not do a comic? So we looked deep down into our souls for the right subject matter... Colin: And decided that what gave us the most enjoyment was watching kung fu films and going out to eat dim sum - a customary Chinese meal involving small dishes and lots of tea. So kung fu-fighting Chinese snacks seemed to make a lot of sense... Yen Yen: The blend of East and West also seemed appropriate to honor our daughter and her eclectic heritage. t Besides language, what other skills do you think comics can impart? Yen Yen: There are so many benefits to reading comics and so many skills it teaches. In my other life, I’m a tenured professor of education where I teach pedagogy and curriculum development to aspiring teachers. So I speak very much from the perspective of a professor as well as the parent of a 4 year-old who is beginning to read and write. Comics create deep engagement in reading, not just because of the text, but the images also stir responses. Whenever I’m
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reading comics, my little daughter comes up to me and asks me about the pictures. She never asks me about words when she sees me reading a novel. So comics can provide a point of entry to engage even with very complex and nuanced ideas. For this reason, comics have been found to be helpful for first language learners, second-language learners, and groups of students that might traditionally be less interested in reading (boys, for example). Children are also learning to communicate effectively in our multimodal world when they read comics. We don’t just communicate in text. We use visuals, sounds, sub-text, symbols and we even do so in completely non-linear ways. But our traditional school curriculum continues to emphasize linear reading and writing. Think of browsing through the web. We are moving left, right, up, down, and we often even skip pages altogether as we “click” on what interests us the most. Similarly, comics tell stories through sound effects, through silences, the space in between panels, the size and font of the text, and we read comics in multiple directions - left, right, up and down, and we can either take in the whole page or read it panelby-panel… To be an effective communicator in this new world, we need to understand multi-modal communication, to know how to produce it, and also to critique it. Colin: I think at the very least, the collaborative nature of most comics encourages teamwork as a means of artistic creation. And of course, because comics are so fun, they inspire readers to make their own. And one of the most important skills anyone can have - in any career - is the ability to craft a narrative. t Do you have any plans to publish the print comics in other languages? Yen Yen: Absolutely! We are laying the groundwork to launch our Mandarin edition - in both Simplified jianti and Traditional fanti.
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10 REASO N S
WHY COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS Promote Literacy
1.
They bring a whole new group of readers into the library.
2.
There’s no dearth of material that appeals to boys, and there’s a growing body of material that appeals to girls too.
3.
They engage the reluctant reader — and appeal to gifted readers, too.
4.
They help increase kids’ vocabulary — studies show, even more than movies, television, or adult books!
5.
They are a multi-modal form of communication (meaning is communicated through visual context, not just words), similar to spoken language, and are thus a great bridge to written language.
6.
Visual literacy is increasingly important in 21st century society.
7.
They stimulate the imagination and model visualization for readers.
8.
They offer dynamic and high-interest supplementary material for a wide range of disciplines -- not just English but also history, civics, science, art, geography, and more.
9.
They appeal to boys’ kinesthenic and visual tendencies, and help girls strengthen theirs.
10.
They create a gateway to literature!
Comics and Literacy: A Powerful Team-Up! “The presence of comics in a junior high school library resulted in a dramatic 82% increase in library traffic and a 30% increase in circulation of non-comic books.” - Dorrell & Carroll School Library Journal
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High Stakes Sci-Fi An Interview With
Writer Jim McCann
B y An d y Mu eller a n d Mar k Ban a szak
C
asinos are everywhere these days, providing entertainment to millions of people around the world. And in Jim McCann and Janet Lee’s Lost Vegas ($14.99, 978-1-60706-785-6), there is even one in outer space. Lost Vegas is a graphic novel from Image Comics in which Roland, a gambler-turned-slave, has 24 hours to go all in and pull off the greatest heist the universe has seen. Aboard this luxurious casino-filled traveling space-station you will find the highest stakes games from every corner of every planet, unheard-of winnings, and the greatest attractions anywhere.
t ea we som cam
McCann and Lee previously collaborated on the graphic novel Return of the Dapper Men from Archaia Entertainment, which won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album-New and was a favorite among many librarians.
Ab the the thr do
BookShelf spoke with McCann about his futuristic gambling adventure and collaborating with Lee. t BookShelf: Can you tell us more about the main character Roland and his precarious situation?
Jim McCann: Roland is a guy who is always in the moment or thinking three hands down the line at a gambling table. As such, he never thinks about the past or consequences, so when it actually catches up to him, he finds that luck and charm won’t get him out of the debts he owes. He’s into every casino and backroom game table across the galaxy far more than he can pay and no loan shark will touch him any more. For players like him, there’s only one way to pay off your debt- by working it off in the most luxurious casino known to the universe: LOST VEGAS- a star cruiser that is a giant playground for wealthiest and highest rollers around.
t dre
For a guy like Roland, to see the elite of the gambling world playing the highest stakes games, where an entire planet’s fortunes are made and lost in a single hand or roll of the dice, while he is forced to be sidelined, serving drinks and cleaning their toilets-- this is literally his hell. What’s worse is he knows odds and payouts; the system of “working off debt” is rigged in the houses’ favor, like most things. It’ll never happen. For him, there’s only one option: after years of planning, the time has come to pull off the biggest con attempted aboard the LOST VEGAS- cheat the system, get enough money to get a ship, and escape the cruiser with a new life. No one has ever succeeded, and the odds are stacked against him, just the way he likes it. To me, Roland is like an untamed Han Solo, a brash Danny Ocean, and Paul Newman’s “Hustler” character all rolled into one.
t What other interesting characters can we look forward to seeing?
There are many different characters and races, which makes working on a book like this so fun.
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diamondbookshelf.com I’ve always loved sci-fi and Vegas itself is filled with, shall we say, “interesting” people, and to mix these up, shake, and pour is huge fun. We have everything from a sentient blob of ink to a ten-foot stag to a race lurking in the shadows and many MANY more, as you’ll see in Janet’s art. And our main female lead, Kaylex. There’s not much we can say about her because she is such a mystery to everyone on LOST VEGAS.
t It seems that as Roland makes his escape attempts, each leads to a higher-stakes situation, which fits well with the gambling motif of the story. Was that something you’d specifically plotted out, or just how it came together?
t Return of the Dapper Men was well-received in the library world, with many librarians praising the book. How did you feel about that, and what place do you think comics have in libraries?
First, thank you to all of thank you to the librarians who have supported us. I think there is a place for books like Dapper Men in all libraries, but I think that all comics have a place in libraries. What we are doing is no different than what Charles Dickens often did in his novels: telling serialized fiction and collecting them in volumes. There are so many great stories out there that kids and adults alike can relate to if they were exposed to them. Since many of these readers don’t usually go to a local comic book store, having them on a library shelf would provide the opportunity for them to have access to these books.
t Do you and Janet have any further projects planned together?
Yes, we have a number of ideas always cooking, it’s just a matter of what hits us at the right time. We are fairly certain what it is we want to do next, but it’s too soon to announce. I can say it will be another departure from anything we’ve done before, and we’ll have a blast doing it!
Absolutely. The stakes always have to be raised, and in the story, we introduced how deeply these actions reflect the raising stakes for what an entire galaxy has been going through. At its core, Lost Vegas is a story of freedom, and doing whatever it takes to win that, at all costs.
t What is it about the casino/gambling scenario that drew you to the idea?
I’m a huge fan of the genre. When thinking of what I wanted to do next I had been watching a lot of heist movies as well as gambling films. Films like The Sting, The Hustler, and Ocean’s 11 started to get my imagination going. I’ve also always been fascinated at the fact that Casablanca is not only a love story, but a story about gambling- putting your entire life and freedom on the line. The idea was kicking around with Janet Lee and myself and she loves the genre too, so we were really excited to do something set with this at its core. Of course, when Janet and I get together, it’s something you won’t be expecting, so we decided to scratch the itch that is our love of sci-fi as well.
t Could you talk about working again with artist Janet Lee?
How long can this interview go? Haha! The easiest way to describe it is like coming home. This is not a knock against any of the artists I have worked with and am continuing to work with- they are all amazing. There’s just something about Janet and I that is different. Maybe it’s because we’ve known each other for years and literally watched our careers grow from the ground up, often together. Or that we used to live in the same neighborhood in Nashville, TN. It just feels like there’s a bond, a connection there. We don’t even have traditional scripting process-- it’s mainly getting on the phone or visiting each other, bouncing ideas, then talking through an issue, then I’ll talk her through how I picture 5-6 pages at a time will look and as I see the layouts, the dialogue locks in and I’m writing a final script AS she is drawing. Very organic.
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T G
W Avalon Chronicles
t Oni Press t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
Cow Boy: A Boy and His Horse
t Archaia Entertainment t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise t Dark Horse Comics t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
Gladstone’s School for World Conquerors t Image Comics t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
Blacksad: A Silent Hell t Dark Horse Comics t 2013 Eisner Award Best U.S. Edition of International Material Best Painter/Multimedia Artist
King City
t Image Comics t 2013 Eisner Award Best Graphic Album—Reprint YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
wid ma are
ma cur the
No fro Co Lib Co list lib the to an Dia con Ma
as Dia an No ed of sto
Parker: The Score
t IDW Publishing t 2013 Eisner Award Best Adaptation from Another Medium
Rust
t Archaia Entertainment t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
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Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom t IDW Publishing t 2013 Eisner Award Best Penciller/Inker
Saga
t Image Comics t 2013 Eisner Award Best New Series Best Continuing Series Best Writer
Royal Historian of OZ
t SLG Publishing t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
Smoke and Mirrors
t IDW Publishing t YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013
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The Diamond Book Distributors Graphic Novel Common Core List
W
hile the implementation of the Common Core Standards Initiative has allowed educators the opportunity to bring a wider variety of materials into their classrooms, many are trying to determine which publications are actually applicable. To help educators and librarians select materials to fit into their Common Core Standards curricula, Diamond Book Distributors have created the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List. Arranged by grade level, the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List offers 98 graphic novels from our publishers that will fit into a Common Core curriculum, along with resources including Library Classifications, Subject Headings, and Core Standards which apply to each book. The list is intended both as an aide to educators and librarians and to show that Diamond supports the Common Core Standards as an effective tool to prepare students for the challenges in college and the workforce. The list was created by Diamond Book Distributors and library/education consultant Ellen Myrick, President of Myrick Marketing & Media. “Diamond is a firm believer in graphic novels as legitimate teaching tools,” says Kuo-Yu Liang, Diamond Book Distributors Vice President Sales and Marketing. “With the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List, we hope to help educators and librarians get ahead of the curve of this new initiative, while enjoying some great stories and art.” “One of the keys to the Common Core State Standards is the attention given to a variety of text types. These can be great levelers in the classroom, especially effective for differentiated teaching,” says Myrick. “Graphic novels are perfect for visual learners and 98 Graphic Novels for the Common Core Classroom provides teachers with tools to identify and utilize these compelling resources. Graphic novel experts and teachers suggested and selected the titles for inclusion, highlighting those titles that can be used as informational texts, those based on the literary canon, and award-winning, critically-acclaimed works.” Developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers-in collaboration with educators and experts- the Common Core Standards are designed to provide a clear, universal framework so that children across the country will be able to compete at the same level. The Common Core English Language Standards which include the use of graphic novels - are available on the Common Core State Standards Initiative web site.
The full list was unveiled at the American Library Association Annual Conference June 28-July 2 in Chicago, IL. The list will be continually updated, with new titles and information coming in the weeks and months ahead. “As an advocate of comic books and graphic novels in K - 12 educational classroom settings, the Common Core Standards are the best news like-minded educators have ever received.” – Dr. Katie Monnin, University of North Florida assistant professor of literacy and author of Teaching Graphic Novels. Diamond BookShelf has provided the list of Common Core graphic novels, with publishing information attached. To download the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List in full detail, including plot synopsis, Library Classification, subject headings, applicable State Standards, and for links to the Diamond Common Core Pinterest pages, visit www.diamondbookdistributors. com/commoncore
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graphic noveL c
Publisher
Title
n Pre-K through First Grade n
Oni Press Top Shelf Productions
Power Lunch: First Course Johnny Boo Does Something
Author
Illustrator
EAN #
Torres, J Kochalka, James
Tripp, Dean Kochalka, James
9781934964705 9781603090841
Kontis, Alethea Patterson, Ellie Bethel, Ellie Weiser, Joey
Lee, Janet Colombo, Alexandra Colombo, Alexandra Weiser, Joey
9781936393862 9781613771617 9781600103926 9781934964989
Williamson, Joshua
Navarrete, Vicente
9781934964699
Williamson, Joshua
Navarrete, Vicente
9781620100127
Delgado, Ricardo
Delgado, Ricardo
9781595826831
Moore, Leah; Carroll, Lewis Vining, James Dembicki, Matt
Reppion, John Vining, James Dembicki, Matt
9781606900857 9781932664645 9781934964859
Brusha, Joe
Kesel, Barbara
9780982750735
n Second Grade and Up n
Archaia Entertainment IDW Publishing IDW Publishing Oni Press Oni Press Oni Press
The Wonderland Alphabet: Alice’s Adventures Through the ABCs and What She Found There Michael Recycle and the Treetop Cops Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug Mermin Book One Sketch Monsters Volume 1: Escape of the Scribbles Sketch Monsters Volume 2: The New Kid
n Third Grade and Up n
Dark Horse Comics Dynamite Entertainment Oni Press Oni Press Zenescope Zenescope Zenescope Zenescope Zenescope Zenescope
Age of Reptiles Omnibus Complete Alice In Wonderland HC First In Space Xoc: The Journey of a Great White Animal Planet: World’s Most Dangerous Animals Discovery Channel’s Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Predators Discovery Channel’s Great White Sharks Discovery Channel’s Top 10 Deadliest Sharks GN MANKIND: The Story of All of Us Volume 1 MANKIND: The Story of All of Us Volume 2
n Fourth Grade and Up n
Archaia Entertainment Dark Horse Comics Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions IDW Publishing
Return of the Dapper Men Scary Godmother Graphic Classics Volume 19: Christmas Classics Graphic Classics Volume 20: Western Classics Graphic Classics Volume 21: Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery Graphic Classics Volume 23: Halloween Classics Graphic Classics Volume 9: Robert Louis Stevenson (2nd Edition) The Last Unicorn
Edmund, Neo Brusha, Joe
9780982750742 9781937068394
Brusha, Joe Brusha, Joe Wolfman, Marv Brusha, Joe Wolfman, Marv
9780982750728 9781937068684 9781937068691
McCann, Jim Jill Thompson
9781932386905 9781595825896
Lee, Janet Jill Thompson
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780982563014
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780978791995
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780982563021
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780982563052
Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Beagle, Peter S and Gilli s, Peter B (Adapted By)
9780982563038 9781600108518
Espinosa, Rod Espinosa, Rod Cosby, Nate Eliopoulos, Chris Allison, Rachel Hope Allison, Rachel Hope Peterson, David Peterson, David Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9781595829917 9781936393671 9781936393541 9781932386943 9780974664828
Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Schweizer, Chris Schweizer, Chris Schweizer, Chris Schweizer, Chris Schweizer, Chris Schweizer, Chris Weir, Christina Lewis, Jackie
9780974664842 9781934964408 9781934964248 9781934964064 9781934964798
Eisner, Will Yolen, Jane
9781616551261 9781595827982
n Fifth Grade and Up n
Dark Horse Comics Archaia Entertainment Archaia Entertainment Archaia Entertainment Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Oni Press Oni Press Oni Press Oni Press
A Christmas Carol: The Night That Changed the Life of Eliza Scrooge Cow Boy: A Boy and His Horse I’m Not a Plastic Bag Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard Graphic Classics Volume 11: O. Henry Graphic Classics Volume 12: Adventure Classics Crogan’s Loyalty Crogan’s March Crogan’s Vengeance Play Ball!
n Sixth Grade and Up n
Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions
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Fagin the Jew The Last Dragon Graphic Classics Volume 13: Rafael Sabatini Graphic Classics Volume 2: Arthur Conan Doyle - 2nd Edition Graphic Classics Volume 22: African-American Classics Graphic Classics Volume 4: H. P. Lovecraft - 2nd Edition Graphic Classics Volume 5: Jack London - 2nd Edition
Eisner, Will Guay, Rebecca
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780974664866
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780974664859
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780982563045
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780974664897
Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780974664880
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L common core list
5 1
2 7 6 9
9
7
1
7 5 9
5
2 4
8 4 1
5 6
4
5
1
2
8 8
7 1 1 3 8
2 8 8 4 8
1 2
6
9
5
7
0
Publisher
Eureka Productions Eureka Productions G.T. Labs Image Comics Image Comics
Title
n Seventh Grade and Up n
Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions Eureka Productions G.T. Labs G.T. Labs G.T. Labs G.T. Labs IDW Publishing Image Comics
Graphic Classics Volume 1: Edgar Allan Poe Graphic Classics Volume 10: Horror Classics Graphic Classics Volume 14: Gothic Classics Graphic Classics Volume 16: Oscar Wilde Graphic Classics Volume 17: Science Fiction Classics Graphic Classics Volume 18: Louisa May Alcott Graphic Classics Volume 6: Ambrose Bierce Bone Sharps, Cowboys, And Thunder Lizards Dignifying Science: Stories About Women Scientists Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and The Political Science Of The Atomic Bomb Levitation: Physics And Psychology In The Service Of Deception Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Krishna: A Journey Within
n Ninth Grade and Up n
AiT/PlanetLar Archaia Entertainment Automatic Pictures Automatic Pictures Automatic Pictures Automatic Pictures Dark Horse Comics Eureka Productions Eureka Productions G.T. Labs G.T. Labs IDW Publishing IDW Publishing Image Comics Oni Press Top Shelf Productions Top Shelf Productions
First Moon Jim Henson’s The Storyteller Hatter M Volume 1: The Looking Glass Wars Hatter M Volume 2: Mad With Wonder Hatter M Volume 3: The Nature of Wonder Hatter M Volume 4: Zen of Wonder Heart Transplant Graphic Classics Volume 15: Fantasy Classics Graphic Classics Volume 7: Bram Stoker Suspended In Language: Niels Bohr’s Life, Discoveries, And The Century He Shaped Wire Mothers & Inanimate Arms: Harry Harlow And The Science Of Love Nevsky The Raven and Other Stories by Edgar Allan Poe I Kill Giants Northwest Passage: The Annotated Softcover Edition August Moon March (Book One)
n Tenth Grade and Up n
Archaia Entertainment Archaia Entertainment Archaia Entertainment Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics IDW Publishing IDW Publishing IDW Publishing IDW Publishing Image Comics Image Comics Image Comics Oni Press Top Shelf Productions Top Shelf Productions Top Shelf Productions Top Shelf Productions Top Shelf Productions
Author
Graphic Classics Volume 8: Mark Twain - 2nd Edition Native American Classics Two-Fisted Science Fractured Fables Parade (With Fireworks)
An Elegy for Amelia Johnson Siegfried Volume 1 Siegfried Volume 2: The Valykrie 300 Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes Green River Killer: A True Detective Story The Tale of One Bad Rat Code Word: Geronimo Comic Book History of Comics Kill Shakespeare Volume 1 Kill Shakespeare Volume 2 Age Of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships Age Of Bronze Volume 2: Sacrifice Age Of Bronze Volume 3: Betrayal Capote in Kansas Blankets Carnet De Voyage Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland The Lovely Horrible Stuff: My Book About Money Underwater Welder
EAN #
Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Ottoviani, Jim Ottoviani, Jim Valentino, Jim (edited by) Cavallaro, Michael Cavallaro, Michael
9780978791926 9780982563069 9780978803742 9781607062691 9781582409955
Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780982563007 9780974664811 9780978791902 9780978791964
Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Ottoviani, Jim
9780978791971 9780978791988 9780978791957 9780966010664
Fleenor, Mary
Fradon, Ramona
9780978803735
Ottoviani, Jim
Jones, Jeffrey
9780966010633
Ottoviani, Jim Twain, Mark Singh, Abhishek
Johnston, Janine Powell, Eric Singh, Abhishek
9780978803704 9781613770863 9781607066538
McNamara, Jason Henson, Jim and more Beddor, Frank Beddor, Frank Beddor, Frank Beddor, Frank Vachss, Andrew
Talbert, Tony Eliopoulos, Chris and more Templesmith, Ben Templesmith, Ben Templesmith, Ben Templesmith, Ben Caruso, Frank
9781932051476 9781936393244 9780981873701 9780981873725 9780981873756 9780981873787 9781595825759
Pomplun, Tom (Editor) Pomplun, Tom (Editor)
9780978791933 9780978791919
Ottoviani, Jim
Ottoviani, Jim
9780978803728
Ottoviani, Jim McCool, Ben
Meconis, Dylan Guevarra, Mario
9780978803711 9781613771815
Poe, Edgar Allan Kelly, Joe
Kieth, Sam Nimura, Ken
9781600104824 9781607060925
Chantler, Scott Thung, Diana Lewis, John & Aydin, Andrew
Chantler, Scott Thung, Diana Powell, Nate
9781934964354 9781603090698 9781603093002
Roston, Andrew Alice, Alex Alice, Alex Miller, Frank Talbot, Mary Jensen, Jeff Talbot, Bryan Dye, Dale Lente, Fred Van McCreery, Conor McCreery, Conor
Valeza, Dave Alice, Alex Alice, Alex Varley, Lynn Talbot, Bryan Case, Jonathan Talbot, Bryan Kissell, Gerry Dunlavey, Ryan Belanger, Andy Belanger, Andy
9781932386837 9781936393459 9781936393794 9781569714027 9781595828507 9781595825605 9781595824936 9781613770979 9781613771976 9781600107818 9781613770252
Shanower, Eric Shanower, Eric Shanower, Eric Parks, Ande Thompson, Craig Thomspon, Craig Pekar, Harvey
Shanower, Eric Shanower, Eric Shanower, Eric Samnee,Chris Thompson, Craig Thomspon, Craig Remnant, Joseph
9781582402000 9781582403991 9781582408453 9781934964873 9781891830433 9781891830600 9781603090919
Campbell, Eddie Lemire, Jeff
Campbell, Eddie Lemire, Jeff
9781603091527 9781603090742
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Shop Assistance
How to work with your local comic SHOP
T
he local comic shop – not only is it a good place to pick up the latest titles, get the news on the current trends, or just talk comics, but it can also be one of the greatest resources and allies for a school or library and their graphic novel-related needs. Whether it’s help with ordering, recommending good titles, offering programming assistance, or just having a place to hang out and talk comics, comic shops have a lot to offer. For schools and libraries looking to partner with a local comic store, BookShelf offers tips on how to find and work with one of these shops.
Why Partner With a Comic Store?
Much like dedicated librarians and teachers, the vast majority of comic shop owners and employees work at the stores because they are great fans of the field. Between their personal love for the industry and need to be up on the latest titles for their customers, comic shop retailers offer a knowledge base that can be a huge benefit when trying to find appropriate graphic novels. An advantage of using a local comic shop is that person is most likely to be from the community, and able to offer advice on how a book would fit in to regional standards – a benefit when determining possible challenges. Comic shops can also be a great help when ordering comics. For the libraries which purchase monthly comics, the local store can not only aid in ordering but will have all the information on upcoming releases from the Previews catalog. Those looking for titles not available through their wholesalers, or just looking to fill out a collection with a small number of books, the shop can provide a quick and easy solution. Another area where comic shops can be helpful is programming. Along with the annual Free Comic Book Day, many stores have regular party and signing events,
Free Comic Book Day at Ash Avenue Comics in Tempe, AZ
and can offer necessary expertise for the library or school looking to put on their own comic-themed event. When looking to find local creators to contact, the comic shop is a good place to start, given that much like the shop employees, most creators are comic fans as well and most likely to frequent their local store. Many libraries and schools already partner with comic shops for Free Comic Book Day every year. These events offer a chance to work together as well as cross-promotional opportunities. For their FCBD event, the Bay County Public Library in Panama City, Florida, had the shops who were attending the event post fliers in their stores. There’s an incentive for the comic shop to partner as well: a comic shop is a business, and like any good business, is always looking for new customers. Working with schools and libraries can benefit shops on a financial as well as personal level.
How to Find a Shop
As with most things, there are many ways to find a local comic store. A quick search of the Internet or phone book should give the listings of local shops. An authoritative source is the Comic Shop Locator Service web site, www.comicshoplocator.com. Created and maintained by Diamond Comic Distributors, the site offers users a location-based search engine which lists the comic stores within the area, along with information and maps. One key feature of the site is the School and Library Partners badge, located in the shop listings. Shops whose listing features this badge have indicated to Diamond that they are willing to work with schools and libraries, and are the best shops to contact when looking for a retail partner. A number of shops have built solid relationships with their local libraries, and some have even created resources for libraries and schools interested in comics.
Free Comic Book Day at Bosco’s in Anchorage, AK
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Girl Power! A Pr e v i ew o f
ool en op op ost
mic nts nal blic ere
Powerpuff Girls Volume 1: Power Party By: Various Publisher: IDW Publishing Format: SC, 148 pages, $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-61377-733-6
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ips ed .
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ugar, spice, and everything nice... and a bit of Chemical X? Professor Utonium combined these ingredients and created the pint-sized super-team known as the Powerpuff Girls!
Airing from 1998 until 2005, The Powerpuff Girls animated series was a hit with fans of all ages, combining pop culture references, a mid 20th century aesthetic, and memorable characters. During the show’s heyday, DC Comics published a monthly comic, along with featuring stories in their Cartoon Network titles. In the lead-up to the new adventures of the cute crime-busters, IDW Publishing is re-releasing the Girls’ original adventures in trade paperback form. Beginning in September, these kid-friendly adventures are aimed at fans new and old, and feature two stories written and drawn by series creator Craig McCracken. The Powerpuff Girls Volume 1: Power Party is suggested for Kids (6+) readers and should appeal to fans of the show, superheroes, or cartoons.
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Katie’s Korner:
Graphic Novel Reviews for Schools and Libraries by D r . K a t ie Monnin Themes: Individualism and Teamwork, Myth and Legend, Contemporary Storytelling and Traditional Storytelling, Acceptance and Rejection, Relationships
Spera Volume 2
By: Josh Tierney and Various Publisher: Archaia Entertainment Format: HC, 7 x 11, 168 pages, Full Color, $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-93639-376-3 The day before I left to go San Diego, California to be an Eisner judge this year one of my students recommended that I read Spera. I recognized the title when I saw it in the judge’s room in San Diego.
Traditional and Contemporary Literary Pairing Suggestions: Jeff Smith’s Bone series, S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series, any version of Cinderella, Snow White, and/or Sleeping Beauty, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Aesop’s Fables, Jane Austen’s Emma and/or Pride and Prejudice, Toni Morrison’s Sula, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening
From the first page to the last, I felt like I accidentally found a secret, magical gem in an enchanted forest. With thousands of books to read in the judge’s room, I couldn’t put Spera down. It was the most impressive gem in a room full of precious treasures.
Some Teaching Recommendations For Middle School Readers Suggested Alignment to the Common Core Standards:* *Standard numbers correspond to the literal common core standards numbers,
Focused on the story of two princesses set out to redefine what it means to be a strong and powerful leader, Princesses Pira and Lono will take readers on a unique journey that, in my estimation, will redefine the fairy tale genre for 21st century readers.
Text Types and Purposes* 2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Accompanied by companions and teammates Yonder, a fire spirit, and Chobo, a warrior cat, the two girls must prove to be more than just ordinary princesses. They must be the 21st century princesses contemporary literature has been waiting to discover. Setting: Kotequog Major Characters: Princess Pira, Princess Lono, Yonder, Chobo, the members of the Adventurers Guild, Rale
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B Pu Fo IS
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After Reading Writing Lesson Idea for Middle School Readers of Spera Volume II: In the format of a timeline, ask students to work individually (for about 20 minutes), focusing on what they see as the ten most important and/or significant events in the story.
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Students can use a timeline to chronologically place each of their selected important events in the correct order. Students should also provide short rationales for each of their timeline selections (two or three sentences per event).
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When students finish their timeline ask them to review their choices and rationales and work through a TPS literacy strategy.
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These princesses are strong, bold, and courageous, and paired up with their two clever sidekicks (Yonder, a man who can morph into a wolf, and an intellectually curious cat named Chobo) are about to take a new generation of readers on a journey not yet explored. English Language Arts Elements of Story Plot: Princesses Pira and Lono are the type of princesses the 21st century deserve. Independent and unique, the two princesses are head to the big city where they must confront strange laws, and even stranger men and monsters. On top of that, they must join the city’s prestigious Adventurers Guild. Will they earn access to the Guild? And even if they are considered will the powerful Rale let them in?
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1. First students will review their own choices and Think about each of their selections and rationales. 2. Next, students can find a peer and take turns sharing their timeline selections and rationales. 3. Finally, ask for volunteer peer groups to come to the front of the room and share their various timeline selections and rationales. Note: When students are done sharing, please encourage the class to ask questions and point out where they (and their timelines) agreed or disagreed with the timelines and rationales just discussed. This will help foster critical discussion and further comprehension of the story.
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Skippy Volume 1: The Complete Dailies 1925-1927
By: Percy Crosby Publisher: IDW Publishing Format: HC, 9.5 x 8.5, 328 pages, Partial Color, $49.99 ISBN: 978-1-61377-284-3 Approaching my third year of writing this column I have never reviewed and offered my readers a lesson plan focused on the creator (rather than his/her comic book or graphic novel story) of a comic book or graphic novel. I am extremely pleased that this “first” focuses on Percy Crosby and his historically significant work on the comic strip Skippy. If you’re wondering who Percy Crosby is you can begin your research by simply taking one glance at Skippy; you will see foreshadowed glimpses and flashes of Charles Schulz’ Peanuts and Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes. The father of our favorite comic strip stories and creators, Percy Crosby’s life and comic strip are more than worthy of student and scholarly attention. Crosby is the clear founder of the brilliance behind actually showing movement on still frames or panels. His action lines foreshadow Calvin’s wagon trips down the side of the hill and Charlie Brown’s missed football kick. And just like our most beloved comic book creators Crosby has his own unique story to tell. A son of immigrants, Crosby and his comic work offer readers specific insights and inquiries into American history in the first half of the 20th century.
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Just like we study the lives of writers, we need to study the noteworthy lives and works of comic book and graphic novel creators, for they have been the building blocks for today’s literary world as well. We stand upon their shoulders when we read and write in the 21st century.
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Applicable Elements of Story and Pairings Themes: Individualism and Community, Contemporary Storytelling and Traditional Storytelling, Childhood, Relationships, Movement and Pace, Inferencing
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Traditional and Contemporary Literary Pairing Suggestions: Charles Schulz’ Peanuts, Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, Jeff Smith’s Bone series, Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series, Art Spiegelman’s Maus I and II, Elie Weisel’s Night, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, Jane Yolen’s The Devil’s Arithmetic, Anne Frank’s The Diary of Anne Frank
Some Teaching Recommendations For High School Readers Suggested Alignment to the Common Core Standards:* *Standard numbers correspond to the literal common core standards numbers, Text Types and Purposes* 2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Writing Lesson Plan for High School Readers of Skippy: In the past I have shied away from writing lesson plans that involve a lot of preparation; my reason, I would like for these lesson plans to be as convenient to teachers and librarians as possible. However, this writing lesson plan deserves more attention and more thought. In order to make it clear just how worthy these comic book and graphic novel creators are, however, we need 21st century lessons that inform us about the precedents set by comic book and graphic novel creators of the past. Here are two options: 1. Pair this text with either a fictional or nonfictional text about this same time period (first half of the twentieth century), or 2. Pair this text with either a comic book or graphic novel creator whose work clearly builds upon that of Percy Crosby. Option 1: If educators pursue option number 1 they will want to identify a work of fiction or nonfiction that addresses the first half of American twentieth century social and cultural history. Educators will then want to ask students to make a clear and articulate compare and/or contrast essay about the two texts. Option 2: If educators pursue option number 2 they will want to identify a comic book or graphic novel that clearly relies on and references the work of Percy Crosby and Skippy. Educators will then want to ask students to make a clear and articulate compare and/or contrast essay about the two texts.
Katie Monnin, PhD, is an assistant professor of literacy at the University of North Florida and author of Teaching Graphic Novels: Practical Strategies for the Secondary ELA Classroom (2010) from Maupin House. To learn more about Teaching Graphic Novels or Katie Monnin, please go to this link: http://www.maupinhouse.com/monnin.php.
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REVIEWS:
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MORE Graphic Novel Reviews Calling Dr. Laura
The Property
The secret in Calling Dr. Laura has to do with the author’s father. Nicole Georges grew up believing that he died from cancer when she was young, but an odd encounter with a professional psychic causes her to reexamine the past and realize that the stories don’t always add up. Pursuing the truth is no easy matter for Nicole, whose tumultuous upbringing causes her to shut down both physically and emotionally in stressful situations. This book follows Nicole finding her way through the revelation of two big secrets: the truth about her father (it turns out her family did lie to her about his death, although the full truth does not come out until the end), and the truth about her sexuality, which she has kept hidden from her mother. Both of these secrets spill over into Nicole’s personal life, impacting one particular relationship from beginning to end. The confession of her family secrets initially brings her closer to Radar, the dog-loving musician who Georges falls in love with early on, but her unwillingness to confront them is also a major source of conflict within the relationship. Nicole receives advice from a number of dubious authorities, including the psychic (who is wrong in all of her other predictions), her girlfriend, her mother and conservative radio show host Dr. Laura. Eventually Nicole finds her own path, and the process makes for a satisfying coming-of-age story with a number of intriguing plot twists. Georges uses a stripped down drawing style whenever depicting a flashback from childhood, and otherwise employs more realistic and detailed drawings. Both story and art are rich with details that give a good sense of Georges’ unique experiences: vegan cookbooks, pet chickens and vintage eyeglasses all feature in the story. The story is somewhat loosely organized, with greater emphasis on seemingly random elements, but this gives the book an intimate, conversational feel, as though the story were being shared by a friend. There is some heavy subject matter in here, but also a fair amount of humor and light touches.
After the death of her son, Regina Segel returns to her native Warsaw with her adult granddaughter Mica, ostensibly to reclaim a property lost to her family in World War II. But almost as soon as they arrive, Regina becomes cantankerous and secretive, wanting to return to Israel immediately without any explanation. Mica attempts to track down the property on her own while puzzling over her grandmother’s strange behavior, and finds herself being followed by Yagodnik, an obnoxious family friend with his own interest in the family property, while also becoming involved with a Polish cartoonist who takes an unusual interest in her family’s secrets. The characters mislead each other and follow their own sets of clues to discover the true reason for Regina’s trip. Along the way they clash and reveal the familial ties that connect them, however tenuously, in spite of everything. Modan expertly paces the plot so that individual pieces come together to paint a rich and complete story that rewards multiple readings. The artwork is lively and colorful, with many details that inform the characters and story. Take away all of the text in one scene in which Regina, Mica and Yagodnik are eating breakfast, and visual details from the characters’ body language to the amount of food on their plates will tell you everything you need to know about them. While the story is set against a backdrop of heavy events (a death in the family, the history of the holocaust), Modan employs a lot of humor and quirky details that make the story human and believable. The whole truth is never revealed, and yet no secrets are kept as well as anyone thinks either. The characters suspect each other of greedy, exploitative motivations, and yet their true motivations turn out to come from a much more affectionate place. It’s a satisfying and well-crafted book that holds nothing sacred while also inspiring compassion for all of its characters.
By: Nicole Georges Publisher: Mariner Books Format: Softcover, 7 x 10, 288 pages, black and white, $16.95 ISBN: 978-0-54761-559-2 Reviewed by: Diamond BookShelf
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By: Rutu Modan Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly Format: Hardcover, 6.5 x 9, 232 pages, full color, $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-77046-115-4 Reviewed by: Diamond BookShelf
Fall 2013
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March: Book One
By: Rep. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin Illustrated By: Nate Powell Publisher: Top Shelf Productions Format: SC, 6.5 x 9.5, 128 pages, Black and White, $14.95 ISBN: 978-1-60309-300-2
ABOUT OUR REVIEWS Bookshelf presents a list of graphic novel reviews, courtesy of our writers, as well as Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and School Library Journal.
Caitlin Plovnick is a former editor of BookShelf and graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies. She is currently pursuing her MLS at Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science in Boston, MA.
March offers readers a view of the Civil Rights movement rarely seen in comics, chronicling the firsthand experiences of John Lewis, a student organizer and protester who would go on to serve in Congress for over twenty five years. As the title implies, March: Book One acts as an introduction to Lewis’ life and his involvement in the thenburgeoning movement. Beginning with his childhood on a small farm in rural Alabama, the story follows Lewis’ teenage years and college life as he becomes more aware and active in the de-segregation movements. Throughout, the narrative breaks to 2009, where Rep. Lewis is preparing to attend the inauguration of President Obama. Told from Lewis’ perspective, the book fully immerses the reader in the events depicted, giving them a human and personal perspective. Much of the intimacy and emotional power of the story comes from the interplay of Lewis’ narration, which is greatly served by Aydin’s script, and Powell’s art, which expertly utilizes the black and white format. Powell’s line work is especially strong, both in the layouts and characters expressions. His use of blacks and grays make palpable the tension in many of the scenes, notably the sit-ins and jail visits. March: Book One succeeds as both an autobiographical recollection and gripping historical graphic narrative. By personalizing this grand movement, March makes one of the key eras of the 20th century relatable, and in a format that will grab the attention of readers who may or may not be deeply interested in the subject. An important story skillfully told, March stands as an accomplishment for both the creators and the art form. March: Book One contains no sexual imagery, but does reflect the reality of the events – which include beatings and racial epithets – and is suggested for young adult readers.
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Publishers Weekly (PW) is “the International News Magazine of Book Publishing and Bookselling.” For more reviews, please visit http://www.publishersweekly.com
Library Journal (LJ) is the oldest publication covering the library field, currently enjoying its 133rd year of publication. For more reviews, please visit http://www.libraryjournal.com
School Library Journal (SLJ) is the leading print magazine serving librarians who work with young people in schools and public libraries. For more reviews, please visit http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com
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CORE LISTS Book Shelf pre s e n t s a l i s t o f s e l e c t e d e s s e n t i a l t i t l e s f o r d i f f e r e n t a g e r a n g e s .
Titles for Kids (Age 6+) Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake By Natasha Allegri and Various BOOM! Studios – 978-1-60886-338-9 Archie Meets Glee By Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, Dan Parent, and Rich Koslowski Archie Comics – 978-1-93697-545-7 Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Search Part 2 By Various Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-190-2 Battling Boy By Paul Pope First Second – 978-1-59643-145-4 The Big Wet Balloon By Ricardo Liniers TOON Books – 978-1-93517-932-0 Bravest Warriors Vol. 1 By Joey Comeau and Mike Holmes BOOM! Studios – 978-1-60886-322-8 Cow Boy Vol. 2: Unconquerable By Nate Cosby and Chris Eliopoulos Archaia Entertainment – 978-1-93986-700-1 Dim Sum Warriors Vol. 1 By Various Yumcha Studios – 978-0-98818-990-4 Explorer: The Lost Islands By Kazu Kibuishi and Various Amulet Books – 978-1-41970-883-1 Fairy Tale Comics By Various First Second – 978-1-59643-823-1 Hello Kitty: Here We Go By Jacob Chabot, Jorge Monlongo, and Susie Ghahremani Viz – 978-1-42155-878-3 Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Vol. 1 By Shiro Amano Yen Press – 978-0-31625-420-5 Marvel Universe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Digest Vol. 4 By Various Marvel Comics – 978-0-78518-421-8 Mickey Mouse Color Sundays Vol. 1: Call of the Wild By Floyd Gottfredson Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-643-0 Molly Danger Book One By Jamal Igle, Juan Castro, and Romulo Fajardo, Jr. Action Lab Entertainment – 978-1-93935-240-8
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Mouse Guard: The Black Axe By David Petersen Archaia Entertainment – 978-1-93639-306-0
Bandette Vol. 1: Presto! By Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-279-4
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Vol. 2 By Heather Nuhfer and Amy Mebberson IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-760-2
Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family By Various DC Comics – 978-1-40124-234-3
My Little Pony Tales Vol. 1 By Various IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-740-4
The Black Beetle Vol. 1: No Way Out By Francesco Fancavilla Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-202-2
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales Vol. 3: Donner Dinner Party By Nathan Hale Abrams – 978-1-41970-856-5
Boxers By Gene Luen Yang First Second – 978-1-59643-359-5
Plants Vs. Zombies: Lawnmageddon By Paul Tobin and Ron Chan Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-192-6 Powerpuff Girls Classics Vol. 1: Power Party By Various IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-733-6 Princeless Vol. 2: Get Over Yourself By Jeremy Whitley and Emily Martin Action Lab Entertainment – 978-0-98596524-2 Sonic the Hedgehog/Mega Man: Worlds Collide Vol. 1 By Ian Flynn and Various Archie Comics – 978-1-93697-568-6 Uglydolls: Goin’ Places By Various Viz – 978-1-42155-522-5 Wars in Toyland By Joe Harris and Adam Pollina Oni Press – 978-1-93496-493-4
Titles for Young Adults (Age 13+) Axe Cop Vol. 4: President of the World By Malachai Nicolle and Ethan Nicolle Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-057-8 Amelia Cole and the Unknown World By Adam P. Knave, D.J. Kirkbride, and Nick Brokenshire IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-700-8 Arrow Vol. 3 By Various DC Comics – 978-1-40124-299-2 Avalon Chronicles Vol. 2 By Nunzio DeFillipis, Christina Weir, and Emma Vieceli Oni Press – 978-1-93496-490-3 A Bag of Marbles By Joseph Joffo and Vincent Bailly Lerner Publishing Group – 978-1-46771-516-4
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant By Tony Cliff First Second – 978-1-59643-813-2
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Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2: Alpha War By Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, and Various DC Comics – 978-1-40124-012-7
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Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein By Mary Shelley and Gris Grimly Harper Collins – 978-0-06186-297-7
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Gunnerkrigg Court Vol. 4: Materia By Tom Siddell Archaia Entertainment – 978-1-93639-399-2 K-On College Vol. 1 By Kakifly Yen Press – 978-0-31625-423-6 Lost Vegas By Jim McCann and Janet Lee Image Comics – 978-1-60706-785-6 Mara By Brian Wood and Ming Doyle Image Comics – 978-1-60706-810-5 March: Book One By Rep. John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell Top Shelf Productions – 978-1-60309-300-2 No. 6 Vol. 1 By Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino Kodansha Comics – 978-1-61262-355-9 The Reason for Dragons By Chris Northrop and Jeff Stokely Archaia Entertainment – 978-1-93639374-9 Sailor Moon: Short Stories By Naoko Takeuchi Kodansha Comics – 978-1-61262-442-6 Saints By Gene Luen Yang First Second – 978-1-59643-689-3 Star Wars Vol. 1: In the Shadow of Yavin By Brian Wood, Carlos D’anda, and Ryan Odagawa Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-170-4 Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy Vol. 1 By Maki Minami Viz – 978-1-42155-970-4
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diamondbookshelf.com Wolverine by Claremont and Miller By Chris Claremont and Frank Miller Marvel Comics – 978-0-78518-383-9 X-Files Classics Vol. 1 By Stefan Petrucha and Charlie Adlard IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-663-6
Titles for Older Teens (Age 16+) Age of Ultron By Various Marvel Comics – 978-078515-565-2 The Cartoon Introduction to Statistics By Alan Dabney and Grady Klein Hill & Wang – 978-0-80903-359-1 East of West Vol. 1: The Promise By Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta Image Comics – 978-1-60706-770-2 Genius By Steven T. Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen First Second – 978-1-59643-263-5 God is Disappointed in You By Mark Russell and Shannon Wheeler Top Shelf Productions – 978-1-60309098-8 Graphic Cannon Vol. 3: Heart of Darkness to Infinite Jest By Russ Kick and Various Seven Stories Press – 978-1-60980-380-3 Harlan Ellison’s 7 Against Chaos By Harlan Ellison and Paul Chadwick DC Comics – 978-1-40123-910-7 House of Gold and Bones By Corey Taylor and Richard Clark Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-287-9 Infinity Incoming By Various Marvel Comics – 978-0-78518-785-1 Judge Vol. 1 By Yoshiki Tonogai Yen Press – 978-0-31625-266-9 Judge Dredd: Year One By Matt Smith and Simon Coleby IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-738-1 Kill Shakespeare Vol. 3: Tide of Blood By Anthony Del Col, Connor McCreery, and Andy Belanger IDW Publishing – 978-1-61377-732-9 Lone Wolf & Cub Omnibus Vol. 1 By Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-134-6 Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs and Cassandra Jean Yen Press – 978-0-31624-528-9 Necessary Evil: The Villains of the DC Universe By Various DC Comics – 978-1-40124-503-0 Persia Blues Vol. 1 By Dara Naraghi and Brent Bowman NBM – 978-1-56163-706-5
Sherlock Holmes Vol. 2: The Liverpool Demon By Leah Moore, John Reppion, and Matt Triano Dynamite Entertainment – 978-1-60690-436-7 The Sixth Gun Deluxe Vol. 1 By Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt Oni Press – 978-1-93496-484-2
Hip Hop Family Tree By Ed Piskor Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-690-4
Sock Monkey Treasury By Tony Millionaire Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-696-6
Johnny Hiro Vol. 2: The Skills to Pay the Bills By Fred Chao Tor Books – 978-0-76532-938-7
Thanos Rising By Jason Aaron and Simone Bianchi Marvel Comics – 978-0-78518-400-3
Lazarus Vol. 1 By Greg Rucka and Michael Lark Image Comics – 978-1-60706-809-9
Uzumaki Deluxe Edition By Junji Ito Viz – 978-1-42156-132-5
Lost Cat By Jason Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-642-3
Vinland Saga Vol. 1 By Makoto Yukimura Kodansha Comics – 978-1-61262-420-4
Midnight Secretary Vol. 1 By Tomu Ohmi Viz – 978-1-42155-944-5
Violent Cases By Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-210-7
New School By Dash Shaw Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699644-7
Witch Buster Vol. 1 By Cho Jung-Man Seven Seas Entertainment – 978-1-62692022-4 World War Blue Vol. 1 By Anastasia Shestakova and Crimson Seven Seas Entertainment – 978-1-93786-796-6
Titles for Adults (Age 18+) The Best American Comics 2013 By Various Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – 978-0-54799-546-5 Best of Comix Book: When Marvel Went Underground By Various Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-258-9 Chew Vol. 7: Bad Apples By John Layman and Rob Guillory Image Comics – 978-1-60706-767-2 Co-Mix: Retrospective of Comics, Graphics, and Scraps by Art Spiegelman By Art Speigelman Drawn & Quarterly – 978-1-77046-114-7 Fairest in All the Land By Bill Willingham and Various DC Comics – 978-1-40123-900-8 Fashion Beast By Alan Moore, Antony Johnston, and Facundo Percio Avatar Press – 978-1-59291-211-7 Fatale Vol. 3: West of Hell By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips Image Comics – 978-1-60706-743-6
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The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story By Vivek J. Tiwary, Andrew Robinson, and Kyle Baker Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-256-5
Rage of Poseidon By Anders Nilsen Drawn & Quarterly – 978-1-77046-128-4 Saga Vol. 2 By Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples Image Comics – 978-1-60706-692-7 Sickness Unto Death Vol. 1 By Takahiro Seguchi Vertical Inc. – 978-1-93913-009-9 Signal to Noise By Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-268-8 Supercrooks By Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu Marvel Comics – 978-0-78516-544-6 Sweet Tooth Vol. 6: Wild Game By Jeff Lemire DC Comics – 978-1-40124-029-5 Vertigo Visions: Frank Quitely By Frank Quitely and Various DC Comics – 978-1-40124-237-4 The Walking Dead Vol. 18: What Comes After By Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard Image Comics – 978-1-60706-687-3 The Walking Dead Spanish Language Edition Vol. 1 By Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore Image Comics – 978-1-60706-797-9 We Won’t See Auschwitz By Jeremie Dres Selfmadehero – 978-1-90683-863-8 Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story By Peter Bagge Drawn & Quarterly – 978-1-77046-126-0
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Shop Assistance
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How to work with your local comic SHOP
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Free Comic Book Day at Collectors Corner in Baltimore, MD
Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California, offers a page on their web site aimed expressly at teachers and librarians, making the case for comics and offering resources and recommendations. The page can be seen at this link: http://ow.ly/nvHOf Joe Murray, owner of Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, Delaware, had already planned to work with libraries and was assembling materials when the shop was approached by a local librarian looking for programming help. He has subsequently given presentations at libraries about comics, and has created graphic novel guides for schools and libraries.
How to Approach the Shop
As previously stated, most comic shops are filled with people who love comics, and are genuinely excited by the chance to utilize their expertise. Starting with the shops who feature the School and Library Partners badge is an easy way to go, but even those shops without that feature aren’t necessarily going to be unhelpful.
Robert’s Comics in Greenville, SC
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Because most comic shops are small businesses with minimal numbers of employees, dealing with the owner is best, at least initially. Some librarians have found this to be a very easy process. In the Free Comic Book Day at the Library panel at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference, librarian Mike Pawuk, of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, explained how he began the library’s partnership with his local store: “I’ve always gone to my local comic book shop to get my comics for myself. It was maybe about 2004 that I said, ‘hey, can we work together on Free Comic Book Day?’ (They) just gave me a small sample of the titles, and it was a big hit… It’s been a really great relationship I have.” Sometimes, the requests for help can go the other way as well. At the same panel, librarian Kat Kan, of the Bay County Public Library, relayed how she got involved with
A number of shops have built solid relationships with their local libraries, and some have even created resources for libraries and schools interested in comics. her local store. On a visit to her local shop, just after an employee was let go and with Free Comic Book Day coming soon, “my local comic retailer said, ‘Oh, you know comics! You’re a librarian! You come help me!’” Of course, not every shop will be willing or helpful, but a great deal of them are. As with most businesses, if one shop doesn’t want your business, there are plenty more out there who do. Working with a local comic shop can provide great benefits for teachers and librarians, whether in programming, ordering, building community relationships, or just having someone to talk with about comics.
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Resources b oo k s abo ut gr ap h ic nove ls Comic Book History of Comics
By Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey The history of comic books is told in the most appropriate format in this graphic novel from the team behind Action Philosophers. Chronicling the inspiring, infuriating, and utterly insane story of comics, graphic novels, and manga, this their irreverent-but-accurate account tells the stories of Jack Kirby, R. Crumb, Harvey Kurtzman, Alan Moore, Stan Lee, Will Eisner, Fredric Wertham, Roy Lichtenstein, Art Spiegelman, Hergé, Osamu Tezuka, and more. SC, $21.99 (IDW Publishing) ISBN: 978-1-61377-197-6
Using Content-Area Graphic Texts for Learning By Meryl Jaffe and Katie Monnin
BookShelf contributor Monnin and Johns Hopkins University instructor Jaffe aim to help middle school educators integrate graphic novels into their classrooms in four main areas – math, language arts, social studies, and science – by laying out the value of graphic novels as well as providing reading lists and Common Corealigned lesson plans. SC, $23.95 (Maupin House) ISBN: 978-1-93670-060-8
When Commas Meet Kryptonite: Classroom Lessons from the Comic Book Project By Michael Bitz
In this book, Bitz relates his experiences running the Comic Book Project, in which kids run through the entire comic creation process from conception to publishing in their classrooms. Bitz shows how the program works, and how the skills taught in comic creation can be applied to other lessons and areas. SC, $24.95 (Teachers College Press) ISBN: 978-0-80775-065-0
The Comic Book Curriculum: Using Comics to Enhance Learning and Life By James Rourke
History teacher Rourke examines a selection of some of the most popular and prominent superheroes in comics, and shows how these characters can be used to illustrate deep themes and subjects, such as the Civil Rights movement, mythology, and the struggle between freedom and security. Also featured is a bibliography of comics, teacher tools, and lesson plans. SC, $45.00 (Libraries Unlimited) ISBN: 978-1-59884-396-5
More Books About Graphic Novels A number of excellent books have been written on the history of graphic novels, their standing among the arts, and the most current academic thinking on their utility today. DiamondBookShelf.com maintains an up-to-date list of the latest books about comics and graphic novels, including those specifically written for librarians or educators.
U SE F U L The Comic Book Project – Center for Educational Pathways
L INKS
GNLib: Graphic Novels in Libraries
Maryland Comic Book Initiative
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GNLIB-L/
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/ MSDE/programs/recognition-partnerships/ md-comic-book
http://www.comicbookproject.org/
ComicsResearch.org – Academic & Library Resources
Good Comics for Kids (School Library Journal Blog)
http://www.comicsresearch.org/academic.html
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/ goodcomicsforkids
Eek! Comics in the Classroom! (Education World)
Graphic Novels for Multiple Literacies (IRA – Gretchen Schwarz)
http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/ profdev/profdev105.shtml
http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/ lit_index.asp?HREF=jaal/ 11-02_column/index.html
NACAE: the National Association of Comics Art Educators http://www.teachingcomics.org/
Expanding Literacies through Graphic Novels http://www1.ncte.org/Library/files/Free/ recruitment/EJ0956Expanding.pdf
The Graphic Novel and the World History Classroom (History Cooperative) http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ whc/4.2/rhett.html
Graphic Novel Reporter http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com
No Flying, No Tights (Graphic Novel Review Site) http://www.noflyingnotights.com/
Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom (The Council Chronicle, Sept. 05) http://www.ncte.org/magazine/archives/122031
YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens List Making Curriculum Pop
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt
http://mcpopmb.ning.com
More Links DiamondBookShelf.com maintains an ever-growing database of web resources for educators and librarians. Categories include official Publisher sites, resources for teachers, resources for librarians, graphic novel and comics review sites, resources for kids and more!
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HOW TO ORDER COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS Yo u h a v e m any options – choose the one that works best for you!
1. Buy from your local comic book shop
2. Buy from your usual wholesaler or book jobber
For a variety of reasons, your local comic book shop could be the best possible resource for your purchase of graphic novels. In fact, many local comic shops service both schools and libraries already with the latest comics and graphic novels.
Baker & Taylor, Inc., Booksource, Brodart, BWI, Follett, Ingram, Partners West, and other wholesalers all carry a full line of graphic novels. Most schools and libraries already do business with one or more of these companies, and it’s easy to add in your order through these procurement channels. Why not add graphic novels to your next order?
3. Buy direct from Diamond If there are no comic book stores in your area and your usual wholesaler doesn’t have deep stock on a variety of titles, Diamond does sell directly to educators and librarians. For more information, call Allan Greenberg at (800) 318-8001 ext. 8864 or email library@diamondcomics.com or schools@diamondcomics.com
A Great Resource: Your Local Comic Book Shop Quality comic book shops are a valuable resource for libraries and schools seeking graphic novels and graphic novel information. In the past, such partnerships have proven successful for all involved, with increased sales and circulation, as well as the satisfaction that comes with community involvement. As comic book and graphic novel specialists, comic shop retailers have up-to-date knowledge on the most recent and upcoming hits, and a great familiarity with what their customers are reading and enjoying. Many are more than willing to work together on cross-promotional events, reaching out to and expanding the audience of graphic novel fans. So, how do you go about finding and dealing with your local comic shop? Well, it’s easier than you think. By following these easy steps, you’ll be coordinating with your local comic shop in no time!
Research and Choose a Store. Once you’ve located a store, the next thing to do is find out more about it. If you used the Comic Shop Locator, many of the stores have posted brief profiles. The best way to find out more information about a store is to visit it in person. That way, you’ll have the opportunity to browse through the store’s collection and get personal advice from the knowledgeable experts on hand. All stores will have their own unique approach – find one that you feel comfortable with. Introduce Yourself. Going into any new environment can be intimidating, especially when you have preconceived notions. But there’s nothing to fear from comic shop retailers. Many of them are happy to welcome librarians and teachers into their stores because they understand the mutual benefit working together can achieve. Let them know you’re interested in using graphic novels and they will be more than happy to help!
Find a Store. We’ve already done the work for you! To find your closest comic shop, all you have to do is use the Comic Shop Locator Service. Just log on to http://www. comicshop locator.com and enter your zip code. It’s as simple as that! Located on the store listings is the School and Library Partners icon above. Stores with this designation have told us they are willing to partner with schools and libraries to aid with selection, programming, purchasing, and more.
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DIAMOND BOOKSHELF e - N e w s l e t t e r Sign-up • Contact Us
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BOOKSHELF WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! What did you think of this issue of the Diamond BookShelf? Send your feedback, ideas and suggestions for future articles to: Diamond BookShelf 10150 York Road Hunt Valley, MD 21030 Email: editor@diamondbookshelf.com We at Diamond have known for years that comic books and graphic novels are excellent teaching and learning tools…we’re pleased that so many educators are starting to agree! We hope you find this publication and our website a useful resource to convince others that comics can make a difference in helping to promote literacy, motivate readers and more. If you find Diamond BookShelf worthwhile, be sure to pass it on and tell your colleagues!
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The BookShelf newsletter is designed to inform educators and librarians about the best graphic novels for their schools and libraries! Diamond Comic Distributors is the world’s largest distributor of English-language comic books, graphic novels and comics-related merchandise. We believe that comics are not only great fun and great art, but also have educational value and are terrific tools for promoting literacy. The BookShelf magazine and website are two of Diamond’s outreach initiatives to support the use of comics and graphic novels in schools and libraries.
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