Diamond Bookshelf #21 by PREVIEWS

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Image Raises Summer Scares in

Monsters in Space! Meet IDW’s Luna the Vampire Gene Luen Yang on Comics and Ambassadorship Better Research Through Graphic Novels

PLUS:

• The BookShelf Summer Reading Guide • A preview of Top Shelf’s March Book 3 • Lesson plans, reviews, and more!

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WELCOME TO BOOKSHELF T HE GR APH I C N OV EL RES OURCE FO R EDU CA TOR S A ND LIB R A R IA NS 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. Sign Up NOW For Our Monthly e-Newsletter

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Image Raises Summer Scares in

Monsters in Space! Meet IDW’s Luna the Vampire

On Our Cover A girl is sent to the wrong summer camp and finds herself surrounded by real monsters in Image Comics’s Camp Midnight. We speak with writer Steven T. Seagle on page 14.

SPECIAL FEATURES

BookShelf’s Summer Reading List................... 10 A selection of early summer releases, broken down by age rating.

Spooky Summer at Camp Midnight................ 14 Steven T. Seagle on his new kids’ graphic novel from Image Comics

Monsters in Space! .......................................... 16 Meet IDW Publishing’s Luna the Vampire

Reading Without Walls.................................... 20 An interview with National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang

Faith Rising......................................................24 Jody Houser discusses her work on Valiant’s newest superhero

Crossing the Bridge..........................................27 A preview of IDW/Top Shelf’s March: Book Three

EDUCATORS

Gene Luen Yang on Comics and Ambassadorship

Katie’s Korner..................................................30

Better Research Through Graphic Novels

PLUS:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prof. Katie Monnin reviews Little Robot and Love Vol. 1: The Fox, with suggestions for how they can be used in the classroom

• The BookShelf Summer Reading Guide • A preview of Top Shelf’s March Book 3 • Lesson plans, reviews, and more!

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!

Read BookShelf Online! To read a pdf version of previous issues of Diamond BookShelf, visit http://bit.ly/BookShelfMag

LIBRARIANS

Better Research Through Comics..................... 18 Librarian Caitlin Plovnick explores how comics can benefit research instruction

DEPARTMENTS

Graphic Novels 101............................................5 News and Notes.................................................8 Reviews............................................................32 Core Lists.........................................................34 Resources.........................................................37 Editor: Mark Banaszak Contributing Writers: Katie Monnin, Caitlin Plovnick, Andrea Purcell Designers: Belinda Miller & Matt Barham Special Thanks to: Cindy Anderson, Roger Fletcher, Steve Geppi, Allan Greenberg, Kuo-Yu Liang, Dan Manser, Tom Sadowski PRINTED IN CANADA

© 2016 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.

Summer 2016

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GRAPHIC NOVELS 101 WHAT A R E G R APHIC NOV ELS AND COMICS? 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

CONCERNED ABOUT COMICS?

Summer 2016

“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 ST A R T I N G A G R APHIC NOV EL CO LLEC TION 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-toread 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. Summer 2016

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THREE CATEGORIES TO KEEP IN MIND: 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

can

provide

8. Make Graphic Novels a Regular Part of Your Ordering Cycle

similar information for the highest selling graphic novels in the bookstore market.

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.

2. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED TITLES Graphic novels that have received stellar reviews and won literary awards are sure to generate interest in the medium, will attract new readers and also make a great case for having

graphic

lection.

There

novel

are

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.

col-

number

of literary publications that review

graphic

novels,

including

Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA and others. See pages 40-41 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.

REMEMBER: 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.

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.

Summer 2016

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10 REASONS

WHY COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS PROMOTE LITERACY

They bring a whole new group of readers into the library.

There’s no dearth of material that appeals to boys, and there’s a growing body of material that appeals to girls too.

They engage the reluctant reader — and appeal to gifted readers, too.

They help increase kids’ vocabulary — studies show, even more than movies, television, or adult books!

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.

Visual literacy is increasingly important in 21st century society.

They stimulate the imagination and model visualization for readers.

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.

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

Summer 2016

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NEWS AND NOTES Diamond Offers Kids Comics 2016 Summer Activity Guide Diamond Comic Distributors is offering a special magazine to help kids get excited for summer reading and help parents find age appropriate comics and graphic novels for their kids. The Kids Comics 2016 Summer Fun Guide is a 32 page, full color comic-sized issue features activity pages, preview pages of upcoming kid-friendly comics from our top publishers, a Reading Guide to the best kids comics for this summer, activity suggestions for parents and kids, and more. Arriving at comic retailers April 27, the Kids Comics 2016 Summer Fun Guide will be available for order through comic shops and will be distributed at trade shows where Diamond Comics is exhibiting, including Book Expo America, May 11-13 in Chicago, IL, and the American Library Association Annual Conference, June 23-28 in Orlando, FL.

March Creators to Speak at ALA Annual 2016 March authors Rep. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell will appear at the 2016 American Library Association Annual Conference for a special talk and book signing. In addition to speaking about the legacy of the civil rights movement and visual literacy as an educational and inspirational tool, the three will also observe the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Humanities. “March with Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, & Nate Powell: A Celebration of NEH’s 50th Anniversary” takes place Saturday, June 25 from 9:30 – 10:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Released through IDW Publishing’s imprint Top Shelf Productions, the graphic novel trilogy March tells Lewis’s life story and his times with the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, including the lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville, the Freedom Rides in the South, and the March on Washington for jobs and Freedom in 1963. Lewis, Aydin, and Powell will discuss the third and final volume of March, scheduled for August release.

OSU & CML to Host Cartoon Crossroads Columbus in October Comics and academia combine at the Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC), taking place October 13- 16, 2016. The event will feature an academic conference, exhibits, a professional development track, panels, and more. Ohio State University will host the first two days, which include an exhibit at Ohio State’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, multiple receptions, and an evening conversation with one of comics’ major talents. Events for the following two days will be held at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus Museum of Art, and Columbus College of Art & Design, and will include the CXC Expo and Marketplace, panel presentations, and a presentation by this year’s winner of the Thurber Prize, presented for an outstanding book of humor. Full details on the event, visit www.cartooncrossroadscolumbus.com

New Comic-Based Television Series Debut This Summer The field of television series based on comic book titles grows this summer with the premiere of two new ongoing television series. Preacher, based on the DC Comics/Vertigo series created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, will launch on AMC May 22. The story revolves around Jessie Custer, a small-town preacher who becomes the unwitting host of divine power and sets off with his girlfriend Tulip and new-found friend Cassidy to find God, while dodging a centuries-old religious order that wants to use Custer’s power to initiate the Apocalypse. Cinemax will premiere their adaptation of Image Comics’s Outcast by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta on June 3. Created by The Walking Dead creator Kirkman, Outcast focuses on Kyle Barnes, a man whose family is plagued by demonic possessions, and who works with a priest to uncover the mystery behind these possessions as well as special powers he seems to possess. These series follow the March 25 launch of Syfy’s Wynonna Earp, based on the comic series by Beau Smith and published by IDW Publishing. Earp features the great granddaughter of lawman Wyatt Earp, who fights supernatural threats as a special agent in the US Marshalls’ Monster Squad. These series join the already-running shows driving more interest in graphic novels, and illustrate an expansion of the genres represented in the mass media.

Summer 2016

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B O OKSHELF ’ S SU M M E R R E AD IN G L IS T - K ID S

ummer is a time for sun and fun, and that includes catching up on some great reading. BookShelf offers a selection of graphic novels available in early summer for readers of all ages and tastes.

Angry Birds: Big Movie Eggstravaganza By Various IDW Publishing $12.99, 978-1-63140-568-6

Finding Nemo By Various Tokyopop $15.99, 978-1-4278-5658-6

The furious fliers return in new adventures based on the animated film hitting theaters in May. Red, Stella, Chuck, Matilda, and more find fun, action, and romance as they try to keep their island safe from the invading Pigs.

Tokyopop presents a series of manga adaptations of Disney and Pixar films, available from Japan for the first time. This volume recounts the full film, in which a clown fish must find his son, who was lost in a storm.

Birdsong: A Story in Pictures

Poppy and the Lost Lagoon By Matt Kindt and Brian Hurtt Dark Horse Comics $14.99, 978-1-61655-943-4

By James Sturm TOON Books $12.95, 978-1-935179-94-8 Two mean children learn to be kind to animals after being turned into monkeys and sold to a circus. Sturm’s (Adventures in Cartooning) graphic novel features empty pages which allow readers to fill in the details of the story themselves.

Clarence: Chicken Phantom By Derek Fridolfs and JJ Harrison BOOM! Studios $14.99, 978-1-60886-792-9 While on a scouting trip, Clarence and his friends find a map that leads to a lost pirate treasure. But not only is their rival also after the prize, but guarding it is a phantom chicken!

A ten year old explorer and her trusty sidekick set off on a globe-spanning adventure to find an exotic fish, while discovering clues about her missing grandfather. A kid-friendly tale from Sweet Tooth and Mind MGMT creator Matt Kindt.

Science Comics: Coral Reefs, Cities of the Ocean By Maris Wicks First Second $9.99, 978-1-62672-145-6 Human Body Theater creator Wicks teaches readers about coral reefs, their importance in the balance of the ocean (and beyond), and the wide variety of sea life that depends on them, mixing education with humor and bright art.

Summer 2016

Science Comics: Dinosaurs, Fossils and Feathers By MK Reed and Joe Flood First Second $9.99, 978-1-62672-143-2 This educational graphic novel explores our evolving understanding of dinosaurs through a detailed history of paleontology and how continued discoveries gave a fuller view of dinosaurs’ lives and habitats (and even how it was sometimes gotten wrong).

Welcome to Showside By Ian McGinty Z2 Comics $19.99, 978-1-940878-07-2 Kit just wants to ride his skateboard and be chill, but when your dad’s the Shadow King, sometimes you have to do things like fight demons. Luckily, Kit’s friends Belle and Moon are there to help.

Zootopia Graphic Novel By Various Joe Books $9.99, 978-1-77275-177-2 Zootopia introduced audiences to Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s odd couple crime busting, and this graphic novel tells their stories before the events of the film.

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B O OKSHELF ’ S SU M M E R R E AD IN G L IS T - T E E N S Alice in Wonderland By Jun Abe Tokyopop $19.99, 978-1-4278-5656-2 The official manga adaptation of the 2010 film directed by Tim Burton, only available in Japan until now. A grown up Alice returns to Wonderland to save her friends from a triumphant Red Queen.

Back To The Future: Untold Tales and Alternate Timelines

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Volume 1: BFF

Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility

By Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, and Natacha Bustos Marvel Comics $17.99, 978-1-30290-005-2

By Jane Austen and Various Udon Entertainment $19.99, 978-1-927925-63-8

A present day teenager with latent powers meets an ancient red beast, and a new crimefighting team is formed! But delivering justice isn’t easy when you’re going to school and dodging monster hunters from the past and present.

The Nameless City Volume 1

By Various IDW Publishing $19.99, 978-1-63140-570-9

By Faith Erin Hicks First Second $16.99, 978-1-62672-156-2

Back to the Future screenwriter Bob Gale presents all-new timehopping adventure of Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and the rest of the cast of the celebrated science fiction trilogy.

An ancient city’s been invaded so often, its inhabitants gave it no name. A native girl and a boy from the latest invaders may be the key to saving the city from destruction - if they can only get along.

Paper Girls Volume 1 James Bond Volume 1: VARGR By Warren Ellis and Jason Masters Dynamite Entertainment $19.99, 978-1-60690-901-0 British Intelligence’s most famous agent finds himself caught in a web of intrigue, as a mission that takes him to Berlin quickly goes awry, leaving him on the run with only a pistol and his wits to save him.

By Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang Image Comics $9.99, 978-1-63215-674-7 On Halloween 1988, the inhabitants of a small suburban town go missing, and four paper girls try to get to the bottom of things. But when mysterious invaders appear, their quest will take them places they never could have imagined.

Summer 2016

Jane Austen’s first novel is fully adapted in this new addition to the Manga Classics line. With their family fortunes gone, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood try to find love while facing ever-changing circumstances.

Servant x Service Volume 1 By Karino Takatsu Yen Press $20.00, 978-0-31631-487-9 Being a civil servant isn’t easy, but for Lucy Yamagami, it’s just part of her greater plan: to get revenge on the servant in her office who allowed her parents to give her over two dozen first names.

Wonder Woman: Earth One By Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette DC Comics $22.99, 978-1-40122-978-8 A new take on the origin of Wonder Woman: Diana yearns to leave the utopian Paradise Island and explore the forbidden world of men. Her chance comes, but the price for adventure will prove great.

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BOOKSHELF’S SUMMER READING LIST - ADULTS Boy’s Club

Fight Club 2

By Matt Furie Fantagraphics Books $19.99, 978-1-60699-919-6

By Chuck Palahniuk and Cameron Stewart Dark Horse Comics $29.99, 978-1-61655-945-8

Four guys live in a house, cause trouble for themselves and each other, explore the reaches of existence, and find all sorts of mischief in this collection of shorts.

Outcast By Krikman and Azaceta Volume 3 By Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta Image Comics $14.99, 978-1-63215-693-8

Dark Night: A True Batman Story

Palahniuk’s sequel to the novel that made his name visits Tyler Durden and Marla Singer ten years after Project Mayhem. Married with kids, the couple seems healthy and normal. But then a certain imaginary friend starts showing up again...

The latest volume in the demonic possession series that inspired the Cinemax TV series debuting in June. Kyle can exorcise demons, but he’s learning that there’s more going on than just simple possession, and the truth may be more than he can handle.

By Paul Dini and Eduaro Russo DC Comics $22.99, 978-1-40124-143-8

James Joyce: Portrait of a Dubliner

Rules for Dating My Daughter

By Alfonso Zapico Arcade Publishing $22.99, 978-1-62872-655-8

By Mike Dawson Uncivilized Books $15.95, 978-1-94125-011-2

Zapico’s biography of the seminal author seeks to offer a fresh take on his life, focusing on his struggles against his native land and the publishing industry, and won Spain’s National Comic Prize.

Dawson examines the world and the various challenges of trying to raise kids in a mediasaturated world in a series of short comics. In turns humorous and insightful, he offers scenes from his own life as well as observations and polemics.

Mary Wept at the Feet of Jesus

Video Tonfa

By Chester Brown Drawn & Quarterly $21.95, 978-1-77046-234-2

By Tim Goodyear Alternative Comics $24.95, 978-1-94280-193-1

Brown examines the Biblical representations of prostitution, weaving a line through the stories of Bathsheba, Ruth, Rahab, Tamar, Mary of Bethany, and the Virgin Mother, examining the social effects of these stories.

Goodyear watched 300 movies over the course of a year, and this graphic novel features his recreations of the cover art along with comic streamof-consciousness reviews of the films, from classics to rare gems.

After Paul Dini, awardwinning writer of the Batman Adventures animated series was attacked one night, he was close to giving up. But then the visions of Batman began, giving Dini the inspiration he needed to recover.

Everything is Teeth By Evie Wyld and Joe Sumner Pantheon Books $24.95, 978-1-10187-081-5 Prizewinning novelist Wyld recounts her childhood ups and downs, and how her obsession with sharks colored her life, beginning as fascination and developing into phobia. As family troubles mount, the shark takes on a more sinister presence.

Summer 2016

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SPOOKY SUMMER AT CAMP MIDNIGHT STEVEN T. SEAGLE ON HIS NEW KIDS’ GRAPHIC NOVEL BY M A RK BANA SZA K

Writer Steven T. Seagle and New Yorker artist Jason Adam Katzenstein have crafted a kid-friendly tale about a girl who finds her summer camp is far more monstrous than she expected in Camp Midnight ($16.99, 978-1-63215-555-9), an original graphic novel from Image Comics. Reluctant camper Skye is accidentally sent to the wrong camp for the summer. Not wanting to please her “step monster,” Skye is dead-set on not fitting in. Luckily, that won’t be a problem, as everyone at Camp Midnight—with the exception of fellow camper and fast-friend Mia—seems to be a fullfledged monster. Seagle has written numerous graphic novels, television shows, and films, including Big Hero 6 and Ultimate Spider-Man, and is part of Man of Action Entertainment, who created the animated series Ben 10 and Generator Rex. Diamond BookShelf had a chance to speak with Steven about his new graphic novel, his own camp experiences, and how writing for kids compares to writing for adults. Camp Midnight is scheduled for April release and is suggested for Kids (6+) readers who enjoy stories featuring monsters, mistaken identity, and young protagonists. t Diamond: Where did the idea for Camp Midnight originate? Were you drawing on any camp-related personal experiences? STEVEN SEAGLE: The only I ever attended was HIGH TRAILS in the Colorado Rockies. It was a week-long, school-sponsored trip in 5th or 6th grade. I had never been away from home before, and I wasn’t a hiker or a camper. I was so freaked out that I wouldn’t fit in that I think I stood out more because of my panic. I felt like the other kids were naturals and I was an outsider. So I wanted to write a story about a person at camp who is the ultimate outsider - the only human girl at a monstersonly summer camp.

t The story is about a camp where monsters get to just be themselves for a week. With this kind of freedom, will the monsters still be scary? Yes. There are definitely scary monsters in the book. And there are goofy monsters. And there are average monsters. And there are cute monsters. But the real question that comes to bear in the graphic novel is: Who is the bigger monster? The other kids at camp? Or the “normal” girl trying to pass herself off as something she isn’t? Oh! And you will also find out what it is that monsters are afraid of, and no, it’s not people.

t How did you come to collaborate with Jason Katzenstein on this book? How has it been working with him? I was introduced to Jason by our mutual friend Daryl Sabara - who, along with being a very talented actor (Spy Kids; The Green Inferno) was the voice of Rex on our Man of Action/Cartoon Network show Generator Rex. Daryl comes to a writer’s group I sponsor in LA and one week he brought Jason. Two weeks after that, Jason and I started on Camp Midnight! A year and a half later, we finished it - 240 pages! He’s also a cartoonist for The New Yorker at the ripe old age of 24.

Summer 2016

diamondbookshelf.com t As someone who’s written comics for adults, is it difficult to shift gears and write for younger readers, or do you take the same approach? Some things I do the same: I start with theme; I start at the end and work backwards; I figure out what I want the take away to be. But writing for younger audiences or all ages is much harder I think. It seems like it would be easier, but the language and metaphors have to be much more carefully constructed to play to a younger audience, and it’s tough.

t Is there anything you hope readers take away from the graphic novel?

Oh, absolutely. If I’m writing something that I’m asking people to pay for, so I start with the question: “What is the person reading this story going to get that’s useful in their own life?” If I can’t answer that question, I don’t write that story. That said, am I going to spill what that take away is? No way! That’s the experience of reading the book!

Summer 2016

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MONSTERS IN SPACE! MEET IDW PUBLISHING’S LUNA THE VAMPIRE

asmin Sheikh’s Luna the Vampire isn’t the typical monster story – in her new graphic novel series, monsters live in space, have day jobs, and have to deal with many of the same issues as humans, such as terrible bosses and self-image worries. Released in print by IDW Publishing, Luna the Vampire Volume 1: Grumpy Space ($9.99, 978-1-63140-628-7) introduces readers to Luna, a cranky vampire who loves junk food, her pet fatworm Moopsy, her overexcited witch friend Helga, and the humorous misadventures they find themselves in, from dance-offs to awful days jobs to awkward crushes. Via email, BookShelf discussed Luna the Vampire with creator Sheikh, and got insight into her inspirations, influences, and the perils of drawing former bosses as monsters. Luna the Vampire Volume 1: Grumpy Space is scheduled for June release and is suggested for readers 13 and up who enjoy humor and otherworldly stories, such as Adventure Time and Gravity Falls.

t Diamond BookShelf: For readers who are unfamiliar, could you introduce Luna and the adventures she gets into? Yasmin Sheikh: Luna the vampire is about a girl and her daily struggles. These struggles might not always seem like real struggles to us but to her they are. And she happens to be a blue vampire, that lives in space.

t Monsters in space seems like a far-out idea. How did you come up with that? I was thinking how it would be if the monsters we used to see in old movies were actually those monsters instead of hired actors. I was wondering how they would react on all the CGI stuff we use in movies nowadays, I figured there wouldn’t be much use for them anymore. So I thought they would definitely go into space to build up a new world for themselves to live in. with their own version of the mall and Starbucks of course.

Summer 2016

diamondbookshelf.com t Have there been any influences on the book, or on your comic work in general? Yes, tons! I am a really big fan of cartoons. Especially the ones aired in the 90s. Fist I didn’t really realize it but people came up to me saying that they found Luna bore similarities to the cartoons I used to watch as a kid, which made perfect sense to me. Though I must admit I never stopped watching cartoons. I also get influenced by a lot of great artist that do comics, games or animation.

t How long have you been making the Luna comic? Has it changed since the beginning?

I started making Luna in 2013 for a new Dutch comic magazine. It was the first “real” comic I ever made. The magazine went bust after only 3 issues which was unfortunate but I really liked making Luna so I just kept on making more even though her style wasn’t really defined yet. In the mean time I did this awesome 8 day SUPER intense character design masterclass organized by Pictoplasma in Berlin. That’s where the looks of Luna changed to what she looks like today. Big head, big bow, floating and grumpy.

t You’ve written that Luna is based on your experiences, and that you’ve drawn people as monsters. Has anyone you’ve drawn seen the art and realized that was them? Well, some of my friends know they are in there because I told them, But here are some people who I’d rather not have recognize them self in the monster I drew them as. The story where you follow Luna trying to get a promotion is one of those. At the time I worked in a large furniture store and took one of my experiences as inspiration, one of my Managers was not really inspired as more of a… one on one copy. Let’s hope he doesn’t read comics!

t Do you have a favorite comic or character from Luna?

I really like drawing Kir (the guy who has a secret crush on Luna) and Moopsy. They are definitely my favorite characters in the comic. My favorite comic changes every time. At the moment I really like “Escape from Kid Cobra”. It was a blast to draw but horrible to color.

Summer 2016

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BETTER RESEARCH THROUGH COMICS BY C AIT LIN PLO VNICK

hen it comes to the benefits of comic books and graphic novels in schools and libraries, most of the discussion involves literacy and reading. One area that has not been explored as thoroughly is research. As it turns out, there are many ways that comics can benefit research instruction, and vice versa. I should point out right now that this is not an article about scholarly graphic novels. It’s true that there has been an increase in scholarly research involving comics, and even dissertations published in graphic novel form, such as Nick Sousanis’ Unflattening, and there is a lot of wonderful scholarly work to pursue for anyone interested in comics and academic research. However, what I’m interested in describing here is more of a basic connection between comics and research as avenues for wonder and discovery.

way to explore contexts of information and develop research skills. Thinking of comics as products of research is particularly easy if you look at, say, nonfiction history comics, which often include a bibliography and some author’s notes about where their information came from. But this is only part of what informs a comic. Artists and writers make many choices about how to depict people, places and events. They may use primary sources such as photographs, maps, newspapers and eyewitness accounts to depict everything from characters’ clothing and hairstyles to dialogue and tone. This adds a depth to the story that can be far richer than a textbook account, very nearly bringing events to life. This could be explored in a classroom by reading a historical graphic novel alongside sources from the time depicted, and examining connections between them. Alternatively, students could be presented with primary sources and tasked with using them to help guide them in making a short comic. While nonfiction, educational comics have an obvious connection to research, many other types of comics can be used for the same purpose. For example, many Marvel comics are set in and around New York City. A research exercise might involve digging through some of these comics and identifying how they depict a recognizable New York. Are there visual landmarks? Dialects? Specific cultural references?

As a research and instruction librarian, I spend a lot of time teaching college freshman about information literacy and helping them begin to navigate introductory research assignments. One of the areas they struggle with is context; both understanding the context of the sources they want to work with, and also putting their own work into context for an audience. The skills needed to achieve this are not unique to scholarly research and can be applied to K-12 education as well; it is simply a matter of understanding the relationship between different pieces of information. Comics, which synthesize many elements into one appealing package, can be a terrific, accessible

Summer 2016

diamondbookshelf.com While graphic novels are usually the form of comics that comes up in libraries and classrooms, comic books and newspaper comic strips should also be considered, as they make excellent artifacts for discovery. In fact, comparing different comic formats can add an extra dimension to an exploration of comics as artifacts. I should not neglect to mention one very important way that comics have been used as sources, particularly recently, which is comics as source material for movies. Blockbuster superhero movies have become increasingly common, and they provide an intriguing avenue for looking at comics as sources. Some may involve direct adaptations, in which case it is interesting to see how visuals are recreated and referenced in live action scenes. Other comics may contribute to related movies in a more general way, by informing the style or “feel” of the movie. This kind of indirect source can make for a great discussion point: what are the unconscious influences behind original research and creative projects? How does our work clearly build on that of others’, and when is it more subtle?

Another great way to look at comics as products of research is to look at any manga series that focuses on something very specific. I recently read the first volume of Mari Yamazaki’s Thermae Romae, picking up more details about ancient Roman and modern Japanese bathing culture than I ever could have imagined. This manga was written to be entertaining rather than educational, but it is still clearly the product of extensive research. In addition to being great examples of research products, comics can also be excellent research sources. Comics can reveal volumes about the time and culture in which they were published, although not always in a straightforward way. Once again you can look to the depiction of outfits, cars and other visual details, as well as to the use of language and attitudes of characters. But it can also be informative to look at the design and technical details of the book. How was it produced, and what does this say about methods of communication at the time? When looking at comic books as artifacts, it is very important to think about intended audience. This can become clear when looking at currently published comic books. If you are familiar with your own time and culture, it will be easy to see that different comics don’t always represent it well. This is of course also true for comics published in the past. Comparing the two can be a great way to introduce critical thinking about sources, context, and audience. Who was this published for? How might that have affected the final outcome? Noticeable lack of representation can be just as informative, if not more, than the details that are represented. This is already a frequent topic in discussions of comics, where what isn’t depicted is often just as crucial to the storytelling as what is.

This is just a brief exploration of the many ways that comics, with their endless variety of content and multiple access points for all different types of readers, can be used to investigate sophisticated and sometimes difficultto-grasp research concepts in a relatively easy way. I hope you will take inspiration from these ideas and launch your own investigations! You may discover whole new ways to revisit your favorite comics, which may in turn give you new perspectives on the world. This sense of wonder and discovery is what many people seek when they read comics, and should be the driving force behind any good research question. Why not combine the two, and see what emerges?

Summer 2016

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READING WITHOUT WALLS AN INTERVIEW WITH GENE LUEN YANG BY M A RK BANA SZA K

n top of being the winner of the Printz and Eisner Awards and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and National Book Awards finalist, Gene Luen Yang can add another honor to his resume: in January, Yang was named the new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress and the Children’s Book Council. A former high school computer science teacher, Yang made a significant impact on the graphic novel world with his first release, American Born Chinese, which won the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award and 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album. Since then, he’s created several acclaimed graphic novels (both by himself and with collaborators), including 2013’s Boxers and Saints (which took the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Awards finalist) for First Second, Dark Horse Comics’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series, and DC Comics’s Superman. His current series with First Second, Secret Coders, features a group of students trying to uncover the mysteries behind their school, and offers readers lessons in coding interspersed throughout the story. The second volume is scheduled for August release. Yang is the first graphic novelist to be National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and in the role he will spend two years raising awareness of how literature for young readers can help improve their education and lives. The theme he’s chosen for his term is “Reading Without Walls.” Diamond BookShelf spoke with Yang about his role as Ambassador, incorporating STEM lessons into Secret Coders, and his experiences in the American Library Association Annual Conferences’ Artist’s Alley.

t Diamond BookShelf: How are you adjusting to your ambassadorship?

Gene Luen Yang: It’s been good so far. So far I’ve only done one trip for it, and I’ve done one local event. I went up to Washington, DC, for the inauguration, and then I did an event at Escapist Comics in Berkeley, where I talked about how I go started in comics and gave some encouragement to some aspiring cartoonists. I’ll be doing a lot more travel soon. The Library of Congress and the Children’s Book Council have just sent me quite an itinerary for the next two years, so I’ll be doing a lot more now. But I’m excited about it. It’s been good.

t So they’ll have you booked for your whole two year term? Yeah, I’m doing other events as well. In general, I do a lot of travelling. I have been for the past five-six years, and I don’t anticipate that I’ll be travelling more than I normally do – I usually do about two to three events a month, but now the events will be different. Instead of just talking about my own books and promoting my own books I’ll be promoting reading in general.

t The theme for your ambassadorship is “Reading Without Walls.” How would you define that? We really want kids –and all readers, really- to explore the world through reading. I think exploration is one of the most important parts of childhood. That’s how you figure out who you are, that’s how you figure out what the world is like, and that’s how you figure out your place in the world. So, we want to encourage kids to explore the world through books. I think books are a great way to learn

“WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD THROUGH BOOKS.”

Summer 2016

diamondbookshelf.com novels are under-utilized within education, at least in our country. In Japan, educational graphic novels are an entire category in and of themselves. The shelf of educational manga is just huge within the Japanese book store. But here, we still don’t have a ton in that category. So Secret Coders is kind of my entry into that. It’s my first explicitly educational comic. It teaches kids fundamental concepts of computer science. I’m working with a really talented cartoonist by the name of Mike Holmes on it. He worked on Adventure Time and on Bravest Warriors before working on Secret Coders with me. It’ll be a six volume graphic novel series. It tells a story, but within each chapter it also teaches a concept.

t Does each one build on each other, like a lesson, so that at the end you’ve built up a solid body of knowledge?

about yourself and also to learn about everyone around you. And specifically we want kids to explore the world by reading three different kinds of books. Number one is we want them to try reading a book that has somebody on the cover that doesn’t really look like them or live like them, somebody who’s different from them. Two is we want them to read about a topic that they might find intimidating, and my pet project here is to promote STEM books, or books about science, technology, engineering, and math. And then third is that we want kids to read books in different formats. So if you’re a kid who only reads prose, I hope you’ll give a graphic novel a try, and if you’re the exact opposite, if you only read graphic novels I hope that you’ll give a prose book or a book in verse a try.

Yeah. I don’t see it as a replacement for a good computer science teacher, but I’m hoping that it’ll be an introduction to foundational computer science concepts. And they do get more complex. There is a cumulative nature to what we’re teaching.

t It seems that there’s a split between STEM

skills and literature. Is that something you’ve experienced? Since you’ve done both, was it easier for you to figure out how to teach those skills in a comic format?

t Was that the inspiration for your series Secret Coders, getting more of the STEM education out? Secret Coders is a project that I’ve been thinking about for a really long time. Before I became a full-time cartoonist, I was a high school computer science teacher, and I taught in a very visual way. I did a lot of drawing on the board to show my students what was happening inside of the computer, and as I was working I thought a lot of these lessons would really translate well into the graphic novel format. I think graphic

“I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY CHOSE A GRAPHIC NOVELIST AS THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR SHOWS JUST HOW FAR THINGS HAVE COME. THE OLD STEREOTYPES THAT FOLKS HAD ABOUT COMICS HAVE REALLY BROKEN DOWN, AND I THINK THAT’S A WONDERFUL THING.” Summer 2016

You’re talking about the split between the hard sciences and the humanities?

t Right. Yeah, I kind of think that split is artificial. There are plenty of people who are really interested in both. I think stories are a great way to teach math and science concepts. And I also think that math and science concepts make for great stories. I think it might be a modern thing, the split between hard science and stories. If you look at Leonardo da Vinci and a lot of the early scientists, a lot of them were also deeply interested in poetry and music. And even now we have this whole genre of stories in science fiction that are built on exploring similar concepts. I don’t think it’s really a new thing at all, I just think there’s this artificial wall between these two categories that isn’t always helpful.

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Secret Coders $9.99, 978-1-62672-075-6

Secret Coders: Paths & Portals $10.99, 978-1-62672-076-2

t You’ve been going to the ALA Artist’s Alley since it started. What’s your experience been like there? What is it that keeps you coming back?

t With the Ambassadorship, do you feel any pressure that you have to represent comics to the world?

I love it. I think the ALA Conference is probably my favorite now. I like even better than Comic Con, and that might be blasphemy for a comic book person to say. At

I kind of feel like, I’m not the only one. I just feel really lucky. I think I came into the industry at a time when comics were really coming into their own. There’s just

“I THINK GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE UNDER-UTILIZED WITHIN EDUCATION, AT LEAST IN OUR COUNTRY.” ALA, those first librarians are amazing, I feel like my entire career as a cartoonist has been built on librarian support. They’re incredibly supportive of all kinds of books, including graphic novels, and they really know their stuff. At Comic Con, there are a lot of comic book fans at Comic Con, obviously, but there are also people who are there primarily for movies and video games and television who come up to our table and really don’t have any idea about what we’re trying to do. We don’t encounter that at all at ALA. Everybody who comes by our table knows, you know? They know the importance of graphic novels, they’re familiar with the graphic novel world, they understand the importance of reading, and it’s amazing.

been a ton of groundwork that was laid by folks like the Hernandez Brothers, Lynda Barry, and Dan Clowes – all these amazing cartoonists who really created this category people have for literary graphic novels. And I just feel like a part of that – I’m a beneficiary of the work of these cartoonists. So, I think the fact that they chose a graphic novelist as the National Ambassador shows just how far things have come. The old stereotypes that folks had about comics have really broken down, and I think that’s a wonderful thing. I think as National Ambassador I feel more of a responsibility to promote reading in general among kids, and graphic novels are a hugely important part of that. But I do think they’re just one of many ways that kids can experience books.

Summer 2016

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FAITH RISING

JODY HOUSER DISCUSSES VALIANT’S NEWEST SUPERHERO BY M A RK BANA SZA K

aith Herbert grew up as a fan of superheroes, so when she discovered her own powers and became the crime-fighter Zephyr, it was natural she’d follow in their footsteps. But as she discovers, being a traditional superhero in the modern world is easier said than done in Valiant Entertainment’s Faith Volume 1: Hollywood and Vine ($9.99, 978-1-68215-121-1). Introduced in the Harbinger series, Faith quickly earned a loyal fanbase of her own, and much demand Valiant launched her own series, written by Jody Houser (Orphan Black). In the first volume, Faith is adjusting to life in a new city, with a new secret identity, seeking to make a name for herself as a superhero. But reporting jobs aren’t what they used to be, and she’s soon creating listicles and writing on the reality TV exploits of her superhero ex, while spending her nights stopping crime – and discovering a massive alien conspiracy. With a heroine who defies the traditional body type and appeals to fans who identify with her love of pop culture, Faith has received coverage in publications including People Magazine, InStyle, and Mashable. BookShelf interviewed series writer Houser via email about Faith, playing with traditional tropes, and shifting mainstream views.

It’s really gratifying to see how people have embraced Faith. I think at the end of the day, most creators are happy to see people engaging with their work, especially in a market with so many great books, even if more eyes on it means more pressure.

Faith Volume 1: Hollywood and Vine is scheduled for July release and is recommended for Young Adult (13+) who enjoy superhero books, especially those grounded in real world experiences.

t With the media coverage,

Diamond BookShelf: How did you come to work on this title? Did Valiant approach you or did you seek them out?

you’re probably getting a lot of new fans who might not have picked up a Valiant comic before. What would they need to know going in?

Jody Houser: Valiant asked me to take a look at Harbinger and pitch something for one of the characters. To me, Faith was the real stand-out of the book. Seeing how beloved she is among Valiant fans, I think it’s a pretty common opinion.

t How has it felt to see the response this book

has gotten? Is there an increased pressure to appeal to fans, or is it easier knowing that it’s getting so much positive feedback?

We actually worked really hard to make Faith a great entry into the Valiant universe. Faith’s past experiences play a role in defining who she is, but we do our best to lay out everything that new readers need to know.

t You have Faith taking on some typical superhero tropes (secret identity, reporter day job), but with a legitimate modern twist. Was it difficult to try and make the older

Summer 2016

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model work in the current digital age? Can you really have a secret identity in the age of smart phones? It’s actually been a lot of fun playing with that conflict of what tropes do or don’t work in the modern world. Faith isn’t completely naive, and does understand that she lives in the “real” world. So it’s really about her choosing the elements that work best for her and what she’s trying to accomplish, and seeing how they work (or don’t).

t Faith is a fan of superheroes who became one herself. As someone who read comics as a kid and is now writing for major publishers, were there any personal experiences you drew upon with Faith?

I definitely have a similar childhood love of superheroes as Faith, although it did take us in very different directions. I think the fact that things don’t always go the direction you expect and that living your dream means a hell of a lot of hard work are two things I’ve experienced that made their way into Faith.

t Around the same time Faith was getting

press, Sports Illustrated put Ashley Graham on their swimsuit issue cover, and the new Barbies were introduced. While you’re obviously coming from a different direction in terms of female representation, do you think there’s a significance to these events? Is this the start of a mainstream acceptance of a range of body types? For me, Faith’s body is just one part of who she is, and definitely not the most interesting thing about her. But I hope that the success of the book is part of a shift in mainstream views on who is considered a viable protagonist in media.

t What’s your favorite aspect of working on Faith?

Getting to work with amazing artists like Francis and Marguerite and seeing their art roll in for each issue has been beyond amazing. In terms of the writing, I think Faith herself is my favorite part of the book, but there are so many elements that are a joy to work with. I’ve had way too much fun working in all the geek references and figuring out where my loves and Faith’s overlap. Reoccurring elements like Chris Chriswell and the Night Shifters TV show have also been a lot of fun to play with.

Summer 2016

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CROSSING THE BRIDGE A PREVIEW OF IDW/TOP SHELF’S MARCH: BOOK THREE

March: Book Three Written by: Rep. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin Illustrated by: Nate Powell Publisher: IDW Publishing/ Top Shelf Productions Format: Softcover, 6.5 x 9.5, 204 pages, Black and White, $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-60309-402-3

ep. John Lewis’s graphic memoir of his time in the Civil Rights movement comes to its dramatic conclusion in this volume of this award-winning series. By Fall 1963, the Civil Rights Movement is an undeniable keystone of the national conversation, and as chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, John Lewis is right in the thick of it. With the stakes continuing to rise, white supremacists intensify their opposition through government obstruction and civilian terrorist attacks, a supportive president is assassinated, and African-Americans across the South are still blatantly prohibited from voting. To carry out their nonviolent revolution, Lewis and an army of young activists launch a series of innovative projects, including the Freedom Vote, Mississippi Freedom Summer, and a pitched battle for the soul of the Democratic Party waged live on national television. But strategic disputes are deepening within the movement, even as 25-year-old John Lewis heads to Alabama to risk everything in a historic showdown that will shock the world. The March series has earned several honors for its depiction of Lewis’s struggles in the greater movement. March: Book One won a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award – Special Recognition and was named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, one of YALSA’s Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens and Outstanding Books for the College Bound, and was selected for first-year reading programs by Michigan State University, Marquette University, and Georgia State University. Books One and Two also made the New York Times bestsellers list and made several graphic novel “best of” lists, including USA Today, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. March: Book Three is scheduled for August release and is suggested for Young Adult (13+) readers who are interested in American history and memoirs. IDW/Top Shelf is also release the March Trilogy Slipcase ($49.99, 978-1-60309-395-8), containing all three volumes and featuring new art by Nate Powell.

Summer 2016

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PREVIEW: IDW/TOP SHELFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MARCH: BOOK THREE

Summer 2016

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PREVIEW: IDW/TOP SHELFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MARCH: BOOK THREE

Summer 2016

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KATIE’S KORNER:

GRAPHIC NOVEL TEACHER’S GUIDES B Y D R. K A TI E M ONNIN

Little Robot

Written by: Ben Hatke Illustrated by: Ben Hatke Publisher: First Second Format: Hardcover, 7 x 9, 144 pages, Full Color, $16.99 ISBN: 978-1-62672-080-0 REVIEW I wasn’t good at drawing or any other sort of art, so I decided to study it. As a result, I (once in a great-while) get the overwhelming desire to try to be an artist again. That desire come in full force whenever I read a graphic novel by Ben Hatke. He inspires me, not just as an artist but as a storyteller as well. Why? He tells the most endearing and admirable tales. With both words and images Hatke is able to do what I have only dreamt of doing. To tell stories people will remember in words and in art. Forever. The title of one of his most recent stories, Little Robot, is a bit misleading. Little Robot’s impact on a reader is not little. Little Robot is huge. I’ll never forget it, for ever-so-cleverly Hatke hits on the age-old question of what to do if you ever encounter a mysterious, unknown button that begs to be pushed. Will you push it? Or will you leave it be? Hatke’s main character, Robot Girl, does what we all hope we would be brave enough to do. Push the darn button. And then partake in the results, of course. Clever and charming, this middle grade graphic novel asks readers to think about the consequences of their thoughts and decisions, and, of course, the results that ensue. If I were a middle grade educator right now, as I used to be back in the day, I would pick this graphic novel up immediately and assign it to my students, for it garners discussion topics that gravitate around the ideas of individualism, community, coming-of-age, and causeand-effect so critical to that age group. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELEMENTS OF STORY Plots: Robot Girl is tempted. She has found an intriguing robot-looking machine with a mysterious button, a button we have all wanted to push over the years. In her case, however, Robot Girl actually has the courage we have only marveled at. And she pushes the button. The consequences that ensue garner more than just discussion. They garner an unforgettable story sure to last a lifetime with any reader destined to pick up this graphic novel.

Major Themes: Curiosity and Temptation, Cause and Effect, Friendship, Good and Evil, Loyalty COMMON CORE STANDERS FOR READING LITERATURE* Key Ideas and Details CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3 Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. *Because they encompass the goals and objectives outlined in the 4th - 8th grade middle level standards for reading literature the 8th grade reading literature standards are cited here. READING LESSON IDEA FOR LANGUAGE ARTS READERS IN GRADES 4 - 8 Ben Hatke is a master of visual storytelling. His art is capable of reaching the deepest literary levels with little to no use of print-text words. Because of Hatke’s unique ability to tell the deepest of literarylevel tales with artwork it is important for 21st century readers to be able to identify and comprehend the ways in which his visual storytelling can tell literary-level tales equivalent to those found in traditional, print-text novels. In the below graphic organizer students are asked to choose a theme and then the Top 10 Best Thematic Images that tell the story of that theme in Little Robot. Directions: Choose one of the following themes: Curiosity and Temptation, Cause and Effect, Friendship, Good and Evil, Loyalty Next, choose the Top 10 Best Thematic Images that illustrate that theme in Little Robot and recreate them in the 10 provided spaces (being sure to list their page # and location on the page in the spaces provided). Remember: You have only 10 spaces, 10 opportunities to show your reader the evolution of your theme in the story.

Summer 2016

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Love Volume 2: The Fox

Written by: Frédéric Brrémaud Illustrated by: Federico Bertolucci Publisher: Magnetic Press Format: Hardcover, 8.5 x 11, 80 pages, Full Color, $17.99 ISBN: 978-1-942367-06-2 REVIEW A breathtakingly gorgeous and wordless graphic novel, Love: the Fox offers young adult and adults readers one of the most intriguing and literary-level stories of the year. The guiding question may be familiar. The answer, however, may not be so familiar: So, if a tree (or any other element of nature) experiences an action does anyone or anything else even notice? Brrémaud and Bertolucci’s Love: the Fox makes a more than convincing claim that the answer is a resounding “Yes!” In fact, everything takes notices. If an element of nature experiences a transitional action the land and the sea notice. So do all of the animals.

or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. * The number(s) referenced above corresponds to the number used by the Common Core Standards (corestandards.org) READING LESSON IDEA FOR YOUNG ADULT READERS IN LANGUAGE ARTS GRADES 9 - 10 Directions: Love: the Fox’s stunning, literary-level artwork provides an excellent platform for educators to use when teaching textual analysis in regards to character development. Instead of analyzing characters through words and word analysis, as is traditional, however, students can analyze characters through images and image analysis, an extremely relevant and historically critical shift in teaching our 21st century shared literacy stage to contemporary readers. To begin the lesson, educators can ask students to pair up in small groups of two or three and blindly select a theme from a concealed container. Once selecting a theme students can next choose to focus their reading experience on one of two main characters: either nature or animals.

Sure to leave a memorable impression with its message about the impact of any action and /or reaction this graphic novel works on the highest of literary levels to prove that we do not always need words to think on the deepest of levels about the world around us. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELEMENTS OF STORY Plot: When the creators of Love: the Fox asked themselves how significant one incident or experience can have on the surrounding nature and animal life they found a plethora of answers. Just ask their star character, the fox. Major Characters: foxes, buffalos, rabbits, sheep, various birds, volcano, seals, penguins, polar bears, porcupines, grizzly bears, land and sea Major Settings: land and sea Major Themes: Cause and Effect, Survival of the Fittest, Relationships, Love, Family, Destiny and/or Decision, Faith and Reason, Individual and Community RELEVANT READING / LITERACY COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR YOUNG ADULT READERS Key Ideas and Details CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1* Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3* Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple

course of the story.

If they choose nature, students need to know that that means their small group is in charge of analyzing how nature, as a character, is developed throughout the course of the story. If they choose animals, students need to know that that means their small group is in charge of analyzing how animals, as characters, are developed throughout the

To document their analysis students can write a visual essay that is titled by their theme, followed by a colon and their selection of either nature or animals. For example, it might look something like this… “Individual and Community: Animals” After titling their visual essay students can next think about each of their paragraphs (from introduction, through each supporting body paragraph, and inevitably the conclusion) and supporting sentences. Which images will best introduce our visual essay analysis and topic? Which images will go in our body paragraphs and best support our introductory statements? Which images will find their way into our conclusion and overall ending thoughts for our visual essay? When students are finished completing their visual essays each pair should be offered a chance to briefly present and take questions about their end product.

Dr. Katie Monnin is an Associate Professor of Literacy at the University of North Florida. Besides the joy that comes with reading comic books and graphic novels, Dr. Monnin enjoys a Peter Pan-ish life of researching and writing her own books about teaching comics, graphic novels, and cartoons: Teaching Graphic Novels (2010), Teaching Early Reader Comics and Graphic Novels (2011), Using Content-Area Graphic Texts for Learning (2012), Teaching Reading Comprehension with Graphic Texts (2013), and Get Animated! Teaching 21st Century Early Reader and Young Adult Cartoons in Language Arts (2014); Teaching New Literacies in Elementary Language Arts (2015). When she is not writing (or sitting around wondering how she ended up making an awesome career out of studying comics and graphic novels), Dr. Monnin spends her time with her three wiener dogs, Samantha, Max, and Alex Morgan Monnin.

Summer 2016

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REVIEWS:

MORE GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS Fuzzy Baseball

Bad Machinery Volume 5: The Case of the Fire Inside

Written by: John Steven Gurney Illustrated by: John Steven Gurney Publisher: Papercutz Format: Softcover, 6 x 9, 56 pages, Full Color, $9.99 ISBN: 978-1-62991-477-0 Reviewed by: Diamond BookShelf

Written by: John Allison Illustrated by: John Allison Publisher: Oni Press Format: Softcover, 12 x 9, 128 pages, Full Color, $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-62010-297-8 Reviewed by: Diamond BookShelf

Young baseball fans will enjoy the new graphic novel from John Steven Gurney, Fuzzy Baseball; a light story about the age old rivalry of two opposing baseball teams and the importance of good sportsmanship. The book begins by introducing readers to the two rival teams, The Fernwood Valley Fuzzies and The Rocky Ridge Red Claws. Adults will appreciate the nods to the real life sport with players like Hammy Sosa and Sandy Kofox while younger readers will be drawn in by the varied character design and engaging layout. While the story may focus on the two teams, the story’s heart rests in the character of Blossom Honey Possum. Billed as “The World’s Biggest Fernwood Valley Fuzzies Fan,” Blossom never gave up the hope that her team would one day defeat the Red Claws. With her perennially cheerful spirit and belief in herself, Blossom joins her beloved team just in time for their bout against their long-time rivals, but will Blossom be able to pull the Fuzzies together in time to cinch the championship? Gurney is most well-known for his children’s book Dinosaur Train, and Fuzzy Baseball marks his first foray into graphic novels for young readers. The art is vibrant and lends a Disneylike quality to the storytelling without becoming generic. Gurney is able to balance the massive cast he’s created for this book, with each character able to retain unique personalities, thus allowing children to keep track of the story. Fuzzy Baseball is an inspiring story of how belief in yourself and good sportsmanship can lead to fun and victory. A great gift for little leaguers and aspiring baseball fans, this graphic novel is a feel good tale perfect for young readers between the ages of six and ten.

Love is in the air for the mystery-solving English middle schoolers of John Allison’s Bad Machinery series, and with it comes both drama and intrigue. Allison spins a complex narrative in this volume, laying out many threads which unfold throughout the chapters. Sonny finds himself becoming fast friends with Ellen, the new girl at school, who can’t read or write, and seems to have washed up from the sea. Mildred finds herself falling for the school bad boy, who happens to be dating Sasha. When Lee breaks up with Sasha, she vows revenge on the Mildred for stealing his love away. As the mystery of Ellen builds and Mildred’s relationship develops (and Sasha’s fury grows), a strange man appears out of the sea, looking for his daughters and wearing a large seal skin – similar to the one Sonny found on the beach right before Ellen showed up. Allison ably balances the daily lives of his characters with the overarching mystery behind the new additions, and although anyone familiar with Celtic folklore will figure out a key point right away (the new girl introduces herself as Ellen Selky), there are still enough surprises in the story to keep readers’ attention to the end. Originally released as a webcomic, each page of Bad Machinery works as a strip in its own right, delivering set ups and punchlines even as they move the overall story forward. Allison keeps the flow of one-liners and jokes steady, which helps the narrative move quickly. Allison’s art conveys the energy of the story well, with very expressive characters and vibrant line work and colors that is effective in both the fun and serious aspects of the story. Suitable for middle school readers and above, The Case of the Fire Inside offers a fun, mythological mystery while aptly capturing the heady feeling for first love – and first heartbreak.

Summer 2016

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Paper Girls Volume 1

Dark Night: A True Batman Tale

Written by: Brian K. Vaughan Illustrated by: Cliff Chiang Publisher: Image Comics Format: Softcover, 6.5 x 10, 144 pages, Full Color, $9.99 ISBN: 978-1-63215-674-7 Reviewed by: Diamond BookShelf

Written by: Paul Dini Illustrated by: Eduardo Russo Publisher: DC Comics Format: Hardcover, 6 x 8.5, 128 pages, Full Color, $22.99 ISBN: 978-1-40124-143-8 Reviewed by: Diamond BookShelf

In the early hours of November 1, 1988, 12 year old Erin sets off on her first day delivering newspapers in her small Ohio subdivision. While on her route, she encounters three other paper-delivering girls her age – MacKenzie, Tiffany, and KJ – who ride together to keep safe from any lingering Halloween revelers. But after the four encounter a group of men in black suits and hoods with strange eyes, they discover a mysterious object hidden in an unfinished house, only to re-emerge to find the sky has changed colors and most of their neighbors have gone missing. Soon, the quartet are on the run, trying to uncover the origins of these mysterious events while avoiding the pterodactyl-riding silver-suited figures after them.

DC Comics legend Paul Dini returns to the character he helped to shape and grow in a memoir based on an event that changed the course of his life. Dark Night: A True Batman Story is a look at what happens when you truly hit rock bottom, and what a fictional superhero can do to help you survive.

Much like other titles from Vaughan (Ex Machina, Y the Last Man), Paper Girls is rooted in the real world while taking readers into new and unexpected places in it, giving the strange and fantastic elements even more power in their contrast to normal life. Paper Girls has the feel of a 1980s kids adventure movie (E.T., Explorers), fitting well with the period its set in. The protagonists act as middle schoolers would, while the few adults around are of little help. Clues are dropped as to what is going and who is responsible, but this is the mystery that propels this series.

Dini was one of the main creators behind the Emmy Award winning Batman: The Animated Series and left an indelible mark on Batman as a character and animation as a medium. While working on the series in Burbank, his career and life were almost cut short when he was robbed and left for dead on his way home one evening. With that one event, Dini’s entire life changed as he started a deep spiral into depression and drifted away from his work. Facing an arduous recovery, Dini withdraws into his mind which happens to be populated with Batman and his Rogues Gallery. Each character manifests in different ways urging Dini through his recovery in their own unique styles, some more helpful than others.

Chiang’s art is energetic and dynamic, and smoothly juxtaposes the everyday elements with the fantastical. His use of framing moves the story along quickly, and also expands and contracts the scope of the action, keeping the book grounded in the experiences of the four protagonists.

The story is gorgeously illustrated by Eduardo Risso, best known for his crime noir work on 100 Bullets for the DC imprint Vertigo, and he is truly at the top of his form in Dark Night. Seamlessly shifting the narrative from the past to current and highlighting the raw emotions with a daring palette, Risso has the ability to manipulate reader’s emotions with a simple color shift. The layout of the narrative is flawless as Dini floats above the story with anecdotes and hindsight that gives more emotional depth to the action on the page.

Paper Girls Volume 1 is suggested for Young Adult (13+) readers who enjoy the films previously referenced as well as YA and sci-fi stories. The book contains some coarse language appropriate for the era as well as some science fiction-based violence, but nothing very graphic.

Dark Night: A True Batman Story is destined to become a classic, and is a breathtaking display of just what the medium can accomplish. While it may not be a Batman story in the traditional sense, this is a story that mature readers (and not just Batman fans) will appreciate.

For more reviews, visit http://bit.ly/BookShelfReviews Summer 2016

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CORE LISTS BookS h elf p resents a l i s t of s e l e ct e d e s s e n tia l title s f o r d if f e re nt a g e ra ng e s.

Titles for Kids (Age 6+)

The Real Poop on Pigeons

Lucky Penny

By Kevin McCloskey TOON Books – 978-1-935179-93-1

By Ananth Hirsh and Yuko Ota Oni Press – 978-1-62010-287-9

The Amazing World of Gumball: Cheat Code

Roller Girl

Luna the Vampire Volume 1: Grumpy Space

By Megan Brennan and Katy Farina BOOM! Studios – 978-1-60886-842-1

Angry Birds: Big Movie Eggstravaganza By Various IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-568-6

Bird Boy Volume 1: The Sword of Mali Mani By Anne Szabla Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-930-4

Birdsong: A Story in Pictures By James Sturm TOON Books – 978-1-93517-994-8

BroBots and the Kaiju Kerfuffle By J. Torres and Sean Dove Oni Press – 978-1-62010-306-7

Camp Midnight By Steven T. Seagle and Jason Adam Katzenstein Image Comics – 978-1-63215-555-9

Cici: A Fairy’s Tale #1: Believe Your Eyes By Cori Doerrfeld and Tyler Page Lerner Publishing Group – 978-1-46779-571-5

Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass By Various Joe Books – 978-1-988032-94-8

Disney’s Zootopia Cinestory By Various Joe Books – 978-1-988032-87-0

FukuFuku: Kitten Tales By Konami Kanata Vertical Comics – 978-1-94299-343-8

A Goofy Guide to Penguins By Jean-Luc Coudray and Philippe Coudray TOON Books – 978-1-935179-96-2

Grumpy Cat Volume 1 By Various Dynamite Entertainment – 978-1-60690-796-2

Help Us! Great Warrior Volume 1 By Madéleine Flores, Trillian Gunn, and Nick Sumida BOOM! Studios – 978-1-60886-802-5

Hero Cats: Midnight Over Stellar City By Kyle Puttkammer and Alex Ogle Action Lab Entertainment – 978-1-63229-133-2

Hippopotamister By John Patrick Green First Second – 978-1-62672-200-2

Mickey Mouse: Timeless Tales Volume 1 By Various IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-580-8

By Victoria Jamieson Dial Books – 978-0-80374-016-7

By Yasmin Sheikh IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-628-7

Science Comics: Dinosaurs Fossils and Feathers

Manga Classics: Jane Eyre

By MK Reed and Joe Flood First Second – 978-1-62672-143-2

Science Comics: Coral Reefs By Maris Wicks First Second – 978-1-62672-145-6

Sea Change By Frank Viva TOON Books – 978-1-935179-92-4

Uncle Grandpa: Time Casserole By Various BOOM! Studios – 978-1-60886-791-2

Welcome to Showside Volume 1 By Ian McGinty Z2 Comics – 978-1-94087-807-2

By Charlotte Bronte and Various Udon Entertainment – 978-1-927925-65-2

Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility By Jane Austen and Various Udon Entertainment – 978-1-927925-62-1

March: Book 3 By Rep. John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell Top Shelf Productions – 978-1-60309-402-3

Max Ride: Ultimate Flight By Jody Houser and R. B. Silva Marvel Comics – 978-0-78519-585-6

The Nameless City Volume 1 By Faith Erin Hicks First Second – 978-1-62672-156-2

Nimona Zodiac Volume 1: Tiger Island By Stan Lee, Stuart Moore, and Paris Cullins Papercutz – 978-1-62991-296-7

Titles for Young Adults (Age 13+)

By Noelle Stevenson Harper Teen – 978-0-06227-822-7

Oedipus: Trapped by Destiny By Yvan Pommaux TOON Books – 978-1-93517-995-5

Paracuellos Volume 1 By Carlos Giménez IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-468-9

Archie Volume 1

Power Up

By Mark Waid and Fiona Staples Archie Comics – 978-1-62738-867-2

By Kate Leth and Matt Cummings BOOM! Studios – 978-1-60886-837-7

Back To The Future: Untold Tales and Alternate Timelines

By Akiko Higashimura Kodansha Comics – 978-1-63236-228-5

Princess Jellyfish Volume 1

By Various IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-570-9

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hotei Volume 1

Batman: Europa

By Nobuaki Enoki and Takeshi Obata Viz Media – 978-1-42158-566-6

By Various DC Comics – 978-1-40126-208-2

The Shrinking Man

Black Canary Volume 1: Kicking and Screaming By Brendan Fletcher, Annie Wu, and Various DC Comics – 978-1-40126-117-7

By Richard Matheson, Ted Adams, and Mark Torres IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-519-8

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy By Mike Johnson, Ryan Parrott, and Derek Charm IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-663-8

E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams Volume 1

Unhappy Go Lucky Volume 1

By Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, and Various Youneek Studios – 978-0-99660-700-1

By Cotoji Yen Press – 978-0-31627-217-9

Ghostbusters: The New Ghostbusters

Wonder Woman: Earth One Volume 1

By Erik Burnham and Dan Shoening IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-625-6

By Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette DC Comics – 978-1-40122-978-8

Love: The Lion

X-Men: The Rise of Apocalypse

By Frédéric Brrémaud and Federico Bertolucci Magnetic Press – 978-1-942367-09-3

By Various Marvel Comics – 978-1-30290-069-4

Summer 2016

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Titles for Older Teens (Age 16+) Allen: Son of Hellcock By Will Tracy, Gabe Koplowitz, and Miguel Porto Z2 Comics – 978-1-940878-08-9

The All-New, All Different Avengers Volume 1 By Various Marvel Comics – 978-0-78519-967-0

An Olympic Dream: The Story of Samia Yusuf Omar By Reinhard Kleist SelfMadeHero – 978-1-91059-309-7

Angel Beats! Heaven’s Door Volume 1 By Asami Yuriko and MaedaJun Seven Seas Entertainment – 978-1-62692-189-4

Appleseed Alpha Volume 1 By Masamune Shirow and Iou Kuroda Kodansha Comics – 978-1-63236-201-8

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye By Sonny Liew Pantheon Books – 978-1-10187-069-3

Blackcross By Warren Ellis and Colton Worley Dynamite Entertainment – 978-1-60690-849-5

The Blacklist Volume 1: The Gambler By Nicole Dawn Phillips and Beni Lobel Titan Comics – 978-1-78276-296-6

Buffy: The High School Years – Freaks & Geeks By Faith Erin Hicks and Yishan Li Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-667-9

Doctor Strange Volume 1: Way of the Weird By Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo Marvel Comics – 978-0-78519-516-0

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans By Don Brown Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – 978-0-54415-777-4

Faith Volume 1: Hollywood and Vine By Jody Houser, Francis Portella, and Marguerite Sauvage Valiant Entertainment – 978-1-68215-121-1

Harley Quinn and Power Girl By Amanda Conner, Stéphane Roux, and Various DC Comics – 978-1-40125-974-7

I Am a Hero Omnibus Volume 1 By Kengo Hanazawa Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-920-5

I Am Space Dandy Volume 1 By Masafumi Harada Kodansha Comics – 978-1-63236-094-6

The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded By Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis Abrams ComicArts – 978-1-41971-893-9

James Bond Volume 1: VARGR

Fight Club 2

By Warren Ellis and Jason Masters Dynamite Entertainment – 978-1-60690-901-0

By Chuck Palahnuik and Cameron Stewart Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-945-8

Mysterious Girlfriend X Volume 1

The Fun Family

By Riichi Ueshiba Vertical Comics – 978-1-94299-345-2

By Benjamin Frisch IDW/Top Shelf – 978-1-60309-344-6

Paper Girls Volume 1

Goodnight Punpun Volume 1

By Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang Image Comics – 978-1-63215-674-7

By Inio Asano Viz Media – 978-1-42158-620-5

Plutona

James Joyce: Portrait of a Dubliner

By Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox Image Comics – 978-1-63215-601-3

By Alfonso Zapico Arcade Publishing – 978-1-62872-655-8

Rebels Volume 1: A Well-Regulated Militia

Jessica Farm Volume 1

By Brian Wood, Andrea Mutti, and Various Dark Horse Comics – 978-1-61655-908-3

By Josh Simmons Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-923-3

Taboo Tattoo Volume 1

Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus

By Shinjiro Yen Press – 978-0-31626-890-5

By Chester Brown Drawn & Quarterly – 978-1-77046-234-2

Tomodachi x Monster Volume 1

Mercury Heat Volume 1

By Yoshihiko Inui Seven Seas Entertainment – 978-1-62692-304-1

By Kieron Gillen and Omar Francia Avatar Press – 978-1-59291-278-0

Trashed

Miracleman Volume 1: The Golden Age

By Derf Backderf Abrams ComicArts – 978-1-41971-454-2

By Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham Marvel Comics – 978-0-78519-055-4

Wet Moon Volume 1: Feeble Wanderings

Outcast Volume 1: A Darkness Surrounds Him

By Sophie Campbell Oni Press – 978-1-62010-304-3

Titles for Adults (Age 18+) The Adventures of Dieter Lumpen By Jorge Zentner and Ruben Pellejero IDW Publishing – 978-1-63140-606-5

Bartkira: Nuclear Edition By Various Alternative Comics – 978-1-94280-195-5

Boy’s Club By Matt Furie Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-919-6

Cigarette Girl By Masahiko Matsumoto IDW/Top Shelf – 978-1-60309-382-8

Clean Room Volume 1: Immaculate Conception By Gail Simone and Jon Davis-Hunt DC Comics – 978-1-40126-275-4

Dark Night: A True Batman Story By Paul Dini and Eduardo Russo DC Comics – 978-1-40124-143-8

Everything is Teeth: A Graphic Memoir By Evie Wyld and Joe Sumner Pantheon Books – 978-1-10187-081-5

Summer 2016

By Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta Image Comics – 978-1-63215-053-0

Panther By Brecht Evens Drawn & Quarterly – 978-1-77046-226-7

Patience By Dan Clowes Fantagraphics Books – 978-1-60699-905-9

Preacher Book One By Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon DC Comics – 978-1-40124-045-5

Private Beach By David Hahn Dovre Publications – 978-0-48680-749-2

Something New: Tales From a Makeshift Bride By Lucy Knisley First Second – 978-1-62672-249-1

Tokyo Ghost Volume 1: Atomic Garden By Rick Remender and Sean Murphy Image Comics – 978-1-63215-663-1

The Twilight Children By Gilbert Hernandez and Darwyn Cooke DC Comics – 978-1-40126-245-7

The Ukranian and Russian Notebooks: Life and Death Under Soviet Rule By Igort Simon & Shuster – 978-1-45167-887-1

We Stand on Guard By Brian K. Vaughan and Steve Skroce Image Comics – 978-1-63215-702-7

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Now you can fit GRAPHIC into your Common Core approved curricula

NOVELS

Presenting the Diamond Graphic Novels Common Core List

Using Common Core Standards will aid schools in preparing students for the challenges in college and the workforce. We’ve assembled a list of graphic novels from Diamond Book Distributors’ publishers which work with a Common Core curriculum—and we’re hard at work developing materials to help educators better utilize them in their classrooms. Check back with us as we update our Common Core Standards List with more graphic novels, lesson plans, reading levels, and more.

“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.

To see the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List as well as other Common Core resources,

visit www.diamondbookdistributors.com/commoncore

Summer 2016

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RESOURCES B O O K S A B O UT G RAPHIC NOV ELS Graphic Encounters: Comics and the Sponsorship of Multimodal Literacy

Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel

By Dale Jacobs Jacobs, an Associate Professor of English at the University of Windsor, CA, examines comics as multimodal texts that involve several learning modalities, and are able to communicate in ways not possible through either words or pictures alone. He also covers the history of how comics have been used in education to guide current teachers in their work with graphic novels. SC, $32.95 (Bloomsbury Academic) 978-1-44112-641-2

Wham! Teaching with Graphic Novels Across the Curriculum

By Paul Levitz Historian and former DC Comics president Paul Levitz presents an in-depth look at the work of legendary comic creator Will Eisner, the man credited with coining the term “graphic novel.” Through interviews, photographs, letters, and art, Levitz examines Eisner’s work and influence, from his creation of the pulp crime fighter The Spirit to his work on over 20 award-winning graphic novels. HC, $40.00 (Abrams ComicArts) 978-1-41971-498-6

Japanese Animation: From Painted Scrolls to Pokemon

By William G. Brozo, Gary Moorman, Carla K. Meyer This book is aimed at secondary school teachers looking to incorporate graphic novels into their classrooms. The authors offer suggestions for selecting graphic novels which can help students build STEM, English, and social studies skills, and best practices for their use within class lessons. SC, $29.95 (Teachers College Press) 978-0-80775-495-5

By Brigette Koyama-Richard Professor and author KoyamaRichard traces the roots of anime, beginning with Japanese painted scrolls and moving forward to the first animated films and continuing until the modern day, in which Japanese animation is a globallywatched art form. She follows how the form developed, drawing on the same influences as manga, and provides numerous illustrations, many of which have been rarely seen in the West. HC, $19.98 (Flammarion) 978-2-082020-242-0

U S E F U L

L I N K S

The Comic Book Project – Center for Educational Pathways

Good Comics for Kids (School Library Journal Blog)

http://www.comicbookproject.org/

http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/ goodcomicsforkids

ComicsResearch.org – Academic & Library Resources Making Curriculum Pop

http://www.comicsresearch.org/academic.html

http://mcpopmb.ning.com

Eek! Comics in the Classroom! (Education World) Maryland Comic Book Initiative

http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/ profdev/profdev105.shtml

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/recognitionpartnerships/md-comic-book

Expanding Literacies through Graphic Novels (Members Only) http://www1.ncte.org/Library/files/Free/ recruitment/EJ0956Expanding.pdf

No Flying, No Tights (Graphic Novel Review Site)

Graphic Novel Reporter

Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom (The Council Chronicle, Sept. 05)

http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com

http://www.noflyingnotights.com/

http://www.ncte.org/magazine/archives/122031

GNLib: Graphic Novels in Libraries https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gn4lib/info

YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens List http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt

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!

Summer 2016

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HOW TO ORDER COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS Yo u ha v e m an y op tion s – c h oose th e o ne t hat w o rks bes t f o r yo u!

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, Booksource, Brodart, 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 443-318-8001 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.

Summer 2016

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DIAMOND BOOKSHELF e-N ews le t t e r S i g n -u p • www.D ia m on dB o o kShelf .co m/s ubs cribe

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

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The BookShelf e-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,

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.

graphic novels and comics-related merchandise.

If you find Diamond BookShelf worthwhile, be sure to pass it on and tell your colleagues!

Diamond’s outreach initiatives to support the use of

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 comics and graphic novels in schools and libraries.