Best Teen & Young Adult History Comics

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Nick Abadzis masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. I had no idea there were so few Soviet engineers and scientists involved in the nascent space program--not to trivialize their incredible achievement but, in many senses, they just winged it, borne along in great part by Korolev's force of will and political maneuvering. Events conspired to make Laika a sacrificial passenger on board Sputnik II, but they really did honor their canine cosmonauts. It felt like we needed to be a part of that, so I drew it extremely fast--two hundred pages in a little over eight months. Originally, I did have an idea of doing three books: Laika would be the first, Gagarin the second, and a full-on comic strip biography of Korolev [the driven engineer on the project] would be the final part that would bind together events seen in the first two. Certainly, elements of Korolev's life that I felt were important to the story made it into the final version of the book. Abadzis: I suppose it would have been easy to make it another cutesy, twee, and overly saccharine dead-dog story but that wouldn't have been true either to my taste or to the socio-political system and culture I was attempting to portray. I didn't want to anthropomorphize her, at least not to the extent that she was spouting speech/thought balloons like, say Tintin's Snowy (which works just fine for those books). The sentiment of the story, such as it is, would take care of itself and be implicit in certain character's actions or words (or not, as the case may be).... All that said, it'd be disingenuous to suggest that, in dealing with a true story that involves dogs and their owners (even if they happen to be scientists in a Soviet cosmodog program), there wouldn't be a bit of emotion. But there's also the harsh reality of the time, the place and the confluence of events that put Laika into space.

This stunning new book brings history to life as we see the war through the eyes of the young conscripted servicemen on all sides of the conflict. Back matter includes information about military participation from countries all over the world, as well as brief accounts of famous animals that had a significant impact on the final outcome.—Sarah Reid, Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY.

Strange Fruit Volume I is a collection of stories from early African American history that represent the oddity of success in the face of great adversity. Still more thoughtful reflections come from Joel Christian Gill’s graphic novel Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History , which unpacks its power through drawings and pointed text that chronicle the trials and triumphs of black Americans who struggled against prejudice more than a century ago. Without whitewashing the realities of slavery and racism, Strange Fruit has a wry, welcoming tone — much aided by Gill’s dynamic, inventive storytelling. After reading about such real American heroes as chess master Theophilus Thompson, bicycling champion Marshall “Major” Taylor, and lawman Bass Reeves, I’m eager to learn more! By the time I finished reading Strange Fruit , I thought, let the comic-book sellers have their mythic superheroes; through Joel Gill, we can have our own. Gill shares these nine stories simply and with deep thoughtfulness and reverence to voices that-- the reader will quickly be convinced-- need to be heard. Working with a striking palette of ruby reds, rich browns, bleached-out blues and deep piney greens, author/artist Joel Christian Gill conjures up forgotten firsts and impassioned everymen in a cartoon style that's at once cheeky and epic, naive and majestic. He’s infused each of these stories with a huge amount of information, humor for kid readers (“Slavery stinks”), humor for adults (when a child is born it appears to be launched out of the mother by jet propulsion, making the umbilical cord not unlike a bungee cord), and a full spectrum of comics storytelling devices. Readers of the short stories in Strange Fruit quickly learn to appreciate the playful succinctness of Gill’s iconographic language. One of the most interesting heroes in the book is Marshall “Major” Taylor (1878–1932), America’s first black champion in any sport — and in cycling, no less, which remains one of the least diverse athletic endeavors even today. Superbly penned and illustrated, STRANGE FRUIT: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, Volume 1 is indubitably a work of love. Earmarked as one-of-a-kind, this graphic novel is not only an additional masterpiece to black history, but also a delightfully educational read for both young and old. From the original black pro basketball star to a magician’s greatest illusion, become more familiar with these lives which made a positive difference, despite prejudice. Gill’s graphic novel series is a tool with which to discuss African Americans, social justice and a shared history. I highly suggest instead that you read Joel Christian Gill's excellent nonfiction collection of hidden Black American history by the same name, published by Fulcrum [...] You'll be much happier, might learn about some new, real-life heroes, and will be supporting actual diversity in comics.

A welcome read for anyone who ever felt more passion for a sandwich than is strictly speaking proper, Relish is a graphic novel for our time: it invites the reader to celebrate food as a connection to our bodies and a connection to the earth, rather than an enemy, a compulsion, or a consumer product. Loosely connected chapters chart a child- and young adulthood surrounded by cooks and bakers, bouncing between Manhattan kitchens and upstate farmhouses, and through art school and the booming culinary scene in Chicago.

Collecting Incredible Hulk Vol. Monsters and heroes... and the Incredible Hulk!

This special hardcover edition also includes an exclusive sound clip of Rick and Morty and all the cover art from the first ten issues of the comic book series! "Rick and Morty, the unlikely pair at the heart of the hit Adult Swim cartoon, happily bring their signature blend of brainy sci-fi and surreal, warped mayhem to print. When dissolute genius Rick builds a device to predict the future of the stock market, he and his bumbling teenage grandson, Morty, hit the big time. Though readers unfamiliar with the show might be thrown off by the idiosyncratic speech style, it's a pitch-perfect replica of the voice actors' performances, and the artwork, full of exaggerated cartoon shapes and grotesque creatures, expertly mimics the animation. - Booklist. "Aside from the normal difficulties inherent in being young, such as school and the trials and tribulations of parents, siblings, and friends, Morty also has to deal with his grandfather Rick, a cracked scientific genius with authority issues. Verdict Based on Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland's (adult swim) animated cartoon, Rick and Morty walks a shredding tightrope among slapstick, pathos, and hilarity, with unexpected twists and a healthy sprinkle of nutty sf concepts thrown in for good measure. The anthology nature of the stories means some pieces are stronger than others, but all are imaginative and will appeal to fans of weird sf humor that borders on the psychedelic. Cannon, Ryan Hill, and back up artist Marc Ellerby have given audiences, both in and out of know, a solid debut issue chocked with comedy and pathos that can go nowhere but up.

In this post-apocalytpic sci-fi story, humanity has been devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans.

Indies Choice Book of the Year. *. National Book Award Finalist * New York Times Bestseller * New York Times Notable Book * Kirkus Best Book * School Library Journal Best Book * Publishers Weekly Best Book * NPR Best Book * New York Public Library Best Book * Chicago Public Library Best Book. The New York Times bestselling graphic novel sensation from Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. “Noelle Stevenson has a knack for capturing the humor and heart in a situation in just a few panels.” (Rainbow Rowell, New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor and Park). “Sharp visuals, a nifty amalgam of fantasy and science fiction elements, and relationships drawn with complexity, wit, and depth create a world worth returning to again and again.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) ).