Best Historical Fiction Graphic Novels

Now, in this beautifully illustrated graphic novel adaptation, Hosseini brings his compelling story to a new generation of readers. A Look Inside The Kite Runner Graphic Novel (Click on Images to Enlarge).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A world with different social norms about relationships that are difficult to understand and whose rules evaporate when the violence of war invades its structures and how that very event wields its tentacles into the lives of unwilling citizens."
"This was well written, full of surprises, full of love and excitement and full of tragedy."
"The book kept me reading."
"It took me a while to finish reading it not because it is not interesting but because life had lots of interruptions to my usual routine but finally completed it and it was an awesome, one of a kind novel that I haven't heard for a while."
"There is no better way to learn about a foreign culture than to read fiction written by a person of that culture and this book delivers that insight on every page, at least from a male viewpoint."
"For Daughters English project, she liked it."
"Somehow I read the next books first."
"Never have I ever cried reading books, well, until I read this one."

Karen Reyes tries to solve the murder of her enigmatic upstairs neighbor, Anka Silverberg, a holocaust survivor, while the interconnected stories of those around her unfold. … An eerie masterpiece of the monsters around and within us.”. - The New York Times ― Critics’ Pick “ My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is not only Ferris’s first graphic novel but also her first published work. “This extraordinary book has instantly rocketed Ferris into the graphic novel elite alongside Art Spiegelman, Alison Bechdel and Chris Ware. “No one has ever made a comic like Emil Ferris’s assured, superhumanly ambitious two-part debut graphic novel My Favorite Thing Is Monsters . “An ambitious, emotional, beautifully illustrated exploration of a 10-year-old girl’s experience growing up late ’60s Chicago, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is an astounding debut, weaving an intricate web of plot threads that keeps the reader compelled from beginning to end.”. - The A.V. Ferris’s artwork bullies and commands the reader’s attention, each page bringing her to the brink of exhaustion because the struggle between art and words is so great, and the whole is so sensorially overwhelming.”. - The Los Angeles Review of Books.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Spectacular illustrations cover almost every inch of this huge volume, all printed on lined three-hole paper emulating the illustrated diary of the ten-year-old protagonist, a tough and beleaguered tomboy on the rough streets of 1960's Chicago. Ferris's illustrations also show an abiding love not just for horror movies (and particularly for our mutual Universal monster favorite, the Wolf Man) but for the great horror magazines of the 1960's from CREEPY and FAMOUS MONSTERS though the gory WEIRD and TERROR TALES varieties."
"Terrific graphic novel."
"Omygawd .... what a beautifully illustrated book."
"LOVE this book!!!"
"This book is absolutely incredible."
"The detail is amazing."
"I just started reading it, but love it already."
"I really liked this book."

Before he became a respected Congressman, John Lewis was clubbed, gassed, arrested over 40 times, and nearly killed by angry mobs and state police, all while nonviolently protesting racial discrimination. BOOK ONE spans John Lewis' youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Dr. King, the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent sit-ins, building to a stunning climax on the steps of City Hall. This is superb visual storytelling that establishes a convincing, definitive record of a key eyewitness to significant social change, and that leaves readers demanding the second volume.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NHα(c) Copyright 2013. After a kicker set on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965 (the civil rights movement’s Bloody Sunday), the story makes January 20, 2009 (President Obama’s inauguration) a base of operations as it samples Lewis’ past via his reminiscences for two schoolboys and their mother, who’ve shown up early at his office on that milestone day for African Americans. This first of three volumes of Lewis’ story brings him from boyhood on the farm, where he doted over the chickens and dreamed of being a preacher, through high school to college, when he met nonviolent activists who showed him a means of undermining segregation—to begin with, at the department-store lunch counters of Nashville.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon""March" demonstrates how incredibly powerful the graphic format can be for conveying mood and emotion. It is probably hard for some younger readers to realize that the US society was like this only the blink-of-an-eye ago. College students who saw how unjust this was went through rigorous training to lobby for a change in a *peaceful* manner. The more we can all band together, stand up, and peacefully but determinedly remain strong, the more we can overcome. And, as an added note, I adored the sections about him growing up with his chickens."
"The story profiles in this graphic novel should be read by every person of any race creed color or religion. So let's not forget history so we don't repeat it .l have it5stars because it is written well the artistry is plane and simple that everyone can see and not get to lost."
"Great read, Great art, Great story with insights from someone who has lived through those dark times in our nation. I read this with great admiration for Black Americans during the Civil Rights movement."
"It does a great job of showing the humanity of history that so many textbooks lack and the pictures convey a realism without being intimidating or cartoony."
"--- George Santayana This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated (the artwork is all black and white), and the message is powerful in a quiet way."
"The books are a testimony of the Civil Rights movement through the eyes of the author and the illustrators."
Best Historical Fiction Manga

The Eisner and Harvey Winner. In this fourth volume of the award-winning graphic novel biography, Buddha slowly discovers that his destiny lies in a path not readily available to him. - Scott McCloud , author of Understanding Comics "In handsome volumes designed by Chip Kidd, the Vertical books present Tezuka at his best." The armchair philosopher, the devout Buddhist, the casual manga fan - this book satisfies all with its tale of humanism through sequential art, and definitely earns its place on a bibliophile's bookshelf." With his sweeping vision, deftly interwined plots, feel for the workings of power, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated manga to an art form.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The level of the art work remains high even if he has begun to simplify some of the images expecting us to understand the conventions of this series. The narrative style is familiar but we are being taken deeper into the mysteries of Buddhism and how this belief system would have appeared to those watching it mature. Siddhartha has yet to understand why there must be death and what is it about humans that they alone carry awareness of the fate all living things share. In volume 3 we were shown the realization ordeals that intended to purify the soul and only bring death are futile."
"A whole new cast of characters is introduced to embellish the tale, such as Yatala the giant slave, the Crystal Prince, and Tatta and Migaila, two reformed bandits. The Forest of Uruvela, in the end, is a stunning display of artistry that perfectly captures Buddha's moment of Enlightenment and shows clearly why Tezuka is consider the godfather of Japanese comics."
"Great series."
"Tezuka continues his epic story of the Buddha in Manga form, I cannot find any fault with it."
"These books are not for people looking for serious Buddhist dialogue either, but they are fun and a new and interesting way to view the life of the Buddha."
"I picked up one of these books at our local library and fell in love with the story."
"I have read the Japanese version of this and bought English sets for my boyfriend."
"I've re-read it many times, and you always pick up new things with each read."
Best Nonfiction Graphic Novels

This full-color, beautifully illustrated edition features more than fifty percent new content, with ten never-before-seen essays and one wholly revised and expanded piece as well as classics from the website like, “The God of Cake,” “Dogs Don’t Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving,” and her astonishing, “Adventures in Depression,” and “Depression Part Two,” which have been hailed as some of the most insightful meditations on the disease ever written. Pictures. Words. Stories about things that happened to me. Stories about things that happened to other people because of me. Eight billion dollars*. Stories about dogs. The secret to eternal happiness*. An Amazon Best Book of the Month, November 2013: Who among us has not, in moments that sometimes bleed through years, even decades, felt weird, desperate, and absurd--wishing we could turn all the lamest, most shameful episodes in our lives into hilarious illustrated anecdotes? If you just stumbled across Brosh and can't yet grasp the allure of a Web comic illustrated by rudimentary MS Paint figures, believe the hype. Brosh has a genius for allowing us to channel her weird childhood and the fits and starts of her adulthood through the manic eyes, gaping mouths, and stick-like arms in the panels that masterfully advance her stories, and she delivers her relentless commentary with deadpan hilarity. Today, Bill and Melinda Gates co-chair the charitable foundation bearing their names and are working together to give their wealth back to society. But Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things that Happened , by Allie Brosh, is an honest-to-goodness summer read. Brosh has quietly earned a big following even though, as her official bio puts it, she “lives as a recluse in her bedroom in Bend, Oregon.” The adventures she recounts are mostly inside her head, where we hear and see the kind of inner thoughts most of us are too timid to let out in public. Here’s a typical snippet: “To the simple dog, throwing up was like some magical power that she never knew she possessed—the ability to create infinite food. The mental illness she describes is profoundly isolating: “When you have to spend every social interaction consciously manipulating your face into shapes that are only approximately the right ones, alienating people is inevitable.” It must be empowering for those who have struggled with depression to read this book, see themselves, and know they’re far from alone. You explain it again, hoping they’ll try a less hope-centric approach, but re-explaining your total inability to experience joy inevitably sounds kind of negative, like maybe you WANT to be depressed. So the positivity starts coming out in a spray—a giant, desperate happiness sprinkler pointed directly at your face.”. It is no hyperbole to say I love her approach—looking, listening, and describing with the observational skills of a scientist, the creativity of an artist, and the wit of a comedian. The subjects run from light (cakes, dogs) to dark (the author’s own severe depression), and they foreground offbeat feeling and real intellect. Ms. Brosh’s inquisitive mind won me over, too.” (Dwight Garner New York Times). “In a culture that encourages people to carry mental illness as a secret burden . (Elizabeth Gilbert ). “One of the best things I’ve ever read in my life.” (Marc Maron ) "This book made me laugh, cry, and leak. (io9.com ) “ The whole blog is inspired.” (Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish (The Atlantic) ). “Anyone seeking an accessible look at someone suffering from depression or some really delightful dog drawings need search no further.” (Time Out New York ). "Both singular and familiar—the popularity of Brosh's blog and her absurd, exuberant voice meant that she started a lot of memes you might have come across— Hyperbole and a Half is a very funny reminder that it's normal to not have your shit together, and to know that it's okay to ask for help."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"People who want to know what it feels like to have beverages snarfed through their nose(s?). People who are familiar with Allie's site and thus already know some of the content and are ok with that because it still makes them snarf beverages through their nose(s?). People who are unfamiliar with the behaivior of geese and/or enjoy cake. People who like books that are color coded instead of numbered to delineate beginnings and endings."
"I got the book this morning, and as I was hobbled by pain from an ACL surgery and unable to take painkillers because they would make me loopy at work, instead I read this all day. The chapters that peek into her childhood make me wish I remembered anything about my life before I was twelve. I'm going to take a page from this book, and just imagine that my childhood was just as fantastical, wild, revelatory, unintentionally hilarious, and unique. I love that the author is so freaking honest (can you swear on Amazon? She holds this mirror up to her guiding principles and then picks everything apart until she's left with this uncivilized and selfish husk, which she then covers up in a sparkly jumpsuit to make it all better. I feel strangely proud of the author for producing this book."
"I'm going to re-read this book for sure!"
"I can't explain how it is that Allie Brosh's drawings affect me, but all I have to do is look at them and I feel joy rush through me -- even at her saddest and darkest, she somehow manages to bring delight."
"This book is the opposite -- it takes place in that stream-of-consciousness world where you can't turn off your imagination or slow it down for everyone. I picked it up in the "NY Times Best Seller" section of a Salem bookstore and after reading about 7 pages of it right then and there, I promptly ordered one for myself online."
"Allie spends at least 1/3 of the book on comics about dogs, and the things they do."
Best Literary Graphic Novels

Plus, previously unpublished extras and bonus materials make this mighty tome one that's required reading for Scottaholics everywhere!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bryan O'Malley's run pokes fun at the banalities of life while making you feel like a twenty something kid again."
"Same great story, except this time it's in glorious color."
"I am a huge fan of anamaguchi who did the most for the game for the ps3 and xbox360 and I scrambled around the web to find a code for this rare digital title..."
"This is a great start, yet you can notice the attempts at making this story flow, it starts out roughly introducing each character, I can honestly see where O'Malley is heading with a very straight forward narrative, and I'm glad it works."
"The art style, characters, dialogue... everything drew me right into the world of Scott Pilgrim."
"Fun goofy read, with fun dialogue and cool artwork."
"I found out about this series through the movie, as many people did."
"Arrived on time and in perfect condition."
Best Graphic Novel Biographies & Memoirs

This full-color, beautifully illustrated edition features more than fifty percent new content, with ten never-before-seen essays and one wholly revised and expanded piece as well as classics from the website like, “The God of Cake,” “Dogs Don’t Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving,” and her astonishing, “Adventures in Depression,” and “Depression Part Two,” which have been hailed as some of the most insightful meditations on the disease ever written. Pictures. Words. Stories about things that happened to me. Stories about things that happened to other people because of me. Eight billion dollars*. Stories about dogs. The secret to eternal happiness*. An Amazon Best Book of the Month, November 2013: Who among us has not, in moments that sometimes bleed through years, even decades, felt weird, desperate, and absurd--wishing we could turn all the lamest, most shameful episodes in our lives into hilarious illustrated anecdotes? If you just stumbled across Brosh and can't yet grasp the allure of a Web comic illustrated by rudimentary MS Paint figures, believe the hype. Brosh has a genius for allowing us to channel her weird childhood and the fits and starts of her adulthood through the manic eyes, gaping mouths, and stick-like arms in the panels that masterfully advance her stories, and she delivers her relentless commentary with deadpan hilarity. Today, Bill and Melinda Gates co-chair the charitable foundation bearing their names and are working together to give their wealth back to society. But Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things that Happened , by Allie Brosh, is an honest-to-goodness summer read. Brosh has quietly earned a big following even though, as her official bio puts it, she “lives as a recluse in her bedroom in Bend, Oregon.” The adventures she recounts are mostly inside her head, where we hear and see the kind of inner thoughts most of us are too timid to let out in public. Here’s a typical snippet: “To the simple dog, throwing up was like some magical power that she never knew she possessed—the ability to create infinite food. The mental illness she describes is profoundly isolating: “When you have to spend every social interaction consciously manipulating your face into shapes that are only approximately the right ones, alienating people is inevitable.” It must be empowering for those who have struggled with depression to read this book, see themselves, and know they’re far from alone. You explain it again, hoping they’ll try a less hope-centric approach, but re-explaining your total inability to experience joy inevitably sounds kind of negative, like maybe you WANT to be depressed. So the positivity starts coming out in a spray—a giant, desperate happiness sprinkler pointed directly at your face.”. It is no hyperbole to say I love her approach—looking, listening, and describing with the observational skills of a scientist, the creativity of an artist, and the wit of a comedian. The subjects run from light (cakes, dogs) to dark (the author’s own severe depression), and they foreground offbeat feeling and real intellect. Ms. Brosh’s inquisitive mind won me over, too.” (Dwight Garner New York Times). “In a culture that encourages people to carry mental illness as a secret burden . (Elizabeth Gilbert ). “One of the best things I’ve ever read in my life.” (Marc Maron ) "This book made me laugh, cry, and leak. (io9.com ) “ The whole blog is inspired.” (Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish (The Atlantic) ). “Anyone seeking an accessible look at someone suffering from depression or some really delightful dog drawings need search no further.” (Time Out New York ). "Both singular and familiar—the popularity of Brosh's blog and her absurd, exuberant voice meant that she started a lot of memes you might have come across— Hyperbole and a Half is a very funny reminder that it's normal to not have your shit together, and to know that it's okay to ask for help."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"People who want to know what it feels like to have beverages snarfed through their nose(s?). People who are familiar with Allie's site and thus already know some of the content and are ok with that because it still makes them snarf beverages through their nose(s?). People who are unfamiliar with the behaivior of geese and/or enjoy cake. People who like books that are color coded instead of numbered to delineate beginnings and endings."
"I got the book this morning, and as I was hobbled by pain from an ACL surgery and unable to take painkillers because they would make me loopy at work, instead I read this all day. The chapters that peek into her childhood make me wish I remembered anything about my life before I was twelve. I'm going to take a page from this book, and just imagine that my childhood was just as fantastical, wild, revelatory, unintentionally hilarious, and unique. I love that the author is so freaking honest (can you swear on Amazon? She holds this mirror up to her guiding principles and then picks everything apart until she's left with this uncivilized and selfish husk, which she then covers up in a sparkly jumpsuit to make it all better. I feel strangely proud of the author for producing this book."
"I'm going to re-read this book for sure!"
"I can't explain how it is that Allie Brosh's drawings affect me, but all I have to do is look at them and I feel joy rush through me -- even at her saddest and darkest, she somehow manages to bring delight."
"This book is the opposite -- it takes place in that stream-of-consciousness world where you can't turn off your imagination or slow it down for everyone. I picked it up in the "NY Times Best Seller" section of a Salem bookstore and after reading about 7 pages of it right then and there, I promptly ordered one for myself online."