Showing posts with label graphic novel. Show all posts

Introduction to Graphic Novels || 5 Tips for Where to Start Reading

Before I started reading graphic novels, I was always a little intimidated by them- the sheer size of the selection at most stores was enough to make me skip reading them! It wasn't really until 2015 that I slowly began picking them up. "iZombie" had just premiered on TV, and I was curious to read the graphic novels that inspired the show. Then I just slowly started picking up different ones from the library, and reading ones I saw recommended from YouTube videos.

What I'm saying is that delving into the realm of graphic novels can be a little daunting. Superheroes, zombies, girl gangs, dystopian tales and more all vie for attention in splashy colors and glossy pages.
I thought I would offer up some advice on how to pick out where to start. So here are 5 tips, plus a few reading suggestions, for those who are new to graphic novels! Enjoy! :)

#1) Check out Goodreads lists

It's like browsing at the bookstore expect without the stress of seeing stuffed shelves overflowing with choices!  You can see a plot summary, reviews, and if a particular novel is part of a series or a single book. Plus, there are dozens of themed list on GR that can help you narrow in on a particular topic or theme.
HERE is a list with graphic novels that have badass women characters. HERE's one about graphic novels that are focused on (mostly) real historical events. And HERE is a list of supernatural (but not superhero) reads.

#2) Think about genre- what genres do you already like? Fantasy? Nonfiction? Contemporary? If you like a certain kind of book, say horror, then staring with similar graphic novels may be a good way to start. It's familiar grounds! You can use Tip #1 and look for lists of a certain genre, or ask a librarian or bookstore worker for a recommendation.

*Suggestion for a horror graphic novel: Try "Wytches" by Scott Snyder- very eerie and unsettling! If you like Stephen King or Josh Mallerman, I would recommend this!



#3) Start with standalone reads
Instead of picking up the first in a long-running series, try reading a single complete graphic novel. There are hundreds of Batman graphic novels, so even if you're a batfan (pun intended), finding your starting place there will be a little trickier than just a single read. There's no commitment to a series, just the enjoyment of one beautiful book.

*Suggestion for a standalone: "This One Summer" by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki- a contemporary coming-of-age story that has a very nostalgic and wistful feel.
Illustration from "This One Summer". Art & credit to
Jillian Tamaki
#4) Real life stories
Some of the best graphic novels I've read have been memoirs or semi-biographical reads. There is no fantasy world you have to get acquainted with, or any zombies to worry about- nonfiction is refreshingly predictable sometimes! If you like biographies then I would highly recommend starting here.

*Suggestion for nonfiction graphic novel: "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel- a highly acclaimed biographical work that that centers on sexuality, family, and womanhood.

#5) Go younger: yes, the Kids section!
I browse the Kids section of bookstores and libraries just as much as I do the "adult" section. And for a good reason, too! Kids/middle grade books are deceivingly simple- don't let the colorful covers and
smiling characters fool you. Graphic novels aimed at kids almost always have themes that are universally relatable: finding yourself, making friends, loss of a loved one, and the love of adventure.

*Suggestion for Kids graphic novels: "Amulet" series by Kazu Kibuishi if you want a world of monsters and family themes, or maybe "Anya's Ghost" for a standalone about a girl who befriends a spirit-but not all is as it seems. 


There you go! I hope some of these tips helped you think about where to start reading graphic novels, or even a new novel to pick up.
Thanks for reading!

Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Non-Written Novels

Here's the prompt for the Feb. 15 T5W: "This is all about books that are not 'written' novels! So graphic novels, comics, manga, audiobooks, etc. Shed some light on books in other forms."
I'm pumped for this one! Although I don't really use audiobooks too much, I love all kinds of graphic novels and comics, and equally love getting recommendations from others. Can't wait to check out other videos and posts this week!

So, in no particular order, here are my favorite non-written novels:

#1: "Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh

 Drawn in a computer paint program with rounded out stick figures, "Hyperbole and a Half" is Brosh's
credit to Allie Brosh
part memoir-part guide to dealing with depression. I read this book a couple years ago, and I remember it as being the first book I had laughed with while reading for a looooong time. I had needed that book. Some parts of this book are hilarious stories (like a young Brosh attempting to steal and eat an entire birthday cake) and other are accounts of how Brosh handles life when life seems too much. The chapter where she talks about 'the dead goldfish' situation was incredibly helpful to me personally.
(hey, even Bill Gates liked this one! READ THIS BOOK)

#2: "Giant Days" by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, & Whitney Cogar

I kept seeing this on my Goodreads dashboard, so I picked up the first volume of it from my library. Then I immediatley went back two days later to find the second volume because this series is fantastic. "Giant Days" follows three university students, Susan, Esther, and Daisy, three very different women, as they handle college life. This includes wayward romances, sexist websites, a rampant flu, and academia among others. It's a story about being a twentysomething young woman trying to handle whatever life throws at you while not completely losing it. Plus, the female friendships in here are so so SO well done, and these three girls are one of my favorite fictional groups to read about. I'm also a big fan of the artwork- it's vibrant and distinctive, and the facial expressions are spot on.

#3: "Supermutant Magic Academy" by Jillian Tamaki



 To be perfectly honest, this right here is probably my favorite standalone graphic novel of all time. I bought this at my local comic shop after hearing Ariel Bissett rave about it in one of her videos. At the shop, I flipped through it a little hesitantly, because the art style seemed a little bland. But, I almost always like Ariel's recommendations so I went for it- and it was excellent. "Supermutant Magic Academy" is a bit nonlinear: almost every couple pages flips back and forth between different student sho have crazy abilities or qualities. The plot? Life. School. Crushes. Existential crises. Magic powers. It's beautifully subtle, humorous, and surprisingly relatable.

 #4: "Death Note" by Tsugumi Ohba

I've slowly been expanding my manga reading over the past couple years, and have a couple series that I not only read but also buy to add to my personal collection. Among those are "Bakuman", "Tokyo Ghoul", "Princess Jellyfish"- and "DEATH NOTE". Boy, lemme tell you- this is not a series I expected to enjoy as much as I do now. The basic premise is that a young man finds a notebook called a Death Note that a shinigami (Japanese god of death) purposely dropped into the human world. The shinigami was bored and wanted to see what would happen. I'm not going to say more on the plot but I will say that this 12-book series is darkly humorous, edgy, and full of the pushing of morals that had me reading these non-stop. I'm currently on Volume 8, so I don't have an opinion on the series ending yet, but at this point, it's going to take a lot for me to became disappointed by "Death Note".

 #5: "Hark! A Vagrant!" by Kate Beaton

This book is a collection of comic strips that offer up a slightly (sometimes very) skewed yet hilarious look at notable historical and pop culture figures and events. There's Batman, Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, Nancy Drew, Gatsby, and others. No event is safe from Beaton's witty hand as she calls out Canadians, or pens a bromance between Poe and Jules Verne (those are some of my favoriteeee). I will admit, a handful of the historical references went over my head, but I was laughing my butt off for 95% of this book. Like, tears in my eyes, side hurting laughter. It's that good! I would recommend this to any history or literature buff, but I'm sure anyone can get a chuckle out of this book.
credit to Kate Beaton
In case anyone wants to check out future T5W topics, here's the link to to Goodreads group!
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