The graphic novel and manga catalogue is one of our most popular collections at the library. Our shelving bins are often full with the sheer number of titles checked out every week. With over 2,400 graphic novels and just over 2,070 manga, our collection keeps growing with new additions every month. Let’s just take a gander at four of the newest titles you can find on our shelves!
Rhiannon by Kiara Brinkman Judging by the cover, Rhiannon may seem like a standard coming-of-age graphic novel, but the artwork sets this book apart. With its mellow color and thin lines, Rhiannon is reminiscent of a pre-Raina Telgemeier style of comics for younger readers. The artwork is like a mix of Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules, The Dumbest Idea Ever), Xaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets, Locas), and Herge (Tintin). The book covers the Summer of ’89, following Rhiannon spending the summer with her aunt at a retirement trailer park community. Looking forward to hanging out with her best friend kit, normalcy is thrown out the window, secrets are revealed and friendships are tested once a new teen, Elizabeth, changes the equation.
Dandadan Volume 16 by Yukinobu Tatsu Back at it again with the Dandadan gang! For those not in the know, Dandadan follows the misadventures of two quirky teens; Momo Ayase and Okarun. They both have clashing contradictory obsessions. Momo exclusively believes in ghosts and spirits, finding the idea of extraterrestrials absurd, while Okarun is convinced that aliens exist while claiming supernatural is too out there to be real. Lo and behold, both things are real and all around our leads. Tied up in dilemma after dilemma, they soon discover that their world is far larger than they could’ve imagined, all the while they fight an even more pressing threat: their adolescent lives. In Volume 16, we begin the Danmara arc of the series. Momo and the newly introduced bad boy Zuma are transported into a twisted supernatural board game, not unlike Jumanji, the difference being Momo and Zuma are sucked into the game, not the game manifesting in the real world.
Asadora Volume 9 by Naoki Urosawa If you were a fan of the series Pluto on Netflix, then you’ll be elated to her that Naoki Urasawa, the author of the manga its based on, currently has a serialized new book! Asadora is the latest of Urasawa’s award-winning titles. Asadora shows the life of Asa Asada, starting at age 12, now 21 in volume 9. She’s an aircraft pilot, secretly tasked with responding to giant monster attacks in mid-century Japan. Intertwining historical events, the story has Urasawa’s staple hallmarks: beautifully drawn characters and environments toeing the line between style and realism, resulting in true to life artwork that captures the world better than photorealism.
Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder For the past year, it seems like the only thing people can talk about is DC’s newest fresh take on their most popular hero. In this world, the Absolute Universe, key aspects of DC’s most prominent heroes are taken away from them from the get-go. Batman’s wealth, Wonder Woman’s home of Themyscira, Superman’s childhood with his adoptive parents, all are missing from this universe. Here, we have a working-class Bruce Wayne whose mother is still alive. A victim of a mass shooting as a kid where he lost his father, we get a larger caped crusader accompanied by a rogue’s gallery of friends. Check out this read no one can stop talking about!
That wraps up the showcase this month! Hope you find a great new read and our friendly Teen Services staff is always here to help! You can use your free DKPL library card to check out physical copies of books or other materials (including video games and DVDs) at our library. Many books can also be downloaded to your phone, tablet, or computer as e-books or audiobooks. Stop by the Teen Room with any questions or contact the Teen Services Staff at (815) 756-9568 ext. 2450 or by email at [email protected].