[plume]

Thanks for your replies. Is it known if graphic novels' popularity continues to rise, has levelled out or is declining?

[Jaina]

I am going to vote for "continues to rise" for now.  Our school library is displaying so many new graphic novels, it looks like a comic book shop.

[lizjonesbooks]

I'll echo some others here-- Sandman, Eternals, Neverwhere, Fables, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,Tom Strong, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Persepolis, Maus, Bone, anything by Will Eisner...

and The Arrival, by Shaun Tan.
Which is downright amazing, and if you haven't discovered it yet, you need to find a copy.

[marylovesya]

I'd have to say THE ARRIVAL is one of the best books I've read this year. I'm bringing it in to my MFA class on Tuesday since I want to work on a graphic novel MS and nobody in my class has read graphic novels. Aww - they still have show and tell in grad school!

[fallpeople]

If you're interested in the manga series style of graphic novel, I want to pass on 2 recommendations for girl-centric, character driven stories.

I'm loving the Fruits Basket series. The covers say 13 and up and that seems about right.

My 9 year old daughter is loving the Peach Fuzz series. It's perfect for girls her age.

[Rhonda]

Same here--I adore Fruits Basket, as does my 12-year-old daughter. I also love graphic novels and manga--thanks for the recommendations, everyone!

[lizjonesbooks]

For the younger set, Babymouse, Courtney Crumrin, and of course Bone are all excellent choices. The Flight collections are usually pretty much all ages, and the Little Lit series (It was a dark and Silly Night, etc) are loads of fun.

[The Get-Up Kid]

If you'd consider Japanese imported manga series graphic novels, I have much to reccomend.The Kingdom Hearts manga is wonderful! A blend of Square Enix's finest original characters, as well as cameos of their previous games and media, combined with a killer story filled with self-redeption, loss, love, and the battle of illiminating darkness from one's heart and memories makes for some incredibly addicting manga! Throw in two of Disney's most iconic characters playing the lead secondary roles to Squeenix's characters (Donald Duck and Goofy), as well as Mickey Mouse making an appearance as a powerful king, and throw in several Disney cameos including several famous princesses and Jiminy Cricket, and you have a formula for an intentse, enjoyable manga. Heck, you might even run out and buy a PS2 and a Gameboy Advance just to play the videogame adaptations. It's that good! Other manga includes:
Death Note- The introduction of the Shinigami's will have you shivering with delight!
Full Metal Alchemist- Put together very well.

[lizjonesbooks]

Knights of the Lunch Table(elementary) is a recent delightful discovery for me-- and Holly Black's Kin(YA). Great stuff!

[carlynnw]

Ghost World by Daniel Clowes.  They made a movie of it 5, 10 years ago.  The mc's are two girls who are either in high school or just out of school, I don't remember...the art is great.

[Duskydawn Posts: 187 Status: Offline Why be normal when you can be remembered?]

I'll agree wholeheartedly that THE ARRIVAL tops my picks this year, but I also just read Kazu Kibuishi's AMULET: THE STONEKEEPER (BOOK ONE) and it was masterfully done!

[dylan]

NEXTWAVE agents of H.A.T.E. is really funny. It is a nice take off from the seriousness of a lot of comics and graphic novels

[Sgraffito]

How about Don Wood's latest "Into the Volcano"[published by Scholastic.  I've always been a fan of Don and Audrey Wood.  I love "King BidGood's In the Bathtub", a favorite with everyone at my house.  It's great to see Don venture into the graphic novel genre.  "Into the Volcano" reminded me of his earlier work.  Very painterly and accessible.  It's a good story, too, set in Hawaii.   A lot of the graphic novels are geared towards older kids but this one is suitable for upper middle grades and junior high.

[Matthew Kirby]

Thanks for your replies. Is it known if graphic novels' popularity continues to rise, has levelled out or is declining?

Graphic novel sales in 2008 were only up 5% over the previous year (which is better than a lot of the publishing world right now) but that's the smallest increase in the last 5-10 years.  So, yeah, popularity continues to rise, but more slowly at the moment.  Interestingly, Manga sales were off 17% in 2008, a decline some attributed to the Twilight books stealing away of female, teenage readers.

Matt   

[Juliarts2003@yahoo.com Posts: 1,564 Status: Offline Truth, Puffin/Speak, 1/19/2012]

Swallow Me Whole by Nate Powell is really good. It won the Ignatz Award http://www.spxpo.com/ignatz.shtml in 2008 for best debut graphic novel.   http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?title=567&type=30

(side note - the author is a very good friend of my younger daughter and the main character is drawn based on another friend)

[novaren]

Here are my personal favorites (all adult) -- possibly very influenced from a couple former dayjobs in comics...

Arkham Asylum (the one by Grant Morrison)
Black Hole by Charles Burns
The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
Hellblazer, the early issues
Safe Area Gorazde by Joe Sacco
Sin City by Frank Miller
Y: the Last Man by Brian K Vaughan

And Maus I and II, of course.

Exciting about the mention of the Little Lit books too! Does everyone know about Toon Books, graphic novels for younger kids by the Little Lit publishers, Art and Françoise? http://www.toon-books.com