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Graphic Novels and Comics for adult readers November 2020
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Hello there! My name is Patrick Holt, and I'm a librarian at Southwest Regional Library and a lifelong reader of comics and graphic novels. Check out the contents of this month's newsletter in the box to the left, and get access to past editions in the archive at the bottom of the page. I hope you find these recommendations worthwhile, and please email me at pdholt@dconc.gov if you have any thoughts or questions. Image from Glacial Period by Nicolas De Crécy
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Basketful of Heads
by Joe Hill and Dave Stewart
From the publisher: "June Branch [is] trapped with four cunning criminals who have snatched her boyfriend for deranged reasons of their own. Now she must fight for her life with the help of an impossible 8th-century Viking axe that can pass through a man's neck in a single swipe-and leave the severed head still conscious and capable of supernatural speech. [...] Each disembodied head has a malevolent story of its own to tell, and it isn't long before June finds herself in a desperate struggle to hack through their lies and manipulations...racing to save the man she loves before time runs out." Also available on Hoopla
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Happiness Will Follow: A Graphic Novel Memoir
by Mike Hawthorne
From the publisher: "Mike Hawthorne's mother is left alone to raise her son in New York City, a city that torments them both with its unforgiving nature. But when Mike falls victim to an old world Santeria death curse, a haunting sign from the old country of something his mother could never truly escape --she begins a series of events that drive him away both physically and emotionally. [This is a] true and tragic story of enduring abuse, discovering a love of art, and a passion that helped him to build the home he never had in this graphic novel memoir about family, survival, and what it means to be Puerto Rican in America." Also available on Hoopla.
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The Times I Knew I Was Gay
by Eleanor Crewes
From the publisher: "Ellie always had questions about who she was and how she fit in. As a girl, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and found dating boys much more confusing than many of her friends did. As she grew older, so did her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters, and everyday courage, Ellie tells her story through gorgeous illustrations--a fresh and funny self-portrait of a young woman becoming herself"
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Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band
by Christian Staebler and Sonia Paolini
From the publisher: "Brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas were talented Native American rock musicians that took the 1960s Sunset Strip by storm. They influenced The Doors and jammed with Jimmy Hendrix before he was 'Jimi', and the idea of a band made up of completely Native Americans soon followed. Determined to control their creative vision and maintain their cultural identity, they eventually signed a deal with Epic Records in 1969. But as the American Indian Movement gained momentum the band took a stand, choosing pride in their ancestry over continued commercial reward. [...] Part biography and part research journalism, Redbone provides a voice to a people long neglected in American history."
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Blue in Green
by Ram V. and Anand Rk
From the publisher: "The dark and haunting portrayal of a young musician's pursuit of creative genius-the monstrous nature of which threatens to consume him as it did his predecessor half a century ago. Blue In Green is an exploration of ambitions, expectations, and the horrific depths of their spiraling pursuit."
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Monkey Vs. Robot: The Complete Epic
by James Kochalka
From the publisher: "Creator James Kochalka and Top Shelf Productions celebrate the 20th anniversary of this timeless epic with a jaw-dropping deluxe collection! Both of the original black & white graphic novels, Monkey Vs. Robot and Monkey Vs. Robot and the Crystal of Power, have been fully colored by James Kochalka for this edition! Kochalka completes the trilogy with a brand-new graphic novel appearing here for the first time, Monkey Vs. Robot in Love. That's right, this book has it all… brutal combat and tender moments alike. It's a modern-day fable for adults and kids, based on the age-old struggle between nature and technology."
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Glacial Period
by Nicolas De Crécy
Part of a series of comics commissioned by the Louvre, this story follows adventuring archaeologists in an ice-bound, distant future as they explore the remains of (our) contemporary France. A treasure trove of art awaits them beneath the snow, but what does it all mean? Quirky, thought-provoking, and sweet, and highly recommended too! Also available on Hoopla.
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Daybreak
by Brian Ralph
From the publisher: "You wake up in the rubble and see a ragged, desperate one-armed man greeting you. He takes you underground to a safe space, feeds you, offers you a place to sleep. And then announces that he'll take the first watch. It's not long before the peril of the jagged landscape has located you and your newfound protector and is scratching at the door. What transpires is a moment-to-moment struggle for survival [...] seen through the eyes of a silent observer as they follow their protector and run from the shadows of the imminent zombie threat." (Also, NOTHING like the Netflix series that ostensibly adapts it.)
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Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower
by Damian Duffy and John Jennings
From the publisher: "In the year 2024, the country is marred by unattended environmental and economic crises that lead to social chaos. Lauren Olamina, a preacher's daughter living in Los Angeles, is protected from danger by the walls of her gated community. However, in a night of fire and death, what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: a startling vision of human destiny . . . and the birth of a new faith." Also available on Hoopla.
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Patrick's Triangle Comics Newsletter is an irregular and incomplete list of comics and comics-adjacent happenings in Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill and beyond. If you are a comics maker, maker-adjacent, a maker of comics-adjacent things, or adjacent-adjacent, then this is the newsletter for you! Check out the latest edition here, and email the editor (me again) to subscribe.
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Do you know a kid (6-12) or teen who wants their very own Graphic Novels and Comics newsletter? Well now they do! Both newsletters are bi-monthly, and you can view and subscribe at our full list of newsletters. Tell your friends! And your kids!
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply with a list of the next five books you should read -- all ages of readers welcome!
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Want to keep up-to-date on new books at the library? on everything from Horror to Home & Garden!
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NoveList Plus is a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. DCL cardholders can access NoveList Plus from any computer.
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Check out the library's top ten checkouts! Lists include top tens for adult fiction and nonfiction, movies, young adults fiction, picture books and kids' fiction.
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Links to newsletters from the past year: Image from Incidents in the Night by David B
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, 300 N. Roxboro St., Durham, NC 27701
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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