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Graphic Novels and Comics for Adult Readers July 2018
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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. Header image from promotional materials for DC's Young Animals titles; art by Nick Derington
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Black AF: America's Sweetheart
by Kwanza Osajyefo et al
From the publisher: "Can a black woman be America's first superhero? Eli Franklin is a 15-year-old girl living in rural Montana-and she just happens to be the most powerful person on the planet. In the aftermath of the world learning that only black people have superpowers, Eli makes her debut as the superhero Good Girl, on a mission to help people and quell the fear of empowered blacks. When a super-terrorist threatens to take away everything Eli has worked toward, will donning a patriotic costume be enough for her to find acceptance? America's Sweetheart expands Black into a universe of heroes."
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X-men: Grand Design
by Ed Piskor
From the publisher: "Over six tumultuous decades, the X-Men have carved a singular place in comic book lore and popular culture. From their riotous birth in the '60s, to their legendary reboot in the '70s, to their attitude adjustment in the '90s, to their battle against extinction in the '00s, the X-Men have remained unquestionably relevant to generations of readers, the ultimate underdogs in an increasingly complicated world.
"Now, New York Times-best-selling author Ed Piskor (Hip-Hop Family Tree, Wizzywig) takes you on a pulse-pounding tour of X-Men history unlike anything you've ever experienced before, an intricate labor of love that stitches together hundreds of classic and obscure stories into one seamless masterpiece of X-Men lore."
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The Unbelievable Gwenpool 5: Lost in the Plot
by Chris Hastings and Irene Strychalski
From the publisher: "The comics-loving, fourth-wall-breaking heroine known as Gwenpool (A.K.A. Gwen Poole) is back in her most exciting adventure yet! Sure, masquerading as a super hero, fighting bad guys, and hanging out with her idols has been fun. However, in order to ensure her survival in the Marvel Universe, Gwen wants to take on the biggest and baddest baddies she can think of.."
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All the Answers
by Michael Kupperman
From the publisher: "In this moving graphic memoir, Eisner Award-winning writer and artist Michael Kupperman traces the life of his reclusive father—the once-world-famous Joel Kupperman, Quiz Kid. That his father is slipping into dementia—seems to embrace it, really—means that the past he would never talk about might be erased forever. [...]
"All the Answers is both a powerful father-son story and an engaging portrayal of what identity came to mean [during America's involvement in WWII], and shows how the biggest stages in the world can overcome even the greatest of players."
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Seth's Dominion
by Luc Chamberland and Seth
The documentary film Seth’s Dominion is an intimate and quirky portrait of the cartoonist behind It’s a Good Life, if You Don’t Weaken, Palookaville, and Wimbledon Green. Seth himself narrates most of this examination of his nostalgic world-building, including several cartoons adapted from his journals. Touching, funny, and unique in content and presentation. The DVD is presented in a book that collection some of Seth's comics through the years, as well as a scrapbook's worth of family photos and more. (Note: because of its unusual format, this film can be found in Adult Graphic Biographies, under SETH.)
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Abe Sapien
by Mike Mignola and company
Abe Sapien, Hellboy's oldest friend and best-loved coworker at the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, has his own harrowing adventures in these eight volumes of stories that weave the fish man in and out of the usual BPRD missions and disasters.
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Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye
by Gerard Way, Jon Rivera, and Micheal Avon Oeming
From the publisher: "Cave Carson was once the world’s greatest underground adventurer—but that was a long time ago. When he settled down with his wife, Eileen, to raise their daughter, Chloe, he traded the controls of his vehicle, the Mighty Mole Mark 1, for a desk and keyboard. Since then, Cave has led a quiet life—even with the constant distraction of his otherworldly cybernetic eye. "But when a sudden illness claims Eileen’s life, Cave’s tranquil existence is shattered—and he and Chloe soon find themselves hurtling down a terrifying tunnel of danger, discovery, mayhem and madness."
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Elektra: Assassin
by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz
Originally a supporting character in Miller's run on Daredevil, Elektra first came into her own with this beautiful, paranoid, violent, melodramatic story. Mixing martial arts, arcane magic, and political intrigue at S.H.I.E.L.D. and beyond, Elektra: Assassin is the perfect balance of silly superheroism and gritty realism that Miller has specialized in during his entire career, for better and worse, and it's a wonderful showcase for Sienkiewicz's uniquely compelling artwork. Bonus relevance points for its unsettling portrayal of a fictional president...
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Saturday, July 28, 2 p.m. Southwest Regional Library - 3605 Shannon Rd. Questions? Call John Davis at 919-560-0125 Join our MeetUp group at meetup.com/graphic-book-club Enjoy comic books or graphic novels? Join us for the monthly meeting of Main Library's Graphic Book Club. This month we're reading BRAND EXPRESSIONS! Check out some recommended titles above. Image: Spectacular Spider-Ham #12; art by Joe Albelo
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Ultimate Ladies Book ClubThursday, July 5, 7:30 p.m. Ultimate Comics Raleigh,1301 Buck Jones Rd, RaleighThe first Thursday of each month the Ultimate Ladies Alliance meets to discuss a different comic or graphic novel. Join the Ultimate Ladies’ Alliance on Facebook for more info and to vote on your top picks for the next month’s meeting, plus suggest books for future discussion and share your favorites. This month is Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones.
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Durham Comics Project: Drink & DrawWednesday, July 18, 7-9 p.m.This monthly meetup is for those new to comics and seasoned vets alike. The hardest part of making comics is often making the time to draw, so let’s make that time together! We'll have an exercise or two (often collaborative), but you're welcome to just come to work on your own thing.
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Raleigh Supercon July 27-29 Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St. in Raleigh The website says "Get ready for the most fun you’ll have all summer. Bring your friends or come with your family. Anyone at any age can find something to ‘geek-out’ about at Supercon." So yeah!
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The Duo's Comic Book Club Sunday, Aug. 5, 2:00 p.m.
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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:
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, Administration Building, 101 E. Morgan St., Durham, NC 27701
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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