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Graphic Novels & Comics February 2015
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Greetings!My name is Patrick Holt, and I'm a librarian at Southwest Regional Library. I'm also 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.
Thanks and enjoy!
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Black Science Vol. 1: How to Fall Forever
by Rick Remender, Matteo Scalera, and Dean White
From Keith Dooley at Comics Authority: "Scientist Grant McKay, his crew, and his children discover there is no authority or stability when one is thrown from one dimension to another. There is only chaos. [...] One need not be fond of science fiction to read “Black Science”. It’s simply a great book with relatable characters, high concepts, and otherworldly dimensions just waiting to be explored and looked upon with astonishment. Family drama, scientific exploration, philosophical questions, and good old-fashioned action are mixed in a stew of a story that is not scientific at all: it’s just plain fun."
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An Age of License
by Lucy Knisley
Lucy Knisley (French Milk, Relish) returns with another travel journal, this time recounting a tour of Europe initiated by an appearance at a Scandinavian comics festival. Although a mixed bag for personal insights (some are welcome to the reader, some less so) Knisley's beautiful art continues to please and makes this reviewer eager for her upcoming book about time spent with grandparernts, Displacement.
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Captain Marvel : Higher, Further, Faster, More
by Kelly Sue Connick
From Doug Glassman at Collected Editions: "Numerous worlds are rebuilding from the Builders’ invasion [in Infinity] and untold billions of refugees are trying to find a place to start over. A stowaway in [Captain Marvel's] ship leads her into conflict with J’son of Spartax, the father of Star-Lord (at least until the next round of retcons). Carol and J’son had some major clashes during Infinity and the leader of the Spartax does not endear himself any further to her with his attempts to drive refugees off of what appears to be a poisonous planet. Despite the health hazards, the ragged coalition of survivors refuses to depart the one place they have left, and it’s up to one of the Avengers’ best brawlers to figure out a tense diplomatic situation. As you can imagine, diplomacy is not the answer.... After all these years, Marvel finally has their Wonder Woman, and she likes punching dinosaurs in the face. Life is good."
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I Was the Cat
by Paul Tobin and Benjamin Dewey
From the back of the book: "Allison Breaking is a talented journalist with her own blog and a lot of bills to pay. So when she receives an offer from a mysterious stranger named Burma to write his memoirs, it's an offer she can't refuse, not even with all the red flags popping up. But Burma is quite literally unlike any man Allison's ever known - because he's a cat! And this cat has stories to tell about how he (over the course of a few lifetimes) has shaped the world - and another, darker story that Allison must risk all to uncover... a story of what this particular cat has been doing with the LAST of his lives."
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Want more? Join in the discussion at Main Library's monthly Graphic Book Club!
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Omega: The Unknown
by Jonathan Lethem and Farel Dalrymple
The 1970s-era Omega: The Unknown was one of Marvel's weirdest series, remembered only by the rarest of comics fans, including, thankfully, novelist Jonathan Lethem. Lethem, himself a purveyor of weirdness, revives this story of an unusual boy who shares an inexplicable link with a silent, alien superhero. Cybernetic parents, a giant bipedal hand, and a marketing-obsessed "hero" named The Mink are just the beginning of this strange trip, illustrated with engaging texture and personality by Faryl Dalrymple, and featuring guest appearances by cartoonists Paul Hornschemeier and Gary Panter. Highly recommended.
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Ms. Marvel: No Normal
by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona
File under "Nontraditional, but hopefully not for long!" Back of the book says "Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City - until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, New York!"
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Sex Criminals vol. 1: One Weird Trick
by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky
This unexpectedly compelling (but unsurprisingly popular) story revolves around a pair of lovers who discover they have the power to freeze time by achieving orgasm, and, of course, use that power to go on a bank robbing spree. (To paraphrase the narrator: I know how it sounds, but don't judge.) Likably-flawed characters, enjoyable artwork, and more double entendre than you can handle make this a truly fun read. For adults. A truly fun read, for adults. (PS: Volume 2 is on its way!)
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Dial H. vol. 1: Into You
by China Miéville and Mateus Santolouco
Cory Doctorow (yes, that Cory Doctorow), writes about Dial H by China Mieville (yes, that China Mieville) at BoingBoing that Mieville's "prodigious imagination and wicked sense of humor are on fine display in the first collection... Mieville doesn't apologize for the fundamental absurdity of the premise. Instead, he turns it up to 11. And then he turns it up to 12... The hero is a morbidly obese ex-boxer in a ruined crime-town who discovers his dial attached to the town's last working payphone. By dialling it, he becomes a series of ever-weirder heroes, from Boy Chimney (a Dickensian goblin with a top hat that stretches to infinity who can strangle his opponents on thick, choking smoke) to Control-Alt-Delete (a CRT-headed underwear pervert who can reset reality to default) to Iron Snail (a roided out action hero who drags along an enormous, slime-squirting shell)... It's glorious stuff, bathos at its best as the humor of the various super-guises is juxtaposed on all the ponderous, unapologetic Lovecrafting bibble-babble."
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Saturday, February 21, 2 p.m. Main Library - 300 N. Roxboro St. 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 books about nontraditional superheroes!
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Saturday, January 31 from 4-7 p.m. Chapel Hill Comics, 316 W. Franklin St, Chapel Hill Over the course of a year, the Durham Comics Project sought submissions from the Durham community about “a moment in your life.” Now, those submissions have been compiled into the Durham Comics Project book, and several contributors will be at Chapel Hill Comics on January 31st to sign copies. Books and t-shirts will be on sale ($10) during the event, and you can also order books online from Amazon and Lulu. Sales benefit the Friends of the Durham Library.
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| Ultimate Ladies Alliance discuss Mara at Ultimate Comics |
Thursday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m. Ultimate Comics, 6120-A Farrington Rd., DurhamThe 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: Brian Wood's Mara.
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Color of Fandom Book Club Meets every month, alternating between comics and prose written by and/or featuring main characters who are people of color. February's title is Ms. Marvel: No Normal.
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Durham Comics Project: Drink & Draw Wednesday, Feb.18, 7-9 p.m. Saladelia, 4201 University Dr., Durham 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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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.
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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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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27702
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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