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Graphic Novels and Comics May 2016
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Hello there! 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.
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The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded
by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis
Another of Jim Ottaviani's excellent graphic biographies of scientists, this book follows Alan Turing from childhood to tragic death, and all his incredible contributions along the way. (Note: this work has no relation to the recent film of the same name -- the "Imitation Game" is an early nickname for what we generally refer to as a "Turing Test", a step on the way to human-level artificial intelligence.)
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The Private Eye
by Brian K Vaughan and Marcos Martin
From Slate: "In the post-Internet world of this colorful and relevant comic, every fear you’ve ever had about privacy, leaks, oversharing, and technology has come true [but] the anonymity that used to flourish on the Internet has been flipped: now everyone has multiple, masked secret identities (called nyms) in the real world, so they can live with a little of the freedom we enjoy (and abuse) on the web, [and] those masks—portrayed energetically by artist Marcos Martin and colorist Munsta Vicente—add drama to a murder mystery and a plot to bring back that wrecker of lives, the Internet. "The Private Eye offers the pulpy thrills of the best comics—secret identities, private investigators, and a villain with a rocket—while taking a serious look at the fear that our digital shenanigans will ultimately doom us."
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Jessica Jones: ALIAS
by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos
Thanks to the immensely popular television adaptation, this semi-lost classic is back in print! ALIAS follows Jessica Jones, a superhero who's given up being a hero in favor of a new career as a private detective. Harsh, beautiful, and unlike just about any other Marvel comic you've ever read.
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City of Clowns
by Daniel Alarcón and Sheila Alvarado
From the publisher: "Oscar 'Chino' Uribe is a young Peruvian journalist for a local tabloid paper. After the recent death of his philandering father, he must confront the idea of his father’s other family, and how much of his own identity has been shaped by his father’s murky morals. At the same time, he begins to chronicle the life of street clowns, sad characters who populate the violent and corrupt city streets of Lima, and is drawn into their haunting, fantastical world... With the city of Lima as a character, and the bold visual language from the story, City of Clowns is moving, menacing, and brilliantly vivid."
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Rat Queens: Sass & Sorcery
by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Laura Tavishati
From the publisher: "Who are the Rat Queens? A pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they're in the business of killing all god's creatures for profit. It's also a darkly comedic sass-and-sorcery series starring Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief. This modern spin on an old school genre is a violent monster-killing epic that is like Buffy meets Tank Girl in a Lord of the Rings world on crack!"
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Hedge Knight 1
by George R. R. Martin, Ben Avery and Mike Miller
From the publisher: "A century before the events of [Game of Thrones], a squire named Dunk picks up the sword and shield of his dead master and enters a tournament to begin his career as a knight. But 'Ser Duncan' has much to learn about this world of knights and nobles, and as he attempts to find a sponsor who will allow him to enter the tournament, he makes friends and enemies readily. Dunk is a capable fighter and has a strong sense of honor, but is that enough for him to become a true knight in the eyes of the others, or is he just a young man living a delusion and putting those he knows in grave danger?"
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Pretty Deadly, vol. 1: The Shrike
by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios
From the publisher: "Kelly Sue DeConnick (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) and Emma Rios (Dr. Strange, Osborn) present the collected opening arc of their surprise-hit series that marries the magical realism ofSandman with the western brutality of Preacher. Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her origin story is a tale of retribution as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage."
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Thor: The Goddess of Thunder
by Jason Aaron
From the publisher!!! "[The mighty hammer] Mjolnir lies on the moon, unable to be lifted! The secrets of Original Sin have left the God of Thunder unworthy for the first time! But when Frost Giants invade Earth, a new hand will grasp the hammer - and a mysterious woman will take up the mantle of the mighty Thor! Who is this new Goddess of Thunder? Not even Odin knows...but she may be Earth's only hope against the Frost Giants! Get ready for a Thor like you've never seen before, as this all-new heroine takes Midgard by storm! Plus: the Odinson doesn't like that someone else is holding his hammer...and now it's Thor vs. Thor!"
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Saturday, May 23, 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 FANTASY! Check out some recommended titles above.
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Ultimate Ladies Book ClubThursday, May 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. May's pick is DC Bombshells!
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Durham Comics Project: Drink & DrawWednesday, May 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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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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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, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27702
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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