Graphic novels have leapt out of the shadows and into our spotlight this week! Our Belconnen Team have put together a great selection – perfect for first-time graphic novel readers and old hands alike.
Batman: Court of Owls written by Scott Snyder and art by Greg Capullo:
“Beware The Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadow perch, behind granite and lime. They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them or they’ll send The Talon for your head.”
All fairy tales start with some degree of reality. For Gotham City, the strange isn’t out of the ordinary. Following a ritualistic murder, The Dark Knight is lead down a strange path to discover that these nursery rhymes are based on the true pillars of Gotham. The seedy behind the scenes of Gotham’s leading families. Dark, strange and deeply compelling. It’s a detective novel in a superhero setting. Whether you are new to Batman and graphic novels or if you are seasoned comics reader and looking to start on Batman, this is a great point to jump on board. – Laurence (Store Manager)
Batman Adventures: Mad Love written by Paul Dini, art by Bruce Timm:
This is one of my all-time favourite graphic novels. It features Harley Quinn, The Joker and an assortment of Batman Villains. Included is the fantastic origin story of Harley Quinn, written by Paul Dini, with amazing art work by Bruce Timm. They had worked incredibly hard on Batman the Animated Series, and created Harley Quinn. Their love for her shows in the first comic- Mad Love, in which they pose the question “How far will you go to make someone love you?”
The other stories in the collection are a must-read. You see another side of Two-Face in Two of a Kind, with an unexpected twist as Harvey Dent strives for a normal life without the shadow of his former self. There is also a great holiday story featuring Barbara Gordon, Detectives Renee Montoya and Harvey Bullock (Why are there so many Harveys in Gotham?) and Clayface.
To quote Mark Hamill (who voices The Joker in Batman the Animated Series), it is “bold, lusty, gleefully demented”. – Karina (2IC)
Saga Volume 1 written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples: An intergalactic Romeo and Juliet-esque love story with a dash of nudity and gore. Not for the faint hearted, this comic tells the story of two soldiers from opposing sides of a never ending galactic war, who fall in love and must fight against the galaxy to ensure the safety of their newborn daughter. Often hilarious and at times heartbreaking, readers will be on the edge of their seats as the story plays out in beautifully illustrated and detailed full colour drawings. Told from the perspective of their daughter, we are able to glimpse snippets of the family’s adventures (and misadventures) as they grow and struggle to stay alive. If horned and winged creatures, armless spider ladies, bounty hunters and TV headed people are your thing, then Saga is sure to keep you entertained regardless of your species!
Will the star-crossed lovers succeed? Will their daughter live to see her next birthday? Start the saga and find out. Recommended for 18+ – Jessica
Attack on Titan written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama: Attack on Titan follows the story of a boy called Eren Yeager, his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman, and their friend Armin Arlert. After the outermost wall of their city is breached by the titans, human-like 15-60 metre tall skinless creatures. After his mother was killed during the attack, Eren vows for revenge against the titans. Attack on Titan was captivating, well written and kept me hooked the whole time, the artwork flows with the plot. The fact that this book is written the opposite way to your average novel didn’t change my love for the book; the main characters were relatable with deep personalities. The style of Attack on Titan was new to me and the story was fascinating, Eren’s ongoing journey of his revenge against the Titans thrills me to keep reading more. – Stella
Fatale: Death Chases Me written by Ed Brubaker, art by Sean Phillips: In the first of six volumes, Death Chases Me, we meet Nicolas who, until he meets Josephine, is living a normal life. She is the mysterious woman who, from the first moment, makes Nicolas act like a high school kid all over again. When Nicolas stumbles upon an unpublished manuscript of his late godfather, Dominic Raines, he must unravel the secrets it holds. From plane and car chases to supernatural beings, volume one sets to tone for what continues to be an exciting series. The artwork, done by the amazing Sean Phillips, provides the perfect visual story to Ed Brubaker’s narration. This story is an entertaining mixture of mystery noir, supernatural and adventure worked into a plot that leaves you wanting volume two immediately. – Jess
Avengers: The Origin written by Joe Casey, art by Phil Noto: As the name suggests this bad boy is a good place to start if, like me you haven’t really delved into the world world of comic books just yet. We see some recognizable faces though. classic Loki is there doing some low-key mischief making from his imprisonment on the Isle of Silence. Thor is also here for the party so is Ironman. Although his suit is in stark contrast to the one we see in the films. Antman and The Wasp are also on board to try and neutralize the hulk as he goes off on a rampage, classic Bruce Banner (his secret is he’s always angry). Earth’s heroes come to the rescue as a haphazard second choice to the Fantastic Four. Bummer but they can Avenge that, hey! There is also a healthy serving of sass to keep you going through the long nights. – Georgia
The Walking Dead written by Robert Kirkman, art by Tony Moore: Rick is a small town sheriff trying to bring law and order to a world of chaos. Having woken from a coma (more dazed and confused than Jimmy Page) Rick discovers that the outbreak of a deadly virus has given a whole new meaning to the term ‘fast food’.
Don’t be put off by the title if you aren’t as excited for blood as Kirkman’s zombies. The black and white art provided by Tony Moore shifts the focus away from brainless gore and onto character development. Kirkman uses this bleak post-apocalypse scenario to examine the human condition, questioning how far any of us would go for survival. The slim 114 page novel is surprisingly meaty and the characters are impressively fleshed out.
Don’t get me wrong there are plenty of blood and guts in the Walking Dead (Kirkman really puts the graphic into Graphic Novel) there’s just so much else to sink your teeth into. – Lachlan
New York Four written by Brian Wood, art by Ryan Kelly: The New York Four is a fantastic, engaging and humorous story. I enjoyed this graphic novel a lot! It had a good concept, realistic characters and amazing artwork. It’s a good graphic novel to try out if you don’t usually read them. It was super easy and fun to read and was totally captivating. Would definitely recommend this! – Paris
