Adult Graphic Novel Reviews

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:55

Frequently Asked Questions - Reader Services

Graphic novels for adults are now available from the Pioneer Library System. This popular format can be found in the library catalog by searching for Adult Graphic Novel Collection. Be sure to check the shelving location or place a hold to have it delivered to your hometown library to check it out.

In selecting books for this new collection, we used references such  as Stephen Weiner’s The 101 Best Graphic Novels and talked to experts at local comic book stores; many titles were requested by customers and staff. The collection contains a range of genres, such as fantasy, humor, science fiction, horror, historical fiction, and biographies. We  will be adding new titles every month.

To help get you started reading graphic novels, written for adults, our staff have reviewed some that you might find interesting.

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzuccheli
Staff Reviewer: Kirsten Walker, Norman Public Library

Asterios Polyp is not the first graphic novel I have read, but it is by far one of the best. It tells the story of Asterios himself—a twin, husband, and theoretical architect who has retreated into the messy cavern of his apartment, drunk and half-illuminated by the light of his TV. However, a bolt of lightning literally sparks his renewal from the ashes of his old life, and Asterios sets out on a journey that takes him through his past and into his future.

The illustrations are stunning—coldly precise architectural renderings, fluidly rendered dream sequences, and my favorite: a small, delicate drawing that measures the length of a car ride by yarn stitches. The subtle blending of perspectives that occurs as Asterios, a meticulous advocate of form, falls in love with his soft-spoken, artistic wife Hana is a beautiful and moving way to represent how we fit our lives around each other and what happens when those lives fall apart.

Asterios Polyp is definitely a novel for adults. There is frequent strong language and mature images, but they fit the story. This novel is a beautiful, intimate look at redemption, mistakes, and what the sum total of our life adds up to be. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys literature, comics, or reading in general. If you like Asterios Polyp, you might also enjoy The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon or Stitches by David Small.

Fables: 1001 nights of snowfall by Bill Willingham
Staff Reviewer: Adri Edwards-Johnson, Pioneer Library System

For anyone dipping their toe into adult graphic novel reading for the first time – you can’t go wrong with the Fables Series. The best title to start with in the series is 1001 nights of snowfall. 1001 nights is a prequel to the Fables series created by Bill Willingham. Much like the rest of the series, several illustrators help bring these tales alive. It’s a wonderful introduction to the Fables world and doesn’t require you to read any of the other titles in the series.

1001 nights finds Snow White traveling to the land of Arabian fables to act as an envoy, while there she inadvertently offends them. To keep from being executed Snow White assumes the role of Schehrazade (the Queen who told the original One Thousand and One Nights stories). Snow White tells the back story of many of the most famous Fables, including Prince Charming, the Big Bad Wolf, Frog Prince, the Witch from Hansel & Gretal , old King Cole and even Snow White herself. These retellings of classic characters we’ve all grown up with is delivered with adult content but done so in an amazing way. I actually found myself reading exchanges between characters aloud to my husband (who ended up reading the book after I was done).

My favorite thing about this title (actually the entire series) is that once you’ve read it - you’ll never look at the Disney telling of classic fables the same way.

Persepolis: Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Staff Reviewer: Kate Lyon, Readers Center

Marjane Satrapi uses simple black and white comic strip images to tell the story of her childhood in Tehran, from ages 6 through 14. During this time, she witnessed the overthrow of the Shah, the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and the Iran-Iraq war. Through Marji’s depictions of her daily life, we see how she and her family lose the freedoms they were used to, beginning with girls being forced to wear veils at school; they also lost family members, friends, and neighbors. Marji’s Marxist parents first welcomed the overthrow of the Shah but soon found the new regime even more repressive than the last. Surprisingly, they still managed to have secret parties and alcohol. Marji, like many teenagers, was rebellious and liked to listen to pop music and wear western clothes, which got her in trouble with the authorities.

Persepolis received rave reviews and won numerous awards in Europe. If you haven’t read a graphic novel before, this one might be a good one to start with. It’s a quick read, it’s educational and is at times funny but also sad. There is also a sequel, Persepolis 2: the story of a return, and a movie available on DVD. Persepolis is classified as an adult graphic novel, but is also recommended as suitable for older teens by School Library Journal.

Sleeper Season One and Season Two by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Staff Reviewer: Kevin Mix, Pioneer Library System

Sleeper is the story of Holden Carver who was already a super secret black ops team leader before being fused with an alien artifact. This mysterious artifact has given him accelerated healing and the ability to redirect pain through touch. A side effect of this ability is a complete lack of feeling. Holden cannot physically feel anything anymore and as you can imagine this affects his psychological state. Holden has infiltrated a group of super terrorists under orders from his former leader, and unfortunately for him, his commander is in a coma. He is in such deep cover no one else knows he is not a murderous traitor.

As the story plays out all the characters are constantly trying to stay ahead of each other resulting in a great thrill ride for the reader. Your expectations are flipped and crossed, double crossed, and triple crossed as the story unfolds, loyalties shift, and everyone hurtles towards the surprisingly satisfying conclusion. The style of the narrative is a cross between black comedy, noir, and the Bourne movies.

Sleeper is recommended for adult fans of gritty spy thrillers with a little science fiction and a heaping helping of super powered sex and violence.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Staff Reviewer: Leanne Cheek, Moore Public Library

Graphic novels are becoming more and more popular with readers today. There are graphic novels for all ages, even adults, and one of the most pivotal is Watchmen. Watchmen is a graphic novel that changed the face of comic books and can now be found in the hands of college students as required reading in some literature courses.

Watchmen follows the lives of a group of crime fighters, Crimebusters, during the 1940’s and 1960’s in an alternate history of America. The heroes of the story are mostly made up of regular humans who put on costumes and fight crime. One hero actually has superpowers and aids America in defeating Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

As someone begins to kill the retired members of Crimebusters, the story revolves around the remaining heroes as they try to uncover the identity of the killer. While the events unfold, the weight of an impending nuclear war with the Soviet Union is crushing down on Americans.

Watchmen can be read as a critique on the superhero genre with its heavy symbolism and themes of arms control, nuclear threat and vigilantes. Or, the book can be read as an artfully drawn graphic novel about subterfuge, revenge, crime fighting, romance and more. Either way you read it this is a book that can’t be missed.

Watchmen recently was adapted into a major motion picture which can also be found at the library on DVD!

Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher (Ardian Syaf, illustrator)
Staff Reviewer: Aaron Pence, Moore Public Library

Jim Butcher's bestselling Dresden Files series has moved into comic books with Welcome to the Jungle. You'll notice, that not “graphic novels” but “comic books”; as Butcher himself explains in his introduction, he doesn't think the term is derogatory and certainly thinks it applies here. The art of the book is detailed and has lots of movement, with dark colors and heavy lines; just the sort of modern comic style you'd expect in a book by a self-described “comics kid”.

The writing has all of Butcher's unique and characteristic noir flair; the hard-nosed, profit-drawn detective, the grim setting with vibrant flashes, the acceptably everyday spells and monsters. It also manages, despite the obvious restrictions on the amount of word-space, to keep an exciting pace, just like the books. It is considerably (and unsurprisingly) shorter than the books; Butcher is forced to lose a lot of the tension-building he's so good at in the name of keeping it to comic-book length. I should say that, personally, I was disappointed with the depiction of Harry Dresden; you lose all the room of imagination when a character gets limited by an actual physical appearance, and I've gotten pretty attached to my (now incorrect) vision of the detective.

Recommendation-wise, if you're a fan of the Dresden Files, I won't point you towards Welcome to the Jungle. Butcher's storytelling rhythms and ear for conversation, as well as his clever characterizations and manipulations of the standard fantasy catalog, can't be replaced by some explosive drawings. But, if you're a fan of the genre, or haven't enjoyed Butcher's work yet, dive right in; you'll be captivated by the premise, swept up in the witty repartee, and entertained by this easy and enjoyable read.