Nelson City Council

A graphic novel is a literary comic book. It is a story that is told through artwork. Graphic novels have evolved over the years and encompass more than just the superhero stories. They also come in many genres: romance, classics, humour, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, fairy tales, and reality fiction.

Key Terms:

• Comics - Usually refers to the single issue paper-based books.
• Graphic Novels - The entire story illustrated in comic form. Usually a comic book series is bound together to make the complete story in this form.
• Anime - The Japanese word for animation. The term is used in English to describe the style of artwork/animation that is produced in Japan.
• Manga - The Japanese word for comics. Japanese "anime" styled comic book.
• Eisner Awards - An award given to the best comic book published that year.

Our titles include:

JLA: New World Order by Grant Morrison - Justice league America - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter--the world's greatest heroes, together again!

Elfquest  - Since the beginning of memory, elves and humans have been bitter enemies in this nameless, prehistoric world. Near the forest home of a tribe of elves called the Wolfriders dwells a band of humans who hunt and sacrifice elves.

Maus by Art Spiegelman - The story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a cartoonist who tries to come to terms with his father's terrifying story...

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

A frightening and powerful story of the loss of freedom and identity in a totalitarian world, the story takes place in an alternate future in which Germany wins WWII and Britain becomes a fascist state. A vigilante named "V" stalks the streets of London trying to free England. Readers must ultimately decide if V is a mad anarchist/terrorist or a freedom-fighting avenger for good.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This book opens with a family murder and quickly moves to a story about the only survivor, an 18-month-old baby, who escapes his crib and his house, and toddles to a nearby graveyard. Quickly recognizing that the baby is orphaned, the graveyard's ghostly residents adopt him, name him Nobody ("Bod"), and allow him to live in their tomb.