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Picture This: New Adult Graphic Novels

Staff Recommendations, ,

If you haven’t been to the Germantown Community Library lately, you’re missing out—especially if you’re into graphic novels. We’ve recently added a whole bunch of new adult graphic novels to our collection, and we’re pretty excited about it! Whether you’re a long-time graphic novel fan or just starting to explore this medium, there’s something for everyone. These new books feature stunning art, great stories, and, in some cases, fresh takes on classic literature. So, if you’re looking for something to read that’s a bit different, come check out what we’ve got.  From well-loved classics to thought-provoking stories, these books offer a fun and engaging way to experience some powerful narratives.

Why Graphic Novels?

So, why graphic novels? Well, if you haven’t picked one up in a while (or ever), they’re not just comics and they’re not just for kids. Graphic novels are a great way to experience stories with a whole new perspective. The combination of visuals and text makes for a uniquely immersive experience that can make the characters, settings, and emotions feel that much more real. Plus, the art adds a layer of depth that you don’t always get with traditional novels. Whether it’s an epic battle, a quiet moment of reflection, or just the little details in the background, the visuals make the story pop in a way that words alone can’t always do.

Graphic novels also make it intriguing to dive into some of the heavier stuff—like classic literature or complex themes—because they break everything down visually, making the whole experience more accessible. And, let’s be honest, they’re just a lot of fun to read. I particularly love picking up a graphic novel adaptation of a classic novel to see if the artist’s visualization of the story was anywhere close to the scenes in my mind’s eye. So, if you’re looking for something new and exciting to read, grab one of these graphic novels from our library, and you might just find that reading has never been so enjoyable.

Some of Our Most Popular Adult Graphic Novels:

  • Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman
  • Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir by Roz Chast
  • They Called Us Enemy by George Takei , Justin Eisinger , et al.
  • Alice in Borderland series by Haro Aso
  • Blacksad and Blacksad: They All Fall Down series by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido
  • Chainsaw Man series by Tatsuki Fujimoto
  • The Yellow Wall-Paper: A Graphic Novel by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Sara Barkat
  • Godzilla: World of Monsters by John Layman , Cullen Bunn, et al.
  • The Night Eaters by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
  • The Hobbit: An Illustrated Edition of the Fantasy Classic by Chuck Dixon , J. R. R. Tolkien , et al.

Some Titles Recently Added to our Adult Graphic Novel Collection:

  • The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Cormac McCarthy and Manu Larcenet
  • The Iliad: A Graphic Novel and The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
  • Blankets by Craig Thompson
  • To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel by Harper Lee and Fred Fordham
  • The Human Target 1 & 2 by Tom King
  • DUNE: The Graphic Novel series by Frank Herbert , Brian Herbert , et al.
  • Poe: Stories and Poems: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
  • The Hidden Life of Trees: A Graphic Adaptation by Peter Wohlleben , Fred Bernard, et al.
  • Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
  • Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
  • Lore Olympus series by Rachel Smythe

Comics Aren’t Just for Kids: Adult Graphic Novels And You!

Staff Recommendations, Staff Writer, , , ,

Welcome to the wonderful world of adult graphic novels! Maybe you’ve heard that graphic novels “aren’t real books” or are “for kids”.

Well, as an adult, I’m here to dispel some rumors. First off, there are graphic novels for kids, just like there are cartoons for kids. In that same vein, there are graphic novels for adults!

Just like I wouldn’t show a child Attack on Titan or The Simpsons. Or Archer.

Sometimes (a lot of times actually), graphic novels can show some dark themes, and shows them visually. There’s horror graphics, action graphics, graphics about war, depression, and more mature themes that appeal to adults.

Things can be more than one thing! I mean, the Marvel Comics have had a huge impact on the Blockbuster movie circuit for the past decade, and those are all, yep, GRAPHIC NOVELS!

Graphic Novels, comics, manga, they all fall into the same category. “Books with a lot of pictures.” But just because a book has pictures doesn’t mean it’s not REAL reading. Some of the best stories I’ve ever read have come from graphic novels. And, yeah, they’re taken seriously has a medium. The reason I know that is because a lot of really good, NOT AIMED AT CHILDREN movies and TV shows came from comics and graphics. The Walking Dead! V for Vendetta! Scott Pilgrim vs The World! All of these an MANY more came from graphic novels and comics.

Bottom line is graphic novels are for everybody, and there’s something out there for everyone. It’s a great genre where beautiful illustrations and great stories combine into a wonderful morsel of entertainment for you, the reader. And YES. It is reading. Even if there’s pictures.

Want to know more? We made a video about it!

Do you have graphics recommendations? Donations? Questions?
Email me: ssiebers@germantownlibrarywi.org

Read cool books!

Shannon S.
Youth Service Specialist
Adult Graphic Novels Collection Manager