Year's Best more

More suggestions from next week's presentation on Year's Best Graphic Novels 2008.

LOCKE & KEY, vol. 1 ADULT/YA 9781600102370

Joe Hill is the author of the novel Heart Shaped Box and the short story collection 20th Century Ghosts. What's not promoted is the fact that he is the son of Stephen and Tabitha King. Thank goodness the apple doesn't fall far from those trees. Locke & Key is an ongoing comic book series from IDW Publishing and focuses on the bizarre experiences of a family in a New England mansion called Keyhouse. Stunningly original artwork by Gabriel Rodriguez.

THE SWORD, vol. 1 ADULT/YA
9781582408798

Dara Brighton is a college girl whose life is changed forever when three strangers show up on her family's doorstep and demand a mystical sword. This event propels her into a dangerous quest. This is Volume 1 of an ongoing comic book series by The Luna Brothers (Joshua and Jonathan Luna, authors of Ultra and Girls).

THE ALCOHOLIC ADULT
9781401210564
Part quasi-autobiography and part stunning noir-realism, The Alcoholic is the story of Jonathan A. and the origin of his addiction to alcohol, the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse on his life and his eventual self-realization. Written by Jonathan Ames with art by Dean Haspiel. Published by DC Comics' Vertigo label.

THE TWELVE Adult/ YA

Yesterday’s Men of Tomorrow—Today! Thought lost to the pages of time, a dozen Mystery Men from the “greatest generation” of World War Two find themselves thrust into the morally-gray world of the 21st century!

ROBOT DREAMS YA/Juvenile
9781596431089
This moving, charming graphic novel about a dog and a robot shows us in poignant detail how powerful and fragile relationships are

THE ARRIVAL YA 9780439895293
Shaun Tan's stunning The Arrival chronicles -- in a wordless, wondrous pictorial narrative -- an immigrant's parting from his family and journey toward the future in a new land that is simultaneously ominous and hopeful.

ACHEWOOD: GREAT OUTDOOR FIGHT Adult 9781593079970
This handsome hardcover compilation of the popular Web comic Achewood follows the strip's most epic story arc and should win many new fans. When Ray Smuckles, a thong-clad anthropomorphic cat, discovers his father was a champion of the Great Outdoor Fight, a yearly competition held in Bakersfield, Calif., he decides to enter the nearly ruleless three-day fight.

TWILIGHT ZONE series ADULT/YA 9780802797131
This adaptation is a deliciously creepy reworking of the TV classic and offers a timeless slant on this tale. Equally engaging is The Odyssey of Flight 33 (9780802797186)

LOCAL ADULT/YA 9781934964002

Local brings together 12 issues of a comic book series reprinted as a hardcover graphic novel. Each of the twelve chapters are individual moments of Megan McKeenan's existence as she wanders from locality to locality in the United States, searching for her life. Brian Wood is the author of the critically acclaimed comic book series DMZ.

ZOT!: Complete B & W Collection, 1987-1991 ADULT/YA 9780061645129

Scott McCloud’s comic book series Zot! was originally published from 1984 to 1990 by Eclipse Comics.The first 10 issues are in color and, unfortunately, out of print. This volume, however, collects #'s 11 - 36, all of the black and white issues, and can be read as a self-contained story. Zot! is the story of Jenny and her friendship with a superhero from another world.