Let's start with my favorite.
Kazu Kibuishi was actually integral to my development as a comics fan. He founded and continues to edit and organize the Flight series of comics anthologies, which showcase the work of indie comics creators, particularly in the genre of fantasy. But you'll find no steel bikini clad babe swinging swords i n these tomes; Flight caters to a more whimsical sort of fancy. These books were some of the first I read when I began my journey into comics nerdom, and Kibuishi's solo series, Amulet, has just as much charm and imagination as you could wish for!
First of all, as you can see from the covers, every page of Amulet is full of lush, jewel-toned illustrations. Kibuishi has a very unique and expressive cartooning style, and the entire series is full of fabulously creative character design. Seriously, more than most books, I give the art of Amulet an A+.
The story goes like this: Emily, her brother Navin, and their mother Karen have recently relocated to their late great-grandfather Silas' house. The family has been through a lot, so this is a fresh start for them. But of course, not all is what it seems in their new home. Karen is soon kidnapped by a tentacled beast, through a secret door, and dragged into a different dimension. Emily and Navin follow, and are soon swept up in the adventure of a lifetime!
They find themselves in the world of Alledia, a magical place with many unusual characters, sentient robots, and talking animal people. It turns out that Silas was deeply involved with Alledia, before his disappearance, and built his house as a gate from one world to the other.
In this world there exist powerful stones. Those that can wield them are able to harness these powers for their own use, and are called Stonekeepers. Emily is one such person. Using the power of her stone, she and Navin are able to save their mother. They then find that Alledia has been plunged into war, with the evil Elf King attempting to conquer the world, leaving a path of death and destruction behind him. Previously, the Guardian Council, a group of Alledia's most powerful stonekeepers, would have been tasked with protection of the realm, but the Council is no more. Now Emily, and other young stonekeepers like her are Alledia's only hope.
Amulet is very interesting in how it is written. It lives in the children's section because A) Emily and Navin are children and B) there is no graphic violence or cursing. But it is not dumbed down in the least. Alledia is a very engaging and innovative world, and Emily's transformation from a victim of circumstance to a powerful guardian is mesmerizing. Book 5 has just been released, and Book 6 will be coming next year. I'm not quite sure how many more books are left before the series' completion, but for now, I'm quite addicted.
Next!
For the past few years, Marvel has been releasing graphic adaptations of L. Frank Baum's legendary Oz series. Most people are only familiar with the first book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was the basis for the classic 1939 Judy Garland adaptation. In fact, Baum wrote 13 Oz books! So far, the hugely popular Eric Shanower and Skottie Young have adapted the first four (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, and Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz ), and they show no sign of slowing down.
I have never read anything else Mr. Shanower has written, but from what I can tell, these are pretty straight forward adaptations. What I can tell you is that Mr. Skottie Young, the artist, may well have been born for this project. His whimsical, sketchy, skewed drawing is a perfect fit for the fanciful creatures and locations of Oz. If you already love the world of Oz, these books are definitely a fantastic addition. And even if all you know about Oz is the movie, I still highly recommend these books. They might just surprise you. While the illustrations aren't scary enough to damage young readers, the books does not shy away from material censored in the film (like the grisly origins of the tin woodsman for example). What's more, there are tons of fun characters in all four books that are skipped in the movie. Definitely a recommended read for lovers of fairy tales and fantasy.
Next!
It would seem that fantasy is the breeding ground for intelligent children's comics.
Mouseguard, in general, is grittier and more realistic (talking mice aside) than either the Amulet or Oz books. The tone of the books is reminiscent of Arthurian legend and Robin Hood. Fans of the Redwall novels and The Hobbit should also take notice.
The premise is simple: for longer than any creature of the forest can remember, a society of noble mouse warriors have protected their kind. To be a member of the Mouseguard is a deep honor, and a life-long commitment. These are the tales of their most legendary members. Like knights, they must fight against evil in all its forms: invaders, monsters, intrigues, and treachery.
If the characters were depicted as human instead of mice, I think these books would easily find themselves in the teen section. They fight, often and without great odds; characters are hurt and killed. It is the sort of world that you can immerse yourself in, so much so that they have released a Mouseguard role-playing game. The artwork is detailed, understated, and quite beautiful too. Another perfect fit.
Next!
Ah, Bone. Truly a graphic classic. What starts as a silly romp reminiscent of Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck quickly escalates to an adventure of Tolkien quality. Much like Amulet, the world of Bone is all encompassing, with a rich and detailed history and mythology. Jeff Smith does a brilliant job of balancing comedy and tragedy, and above all else, this series places the virtues of friendship, loyalty, and bravery in the spotlight.
This is the story of the Bone cousins, greedy Phoncible P. "Phoney" Bone, goofy Smiley Bone, and everyman Fone Bone. Having been banished from their home of Boneville, the three bones quickly find themselves in the world of The Valley. Things seems good for awhile. Fone befriends the beautiful and kind Thorn, who lives in a cottage in the forest with her grandmother, the indomitable "Gran'ma Ben". But not all is right in The Valley, and a dark shadow stretching from the past threatens to devour their world. Now Fone and his coursins find themselves in a fight they never bargained for, where the consequences are life or death.
Honestly, at 9 official volumes, plus a prequel and a spin-off series, it would take me pages to break down the intricacies of Bone. This series is not for the faint of heart. It is engrossing and instantly addictive. Like many a fantasy classic before it, I predict that Bone's legacy will be around for a long, long time.
Next! (last!)
Our last entry is our first non-fantasy book. Smile is a fantastic slice-of-life comic that anyone can relate to. In it, the author details her tumultuous junior high years, made particularly difficult due to her many orthodontic difficulties. For anyone who can remember the strained awkwardness of being a tween, this book should be like a trip down memory lane. We house this book in both children's and the teen section, and I highly recommend it to any young girl who needs a bit of inspiration. I recommend it here, because unlike so many "girl drama" books, Smile is written honestly, and has a strong narrative structure. In my experience, there are two kinds of tween girl books: giggly, head-in-the-cloud books that reinforce the obsession with appearance, popularity, and romance, and books like this. Books that tell girls like it is. Books that look back with the wisdom of surviving and lend a supportive voice. Girls need more books like Smile.
Anyhow, that's all I have for right now. I strongly encourage all of my readers out there to not let age barriers define what you read. In fact, don't let any barriers define what you read, especially in regards to graphic novels. You never know what you love until you get out there and try it all.
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