Imagine that you’re a successful piano player with plenty of money, fame, and women. And you’re slowly turning into stone. Not turning into stone in the Fantastic Four way, but in the way that slowly crushes your organs and turns your blood into Jell-O. This the life of Frank Dare in Rock Bottom, as written by Joe Casey and Charlie Adlard. This is a deep comic. The story focuses on the emotional impact of what the characters are going through, like when Frank must revisit his troubled past in order to find answers that might save his life.

The line drawings of the pictures are only broken by Joe Dare’s transformation, which sets him apart from everybody else and adds to the tragedy of what is happening to him. The adult language and subject matter, especially in the beginning of the book, mean that this comic isn’t for everyone. Joe Dare is by no means a role model. But for those that are willing to look past what might make a man good or bad and instead what makes him human, this graphic novel is worth checking out.

This comic is recommended for Mature readers, ages 18 and up.

Whiteout (Vol. 1)

Whiteout is like a mix between The Hunt for Red October and CSI: Miami, with a dash of The Thing thrown in for good measure. US Marshal Carrie Stetko is exiled to Antarctica and charged with enforcing United States law at the bottom of the world.  And that’s when the bodies start piling up. Whiteout is a classic whodunit, developed by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber at the beginning of their careers. The series has been consolidated and republished by Oni Press. The simple–yet detailed–black and white drawings highlight the stark and unforgiving landscape that the story is set in. There are no men in tights or backpack helicopters in this one. Just a single US Marshal trying to do her job, seeking vindication in the process. A true classic of the genre.

This comic is recommended for Mature readers, ages 18 and up.

Lumbering. Rotting. Hungry. Zombies. In outer space? Yes, The Mammoth Book of Zombie Comics is filled with every type of zombie imaginable, from those that crank call their victims to, yes, space zombies from, well, outer space. Zombies have been popular in comics forever, but now are especially riding high on a wave of zombie books like World War Z and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. This collection of comics will introduce you to zombies that you will never see in the theaters. You’ll find 18 stories that cover a broad range of zombie themes: classic revenge fantasies, the last man on earth stories, and tales of people just trying to find friends—that happen to be dead. There are even (gulp) romance stories about zombies and the women who love them.  If zombie romance stories aren’t your cup of tea, then you’ll be happy to know that each story begins with a half page introduction so you can quickly skip to the chapters that you think are the most interesting. Most of the stories are only a few pages though, and they are all entertaining (if somewhat twisted). The diverse nature of this collection can’t be beat. So if you like your undead villains shambling and ugly, then this book is for you.

This book is recommended for TEEN readers, ages 16 and up.

Dark Wraith of Shannara, by Terry Brooks

Fans of classic fantasy have reason to be excited. Terry Brooks has gone back to the world of Shannara in graphic novel form. Dark Wraith of Shannara tells the story of the further adventures of Jair Ohmsford, last seen in The Wishsong of Shannara. This new book is crammed full of witches, magic, wolves, lizardmen, and romance (feel free to shut your eyes for the last part). It is a little confusing jumping into the book if you don’t know anything about the series, but the characters and action are introduced early in the book. The last section of the book gives a bonus insider’s look into how the novel was put together, with the addition of concept sketches for the major actors. Definitely a good read for any fantasy fan, or for anyone who wants to know how a graphic novel is put together.

This book is recommended for TEEN readers, ages 16 and up.

The Legend of Zelda, Vol. 1 and 2

If you (unrighteously) missed the famous video game classic “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” on the good ol’ Nintendo 64, then there’s still hope for you in the manga version of the “Game of the Century.” While staying true to the gaming roots, Himekawa adapts the original Ocarina of Time story into a sword-swinging comic worthy of its hero, crammed with the necessary fairy tale elements that charmed gamers to begin with. Just as the game progressed into two parts, so is the manga broken up into two volumes, one following child Link and the other, adult Link.

The manga is the perfect accompaniment for the gamers looking for more media with their favorite hero, but is still an enjoyable read for those who have never even heard of the game (for shame!). Kid-friendly while still engaging for teen readers, both volumes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are adventures of fantastic proportions.

Also don’t forget the original Zelda comic, which was published by Valiant after the original Zelda game.

This comic is recommended for Young readers, ages 10 and up.

With all these different media for the same story, it makes it easy for readers/viewers/gamers/etc to get immersed into their chosen obsession, and for readers to become viewers, and for viewers to become gamers, until no one is confined to a single world anymore.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya:Vol. 1

Not the average high school student, Haruhi Suzumiya is uninterested with ordinary humans and obsessed with finding aliens, espers (ESP-ers), and time travelers. In her quest for the supernatural, she is unaware that she herself is a supernatural entity, having the power to manipulate her surroundings to her liking. Unbeknownst to her are supernatural secret agents sent to keep an eye on her activities, who also just happen to be an alien, an esper, and a time traveler, which brings up the question, Are the agents there simply for surveillance, or because Haruhi has unconsciously used her powers to create them?

The answer is intentionally ambiguous, leaving room for arguments both ways and creating an amusing journey with Haruhi’s spicy personality.

This comic is recommended for Teen readers, ages 16 and up.

“There are few series in the publishing world that have been as impactful or successful as Cecily von Ziegesar’s Gossip Girl,” said Kurt Hassler, publishing director for Yen Press. “The novels have captured the imaginations of young women around the world, and we look forward to demonstrating with Gossip Girl: For Your Eyes Only that graphic novels as a medium can be just as welcoming to girls as it is to boys.” –Manganews.net

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