Comics and Graphic Novels in the spot light

Due to sad and disturbing recent events, the world of comic books, graphic novels and all visual literary media is in the spot light. So if you are curious and you want to read something from this genre here is some of those I read and recommend.

Asterix le goulois (French Comics)

« Nous sommes en 50 avant Jésus-Christ. Toute la Gaule est occupée par les Romains...Toute ? Non ! Car un village peuplé d'irréductibles Gaulois résiste encore et toujours à l'envahisseur. Et la vie n'est pas facile pour les garnisons de légionnaires romains des camps retranchés de Babaorum, Aquarium, Laudanum et Petibonum... »

— Légende de la carte de la Gaule ouvrant les albums d'Astérix1

Ce village gaulois d'Armorique résiste à l'envahisseur grâce à la potion magique préparée par le druide Panoramix, qui procure momentanément une force surhumaine à qui en boit. - Wikipedia

 

Reason for Dragons

Wendell, a high school outcast, lives a lonely, suburban existence, losing himself in books in order to avoid his distant, motorcycle-riding stepfather, Ted. When the school bullies convince Wendell to explore the long-abandoned Renaissance Faire grounds they all believe to be haunted, Wendell is surprised to find a man living in the barn. His new acquaintance seems the definition of crackpot, believing himself to be a medieval knight names Sir Habersham, tasked with the duty of slaying the dragon he insists is wandering the woods. But when Wendell starts hearing rumblings--and listening to Habersham's stories--he starts wondering if perhaps it could all be true. In a heartfelt coming-of-age story, Wendell must defy logic in order to follow his heart. - Goodreads

Sorcerers & Secretaries

Nicole Hayes sure likes to daydream and who can blame her? She studies a subject she has no interest in so she can satisfy her mother, and she works part time as a receptionist to satisfy her growing debt. But when she's alone with her notebook, she crafts a fantastic story and lets her imagination go-go-go! Meanwhile, her old neighbor Josh pines after Nicole's every step but just can't seem to snap her out of her daydreams and get her to notice him. If only he could see what it was she was dreaming about, maybe he could finally win her over. - Goodreads

Chroniques de Jerusalem (French- Canadian comic)

Guy Delisle et sa famille s’installent pour une année à Jérusalem. Pas évident de se repérer dans cette ville aux multiples visages, animée par les passions et les conflits depuis près de 4000 ans. Au
détour d’une ruelle, à la sortie d’un lieu saint, à la terrasse d’un café, le dessinateur laisse éclater des questions fondamentales et nous fait découvrir un Jérusalem comme on ne l’a jamais vu. - Goodreads

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Dark Horse  publishes a graphic novel series by Gene Yang that continues Aang's story after the Hundred Years' War. Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise, published in three volumes in 2012, is about the fate of the Fire Nation colonies that eventually become The Legend of Korra '​s United Republic. A second set of three comic books, Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Search, focuses on Zuko and Azula and the fate of their mother, Ursa.[65] The third set, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift, shifts the focus to Aang and the process of creating Republic City, as well as Toph's relationship with her family - Wikipedia

Manga Classics: Pride and prejudice

Beloved by millions the world over, Pride & Prejudice is delightfully transformed in this bold new manga adaptation. All of the joy, heartache, and romance of Jane Austen’s original, perfectly illuminated by the sumptuous art of manga-ka Po Tse, and faithfully adapted by Stacy E. King.UDON’s Manga Classics line features classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions. - UDON Entertainment 

And of course not to forget the manga world - Japanese comics- that have a different feel although they share the same medium with comic books here are some of my favorites

Naruto

Twelve years ago, the powerful Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked the ninja village of Konohagakure. The demon was quickly defeated and sealed into the infant Naruto Uzumaki, by the Fourth Hokage who sacrificed his life to protect the village. Now Naruto is the number one knucklehead ninja who's determined to become the next Hokage and gain recognition by everyone who ever doubted him! - Manga Updates

Fruits Basket

Tohru Honda, an orphaned high-school girl, is taken in by the wealthy Shigure Sohma when he realizes she has nowhere else to go. However, the Sohma family shares a secret, and it isn't long before Tohru discovers that there's a reason why her classmates, Yuki and Kyo Sohma, never let girls get near them, and never talk about their lives before they lived with Shigure. And before she knows it, Tohru has become so tangled up in the lives of each member of the Sohma family that she couldn't leave even if she wanted to.
As she learns more and more about the truth of the Sohma family and the nature of their secrets, she desperately searches for a way that she can save them. But what can one girl do, especially when it seems that she may have been part of someone's plan all along . . .
Fruits Basket received the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award in the shoujo manga category and the "Best Manga" award at the 2007 American Anime Awards. - Manga Updates

Cat street

The story centers around Keito Aoyama, a former famous child actor. Due to a childhood incident, she retired from her career early and withdrew from normal society. Now 16, she passes her days in boredom and without purpose. But one day she runs into a stranger who takes her to El Liston--a free school for high school students like herself, who don't have a place where they belong. Though hesitant at first, Keito decides to enter El Liston and subsequently, she begins a new stage in her life. With the help of her only remaining childhood friend, Taiyou, and her new classmates Rei, Momiji, and Kouichi, Keito slowly finds the courage to open up to others and to accept their support. Will Keito return to acting? Will she find true friends? Love? - Manga Updates

Anatolia Story

Yuri, a modern day teenager who had just received her first kiss, is suddenly whisked away to ancient Anatolia where an evil queen wants her for a blood sacrifice. Luckily, the timely intervention of Prince Kail saves Yuri from the queen's grasp. For now. Kail promises to send Yuri back to her home, but the queen's persistent schemes to kill them both, plus their growing interest in each other, keep those plans delayed. - Manga Updates

100%  perfect girl (Korean Manga - Manhwa)

Jay Jin is the headstrong teenage rebel, determined to prove she's serious about making art. J. Max is the tall debonair foreigner, in Korea on business, with more--much more--to his background than he lets on. On the surface, it would seem as though Jay and J. have nothing in common... until a chance encounter in a hotel lobby sparks a mysterious attraction. Will true love prove strong enough to overcome the language barrier, not to mention the thousands of miles separating two attractive people? Then there are the interventions of friends and family who think they know best... as well as a disastrous encounter with spicy chicken kebab! - Manga Updates