Our graphic novel collections are always being updated with the latest adventures of the Marvel and DC super powered set. You’ll find many different characters, ranging from the well-known like Hulk and Batman to the more obscure or newly added, like Spider-Gwen and Grayson. There is a gradual movement towards more diverse heroes, which can be seen in excellent and very well-reviewed series like G Willow Wilson’s Ms Marvel and decisions like making biracial Miles Morales the official Spider-Man in Marvel continuity. Taking risks with creative storytelling is also in vogue: check out Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye vol 2: Little Hits for an entire issue told from the perspective of his one-eyed Pizza Dog. While superhero movies are heavily biased towards showing adventures of male heroes, superhero comics offer many great girl and young woman heroes for teens to explore. Comics like Ms Marvel and Ryan North’s Unbeatable Squirrel Girl offer fresh and fun reads about empowered girl superheroes who live believably in today’s world. For those who prefer to read their comics online, we also have graphic novel issues from major publishers available through Hoopla for electronic download.
However, it’s not only Marvel and DC who are publishing super powered stories. Graphic novel publishing houses, like Dark Horse and First Second, have released lots of stories about heroes: try Battling Boy by Paul Pope or Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang. Even traditional publishers like Harper Collins are releasing books like Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, a graphic novel featuring a young shape shifter and her adventures trying to break into the evil villain game. This very original story has a medieval-esque setting with bits of the modern world mixed in and an unforgettable heroine rocking an amazing half-buzzed haircut and oceans of sass.
There has also been a huge boom in graphic novels for younger readers. From Marvel Universe series based on the Disney XD cartoons to ones featured de-aged versions of your favourite characters, like the Tiny Titans by Art Baltazar, there are plenty of kid-appropriate reads for young fans based on the heroes they know in our juvenile graphic novel collection. There are also tons of new heroes to meet, like Mike Maihack’s Cleopatra in Space and Ben Hatke‘s Zita the Spacegirl.
This week, our summer programming at the library has a real super side. Kids aged 7-12 can register for Super TOONdo on Monday, August 10 at Waverley Library to enjoy some great stories and create their own superhero comic book. On Thursday, August 13, kids aged 4-10 can join the Library Avengers by attending the Superhero Training Academy at Brodie Library. Choose a superhero alias and practice your super skills to graduate as an official member! Costumes are welcome at both these programs; pre-registration is required. Please visit our online calendar for more information about these programs and another upcoming opportunity for creative kids: Cartooning with John Tuokko on August 18.
Also, keep an eye out for the Bat signal - Batman Day is arriving at the County Park branch on September 26. Watch our Facebook page or online calendar at www.tbpl.ca/getinvolved for details!
Laura Prinselaar
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