HomeDiscoverArticles17 mesmerising graphic novels17 mesmerising graphic novels8 October 2018·min read·2· From the inimitable Maus to the tragicomic Persepolis, these graphic novels are captivating depictions of real-world situations. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Illustrated by Fred Fordham One of the world’s favourite novels is retold for a new generation to enjoy, in a captivating new medium. A haunting depiction of the societal struggles of the Deep South in the ‘30s, Harper Lee’s tale remains as important today as when it was originally published. Fred Fordham’s adaptation captures the magic, and sentiment, of Lee’s moving story with ease through wonderfully vivid illustrations. Fans of the original, and new readers, will be touched by this special visual homage. The Complete MAUS by Art Spiegelman This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has been described as 'the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust'. It tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a cartoonist coming to terms with his father's story. Vladek's traumatising tale of survival is layered into the author's account of his tortured relationship with his father. Created by the inimitable Art Spiegelman, MAUS is a haunting tale set within a tale. This combined, definitive edition includes Maus I: A Survivor's Tale and Maus II. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home and public life. Satrapi, the intelligent and outspoken child of radical Marxists, and the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor, bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. This is a beautiful and intimate story full of tragedy and humour – it’s raw, honest and incredibly illuminating. Mysteries of the Quantum Universe by Thibault Damour and Mathieu Burniat Quantum physics in comic form may be considered slightly leftfield, but this masterfully created book boasts a professor of theoretical physics at the helm. Navigating the complexity of the subject with expert precision and playful charm, Mysteries of the Quantum Universe charts the explorations of explorer Bob and his dog Rick as they travel through the quantum universe show them the greatest wonders they've ever seen. This tale successfully makes physics fun, easy to understand and downright enchanting. The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins On the buttoned-down island of Here, all is well. By which we mean: orderly, neat, contained and, moreover, beardless. Or at least it is until one famous day, when Dave, bald but for a single hair, finds himself assailed by a terrifying, unstoppable… gigantic beard. Where did it come from? How should the islanders deal with it? And what, most importantly, are they going to do with Dave? Ghost World by Daniel Clowes Ghost World is the story of the complicated relationship of Enid and Rebecca, two teenage friends facing the unwelcome prospect of adulthood, and all that comes with it. Clowes conjures a balanced semblance, both tender and objective, of their fragile existence, capturing the mundane thrills and hourly tragedies of a waning adolescence, as he follows a tenuous narrative thread through the fragmented lives of these two fully-realised young women. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel This moving and darkly humorous family tale, which is pitch-perfectly illustrated with Alison Bechdel's gothic drawings, went on to become a musical. Switching between childhood memories, college life and present day - and dancing through a narrative that is equally heartbreaking and fiercely funny - Alison looks back on her complex relationship with her father and finds they had more in common than she ever knew. Palestine by Joe Sacco In late 1991 and early 1992, at the time of the first Intifada, Joe Sacco spent two months with the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, travelling and taking notes. Upon returning to the United States he started writing and drawing Palestine, which combines eyewitness reportage with the medium of comic-book storytelling. He captures the heart of the Palestinian experience in image after unforgettable image, with great insight and remarkable humour. The nine-issue comics series won a 1996 American Book Award. Here it appears in one volume, befitting its status as one of the great classics of graphic non-fiction. Driving Short Distances by Joff Winterheart Sam is 27 and needs a job. Keith, who claims to be a second cousin of his (absent) father, offers him one. On Keith’s card it says he does ‘distribution and delivery’, which seems to consist of ‘a lot of driving around, getting out of the car for a few minutes and then getting back in’. And so the days go by, Keith driving to a trading estate, ducking into a Portakabin, all the while telling Sam stories about his first boss, Geoff Crozier, his mentor in distribution and delivery. As the weeks pass, Sam gets to know Keith’s friends and a few tantalising secrets from Keith’s past. Joff Winterhart is a master at depicting ordinary life in all its utterly poignant and funny mundanity. Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes by Mary M Talbot and Bryan Talbot Part personal history, part biography, Dotter of Her Father's Eyes contrasts two coming-of-age narratives - that of Lucia, the daughter of James Joyce, and that of author Mary Talbot, daughter of the eminent Joycean scholar James S. Atherton. Social expectations and gender politics, thwarted ambitions and personal tragedy are played out against two contrasting historical backgrounds, evoked by the atmospheric visual storytelling of award-winning comic artist and graphic novel pioneer Bryan Talbot. Produced through an intense collaboration seldom seen between writers and artists, Dotter of Her Father's Eyes is intelligent, funny and sad. Heimat by Nora Krug Laden with photography, handwritten letters and beautiful drawings, Heimat in an invitation to view author Nora Krug’s past as a second generation German struggling with her country’s role in the Second World War. A deeply affecting exploration of legacy, this personal, visual memoir documents how the actions of a previous generation, can affect the present. Lyrically told, Heimat is a powerful meditation on the search for cultural identity, and the meaning of home. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Illustrated by Renée Nault Despite being first published in 1985, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has become an allegory for our times. Provocative, startling, prophetic, and more relevant than ever, it’s a global phenomenon. Now, in this stunning graphic novel edition of Margaret Atwood's modern classic featuring arresting artwork by Renée Nault, the terrifying reality of Gilead is brought to vivid life like never before. The Handmaid's Tale and its iconic images - the red of the Handmaids, the blue of the Wives, the looming Gileadean Eye - have been adapted into a film, an opera, a ballet, and a multi-award-winning TV series. Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Anne Frank, Illustrated by David Polonsky In the summer of 1942, fleeing the horrors of the Nazi occupation, Anne Frank and her family were forced into hiding in the back of an Amsterdam warehouse. Barely a teenager when she entered the secret annexe, Anne kept a diary in which she confided her innermost thoughts and feelings, revealing how the eight people living under these extraordinary conditions coped with the daily threat of discovery and death. The first graphic adaptation of the world renowned text is a fantastic tribute to the original diary, and offers a timely nod to the evils of racist and fascist ideals. The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua Packed with comic capers, delightful drawings and a bit of historical geekery, The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage transforms one of the most compelling scientific collaborations into a riotous set of adventures. Featuring two of London’s greatest minds, Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, this engrossing alternate reality depicts what would have happened if history had gone ever so slightly differently. There is added crime fighting and bonus ray guns, of course. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware This wonderful book was the first graphic novel to win a major British literary prize. It’s the tragic autobiography of an office dogsbody in Chicago who one day meets the father who abandoned him as a child. With its subtle and moving story, and drawings that are as simple and original as they are strikingly beautiful, Jimmy Corrigan is a book unlike any other. Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds The graphic novel behind the film of the same name, Gemma Bovary is the story of the bored pretty second wife of Charlie Bovery, the reluctant stepmother of his children and the bête-noire of his ex-wife. Gemma's sudden windfall and distaste for London take them across the Channel to Normandy, where the charms of French country living soon wear off. Is it a coincidence that Gemma Bovery has a name rather like Flaubert's notorious heroine? Is it by chance that, like Madame Bovary, Gemma is bored and adulterous? Is she doomed? Pyongyang by Guy Delisle Renowned for his travelogue style graphic novels, the Canadian cartoonist and animator has created an accessible insight into one of the world’s most inaccessible countries, North Korea, in Pyongyang. From the propaganda of the Communist dynasty to the grim daily regime, while documenting the austere lifestyle of its inhabitants, this graphic insight is a captivating read.
