The document provides summaries for several graphic novels that would be suitable for an adult library collection. The summaries describe the plots and themes of the graphic novels Watchmen, Daredevil: Born Again, Pride of Baghdad, All-Star Superman, Love and Rockets, One Hundred Demons, Safe Area Gorazde, DMZ, Criminal, Jack of Fables, Rex Libris, Wonder Woman collections by Jodi Picoult and Gail Simone, Shooting War, Black Hole, Abandon the Old in Tokyo, Spawn, and The Walking Dead. The graphic novels cover mature subjects and genres like war, crime, and horror and are recommended for their literary and artistic merits.

1. Adult Graphic Novels for Every Library Tyler Rousseau Dave Lisa Laverne Mann Karla Ivarson

2. Reality of graphic novels; breaking some myths The average age for a graphic novel reader is 30 In other countries, graphic literature is widely accepted for all ages Many graphic novels require the reader’s ability to take both written and drawn cues in order to fully comprehend the writer’s/artist’s meaning, thus requiring a higher reading level Pawuk, Mike. Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga and More. Greenwood Publishing, Conn. 2007

3. Criteria for selection on this list Language Imagery Content Theme Synthesis of drawn and written cues

4. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons DC Comics’ Watchmen is the story of what might happen if superheroes actually existed in the real world. Taking place in the late 1980’s (when the original comic book series was published), this is generally considered to be comics writer Alan Moore’s best work. Dave Gibbon’s artwork makes Watchmen’s look completely original, like no other comic book of this caliber. The story actually reads like a mystery, with developed, believable characters that any reader can identify with. Watchmen is currently being adapted to film by director Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead).

5. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Adult language and imagery. Mature subject matter. Violence and sexuality. “Real world” and adult issues. What more can be said about Alan Moore's magnum opus? As if the graphic novel's quality is not enough, Watchmen has great media tie-in potential for the coming year. Zack Snyder's film version of the GN just wrapped shooting and will be out in 2009. The potential impact of this film may be very great. Snyder's previous films (Dawn of the Dead and 300) were both very well received. 300 (based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, below) had a record $70 million + opening weekend.

6. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli The villainous Kingpin has defeated the classic Marvel Comics character Daredevil by stripping him of everything he holds dear: his alter-ego’s law practice, his girlfriend, his secret identity and career as a superhero and his basic human rights. Daredevil, in his secret identity as Matt Murdock, must somehow pull his life back together and claw himself back up from insanity or die trying. This story of redemption is arguably writer Frank Miller’s best work and a story that everyone, superhero fan or not, can relate to. David Mazzuchelli’s artwork is starkly realistic and emotive.

7. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli Mature subject matter. Drug use. Sexuality. Violence. Political subjects. Daredevil: Born Again is generally considered to be one of Frank Miller’s best stories for Marvel Comics or any major comic book company for that matter. This story appeared in 1986, around the time that Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore’s Watchmen appeared from DC. Miller would go on to produce his Sin City and 300 graphic novels. The combination of Miller and Mazzuchelli is spectacular.

8. Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan & Nico Henrichon This fictional story, based on real-life events, recounts the story of four lions that escape from a Baghdad zoo after a 2003 attack by American forces. They experience the city outside the confines of the zoo for the first time and witness the effects of the war on other animals and humans.

9. Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan & Nico Henrichon War. Violence. Adult and mature themes and subject matter. Man’s inhumanity toward man as seen through the eyes of a group of lions experiencing newfound freedom after being caged in a zoo. This graphic novel is some of writer Brian K. Vaughan’s best work. His dialogue is witty and touching. Artist Niko Henrichon’s work is very evocative and perfectly suited to the subject matter.

10. All-Star Superman, Vol. 1 by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely Occurring outside of regular DC universe continuity, this is Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s distinctively different take on Superman and the cast of characters we’ve known for more than 75 years. Delightfully entertaining, we see what might happen if Superman reveals his secret identity to Lois Lane and gives her a special gift for her birthday. We also see different versions of favorite Superman universe characters like Jimmy Olson, Lex Luthor, Ma and Pa Kent and Krypto the Superdog.

11. All-Star Superman, Vol. 1 by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely Mature subjects and situations. Violence and cruelty. Some scary sequences. No mature language of any consequence…as if it matters. This is new version of Superman is just plain fun. Grant Morrison’s writing is great and enjoyable. Quitely’s work is incredible and appealing to regular comics readers and newcomers alike. His artwork is exquisite…some of the best work he’s ever done, IMHO.

12. LOVE AND ROCKETS JAIME AND GILBERT HERNANDEZ

13. Set in the punk rock and Mexican American communities of Los Angeles and Texas, Jaime’s stories explore themes of sexism, racism and classism. MAGGIE AND HOPEY

14. Set in a small Central American town and Los Angeles, Gilbert's stories explore how the drug trade and American military intervention in Latin America have affected the lives of multiple generations.

15. The Hernandez brothers have legions of fans devoted to following the lives of Maggie, Hopey, Luba and the other richly developed characters of this comic that began in the 1980s. Each brother has created compelling storylines following the lives of Latino women who are strong but vulnerable, beautiful but sporting belly bulges. LOVE AND ROCKETS is the most important imprint of the independent Fantagraphics publishing house. IMPORTANCE:

16. ONE HUNDRED DEMONS LINDA BARRY

17. One hundred vignettes explore Barry's relationships with her friends, family, school, boyfriends and bosses.

18. In this sometimes fictionalized autobiography, Lynda Barry reflects on her youth with the perspective of someone in her 40s.

19. SAFE AREA GORAZDE JOE SACCO

20. This non-fiction graphic novel is based on Joe Sacco's journalistic investigation of the war in Bosnia. In 1995 and 1996, Joe Sacco lived in Gorazde with a Muslim family to report on the conflict .

21. WHY ADULT? WHY IMPORTANT? His carefully detailed pictures, combined with first hand interviews of survivors, provide a vivid portrait of the brutality and horror of the Serbian attempt to carve out more territory from a divided Yugoslavia.

22. DMZ: On the Ground DMZ volume 2-5 available Brian Wood Riccardo Burchelli America in civil war, NJ and inland have deemed themselves “the Free States” while Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island are still “The United States of America”. Stuck in the middle of these warring sides is Manhattan, now known as the DMZ. New photojournalist Matty Roth is committed to revealing the horrors of living in a war zone. Dark, engaging and addictive

23. DMZ -- INTERIOR Why Adult collection: violence of war, some sexual content, profanity Important Addition: commentary on America, war, media in modern times. NY/NJ add local interest.

24. CRIMINAL ED BRUBAKER AND SEAN PHILLIPS 2007 Eisner Award: Best New Series Leo, who can plan the perfect heist... but only if he can be convinced the job is safe enough. But to some criminals, even professionals, the right payout is worth almost any risk. So when an old friend and a crooked cop approach with a plan to seize millions of dollars in contraband from an evidence transport van, Leo must make tough choices, knowing there’s nothing you can trust less in this world than a cop on the take. Brubaker - Capt. America, Daredevil, X-Men Another series Sleeper from Brubaker/Phillips

25. CRIMINAL- INTERIOR Why Adult collection: Sex, violence, profanity Important addition: Crime noir genre, best new series, popular comic writer and artist

26. JACK OF FABLES Jack Horner was kicked out of the magical realm, Jack is kidnapped and imprisoned in the Golden Boughs retirement community- a jail run by power-mad librarians who want to make the human world forget about magic. Along with other fables like Goldilocks and Mother Goose, he devises a wild plan to escape. Vertigo line from DC Comics 2007 Eisner Award Best Lettering

27. JACK OF FABLES COVER ART

28. REX LIBRIS VOL. 1: I, LIBRARIAN JAMES TURNER Head Librarian at Middleton Public Library. From ancient Egypt, where his beloved Hypatia was murdered, to the farthest reaches of the galaxy in search of overdue books, Rex upholds his vow to fight the forces of ignorance and darkness. Wearing his super thick bottle glasses and armed with an arsenal of high technology weapons, he strikes fear into recalcitrant borrowers, and can take on virtually any foe from zombies to renegade literary characters.

29. Why Adult collection: Content and Language Important Addition: Because we are librarians! Independent publisher Slave Labor Graphics style and writing will appeal to adults

30. WONDER WOMAN: LOVE AND MURDER JODI PICOULT - WRITER Why Adult collection: Violence Important Addition: 2 Female writers on the iconic Wonder Woman series Jodi Picoult popular fiction author

31. WONDER WOMAN GAIL SIMONE -WRITER Popular fan favorite writer of Birds of Prey (all female superhero team, lead by Oracle (Batgirl), Secret Six, etc.

32. Shooting War by Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman In 2011, we are still at war in Iraq and terrorism has returned to U.S. soil. While filming a live show videoblogger, Jimmy Burns captures a suicide bomber blow up a Starbucks. When he is recruited as the new war correspondent, Burns learns that soldiers aren’t the only pawns in the game of war.

33. Shooting War Interior

34. Black Hole by Charles Burns In the 1970s a strange plague infects teenagers who engage in premarital sex, causing mutation and disfigurement. Once infected, most retreat to the woods to live with other infected in relative peace. But then murders start to happen…

35. Black Hole Interior

36. Abandon the Old in Tokyo by Yoshihiro Tatsumi Collection of psychodramas by Japan’s legendary artist. Stories examine the struggle of the inner-self when conflicted by society, expectations and responsibilities.

37. Abandon the Old in Tokyo Interior

38. Spawn by Todd MacFarlane When Special Agent Simmon is murdered, he returns to Earth by making a deal with the devil. The only problem is that he comes back grossly deformed, void of memories and the reason he wanted to return. And while the special powers are great, each use brings him one step closer to meeting his re-creator.

39. Spawn Interior

40. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore Rick Grimes wakes for a coma to find the world has changed severely, the deal now walk the Earth. When an unwavering hope that he will find his family, Grimes starts a long trek to Atlanta in search of them. But what he finds is that the dead are not the only thing to worry about…

41. The Walking Dead Interior