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Graphic Novels and Comics April 2017
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Hello there! My name is Patrick Holt, and I'm a librarian at Southwest Regional Library. I'm also a lifelong reader of comics and graphic novels. Check out the contents of this month's newsletter in the box to the left, and get access to past editions in the archive at the bottom of the page. I hope you find these recommendations worthwhile, and please email me at pdholt@dconc.gov if you have any thoughts or questions.
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The Attack
by Loïc Dauvillier and Glen Chapron
From the publisher: "The Attack opens with Amin Jaafari, an Israeli surgeon of Palestinian origin, trying to save the casualties of a suicide bombing. A day after the deadly attack, an Israeli police officer informs Jaafari that the suicide bomber was his wife, Sihem. Believing her to be on an overnight trip, he completely refuses to accept the accusation. They were leading an ideal life in Tel Aviv, moving among both Arab and Israeli society with ease, or so Jaafari thought. But then he receives a posthumous message from Sihem confirming the worst. Desperate to understand how he missed even the slightest clue, Jaafari leaves the relative security of Israel and enters the Palestinian territories to find the fanatics who recruited her. In search of the truth, he confronts a reality that he had refused to see." (Adapted from the novel of the same by name by Yasmina Khadra.)
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Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire
by Neil Gaiman and Shane Oakley
From the publisher: "A celebrated send-up of gothic literature, beautifully adapted into a dark, brooding, and oddly comical graphic novel. Somewhere in the night, a raven caws, an author's pen scratches, and thunder claps. The author wants to write nonfiction: stories about frail women in white nightgowns, mysterious bumps in the night, and the undead rising to collect old debts. But he keeps getting interrupted by the everyday annoyances of talking ravens, duels to the death, and his sinister butler"
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Valerian: The New Future Trilogy
by Jean-Claude Mezieres and Pierre Christin
An inspiration for The Fifth Element and the source material for an upcoming Luc Besson film! From the publisher: "The intrepid Valerian and his beautiful, sharp-witted and sharp-tounged partner, Laureline, are tow of the greatest agents for the vast Galaxity organization. Their missions have taken them across space and time. But now the Galaxity and their home earth have vanished as if they never existed. Along, and totally dependent on their own resources, they struggle to carve out a new life and a new future against intergalactic dangers form the past, present and future."
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Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet vol. 2
by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Christopher Sprouse
Follows A Nation Under Our Feet vol. 1! Threats face T'Challa and Wakanda from within and without, not all of them unsympathetic. What is to be done?
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Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq
by Sarah Glidden
From the publisher: "Cartoonist Sarah Glidden accompanies her two friends―reporters and founders of a journalism non-profit―as they research potential stories on the effects of the Iraq War on the Middle East and, specifically, the war’s refugees... As the crew works their way through Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, Glidden observes the reporters as they ask civilians, refugees, and officials, “Who are you?” Everyone has a story to tell: the Iranian blogger, the United Nations refugee administrator, a taxi driver, the Iraqi refugee deported from the US, the Iraqis seeking refuge in Syria, and even the American Marine... Painted in her trademark soft, muted watercolors and written with a self-effacing humor, Rolling Blackouts cements Glidden’s place as one of today’s most original nonfiction voices."
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Hellboy vol. 1: Seed of Destruction
by Michael Mignola and John Byrne
The first volume of this excellent series introduces the world's greatest paranormal investigator and throws him right in the way of a supernatural plot to end the world by means of ... Hellboy himself!
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B.P.R.D: Plague of Frogs book 1
by Michael Mignola and others
Years after the events in Seed of Destruction, Hellboy's old Bureau teammates face new threats of an obscure, yet familiar nature, never mind the evil that may or may not lurk within their own ranks...
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Akira
by Katsuhiro Otomo
A masterful tale of science-fiction dystopia, Akira is known primarily as one of the most famous anime in history. However, it was first a well-known, landmark manga. Set in a post-apocalyptic city called Neo-Tokyo, the story follows two teenage friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda, whose lives change forever when paranormal abilities begin to waken in Tetsuo, making him a target for a shadowy agency that will stop at nothing to prevent another catastrophe like the one that leveled Tokyo during World War III. At the core of the agency’s motivation is a raw, all-consuming fear of an unthinkably monstrous power known only as Akira.
While many remember Akira for its ultra-violent action sequences and unique pacing (A few seconds of real-time action may take up a full page worth of panels in the manga), at its heart Akira is a superb character sketch involving themes such as youth alienation, rebellion against government corruption and identity transformation in adolescents.
- Guest review by Will Hanley
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Silver Surfer: Parable
by Stan Lee and Moebius
One of the Marvel Universe's most solidly sci-fi characters, the Silver Surfer is an otherworldly being who's best known for his sleek mode of intergalactic transportation. In this brief re-imagining of his role in the world, the Surfer must win the hearts and minds of a future earth in order to save them from themselves! One of the few examples of Moebius's artwork currently in print in the U.S, this volume is a beautiful work of art, with a neat re-examination of Stan Lee's great power / great responsibility philosophy. Highly recommended!
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Saturday, Apr. 22, 2 p.m. Southwest Regional Library - 3605 Shannon Rd. Questions? Call John Davis at 919-560-0125 Join our MeetUp group at meetup.com/graphic-book-club Enjoy comic books or graphic novels? Join us for the monthly meeting of Main Library's Graphic Book Club. This month we're reading about WORLD-ENDING THREATS! Check out some recommended titles above. .
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Nasher Reads: Black Panther Wednesday, Apr. 5, 11:00 a.m. and and Sunday, Apr. 9, 3:00 p.m. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University 2001 Campus Drive in Durham Visit the Nasher Museum and join Patrick Holt (hey that's me!), Adult Services Librarian from the Durham County Library, and museum gallery guides Kathy World and Ruth Caccavale to discuss Black Panther vol.1 by Ta-Nehisi Coates. This book is a graphic telling of the politically charged story of Wakanda and the dramatic upheavals faced by its citizens. Part of the conversation will take place in the exhibition Nina Chanel Abney: Royal Flush. The group will consider how Abney’s work relates to graphic storytelling. Visitors are encouraged to read the book prior to discussions. Books are available at Durham County Library and for purchase in the Nasher Museum Store.
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Ultimate Ladies Book ClubThursday, Apr. 6, 7:30 p.m. Ultimate Comics Raleigh,1301 Buck Jones Rd, RaleighThe first Thursday of each month the Ultimate Ladies Alliance meets to discuss a different comic or graphic novel. Join the Ultimate Ladies’ Alliance on Facebook for more info and to vote on your top picks for the next month’s meeting, plus suggest books for future discussion and share your favorites. This month's title is Prez: Corndog-in-Chief!
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Nasher Family Program: 5P1N0K10 Peformance and Comic Book Release Party Wednesday, Apr. 12, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University 2001 Campus Drive in Durham Witness the exciting second act of this Hip Hopera, following last year’s world premiere at the Nasher. This Afro-Futuristic take on Carlo Collodi’s classic Pinocchio includes hand-crafted puppets by Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins, projections and a live score performed by DJ and musician Pierce Freelon.
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Local Comics Creator Networking Night Wednesday, Apr. 12, 6-8 p.m. Atomic Empire: 3400 Westgate Drive, Suite 14B in Durham Are you a professional, amateur or aspiring comics artist or writer living in the Triangle? Then come to our quarterly Local Comics Creator Networking Night at Atomic Empire! Meet fellow creators, show off and trade your work (no sales please), and make our local comics scene even better. All ages, skill levels and genres welcome! 919-560-8648 or pdholt@dconc.gov for more information.
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Durham Comics Project: Drink & DrawWednesday, Apr. 19, 7-9 p.m.This monthly meetup is for those new to comics and seasoned vets alike. The hardest part of making comics is often making the time to draw, so let’s make that time together! We'll have an exercise or two (often collaborative), but you're welcome to just come to work on your own thing.
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply with a list of the next five books you should read!
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Want to keep up-to-date on new books at the library? on everything from Horror to Home & Garden!
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NoveList Plus is a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. DCL cardholders can access NoveList Plus from any computer.
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Check out the library's top ten checkouts! Lists include top tens for adult fiction and nonfiction, movies, young adults fiction, picture books and kids' fiction.
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Links to newsletters from the past year:
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, Administration Building, 101 E. Morgan St., Durham, NC 27701
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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