Five great graphic novels on Holt Grier’s book shelf
April 10, 2023
Graphic novels are awesome. They have wonderful illustrations, writing and storytelling that can only be accomplished using their unique format.
That being said, here are five great graphic novels for anyone who has an interest in them whether the interest be new or old. These novels were chosen because they span a wide variety of genres and art styles. Whether it’s your first one, or you’re a long time fan, you’ll surely find something just for you.
Scott Pilgrim vs The World is the most classic graphic novel on this list. The story is about Scott and the girl of his dreams, Remona Flowers. However, standing between Scott and the love of his life are Remona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends. This six book series is all about Scott’s life trying to make it in his twenties, falling in love with Remona, his relationships with his friends and, of course, fighting against Remona’s evil exes. Its videogame feel and cartoony style make it a hilarious adventure worth reading.
Nemona is generally regarded as a favorite graphic novel of all time. It’s a sci-fi fantasy story about a shapeshifter named Nemona and her relationship with her supervillain boss, Ballister Blackheart. Together, they try to take down the kingdom’s mysterious and controlling Institute, as well as the “goody two shoes” character, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin.
However, there’s more than meets the eye in this kingdom full of secrets. Especially with Nemona herself. If you’re a fan of Adventure Time, romance, drama and awesome dragon fights then this is the book for you.
Trinity is a non-fiction comic style story about the first nuclear bomb. It goes into detail of the science behind nuclear weaponry, the history of the first nuclear bomb and the Manhattan Project, and the devastating causes it had on the world. It is a serious and informative novel that will get a reaction from any history buff.
Super Mario Adventures is also a favorite. The story first appeared throughout different installments of the Nintendo Power magazine but in 2016 it became its own physical copy. It’s the classic story about Mario and Luigi saving Princess Peach but with a comedic and stylized twist. Its cartoony visuals, references to previous Mario video games, classic but unique story and great comedy make it a wonderful page turner.
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that has three separate stories. The first is about the Monkey King and his fantastical adventures. The second is about Jin Wang and his journey through school. The third tells the story of a kid named Danny quarreling with his cousin Chin-Kee. Even though these stories are very different from each other they each connect with one another and explore the same theme of learning to love and be yourself.
Hopefully, you will pick up one of these and get a tremendous amount of enjoyment and joy out of them. You will come to love their unique personalities and will find that graphic novels are indeed, pretty awesome.