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GNLIB: Graphic Novels in Libraries
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This diamond indicates those titles included in the Top Ten Core List
Jack Pentura and Jill Boscombe's relationship is on the rocks. Jack runs advertising for a music magazine. Jill is a curator at an art gallery. And while art and music goes well together, Jack and Jill's jobs--and tastes--are very different. So for their third anniversary, each of them plans a surprise vacation for the other to try to revive their relationship, one to Paris to an art show, and another to London for a band performance. They argue about where to go until they reach the airport. They decide to seperate. But when the planes land, Jill finds herself in London, watching the band that Jack likes, while Jack's in Paris, going to the art show that Jill would rather see. Jill and Jack end up caught in their respective worlds: will they be able to get back together after their adventure in Europe? Three Days in Europe is a fun, romantic adventure. It's a light novel in graphic novel form: a perfect read for the beach. The black and white art is very square and distinctive, with bold linework. The book is meant for an older teen audience--there are some sexual themes--but it's accessible enough to be enjoyed by newcomers to the form and people who have loved graphic novels for years. review by gina |
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Our Everlasting is a sweet, sexy story of love between two guys. Unlike many YAOI manga, where the relationships range from unbearably angsty (he could never love me! He's straight!) to disturbing (older men with teenagers? No thanks), these lovers are people who might exist (and get together) in real life. While Our Everlasting is certainly not gritty realism, it's believable romance. In the first story, shy Shouin has been hurt in the past, so he has a hard time believing that popular, easygoing surfer Horyu could ever reciprocate his crush. Horyu is a love 'em and leave 'em type, but he discovers feelings for Shouin that are deeper than any he's had before. How can he convince Shouin that he's for real? While both characters talk about their feelings more than most guys I know (YAOI stories are written by women, for women, after all), Horyu and Shouin are appealing characters who behave in realistic ways. Unlike some male/male manga couples, they have to navigate a social scene that would not be receptive to their relationship and deal with their own inner questions about their sexuality. Still, their story never strays too far from the realm of fairy tale and is sure to leave shonen ai fans sighing happily. The second tale, of college student Takehiko and art teacher Momose, depends on the somewhat silly conceit that Momose has a heart condition preventing him from having sex. Can these lovers keep their feelings at bay, or will insecurity and desire drive them apart? Despite the premise, Our Everlasting's second half is as sweet as the first and contains some hilarious moments as well as hotter love scenes. Review by jen
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Toru thinks he has all he needs – a loyal best friend, Ryoji, who makes him laugh and an encouraging art mentor, Kashiwazaki, pushing him to excel at painting. Never mind that he’s been in love with Ryoji for years – he knows there’s no hope there, and so he’s content to keep his friend. Then life gets complicated. Ryoji, a jock who has a string of girlfriends, suddenly confesses that he thinks about Toru when he’s having sex. Startled, Toru cannot comprehend what Ryoji hopes for until Ryoji proposes they “try it out” once so he can see what it’s like. Toru is at once ecstatic and miserable – he can finally touch his beloved but must suffer through knowing he’s no more than a fling for the curious Ryoji. Ryoji is persuasive to the point of being pushy, and Toru gives in knowing that Ryoji would never knowingly hurt him. Though awkward and uncomfortable, Toru relishes the contact even while anticipating desertion. Then Ryoji wants to do it again. It seems to Toru that every time he thinks he’s got his friend figured out, he turns around with another proposal. The pair's shrewd friend, Tadashi, sees the tension growing between his friends and, once he figures out why, warnes Toru of hurting himself by allowing Ryoji to get his way. Not sure what to do, Toru confesses all to Kashiwazaki, who encourages him to break it off with Ryoji by instead appearing to date Hashizaki himself – then Toru could tell if Ryoji’s feelings for him were at all serious. Of course, the best laid plans backfire, and what can Toru do when Hashizaki seems a little too interested? This newer shonen-ai/yaoi title is more explicit than other titles, hence why it’s in The Lair – the sex scenes are along the lines of an R rating and the publisher has slapped a (perhaps overzealous) explicit content advisory on the cover. That being said, though it may seem from a plot summary to be all too soap opera-esque, this title is a compelling high school drama with teenagers who definitely act like teenagers. Trying to figure out the difference between sex, b friendship and love is a minefield for any teen struggling through first times, and this title is remarkably free of fantasy-driven romantic contrivance so common in this subgenre. As fans of such series as Gravitation and Fake grow older, titles like Desire will satisfy. review by robin |
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Imagine your typical buddy cop show: one detective, blunt to a fault and with a high opinion of himself, is saddled with a naïve but well-meaning partner. After the expected whining about rookies and rank, the two men maneuver through their new partnership and their work, tracking down clues, puzzling through evidence, and wading through office politics. Now, add to that the fact that our lead detective ends up with more than a little crush on his new cohort, and you’ve got Fake. read more... If you like, you can skip to individual volumes in the Series: reviews by robin |
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U.S. manga readers know Sanami Matoh as the author of FAKE, an endearing (and, for shonen ai, fairly realistic) romantic drama about two (male) police officers who fall in love. Until the Full Moon, the second of her works to become available in English, is something else entirely. Fans of FAKE will recognize the author's fondess for flamboyant hairstyles, outfits, and love at first sight, but Until the Full Moon takes place in a very different world. This is a world populated by vampires and werewolves, who trace their ancestry back to fairy tales and legends. David Vincent, a notorious player, is the son of a prominent vampire family. As a child, he was inseperable from his friend Marlo- son of a vampire father and a werewolf mother. He hasn't seen Marlo for ten years when Marlo's family arrives to pay the Vincent's a visit. They've come with a problem for Dr. Arnet Vincent, a famous doctor in the vampire clan. It seems that Marlo has inherited an unusual trait from his mother's werewolf clan: on full moon nights, instead of becoming a wolf, Marlo becomes a woman. Anxious to protect their child, Marlo's parents want to arrange a marriage between her- when she is a her- and David. Marlo protests, but, as her father remarks, "I'm not going to let 100 or 200 year old kids go decide what's best!" David, on the other hand, is intrigued- he's had feelings for Marlo since they were teens. As the two try to make sense of their situation, Marlo's female self begins to return David's love. Is Marlo prepared to accept that love as a man? Despite the somewhat unbelievable premise of Marlo and David's sudden engagement, Until the Full Moon shares FAKE's essential sweetness. David's love for Marlo knows no gender divisions, and Marlo's gender transformations are handled with sensitivity and humor. The story moves so quickly, however, that it's a bit hard to believe in the intensity of David's feelings. The couple have declared their love by the end of the volume, but their personalities have yet to be fully established. The publisher has rated Volume 1 for ages 16 and up. While Marlo and David are sometimes a straight couple and sometimes not, depictions of sensuality are fairly mild throughout. Until the Full Moon is not necessarily a must-have for manga collections, but it is an oddly endearing tale of love and acceptance. review by jen |
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I will admit, I fell in love with Ms. Norrie's artwork when I read the first Hopeless Savages. Cheat is her first solo book, and her artwork just shines all the way through. The black and white flow of her ink is beautiful and fully suited to this modern cautionary tale. Cheat is, rather obviously, about cheating. In this case, it's all about romantic cheating, and the many reactions to and consequences of such a situation. What isn't so obvious about Cheat is the resonance of the emotions and the simplicity of a well-told tale. There's are no fateful plots twists or revelations. Conversations are mundane in the best sense of the word -- familiar and welcoming. There's a truth in behavior shown by keen observation of just what romantic betrayal means, and the fallout for each person involved. This title is good for older teens and adults, and not really because of content (the one sex scene is not particularly explicit -- in fact, it's quite beautifully rendered) but more because of the sophistication behind the feelings contemplated. That being said, it's a shoe-in for all those people who love romance comics -- this one just gives them a little more to chew on than most. review by robin |
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If anyone ever asks you if a graphic novel is a "real" novel, hand this over to them and watch their eyes goggle. Alex Robinson's 600 plus page whopper doesn't just prove comics can sustain length -- it's a sly, funny, melancholy mix of romance and relationships. The grand message here, if you're looking for one, is simple: no one can really help who they love, and it's not wise to try -- you're stuck with who you love, and even if no one else gets it, it's worth fighting for. Intertwined with all the romantic pairings and betrayals is a compelling tale of a famous comic creator who still gets no royalties off his work due to a naive faith in the industry, and in the background, everyday life and work moves along with all its quirks and small surprises, both good and bad. I was particularly drawn in by the snide take on working in a bookstore -- not unlike working in a library, my friends -- but the heart alongside the snide comments makes the whole tale affecting as well as funny. review by robin |
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The Wheatstone Mercury has one reporter, and his desk is in the hallway. When Katharine Washington flew to England for an internship, this wasn't what she'd expected. Owen, the reporter, hadn't been expecting her, either-- and he doesn't particularly want to work with a young American girl who has little appreciation for small town newspapers. But the stories in the newspaper improve as Katharine and Owen start working together, and Katharine comes to understand what Owen sees in small town reporting. Then, Hollywood calls-- they want to produce a sitcom from a script about small town newspapers that Katharine wrote prior to her experience with the Mercury. So Katharine flies to L.A., abandoning her internship for the job of her dreams. But Katharine's experiences in Hollywood force her to reassess her ambitions. Meanwhile in England, Owen realizes that Katharine has changed how he views his job and his life. Andi Watson's black and white line art is simple and elegant, capturing the essence of his characters. A romantic comedy at heart, Slow News Day is a great introduction to the format for readers who aren't so interested in science fiction or fantasy. A few scenes of implied sex make this title appropriate to older teens, but there is no explicit nudity. Review by gina
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Andi Watson has a bit of an odd curse -- for some reason, people always think he's a woman if they've never met him or been told otherwise. I certainly did. I think it might be that "i" at the end of his first name at first glance. Then again, if you read his work, you might also just accept the stereotype that only women write sweet, low-key romances. Happily, Mr. Watson proves us wrong. This time around, in Dumped, we're led into the awkward but undoubtedly real lives of a boy who collects old books and a girl who collects vintage clothing. Is their love of all things antique and lost enough to bring them toward true love? review by robin |
Desire
Fake
Until the Full Moon (Volume 1)
Cheat
Box
Office Poison
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copyright Robin Brenner 2002-2004