Graphic novels and manga are super versatile—seriously, they allow for tons of creativity and cool, unique approaches that lead to reading experiences and subject matter you just won’t find elsewhere. While a bunch of the big hits are for teens, there are also absolutely fantastic and gripping stories written just for adults. These adult narratives often really push the boundaries of the medium to dive into complex, grown-up themes. The mix of the art, the writing, and the whole package is totally one-of-a-kind!
We’ve pulled together a list of some must-read graphic novels and manga, all available right now in the Adult Graphic Novel section at your local public library.
Building Stories by Chris Ware
This multi-piece item contains 14 separate booklets and materials. It presents an illustrated tale, told in various books and folded sheets, about the residents in a three-story Chicago apartment building, including a lonely single woman, a couple who are growing to despise each other, and an elderly landlady. Due to the size, this item is an “in-house” item not available for check out, only accessible in person at the Waldorf West library.
Berserk by Kentarō Miura
With 41 books, this manga series has been beloved since it first began in 1989. Considered a classic, this gore-filled power fantasy of being a huge hero and swinging an even bigger sword is engaging even before the reader realizes the humor and emotional heart at the center of the characters.
A Right To Be Hostile: The Boondocks Treasury by Aaron McGruder; foreword by Michael Moore
The original comic strips inspired an acclaimed animated TV show that ran for 4 seasons. This book is a collection of the syndicated comic that provides a look at life in America as seen through the eyes of two African-American kids transplanted from the south side of Chicago to Woodcrest, a community in the middle of nowhere.
My Pancreas Broke But My Life Got Better by Kabi Nagata
This is the latest diary manga from the Harvey Award-winning creator of My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness and My Wandering Warrior Existence. In this new autobiographical manga following My Wandering Warrior Existence, Nagata Kabi has quit drinking in an attempt to get healthier, or she’s trying to, anyway. Her former struggles with alcohol led to pancreatitis and a serious hospitalization, and now she has no choice but to give up drinking. Follow the author as she details the quest to improve her health during a global pandemic.
Kill 6 Billion Demons by Tom Parkinson-Morgan
This series began as an online webcomic in 2013 and quickly enraptured thousands. Sorority sister Allison Ruth must travel to Throne, the ancient city at the center of the multiverse, in an epic bid to save her boyfriend from the clutches of the seven evil kings that rule creation (summary provided by the publisher). Eventually published as a physical book series, this is an inventive sci-fi epic with intricate illustrations.
Remember to check out Libby, the free library book and audiobook app, for even more graphic novels and manga. Staff picks are chosen by CCPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We’d love to hear your ideas, so write to us and tell us what you’d recommend.
