reading list • 2014–2016 - comic-con.org · over the past 3 years, the branches have read over...
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In 2014, Comic-Con International: San Diego in partnership with the San Diego Public Library, embarked on an ambi-tious project to start a series of Graphic Novel Book Clubs in some of the local branches around the greater San Diego area. Two branches started in 2014, one at the Downtown Central Library location and one at the Mission Valley branch. In 2015, additional groups were added to both the North Park and La Jolla branches.
Over the past 3 years, the branches have read over 75 separate graphic novels (and graphic novel series). We’ve compiled this combined reading list showing everything that was read from 2014 through the end of 2016. Some books were “All-Group Selections,” meaning all four groups got together to discuss one book. Multiple volume-reads, usually taking place over more than one meeting, are also highlighted, as are books that were Eisner Award winners (see the key below for an explanation of the symbols accompanying each book in this list).
What have we learned? Well, people LOVE comics! Surprisingly, some of our book club members had never read a comic book or graphic novel until they joined their book clubs! They had gone to Comic-Con and were fascinated by what they saw there, and when the opportunity arose, they joined the club.
For the most part over the past three years, our book club membership has remained constant, with very few people leav-ing. The clubs meet every month, with a holiday party in December that combines all of them and includes the reading of the above-mentioned “All-Group Selection.” What has grown out of these clubs is a sense of community—some might even call it family—within the various clubs. Friendships have been made. The discussions are always lively and thought-ful and sometimes members walk away with new insight into a book they might not have been that fond of before the discussion began.
The Comic-Con International Graphic Novel Book Clubs are a continuing part of San Diego Comic Convention’s ongoing mission to create awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular artforms.
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DOWNTOWN: 1st Tuesday of every month
MISSION VALLEY: 1st Wednesday of every month
NORTH PARK: 1st Wednesday of every month
LA JOLLA: 2nd Tuesday of every month
GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUBSREADING LIST • 2014–2016
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Multiplevolumes
All-GroupSelection
Multiple volumes ofthe same serieswere read
EisnerAwardWinner All 4 groups read this
book and discussed ittogether
KEY TO THIS LIST
Toucan art by Rick Geary
Comic-Con International: San Diego in partnership with the San Diego Public Library, embarked on an ambi-
READING LIST • 2014–2016
Toucan art by Rick Geary
All-Star SupermanGrant Morrison, Frank Quietly, Jamie Grant
An homage to classic silver age stories, Superman takes on several Herculian tasks.
DC Comics
Bandette, Volume One: Presto!Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover
The adventures of a teenaged thief on the rooftops of Paris.
Dark Horse Comics
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Batman: The Long HalloweenJeph Loeb, Tim Sale
Batman chases a killer who has a penchant for killing on the holidays.
DC Comics
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Bitch Planet: Extraordinary MachineKelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro
Non-compliant women are sent to a prison in space, nicknamed Bitch Planet.
Image Comics
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Black Panther, Volume OneChristopher Priest, Joe Quesada, Vince Evans, Mark Texeira
The King of Wakanda seeks justice as the Black Panther.
Marvel
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Black Science, Volume 1: How to Fall ForeverRick Remender, Matteo Scalera, Dean White
A dark take on exploring the multiverse.
Image Comics
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Chew: Taster’s ChoiceJohn Layman, Rob Guillory
Tony Chu gets psychic visionsfrom the food he eats as heinvestigates for the FDA.
Image Comics
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100 Bullets: First Shot, Last CallBrian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso
Agent Graves o�ers people a chance to exact revenge withno consequences.
Vertigo
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Batman: The Killing JokeAlan Moore, Brian Bolland
The Joker kidnaps BarbaraGordon in order to tormenther father.
DC Comics
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COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUB
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Astonishing X-Men: GiftedJoss Whedon, John Cassaday
The X-Men return, led by Emma Frost and Cyclops, but will their e�orts be stalled by news of the mutant gene?
Marvel
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Dark Night: A True Batman StoryPaul Dini, Eduardo Risso
The true story of Batman writer Paul Dini’s vicious mugging and subsequent recovery.
Vertigo
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DaytripperFabio Moon, Gabriel Ba
The story of one man’s life anddeath, highlighting the possibilities for joy, sorrow, love and loneliness.
VertigoNP
Descender Vol 1: Tin StarsJe� Lemire, Dustin Nguyen
A young robot boy struggles to survive in a time when all androids have beenoutlawed.
Image Comics
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Fables: Legends in ExileBill Willingham, Mark Buckingham
Fairy tale characters are real and they are living in exile inNew York City.
Vertigo
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Fashion BeastAlan Moore, Anthony Johnston
A futuristic retelling of beauty and the beast in a dark and fashion-centric world.
Avatar Press
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FrayJoss Whedon, Karl Meline, Andy Owens
The vampire-killing adventures of Fray, the slayer of the future.
Dark Horse Comics
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Fun Home: A Family TragicomicAlison Bechdel
A graphic memior of Bechdel’s relationship with her father and his business, a funeral home.
Houghton Mi�in HarcourtMV
Get Jiro!Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, Langdon Foss
In a futuristic food-based society, chefs make the rules.
Vertigo
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Deadly Class: Reagan YouthRick Remender, Wes Craig, Lee Loughridge
The twisted tale of the freshman class at a school for assasins in the 1980s.
Image Comics
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East of West, Volume 1: The PromiseJonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta
The four horsemen of the apocolypse roam the earth, signaling the end times.
Image Comics
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Hawkeye: My Life As A WeaponMatt Fraction, David Aja, Javier Pulido
Find out how Hawkeye spends his time when he’s not with the Avengers.
Marvel
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Hellblazer: Dangerous HabitsGarth Ennis, James Delano, William Simpson, Sean Phillips, Steve Pugh, Dave McKean
John Constantine battles thedemons of hell.
VertigoDT
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High CrimesChristopher Sebella, Ibrahim Moustafa
Zan Jensen, a disgraced Olympic snow boarder, robs the graves of those who don’t survive Everest.
Image Comics
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I Kill GiantsJoe Kelly, JM Ken Nimura
Fifth-grader Barbara Thorsen, is so wrapped up in her fantasies of killing giants, she starts to believe them.
Image Comics
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Lazarus, Book One: FamilyGreg Rucka, Michael Lark, Santi Arcas
Forever Carlyle defends her family and their holdings as their Lazarus.
Image Comics
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Hellboy: Conquerer WormMike Mignola
Hellboy discovers his owndark orgins.
Dark Horse Comics
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Gotham Academy, Volume 1: Welcome to Gotham AcademyBecky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kershl
At a boarding school in Gotham, things are never dull!
DC ComicsMV
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic AvengersBrian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven, Sara Pichelli
Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Groot and Drax join forces with Iron Man.
MarvelMV
Giant Days, Volume OneJohn Alison, Lissa Treiman, Whitney Cogar
Three new friends tackle the challenges of their �rst year at university.
BOOM! Studios
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Hellboy: Seed of DestructionMike Mignola, John Byrne
The �rst Hellboy tale introducesthe hero and his cohorts at the B.P.R.D.
Dark Horse Comics
Letter 44, Vol 1: Escape VelocityCharles Soule, Alberto JiminezAlburquerque, Guy Major, Dan Jackson
A stealth crew of NASA astronauts seek to make contact with alien life.
Oni Press
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Level UpGene Luen Yang, Thien Pham
A coming of age tale about a boy and his obsession with video games.
First Second Books
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Lucifer: Devil in the GatewayMike Carey
Lucifer, former Lord of Hell, is given a mission from Heaven with an enticing reward.
Vertigo
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Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten HolyNoelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Brooke A Allen
Five best friends tackle crazy adventures at summer camp.
BOOM! Studios
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Monstress, Volume 1: AwakeningMarjorie Liu, Sana Takeda
A young girl shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster.
Image Comics
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Nailbiter, Volume 1: There Will Be BloodJoshua Williamson, Mike Henderson, Adam Guzowski
Why has one town in Oregon given rise to 16 serial killers? NSA agent Finch attempts to �nd out.
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NimonaNoelle Stevenson
Nimona, a young shapeshifter, becomes sidekick to supervillain Lord Ballister Blackheart.
Harper Teen
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Ninjack Volume 1: WeaponeerMatt Kindt, Clay Mann, Butch Guice, Marguerite Sauvage
Colin King is Ninjak, a master assassin hunting a secret cabal.
Valiant
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Locke & Key: Welcome to LovecraftJoe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez
After a tragic death, three kidsand their mother move into Key House and discover itssecrets.
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Ms. Marvel: No NormalG. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona
Kamala Khan takes on the mantle of Ms. Marvel and comes to terms with her new powers.
Marvel
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All-GroupSelection
All-GroupSelection
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Punk Rock JesusSean Murphy
DNA from the Shroud of Turin enables Jesus to be cloned, and then star in his very own reality TV series.
Vertigo
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RASLJe� Smith
RASL travels between dimensions to steal art, setting up repercussionseverywhere he goes.
Cartoon BooksDT
Rocket Girl, Vol: 01Brandon Montclare, May Reeder
A teenaged cop travels back through time to stop a corrupt mega corporation.
Image Comics
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Rat Queens, Volume One: Sass and SorceryKurtis J Wiebe, Roc Upchurch
The Rat Queens are a girl-gang for hire in this fantasy world.
Image Comics
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Pretty Deadly, Vol. 1Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios, Jordie Bellair
The origin story of Death’s daughter
Image
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Preacher: Book OneGarth Ennis, Steve Dillon
Texan preacher Jesse Custer is disillusioned with his beliefs and sets out to spread “TheWord.”
VertigoLJ
Paper Girls, Volume 1Brian K. Vaughan, Cli� Chiang
in 1988, four newspaper girlsstumble onto a major story.
Image Comics
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Outcast, Volume 1: A Darkness Surrounds HimRobert Kirkman, Paul Azaceta
Kyle Barnes seeks answers to the demonic possessions that have in�itrated his life.
Skybound
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Runaways: Pride & JoyBrian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona
A group of teens discover theirparents are supervillains.
Marvel Comics
SagaBrian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples
Star-crossed lovers from di�erentsides of an epic space battle try to make a home for their new family.
Image Comics
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Sweet Tooth, Vol. 1: Out of the Deep WoodsJe� Lemire
Children are born with animal features as a virus ravages the planet.
Vertigo
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The ArrivalShaun Tan
A moving tale of the immigrant experience.
Arthur A. Levine Books
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Sandman: Preludes & NocturnesNeil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg
After escaping imprisonment,Dream quests for lost objectsof power.
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Sex Criminals, Volume OneMatt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky
Suzie stops time when she orgasms. When she meets Jon who can do the same they decide to rob a bank.
Image ComicsNPMV
Southern Bastards, Volume 1: Here Was A County ManJason Aaron, Jason Latour
Castor County, Alabama is home to more than a fewbastards.
Image ComicsDT LJ
Seconds: A Graphic NovelBryan Lee O’Malley
A restaurant owner tries to � x her past by ingesting magical mushrooms that erase her mistakes.
Ballantine Books
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COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUB
The BunkerJoshua Hale Fialkov, Joe Infurnari
Five friends � nd a time capsule that they buried is � lled with letters from their future selves.
Oni Press
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Tale of SandJim Henson, Jerry Juhl
Everyman Mac wakes up in anunfamiliar town and is chasedacross the desert.
BOOM! Studios
Super Mutant Magic AcademyJillian Tamaki
Paranormal activity takes a backseat to teen concerns atthis magic prep school.
Drawn & Quarterly
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The Underwater WelderJe� Lemire
A man re�ects on his life before the birth of his child.
Top Shelf Productions
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The Vision, Vol. 1:Little Worse Than A ManTom King, Gabriel Hernadez Walta
The Vision wants to live a human life with a family.
Marvel
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The Wicked + The Divine: The Faust ActKeiron Gillen, Jamie McElvie
Every ninety years twelve gods come to earth. They are loved, hated and in two years are dead.
Image Comics
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They’re Not Like Us, Volume 1: Black Holes for the YoungEric Stephenson, Simon Gane, Jordie Bellaire
When given special powers, one must choose what to do with them.
Image ComicsDT
The Private EyeBrian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin,Munsta Vicente
A PI investigates in a futurewhere everyone has a secretidentity.
Image ComicsNP
The SculptorScott McCloud
A young sculptor makes a deal with death.
First Second
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The Umbrella Academy Vol. 1Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba
A millionaire inventor adoptsseven children withextraordinary powers.
Dark Horse Books
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The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol 1: Squirrel PowerRyan North, Erica Henderson
Squirrel Girl starts college!
Marvel
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The Fade OutEd Brubaker, Sean Phillips
An epic noir tale set in old Hollywood.
Image Comics
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The Unwritten, Volume OneMike Carey, Peter Gross
Tom Taylor is the protagonist in hisfather’s wildly popular bookseries about magic, but couldit be more than �ction?
VertigoMultiplevolumes
MISSION STATEMENTComic-Con International: San Diego is a nonpro� t educational corporation dedicated to creating aware-ness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.
Don’t forget to check our TOUCAN blogfor regular Book Club updates!www.comic-con.org/toucan
COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUBS READING LIST #1 • 2017 EDITIONCover art is © 2017 respective owners and used solely for informational purposes.
This One SummerJillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki
Two friends meet up at theirfamily’s summer cabins.
First Second
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Through the WoodsEmily Carroll
Five short stories about horrorin the woods.
Margaret K. McElderryBooks
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We Can Never Go Home, Volume 1Matthew Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon, Matt Pizzolo, Michael Walsh, Josh Hood, Brian Level, Tyler Boss, Amanda Scurti
Two teens discover they have powers.
Black Mask StudiosMV
Wytches, Volume 1Scott Snyder, Jock
The Rooks move to Litch� eld to start over, but something wicked waits in the woods.
Image Comics
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Young Avengers, Vol 1Kieron Gillen, Jaime McKelvie
Wiccan, Hulking, Kate Bishop, Kid Loki, Marvel Boy and Ms. America team up.
Marvel
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Y: The Last ManBrian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra
When a virus wipes out all themen on Earth but Yorick, he sets out to � nd his � ancee.
Vertigo
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