1. The Best GraphicNovels of 2011NJLA AnnualConferenceWed, June 5, 2012 Presented by:Tyler Rousseau- Monroe Township Public LibraryKarla Ivarson- Ocean County Library SystemDavid Lisa- Camden County Library System

2. Some of the Best. 3. Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking by Philippe CoudrayEver wonder what Kramer would have been like if he were a bear and his friends were a penguin, fish and rabbit?Philipe Coudray apparently did and this is what he came up with 4. Level Up by Gene YangDennis loves video games and his parents love the idea of him going to medical schoolBut does Dennis have to give up his own dreams in order to appease his parents? 5. Onwards Towards our NobleDeaths by Shigeru Mizuki A semi- autobiographical account of foolish pride and senseless deaths of Japans army during the final weeks of World War II 6. Any Empire by Nate PowellThree friends must reconsider their romanticized views of violence when a rash of turtle mutilations happen in their privileged suburban town. 7. Habibi by Craig ThompsonDodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. 8. Wandering Son by ShimuraTakako Young Nitori and Takatsuki become friends even before discovering that each secretly wishes to have been born the other gender. 9. Sons of Liberty by AlexanderLagos Unwilling test subjectsin Ben Franklins evilsons scientificexperiments, Freemen Graham and Brodyrarely find occasionto use theirpowers...until unrestover Britains newtaxes on the coloniesstirs. 10. Zahras Paradise by Amir &KhalilA son never returnshome from protestingthe 2009 election inIran and no one willtell his family wherehe is being held or ifhe is even alive. 11. Infinite Kung Fu by KaganMcleod Kung Fu Immortals Zombies 12. Thor has come toEarth and isbefriended bymuseum curatorJane Foster. If ever agraphic novel couldbe consideredcharming, this is it.Volume 2 of 2. Thisbeloved comic bookwas canceled by 13. Jack Kirbys FourthWorld, the way itwas meant to beexperienced: inchronological order.New Gods. ForeverPeople. MisterMiracle. JimmyOlson. Kirby was atthe height of hispopularity andprowess. 14. DanielClowes, creator ofEightball and GhostWorld, releasedtwo popular graphicnovels during 2011.The Death-Ray isvery much aClowes book, filledwith pathos andpop art prowess. 15. Clowes other graphic novel this yearwas Mister Wonderful: A Love Story. Ablind date leads to something more, inthe inimitable Clowes fashion. Winner ofthe Eisner Award. 16. An Amazon Best Book of 2011 and a New York Times #1 bestseller. In this story, Dick Grayson, previou sly Robin, is now the Dark Knight. Can he handle the responsibility of being The Batman? 17. Jeff Jensen, senior writer for Entertainment Weekly, penned this mystery which Stephen King himself praised as compelling, stay -up-late reading. Great, creepy 18. Robert Kirkmans zombie story continues. The crew struggles to survive and must contend with their own demons as well as the monsters that surround them. Vol. 14 & 15 came out in 2011. 19. The AMC TV series is a bona fide hit and part of the fun that fans will have is finding the differences between the TV series and the comic book series which spawned it. 20. Questions?Comments? 21. Credits Entertainment Weekly Entertainment WeeklyThe Walking Dead Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore. Published by Image Comics TonyMooreIllustration.comGreen River Killer Dark Horse ComicsBatman: The Black Mirror DC Comics Mister Wonderful: A Love Story Pantheon BooksThe Death-Ray Drawn & Quarterly(Open book shots by Stuart Geddes of The Melbourne City Guide)Jack Kirbys Fourth World Omnibus DC ComicsThor: The Mighty Avenger Marvel ComicsInfinite Kung Fu Top ShelfZaharas Paradise First Second The Sons of Liberty Random HouseWandering Son Fantagraphics BooksHabibi Pantheon Books Any Empire Top ShelfOnwards Toward Our Noble Deaths Drawn & QuarterlyLevel Up First Second Benjamin Bearin Fuzzy Thinking Toon BooksAll book, DVD and magazine covers are copyright of the respective ownersand are used for demonstration and promotional purposes only. 22. Thanks! Karla Ivarson (kivarson@gmail.com) David Lisa (davidlisa@davidlisa.com)) Tyler Rousseau (tyler.rousseau@gmail.com)