Graphic Novels

Two boys. One war-torn country. A world away,freedom. Twelve-year-old Adel and his cousin Shafi try to lead a normalchildhood in war-torn Afghanistan. But when Adel's father dies, everythingchanges. His uncle, a religious fundamentalist, sends Adel to study at a madrasarun by militants, where he is trained as an insurgent and chosen to carry out asuicide bombing. When his moment of martyrdom arrives, Adel's detonatorfails, and he is forced to flee the country or risk being killed by the Afghanpolice or the Taliban themselves. Together, Adel and Shafi set out toseek refuge in England, where Shafi's brother now lives and where a newlife awaits. With that hope, the two boys begin the perilous journey of 6,000miles to freedom, crossing mountains on foot and squeezing into crowded truckswith other refugees. The two become separated only to find each other again inthe Calais Jungle encampment, their last, hellish stop. Based on numeroustestimonies from refugee youth, this poignant, timely, and well-documented storybrings to life the traumatic experiences faced by Afghani children fleeing warand poverty, as well as the isolation they often feel as refugees in theWest.

Even Death cares about his work-life balance... Death never takes a day off. Until he gets a letter from the HR department insisting he use up his accrued vacation time, that is. In this humorous and heartfelt book from beloved illustrator Brian Rea, readers take a peek at Death's journal entries as he documents his mandatory sabbatical in the world of the living. From sky diving to online dating, Death is determined to try it all! Death Wins a Goldfish is an important reminder to the overstressed, overworked, and overwhelmed that everyone--even Death--deserves a break once in a while. If you enjoyed Brian Rea's work in Mary Karr's The Liars' Club: A Memoir or in the New York Times' popular Modern Love column you'll love his delightful illustrations of Death in this funny, heartfelt collection of works. This book is a great gift or self-purchase if you're looking for: Funny Books Funny Comics Humor Books

A love letter to those who dream of being fashionable but consider theirweight as an obstacle, this uplifting comic essay by a plus-sized authorchronicles her own journey with body positivity and learning to love herselfas she is.

Al Ewing brings his cosmic brand of storytelling to the Guardians of the Galaxy! Once, they were a team of misfits. Now they're a family, and they've earned their peace. But the universe is not a peaceful place - and it's only getting worse. Someone has to guard the galaxy. And for their first mission, the Guardians of the Galaxy must grapple with the vengeful gods of Olympus! Then, when the political map of the galaxy is radically redrawn, can the team handle a little peaceful diplomacy? Meanwhile, everyone thinks Peter Quill is dead - but instead, he journeys through a mythic world on the other side of reality! Knull and his symbiote dragons wreak havoc! And an expanded Guardians team faces the mystic threat of the Last Annihilation, but what is Doctor Doom doing with them?! Plus- When an old flame swims back into Rocket's life, it spells big trouble for the little furball. Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2020) #1-18, ROCKET #1-6 and material from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ANNUAL (2021) #1.

Over the past five years, Jess Ruliffson has traveled across the country interviewing veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, from kitchen tables in Georgia and libraries in New York City to dive bars in Mississippi and back porches in Vermont. Ruliffson shares the stories of men, women, and non-binary people who struggle to reconcile their wartime experiences with their postwar lives. Identity lies at the heart of these stories, as they grapple with their gender, their race, and the brutality they've witnessed and caused. In this compassionate book, Ruliffson reveals how America's endless entanglement in wars have affected the psyches of the people who wage them. She finds that the real experience of is a far cry from depictions in popular media like Zero Dark Thirty or American Sniper.

"What will become of us in these trying times? How will we pass the time that we have on earth? In gorgeously rendered graphic form, Light in Dark Times invites readers to consider these questions by exploring the political catastrophes and moral disasters of the past and present, revealing issues that beg to be studied, understood, confronted, and resisted. A profound work of anthropology and art, this book is for anyone yearning to understand the darkness and hoping to hold onto the light. It is a powerful story of encounters with writers, philosophers, activists, and anthropologists whose words are as meaningful today as they were during the times in which they were written. This book is at once a lament over the darkness of our times, an affirmation of the value of knowledge and introspection, and a consideration of truth, lies, and the dangers of the trivial. In a time when many of us struggle with the feeling that we cannot do enough to change the course of the future, this book is a call to action, asking us to envision and create an alternative world from the one in which we now live. Light in Dark Times is beautiful to look at and to hold--an exquisite work of art that is lively, informative, enlightening, deeply moving, and inspiring."-- Provided by publisher.

In The Machine Never Blinks, the story of surveillance is presented from its earliest days, to help you more fully understand today's headlines about every-increasing, constant, and unrelenting monitoring and global data collection. It's a threat to your rights, privacy, dignity, and sanity. This book spans surveillance from the Trojan Horse, through 9/11 and to the so-called War on Terror, which enabled the exponential growth of government and corporate intercepts and databases. It also explains spying as entertainment (reality TV) and convenience (smart speakers). Take a look around... Who's watching you right now?

Din Djarin, the armoured bounty hunter better known as The Mandalorian, has been a smash-hit on Disney+ for two incredible seasons. Now, at last, the Mandalorian arrives on the comics page - in the first half of an action-packed adaptation of the show's first season! The bounty hunter has agreed to track down a target for a mysterious ex-Imperial client who offers to pay in Beskar, a rare metal revered by Mandalorians. But when Djarin locates the target the adorable green toddler known only as The Child - all bets are off! Will Djarin follow his Mandalorian code and turn over the Child? And if he doesn't, what will the consequences be? Prepare for a gritty adventure through the Star Wars universe featuring mercenaries, Blurrgs, mudhorns and more! This is the way! Collecting: Star Wars: The Mandalorian (2022) 1-4

All hail Queen Nubia, champion of the three tribes! After the events of Trial of the Amazons, a new era for these warriors has dawned. Amazons from around the world have come to Themyscira to witness history and the crowning of their new leader. She stood between Man's World and the dangers of Doom's Doorway for centuries; when she was called upon to serve her people, she stood strong and clear-eyed, unafraid to look certain death in the face; she has united peoples on the brink of war This thrilling hardcover collects tales from Nubia & the Amazons #1; Nubia- Coronation Special #1; and Nubia- Queen of the Amazons #1-4!

Award-winning author Don Brown explores a very timely subject: the history of vaccines A Shot in the Arm!, book 3 in the Big Ideas that Changed the World series, is the history of vaccinations and the struggle to protect people from infectious disease. Beginning with smallpox-perhaps humankind's greatest affliction to date-and concluding with an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown traces the evolution of vaccines and examines deadly diseases such as measles, polio, anthrax, rabies, cholera, and influenza. The book is narrated by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who historically popularized inoculation in England in the early 18th century. Brown covers the science behind how our immune systems work, the discovery of bacteria, and major achievements from scientists like Louis Pasteur, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, and Edward Jenner, the "father of immunology." Brown also tackles the public and political response to vaccination throughout history, addressing head-on the anti-vaccination movement and debunking false claims that vaccines cause autism. A reminder of progress made so far as well as the millions of lives still to be saved, A Shot in the Arm! is a fascinating deep-dive for readers young and old. Back matter includes an author's note, timeline, bibliography, notes, and index. Big Ideas That Changed the World is a graphic novel series that celebrates the hard-won succession of ideas that ultimately changed the world. Humor, drama, and art unite to tell the story of events, discoveries, and ingenuity over time that led humans to come up with a big idea and then make it come true.

Following the climactic events of Season Two's finale, Jean-Luc and Seven of Nine launch an unsanctioned mission that sets the stage for Season Three! When an offer comes in from the stars, Jean-Luc Picard is once more compelled away from his chateau to confront the shadows of his past. Before his days on the Enterprise, a young Picard and his crew aboard the U.S.S. Stargazer saved a thriving planet from resource-hungry Romulans-or so he thought. Now landing on a seemingly unrecognizable planet, he and his crew work to save the system-and their ship-from disaster. For Seven of Nine, agreeing to help Picard means putting her own future at risk-but is it even the future she wants? Star Trek- Picard creator Kirsten Beyer reteams with veteran Trek comics scribe Mike Johnson and artist non-pareil Angel Hernandez for an adventure that promises to unearth secrets-of the past, present, and future-at every turn!

From writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith comes a captivating graphic novel love letter to the beauty and endurance of Black women, their friendships, and their hair. Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends--Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie--through five connected short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives in the Bronx. The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other. Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith originally kickstarted their critically acclaimed, award-winning slice of life mini comic, Wash Day, inspired by Rowser's own wash day ritual and their shared desire to see more comics featuring the daily lived experiences of young Black women. Wash Day Diaries includes an updated, full color version of this original comic--which follows Kim, a 26-year-old woman living in the Bronx--as the book's first chapter and expands into a graphic novel with short stories about these vibrant and relatable new characters. In expanding the story of Kim and her friends, the authors pay tribute to Black sisterhood through portraits of shared, yet deeply personal experiences of Black hair care. From self-care to spilling the tea at an hours-long salon appointment to healing family rifts, the stories are brought to life through beautifully drawn characters and different color palettes reflecting the mood in each story. At times touching, quiet, triumphant, and laugh out loud funny, the stories of Wash Day Diaries pay a loving tribute to Black joy and the resilience of Black women.