Graphic Novels

Graphic novels remain one of the most active and rapidly evolving areas of publishing, and forthcoming releases reflect both the format’s commercial strength and its expanding creative range. For libraries, this breadth translates into opportunities to serve diverse readerships across age groups and interests while responding to sustained demand for visual storytelling.

LJ talks with cartoonist and illustrator Tillie Walden about the inspiration for her forthcoming graphic novel Charity and Sylvia, writing historical biography in comics form, and queer life in the 19th century.

January Sun is a graphic novelist, visual development designer, and illustrator. Sun was selected to draw LJ’s April cover, celebrating the textual and visual pleasures of reading graphic novels. In this interview, she discusses the cover design and message, her style, favorite graphic novels, and working with vertical versus horizontal sequential art.

As readers always interested in finding and sharing titles, the book review editors launched a sure-bet survey last summer in advance of LJ’s yearlong celebration of our 150th anniversary. This month, we feature graphic novels. This format of storytelling offers readers an alchemy of elements—including text, image, page design, color, and line—to experience as they work together to craft a narrative. From manga to comic strips, from romance to horror, from memoir to history, there is an expansive canon of graphic novels to enjoy.

From works by Trevor Noah and Marjorie Liu to a foray into the secret lives of trees, these titles are most in demand by libraries and bookstores nationwide.

Biker mice from Mars, a mysterious manuscript that can control the world, and a space-traveling samurai rabbit all play out in the creatively vibrant pages of graphic works this season, filling collections with innovation and engagement. 

Stan Sakai is the creator of “Usagi Yojimbo,” a graphic novel series featuring a samurai rabbit named Miyamoto Usagi living in 17th-century Japan; the new installment, Space Usagi: White Star Rising, is due out from Dark Horse in May. LJ talks with Sakai about samurai warriors, blending genres, and his enduring career.

Eight meaningful, whimsical, philosophical, historical, and fantastical works that are a joy for both reading and viewing.

Graphic novels have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in the last five years. Since 2019, sales of graphic novels have risen over 100 percent. While that growth has leveled off, graphic novels are now the third best-selling genre (35 million books sold) in the U.S. and Canada, behind only general fiction and romance.