Aisling is a princess about to turn eighteen, but a week before her big debut, she is kidnapped by Forget-Me-Not, who plans to get revenge for being replaced at birth by a changeling. Aisling is that changeling, although she had no idea of her fae heritage and neither did her parents because they don’t recognize her without the glamour she’s been wearing. As they travel through the fae lands, both Aisling and Forget-Me-Not discover they have more in common than they originally thought and start developing a relationship. We learn more about the fae lands through Aisling’s interactions (and almost disasters) and Forget-Me-Not’s backstory about growing up in an alien world that isn’t hospitable to humans. The story wraps up at the end of this volume and provides an epilogue to tie up all the loose ends of the relationship between our two main characters.
The saturated colors worked well with the fantastical setting, and I personally liked how the lighting was used to convey emotions and ambiance throughout the story. This is a standalone as opposed to the start of a series, which makes it a great choice for teen or adult readers looking for a one-and-done LGBTQ+ (specifically sapphic) fantasy romance. There is on-page kissing between two female characters (one that has a masculine look) but no sexual content. I would highly recommend this book for any public library and high school library looking to follow the romantasy trend with LGBTQ+ content. Your patrons will thank you for it.
Forgive-Me-Not By Mari Costa Macmillan First Second, 2026 ISBN: 9781250784179
Company Age Rating: 14-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Brazilian, Portuguese, Character Representation: Lesbian,
Teen Titans: Robin was uncharted territory for me and yet oddly familiar at the same time. As a teen librarian, I was familiar with Kami Garcia’s novels, but I had never read any graphic novels she had written. I was likewise well versed in the Teen Titans characters, but this was unlike any Teen Titans comic I had read before. I didn’t recognize the name of artist Gabriel Picolo, but I recognized his art from various social media posts showing more slice-of-life Anime inspired takes on the Teen Titans characters.
This helped ease me into Teen Titans: Robin, which is the fourth volume of Garcia and Picolo’s series of young adult graphic novels. I hadn’t read the original trilogy of Raven and Beast Boy books, but that didn’t prove to be a major obstacle. This volume is surprisingly accessible to those who, like me, were lured in by the Robin name without any thought of this being part of a larger story.
The graphic novel opens in the thick of the action, with Rachel Roth, Garfield Logan, Damian Wayne and Maxine Navarro on the run. They escaped from HIVE and the man called Slade Wilson who had lured them in to become test subjects due to their amazing powers. At the same time Slade is hunting them they are also being hunted by Dick Grayson, whom Damian recognizes as the adopted son of his biological father.
As one might expect given the title, the focus of this book is on Damian and Dick and the difficulties they face in trying to start a supportive sibling relationship. Most of the difficulties are on Damian’s side, as he views Dick as the perfect son that his father chose to adopt, whereas he was literally left on Batman’s doorstep for him to deal with unexpectedly. Dick, for his part, has trouble trying to understand where Damian is coming from and why he has a hard time accepting help and honest emotion after being raised by a group of assassins. However, the story also continues the development of Raven and Garfield’s romance from the earlier books in the series, and sets up a romance between Damien and Maxine as well.
Garcia has a terrific grasp of the teen psyche and has done a marvelous job of developing the classic Titans characters from the comics into a form that grasps their essential personalities while conforming to classic young adult literature tropes. Her characterizations are well-matched by Picolo’s art, which grounds an otherwise fantastic narrative as the teens train their powers and abilities, building up to a thrilling chase scene that closes out the novel. The final effect is reminiscent of a children’s adventure movie, like The Goonies or The Monster Squad.
Teen Titans: Robin is rated 13+ by the publisher and I consider that to be a fair rating. There’s no sexual content beyond kissing and no violence beyond martial arts sparring. There are a few intense moments where Raven tries to use her powers to see through the eyes of her demonic father, Trigon, but nothing inappropriate to the intended teen audience.
Teen Titans: Robin (Teen Titans, bk 4) By Kami Garcia Art by Gabriel Picolo DC, 2003 ISBN: 9781779512246
Love comes in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s between adventurous pirates, burgeoning demon hunters, smooth spies, or even your average couple trying to make it all work. Young Men in Love, edited by Joe Glass and Matt Miner, showcases all these relationships and more, containing twenty stories from queer creators devoted to exploring the romantic hurdles and queer joy of male/masculine couples. This graphic novel boasts a variety of genres: fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance, contemporary slice of life, etc., ensuring that each reader will be able to find at least a story or two to enjoy.
Typical of most anthologies, not every story is going to be as hard hitting as the next one. With an average length of four to eight pages, there are some that struggle to break beyond their concept, leaving the reader more with an idea rather than a fleshed out narrative. The majority of contributors, however, manage to pace their stories so that, though we may not spend much time with these characters, they still leave a great amount of impact. Despite the varying appeal of each story, there is an admirable amount of honesty, vulnerability, and love interwoven within them all. An immense sense of pride lives in these pages that comes from an unwavering self-acceptance and the ability to love openly without shame or fear. Moments of loneliness, depression, and doubt play roles in multiple stories, but they always come around to love in the end, whether it comes from a partner or within themselves.
Given the graphic novel’s notable range in terms of content and themes, there are several stories that display aspects of queerness that are rarely discussed in the community. Ned Barnett and Ian Bisbal’s “Another Name” deals with a trans man realizing his identity and coming out to his partner in what was once a heterosexual relationship, highlighting the fears and anxiety that may come with such a discovery. “Act of Grace,” written by Anthony Oliveira and illustrated by Nick Robles, follows a teen expressing religious guilt to his priest, afraid of how his feelings for a boy may conflict with his Catholic upbringing. Editor Joe Glass, along with Auguste Kanakis, throw in a moving inclusion in “Love Yourself,” which has a character experience the fetishization of plus sized men in the community and how validation and love for someone comes from appreciating and celebrating the whole of them rather than a singular aspect. These are all facets to the queer experience that I have seen firsthand, but seldom are they reflected in media tailored to those they are meant to represent. Seeing these conflicts approached and resolved with such depth and respect allows the reader a touch of hope and comfort, even if they may not entirely relate to it.
Intent on including as many voices and experiences as possible, Young Men in Love also gives a tremendous amount of diverse representation in terms of ethnicity and body type. It shies away from solely depicting the stereotypical skinny, white, gay man, as there are several stories with black, brown, and plus-sized protagonists. What’s so refreshing about these depictions is that, aside from “Another Name” and “Love Yourself,” none of the stories make the characters’ backgrounds the focal point of their conflict. They exist as people foremost, without their identities being a source of added trauma.
As there is a separate artist accompanying each installment, there is a vast variety in art styles, ranging from charmingly cartoonish to engagingly realistic. I will forever throw praise onto Nick Robles, who puts so much life into his textures and instills a healthy dose of emotion and drama into “Act of Grace” through his use of lighting and character expressions. There is something Leyendecker-esque about his style where he captures the male form exceptionally well, making it the perfect fit for this collection. I also really appreciated the yellow tinge given to the palette and borders of Paul Allor and Lane Lloyd’s “The Way Home,” producing a nostalgic effect reminiscent of those old comics that had probably been left in the basement for too long. Overall, there is a vibrant rainbow of color throughout the graphic novel, as the reader is treated to vibrant pastels to moody, atmospheric shadows. Each story, as a result, becomes visually distinct and memorable, even if its content may not have lived up to the one that preceded it. None of the art in this graphic novel disappoints, which brings a certain coherence to all the differing perspectives within.
For fans of uplifting romantic stories with happy endings or layered depictions of queer experiences, Young Men in Love will hit that emotional, sappy spot in spades. As a romance comic, the content is fairly clean, with nothing going further than the occasional cuddle or kiss. The featured protagonists range from being young teens to full adults, so it may appeal most to readers fourteen and up. Librarians and educators looking to obtain graphic novels with positive and varied queer representation from queer creators should consider purchasing this title.
Young Men in Love Vol. By Joe Glass, Matt Miner A Wave Blue World, 2022 ISBN: 9781949518207
Publisher Age Rating: 13+ NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Black, Brazilian, British, Canadian, Greek, Latinx, Malaysian, Mexican-American, Bisexual, Gay, Queer, Nonbinary, Trans Character Representation: Black, British, East Asian, Latinx, Gay, Queer, Nonbinary, Trans, Catholic
Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure dramatizes the remarkable true story of Kate Warne, the Pinkerton detective who foiled a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the eve of his inauguration. Blending madcap adventure with historical drama, this lively graphic novel delivers a timely story about heroism and resistance during a time of political disunion.
Kate Warne has already become one of Pinkerton’s most valuable operatives when she’s dispatched to 1861 Baltimore, where secessionists are rumored to be planning a presidential assassination. Taking on a pro-slavery persona in order to infiltrate the conspiracy, Warne soon meets her match in the form of real-life Confederate spy Rose Greenhow. Like Warne, Greenhow is a widow who defies the gender conventions of her day in service to political goals. But where Warne is committed to preserving the Union, Greenhow’s racist ideology has made her a committed defender of the slaveholding South.
This book hews fairly close to what little we know of Warne’s life, though there are certainly elements of historical license. As the Pinkerton Detective Agency’s first female detective, Warne uses gender roles to her advantage, slipping past her opponents by adopting unassuming personas such as fortune teller or society woman. Warne’s exploits, and those of her all-female team, have a Delilah Dirk zaniness, with familiar spy tropes (disguises! gadgets! explosions!) playing out against a historical backdrop. George Schall’s elegant artwork features a muted Victorian color palette and beautifully rendered period settings and costumes.
Author Jeff Jensen doesn’t shy from the painful history that animates Better Angels. Warne and the women around her—including an eminently likable Mary Todd Lincoln—are depicted as plucky heroes, but there are no simple victories here. Through the Pinkertons’ efforts, Lincoln’s assassination is merely deferred; Baltimore is dragged from the brink of secession but remains a city of enslavers. The book also poses questions about the meaning of Warne’s heroism against a backdrop of inequality—though I wish some of its analysis had gone a little deeper. Warne’s boss, Allan Pinkerton, is depicted as an opportunist motivated by greed and clout as much as patriotism, but this novel still read like good press for the Pinkertons, an agency that would later carry out decades of violence against organized labor. The sidelining of Black characters also feels like a missed opportunity; the sole Black Pinkerton, Kew, voices her discomfort with watching Warne effortlessly move through white supremacist circles, but Kew herself is an underdeveloped character, her name a throwaway James Bond joke.
Better Angels is an enjoyable adventure story that serves as an engaging introduction to Kate Warne and her legacy, and it’s an earnest, if flawed, attempt to wrest heroism from a disturbing period in American history. A winning cast of characters and strong production values make it worth considering for adult and young adult collections.
Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure By Jeff Jensen Art by George Schall BOOM! Archaia, 2021 ISBN: 9781684157365
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Brazilian, Trans Character Representation: American
Princess Shuri of Wakanda may be just a kid, but she has invented a weather-control device. Surely this will win her the kind of respect accorded to her older brother, T’Challa. And when the sacred Soul Washing Ceremony is threatened by rain, Shuri sees her chance. Fancy tech isn’t allowed at the ceremony, but surely this is worth making an exception! But when she tries to use her invention to clear up the weather, T’Challa steps in to stop her and things go terribly wrong.
Now a frightening illness is striking people who were at the ceremony—including Shuri’s mother. Is it a curse brought on by Shuri and T’Challa for angering their ancestors? Shuri has to fix this, and she might know a way. A cure is said to lie in the fabled Heartlands and while most people don’t believe the Heartlands are real, Shuri thinks she knows how to find them. Since no one will listen to her, she’s going after the cure alone. Or she would, if T’Challa didn’t insist on following her…
This action-packed story features much younger versions of Shuri and T’Challa than we see in most Black Panther stories, but with the seeds of their adult personalities: a serious T’Challa who desperately wants to live up to his title and responsibilities, and a brilliant Shuri who loves making fun of her brother. Readers are treated to the rich backdrop of Wakanda, including technology, traditions, clothing, and more. There is also a secondary setting, the Heartlands, where over a third of the story takes place: a fantastical jungle in which Shuri and T’Challa meet strange creatures and uncover secrets about themselves and Wakanda’s history.
Our two young heroes have some typical sibling arguments and resentments, but they come through for each other when it counts. The events of this story prompt them to talk about a tough issue: Shuri only exists because her mother married their father after T’Challa’s birth mother died, leading Shuri to wonder if T’Challa resents her. This question is handled with sensitivity and warmth. The siblings clearly love and support each other, though with a hearty dose of good-humored ribbing.
There is a small amount of comic-book violence, with no blood or serious injury to anyone. The “techno-organic virus” is visually creepy, and the illness adds high stakes to the story, threatening the lives of Shuri’s mom and others. The story does not shy away from serious and emotional issues like complicated family dynamics and the importance of doing the right thing even when it might have a heavy cost.
The art is vividly colorful, with many panels flooded with pink, purple, turquoise, and other lively colors that emphasize the vibrant setting. The characters are expressive, but at different levels, suiting their personalities: exuberant Shuri has her big emotions on display, while T’Challa can be more restrained. The outfits—from ceremonial finery to casual wear to uniforms—contribute to the immersive setting, as do the various backgrounds, ranging from jungle to laboratory to the palace library.
This fun and heartfelt stand-alone story presents a kid-friendly adventure with relatable versions of two popular Marvel characters. Hand it to young fans of Black Panther and other Marvel properties.
Shuri and T’Challa: Into the Heartlands By Roseanne Brown Art by Claudia Aguirre, Dika Araújo, Natacha Bustos, Ellen Willcox Scholastic GRAPHIX, 2022 ISBN: 9781338648058
Publisher Age Rating: 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Tween (10-13) Creator Representation: Brazilian, Ghanian-American, Mexican, Spanish, Lesbian Character Representation: Black
Writer Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo have teamed up to create a trilogy of graphic novels featuring DC’s Teen Titans. Raven and Beast Boy each had a stand-alone, titular story before meeting up in this third volume, Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven.
The comic book publishing powerhouse began branching into middle grade graphic novels with the DC Super Hero Girls series for young readers, while exploring the YA demographic with the DC Ink line of graphic novels. The imprint released Mera: Tidebreaker, Catwoman: Under the Moon and Teen Titans: Raven but rebranded before releasing Teen Titans: Beast Boy, now just under the imprint DC.
The results of this rebranding and expansion into Young Adult graphic novels has yielded some amazing new work. This trilogy is no exception. The teenage superheroes gained popularity with the Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! animated series. Beast Boy and Raven’s series has a ready-made audience of fans who enjoyed the animated series, but are ready for a more mature storyline.
Raven is Rachel “Raven” Roth, orphaned when her foster mother is killed in a car accident that robs the 17 year-old of her memory. Raven is taken in by her foster mother’s sister in New Orleans and has to navigate a new home, new high school, and her burgeoning mysterious powers. Raven is a half-demon—born of a witch and a powerful, evil demon named Trigon. Raven’s mother imprisoned Trigon in a crystal in order to protect her baby, but Trigon is determined to escape and claim his daughter, and her powers, as his own.
Teen Titans: Raven, excellently drawn in black and white with muted purple accents, is a story about a young woman finding herself, finding her power, and connecting with other women in her life. The climax of the story is an incredible battle between the living and the dead, with Raven recovering her lost memories and renewed purpose. She is also contacted by a mysterious character named Slade, who promises her he knows how to defeat Trigon once and for all.
Beast Boy is Logan Garfield, goofy high school senior, worried about his physical size, getting bullied, and his senior year bucket list. His parents are scientists researching vaccines for rare diseases. As a toddler, Logan contracted a rare illness. In an attempt to save him, his father used an experimental treatment involving a West African green monkey (the only animal immune to the disease). Teenage Logan’s parents give him a “supplement” for his illness that actually suppresses his pituitary gland (also inhibiting his physical development). After he ditches the pills, strange things begin happening.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy, also mostly drawn in black and white, with some green highlights, is a story about change and development, both physical and emotional. It’s about a young man faced with lies and unsure of whom to trust.
Unable to explain what’s happening to him, Logan is also contacted by Slade. Slade reveals that he worked with Logan’s parents at an organization called H.I.V.E. When Logan confronts his parents, he is horrified that they experimented on their child. Angry and distrustful, he runs away to meet Slade and find out the reality of his condition.
In Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven, the pair of teens are lured to Nashville by Slade Wilson, so of course, they cross paths. The pair remain unsure of who to trust but take a liking to each other. Unbeknownst to them, Raven has been followed to Nashville by her powerful foster sister, Max.
Slade’s plans include more than just Logan and Raven. Damian Wayne, son of Batman, also received a missive from the H.I.V.E. operative and shows up in Nashville. A dangerous trap is set as H.I.V.E. plans to use the teens (metahumans) for military experiments. The question is whether these young people can outwit Wilson and his boss, Adeline Kane.
Gabriel Picolo’s fresh take on teen superheroes started as fan art. His reimaginings gained so much attention online that DC took notice. This series features the heroes as real teens, casually dressed, and without a lot of superhero gear. From their t-shirts to their scuffed sneakers they are relatable and attractive.
Kami Garcia’s writing takes on each character’s origin story without a lot of exposition. She lets Picolo’s art do some of the heavy lifting. She doesn’t dumb down any of the comic characters’ histories, but she doesn’t drown the reader in obscure details or too much storytelling. There are some solid subplots. Logan frees animals from a lab, and gains a cute monkey companion. Raven falls for a boy, experiences her first kiss, and is crushed by his betrayal. Of course superheroes and the dangers they face can be metaphorical, but they represent real issues and problems faced by teenagers every day.
This series is a must for teen or young adult graphic novel collections. And adults (especially DC fans) will enjoy them, individually or together. The graphic novels are rated for teens 12+ and feature minimal violence, no sex, or drug use. They are a fast read and a fresh, exciting take on the teen superhero genre.
Teen Titans: Raven, Beast Boy and Beast Boy Loves Raven trilogy By Kami Garcia Art by Gabriel Picolo DC, 2019 Teen Titans: Raven ISBN: 9781401286231 Teen Titans: Beast Boy ISBN: 9781401287191 Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven ISBN: 9781779503862
Publisher Age Rating: 12+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Brazilian
Sometimes a family can be made up of a fairy godfather, a beast man (a troll variant to be specific), and a baby they found in the woods. Or, at least in this case, a begrudging family. After a brief spat over who should take care of the child, Razzmatazz, the fairy, and Bon, the beast man, come to an agreement to raise her together, donning the guise of a perfectly normal human couple. Despite their initial hostility, they eventually grow closer and open up to one another, slowly coming to the realization that perhaps there is more to their relationship than just a simple ruse. Originally a Patreon-exclusive webcomic, Life of Melody makes its print debut with a charmingly domestic story about found family and the lengths one may go to be with the ones they love.
Mari Costa’s comic thrives as a humorous, and at times extremely emotional, romantic comedy. Razzmatazz (honestly, how awesome a name is that?) and Bon stand as the ideal odd couple, one being erratic, high-strung, and only a little awkward, and the other more down-to-earth, composed, and rational, though still able to comically point out the eccentricities of his partner. Their dynamic is one of the highlights of the comic, as it comes off as equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. Since the story spans a handful of years, we get to see their bond develop naturally over time despite the short page length. Due to the length, however, the pace seems somewhat rushed at the beginning, as Costa sets up their first meeting, co-parenting agreement, and moving in together all in the first chapter. Beyond that, the pace thankfully evens out once we see the two acquire jobs, make friends, and cement their places in the community as they find the best way to raise their daughter, Melody.
Costa expertly weaves emotional and comedic storytelling through her artistic style, whether it’s through expressive facial features or the lighting of a certain frame. When a character experiences a strong feeling, such as fear, stress, or anger, the panel is flooded with shades of red, making the character’s emotions immediately transparent and usually evokes an amused response. The same technique is also apparent when a character is more downcast, as the panel grows noticeably darker. This gives a feeling of visual diversity, as the entire comic is filled with a wide range of colors that perfectly capture the mood of each scene. The fact that the story takes place over a long period of time only heightens this quality, as it also gives Costa the opportunity to showcase each season in her style. I particularly enjoyed seeing the characters interacting with the lush greens of spring and summer, the rich orange tones of autumn, and the crisp blues and whites of winter. Overall, the use of color gives the comic its own versatile identity and only draws us in more to the beauty of the passage of time and emotional growth of the characters.
One aspect that I truly admire about this story is its LGBTQ+ representation, especially since this particular title is recommended for ages 13 and up. Typically, in comics targeted towards this age group, the characters in question are teens themselves, dealing with their own age-specific issues or even the ever present “coming out” narrative. While it is important for queer teens to see themselves represented on the page with characters their own age, it is equally important to show that there is hope for them in the future. Very rarely are there LGBTQ+ comics for teens that focus on adult protagonists dealing with adult issues, since there is the fear that they will not connect to the older characters or themes, or the material may not be entirely appropriate for the demographic. The only one that immediately comes to mind is Bingo Love by Tee Franklin, which is about two older women rekindling a romance they had in their teen years. With Razzmatazz and Bon’s relationship, it shows teens that queer relationships are sustainable and that it is possible to settle down and have a family, should they want to pursue a domestic life. It also helps that their relationship is normalized in this world, and that there are queer side characters as well. For so many queer teens, just being able to survive into adulthood is a major achievement, and comics like Life of Melody help them believe that they can make it there.
For that reason alone, I would heartily recommend it to audiences 13 and older. The story incorporates certain tropes that they may be familiar with and enjoy if they are interested in romantic comedies, such as odd couples, enemies-to-lovers, and a slow burn romance, as well as a captivating visual style. Librarians wanting to diversify their young adult comic collections or add more genre or content variety to the queer stories already on hand should consider purchasing this title.
Life of Melody By Mari Costa Seven Seas, 2021 ISBN: 9781648276491
Publisher Age Rating: 13+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Brazilian, Portuguese, Lesbian, Character Representation: Not Our Earth, Gay,
Dear Justice League is a bridge between two worlds of superhero fandom. One is populated by children in love with superheroes because of their adventures and unquestionable coolness. On the other are adults who research and harbor enough opinions about superheroes to write a Ph.D. thesis. Both sides tend to wish for an elusive kind of superhero story: one written and drawn full of joy. Dear Justice League is that wish granted, mainly for kids, but adults chasing an innocent-but-fun superhero vibe will grin ear to ear during this book. Each chapter of the book features a different member of the Justice League answering a letter from a child, often revealing some humanizing foible about themselves in the process.
Gustavo Duarte’s artwork captures these heroes during their less-than-heroic moments, which may not be violent or melodramatic, but they add so much dimension to each character as they brainstorm their replies. Kendra/Hawkgirl taking a long slurp out of a soda can, Simon/Green Lantern typing alone on top of a skyscraper, Clark/Superman holding multiple leashes for a dog walker—these glimpses go a long way toward showing how their secret and public identities are intertwined, taking readers “under the hood” of their practical personalities. Wide panels and arrows with humorous captions make the art and its intentions crystal clear. A battle against an insectoid invasion near the end lets the heroes (and Duarte) show off their battle prowess, but that’s not the main draw of the book. The consistent theme of Dear Justice League is that reaching inside yourself to provide a positive (if self-effacing) example only makes you more extraordinary.
Duarte’s expressive illustrations and easy-to-follow layouts, similar to his work on Bizarro, shine a fun light within the DC universe. Wes Abbott’s lettering makes distinguishing dialog, captions, and written responses a breeze, while Marcelo Maiolo’s colors are bright and always serve to make characters and action pop. The art team’s efforts complement each other at every turn—a two-page spread of Diana/Wonder Woman playing Pin The Tail On The Kanga blindfolded uses color changes, sound effects, fonts, and linked panels to effectively convey how she plays the game.
Michael Northrop’s scenarios show off the kids’ and Justice League’s personalities in tandem. A question to Arthur/Aquaman about how he smells turns into an extended gag about his lack of self-awareness. A couple of knuckleheads try to prank Barry/Flash (from the school library, no less!), only to be shown up in a lighthearted way. DC’s icons are cooler for relating to kids on their level. Bruce/Batman’s clocked plenty of villains, but check out the utility kit he designs for someone’s first day at a new school. Diana/Wonder Woman gains credibility for giving advice based on gross mistake she made as a child. Victor/Cyborg kind of gets the short end of the “heartwarming self-awareness” stick, with his chapter mostly setting up the alien battle finale.
This graphic novel is a must-have for your children’s section, and don’t be surprised when you spot parents and older fans flipping through it, too. There’s plenty of heart and kid-friendly antics to earn this book a recommended spot on your juvenile graphic novels shelf. Also of note: African American Victor/Cyborg, Hispanic Kendra/Hawkgirl, and Lebanese-American Simon/Green Lantern are all colored in different shades of brown, and a black Amazon appears in Diana/Wonder Woman’s childhood flashback. While the League’s specific cultural makeup is not addressed beyond a Themysciran flashback, it’s still nice to see color that matters beyond a green ring or scarlet blur. A cute bonus section at the back details League members’ bios, including those of some super-pets and the book’s creators.
Dear Justice League By Michael Northrup Art by Gustavo Duarte ISBN: 9781401284138 DC Comics, 2019 Publisher Age Rating: E (everyone) NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11)
Browse for more like this title Character Traits: Black, Hispanic, Middle Eastern
The trouble with reviewing a great graphic novel is that reviewing it can be as simple as recounting what happens and how, followed by, “and all of it is done really well.” Brazilian twin brothers Fabio Moon and Gabriel Bá adapt Brazilian author Milton Hatoum’s novel Dois Irmaos (published as The Brothers in English) into Two Brothers, a tale of fictional twin brothers who follow drastically different life paths and the families swept up in their wake. Two Brothers is also a tale of mid-1900s Brazil and Lebanon, youth and age, optimism and resignation.
Moon and Bá make a number of interesting artistic decisions for this book, including the black and white color scheme and how it reflects the diverse perspectives of the narrative. When the defining dramatic split between the twins Omar and Yaqub occurs, in which Omar scars Yaqub’s face with a bottle, Yaqub’s blood is shown as white on himself and the bottle, but black on Omar and the floor. There is a visual suggestion that Yaqub’s childhood has been forever corrupted by this event, and his swift maturity into adulthood as a shy engineer supports this reading. Omar, who lazes about and acts on instinct, gets kicked out of school for assaulting his math teacher and stays close to his mother. Both twins have unrestrained libidos, following in their father’s footsteps, who gets his own flashback chapter (circa 1914) filling in some of the family history of how the twins’ parents met. There are a number of one-panel sex scenes, some topless, and they fit the adult narrative in a way that is not gratuitous. Between the twins’ childhoods, adulthoods, and their parents’ backstory, there are several eras reflecting each other decades apart.
Their family calls Manaus, Brazil home, though their roots extend to Lebanon. The narrator’s identity, as well as several other developments in all their lives, are gradually fed to the reader in deliberately paced chapters that take full advantage of the comics page. Moon and Bá are adept at establishing a street corner, parade, harbor, dance party, mansion, and anyplace else subject to the main family’s high drama. Black and white space are frequently used to depict gulfs between characters, closely guarded secrets, and spread out settings. Within these spaces are the alternately grizzled, naive, horny, suspicious, jealous, and tired faces of the cast, each depending on where the plot has flash-forwarded or flash-backed.
Two Brothers is a literary adaptation par excellence, and much of its richness is beneath the surface. Readers with insight and perhaps the time for a second reading will pick up on reflections within reflections, as much of the book’s meaning goes unsaid. This is not only a mature book in terms of blood and sex, though there are scenes of each, but a book with mature demands to make of the reader. Moon and Bá, channeling the original novel’s author Hatoum, traverse eras, cultures, identities, and generations, and together create a densely layered story that reaches far higher than any individual scene or single character’s emotion. This is a tapestry across time, and graphic novel collections should display it with pride and let patrons know “all of it is done really well.”
Two Brothers by Fabio Moon, Gabriel Bá ISBN: 9781616558567 Dark Horse, 2015
revenge for being replaced at birth by a changeling. Aisling is that changeling, although she had no idea of her fae heritage and neither did her parents because they don’t recognize her without the glamour she’s been wearing. As they travel through the fae lands, both Aisling and Forget-Me-Not discover they have more in common than they originally thought and start developing a relationship. We learn more about the fae lands through Aisling’s interactions (and almost disasters) and Forget-Me-Not’s backstory about growing up in an alien world that isn’t hospitable to humans. The story wraps up at the end of this volume and provides an epilogue to tie up all the loose ends of the relationship between our two main characters.
Teen Titans: Robin was uncharted territory for me and yet oddly familiar at the same time. As a teen librarian, I was familiar with Kami Garcia’s novels, but I had never read any graphic novels she had written. I was likewise well versed in the Teen Titans characters, but this was unlike any Teen Titans comic I had read before. I didn’t recognize the name of artist Gabriel Picolo, but I recognized his art from various social media posts showing more slice-of-life Anime inspired takes on the Teen Titans characters.
Love comes in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s between adventurous pirates, burgeoning demon hunters, smooth spies, or even your average couple trying to make it all work. Young Men in Love, edited by Joe Glass and Matt Miner, showcases all these relationships and more, containing twenty stories from queer creators devoted to exploring the romantic hurdles and queer joy of male/masculine couples. This graphic novel boasts a variety of genres: fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance, contemporary slice of life, etc., ensuring that each reader will be able to find at least a story or two to enjoy.
Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure 
Princess Shuri of Wakanda may be just a kid, but she has invented a weather-control device. Surely this will win her the kind of respect accorded to her older brother, T’Challa. And when the sacred Soul Washing Ceremony is threatened by rain, Shuri sees her chance. Fancy tech isn’t allowed at the ceremony, but surely this is worth making an exception! But when she tries to use her invention to clear up the weather, T’Challa steps in to stop her and things go terribly wrong.
Writer Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo have teamed up to create a trilogy of graphic novels featuring DC’s Teen Titans. Raven and Beast Boy each had a stand-alone, titular story before meeting up in this third volume, 
Sometimes a family can be made up of a fairy godfather, a beast man (a troll variant to be specific), and a baby they found in the woods. Or, at least in this case, a begrudging family. After a brief spat over who should take care of the child, Razzmatazz, the fairy, and Bon, the beast man, come to an agreement to raise her together, donning the guise of a perfectly normal human couple. Despite their initial hostility, they eventually grow closer and open up to one another, slowly coming to the realization that perhaps there is more to their relationship than just a simple ruse. Originally a Patreon-exclusive webcomic, Life of Melody makes its print debut with a charmingly domestic story about found family and the lengths one may go to be with the ones they love.
Dear Justice League is a bridge between two worlds of superhero fandom. One is populated by children in love with superheroes because of their adventures and unquestionable coolness. On the other are adults who research and harbor enough opinions about superheroes to write a Ph.D. thesis. Both sides tend to wish for an elusive kind of superhero story: one written and drawn full of joy. Dear Justice League is that wish granted, mainly for kids, but adults chasing an innocent-but-fun superhero vibe will grin ear to ear during this book. Each chapter of the book features a different member of the Justice League answering a letter from a child, often revealing some humanizing foible about themselves in the process.
The trouble with reviewing a great graphic novel is that reviewing it can be as simple as recounting what happens and how, followed by, “and all of it is done really well.” Brazilian twin brothers Fabio Moon and Gabriel Bá adapt Brazilian author Milton Hatoum’s novel Dois Irmaos (published as The Brothers in English) into Two Brothers, a tale of fictional twin brothers who follow drastically different life paths and the families swept up in their wake. Two Brothers is also a tale of mid-1900s Brazil and Lebanon, youth and age, optimism and resignation.
