When young orphan Billy Batson says the magic word, a bolt of magical lightning comes from the sky and transforms Billy into Shazam, the World’s Mightiest Mortal, an adult-looking, Superman-like hero that has at his disposal abilities like the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, etc. Billy Batson/Shazam looks like he’s cut from the same archetype as Superman, but his purview is the magical threats within the DC universe. He is also perhaps the most misunderstood. Though he has been portrayed as old-fashioned and hopelessly naive, even his nemesis Dr. Sivana refers to him as “The Big Red Cheese,” this is because he is a child in an adult body, which happens to be a popular power fantasy among children who have very little autonomy. Approaching the world with a childlike earnestness, Shazam also operates in a world where magic is real and dangerous, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for fantastical whimsy that’s perfect for kids of all ages. Librarians with fantasy fans and superhero readers will find plenty to love about the World’s Mightiest Mortal (or the Big Red Cheese).
Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!: Family Affair
Mike Kunkel
At least a spiritual successor to Jeff Smith’s take on Shazam, this all-ages comic doubles down on the whimsical fantasy, thanks mostly to the artwork and the subject matter. Billy is still an adult when transformed, while Mary transforms into the same girl whose superspeed reflects her own boundless energy. Even antihero Black Adam is portrayed as a boy Billy’s age until he discovers the secret word and then becomes his archenemy.
Appeals to
Librarians (and readers) looking for an all-ages book, fans of sibling dynamics.
Shazam and the Seven Magic Lands
Geoff Johns
Dale Eaglesham
A continuation of Geoff Johns’s story, this book finds Shazam and his foster siblings fighting crime while keeping their superheroic activities a secret. Then the kids discover a train car that takes them to the aforementioned magical lands where they encounter everything from talking tigers to tin men. This also leaves their world at the mercy of villains like Dr. Sivana and Mr. Mind. Johns both creates a fun story with high stakes and expands the Shazam universe.
Appeals to
Fans of the movie and of Geoff Johns’s take on Shazam.
Shazam: A Celebration of 75 Years
Bill Parker
C. C. Beck
One jam-packed book that introduces every era of Shazam, from his days at Fawcett to his current movie starring Zach Levi. A collection of some of his best-known stories, this volume has everyone from the Shazam/Marvel family to antihero Black Adam. And at a price point of about $35 dollars (depending on where your library buys graphic novels), it won’t break the budget.
Appeals to
Those who want an overall introduction to Captain Marvel/Shazam, librarians who want to save money.
Shazam!: Origins
Geoff Johns
Gary Frank
The origin story that inspired the movie. Writer Geoff Johns, responsible for most of the current DC Universe, imagines Billy Batson as a brash teenager who still has a good heart, which is why he’s chosen to be the wizard Shazam’s champion. Of course, as he discovers his powers, he also uses the fact that he looks like an adult to buy beer while also doing good deeds. This story also introduces a different kind of Shazam family, featuring sidekick Freddy Freeman and older sister/voice of reason Mary Marvel.
Appeals to
Teens who love magic and protagonists who aren’t squeaky clean.
Content Notes
Appears in the final part of Shazam!: A Celebration of 75 Years. Also reprinted as Shazam!: Vol. 1 (The New 52).
Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil
Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith, writer of Bone, offers a retelling of Billy Batson becoming the champion of magic. This series is notable because it presents Billy Batson and Shazam as two distinct personalities who switch places when one utters the magic word. It also offers some charming dynamics between Billy and Shazam, as well as Billy and his younger superpowered sister Mary, while also offering some retro thrills that might remind readers of rollicking adventure comics like The Adventures of Tin-Tin and The Rocketeer.
Appeals to
Kids (and adults) who like adventure comics, superhero comics, and Jeff Smith
Content Notes
Issue #2 is contained in Shazam!: A Celebration of 75 Years
Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder
Judd Winick
Joshua Middleton
Judd Winick, writer of Batman: Under the Red Hood and Hilo, tells the story of the first meeting between the World’s Mightiest Mortal and the Man of Steel. This book features the oft-repeated ritual of two heroes bonding over battling giant monsters and maniacal supervillains, but Winick, who also wrote the powerful biographical book Pedro and Me, knows how to give the reader an emotional gut punch that makes the meeting between these two heroes all the more sincere.
Appeals to
Fans of Superman, Shazam, and of comic team-ups in general. Fans of emotional depth in superhero stories.
These titles showcase Shazam’s appeal across different age groups while also keeping the basics of the character intact. Readers might see a lot of themselves in Billy Batson, and they should feel the tiniest bit of electricity when he says his magic word.
With the Wonder Woman movie’s rave reviews, there’s sure to be an increase in people wanting to check out her comic book origins. But after 75 years of adventures, figuring out which ones to read or select for your library can be challenging. Thankfully, Matthew Morrison has selected their personal top picks for Wonder Woman comics.
Wonder Woman: Rebirth Vol. 1 – The Lies: 9781401267780 Vol. 2 – Year One: 9781401268800 Vol. 3 – The Truth: 9781401271411 (August, 2017) Vol. 4 – Godwatch: 9781401274603 (November, 2017)
If you don’t get any other Wonder Woman comics from this list, this is the series to pick up. The DC Rebirth Wonder Woman book is actually telling two stories. The odd-numbered issues of the monthly comic have detailed Diana’s adventures in the present as she struggles to uncover the truth of her origins in the wake of discovering that everything she knew (i.e. The New 52 reality) was a lie. The even-numbered issues have retold Diana’s origin story in the new reality of Rebirth. Written by beloved author Greg Rucka with art by Liam Sharp and Nicola Scott, these books truly are wonders.
Collecting all of the volumes of DC Comics’ sadly short-lived digital-first Wonder Woman anthology series, these volumes are a real treat. Opening up with a story by Gail Simone (with art by fan-favorite Green Lantern artist Ethan Van Sciver) where Wonder Woman steps in to help clean up Gotham City on a dark night when Batman is busy, this anthology features great Wonder Woman stories from a variety of writers and artists.
Wonder Woman by George Perez Vol. 1 : 9781401263751 Vol. 2 : 9781401269067 (June, 2017)
Not to be confused with the Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus editions (which collect the same stories, in much more expensive hardcover editions) these paperback volumes collect the first stories featuring Wonder Woman as we know her today. These two volumes are a must-have for any collection!
Originally assisted by writer Len Wein, artist George Perez took over writing and art duties on the Wonder Woman title in 1987, revamping her in the wake of Crisis On Infinite Earths. Gone were the invisible jet and the loss of her powers when bound by a man. This Wonder Woman flew under her own power and was every bit a match for Superman in the strength department.
Wonder Woman: War Of The Gods ISBN: 9781401261078
Another classic tale by George Perez, this one depicts a battle between the Greek and Roman gods with Diana—and all the other heroes with ties to classical mythology—being caught in the middle.
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon ISBN: 9781401249014
Written and illustrated by Jill Thompson (creator of Scary Godmother and co-creator of Beasts of Burden), this book, while not canon, remains a great alternate universe story about a young Princess Diana learning a harsh lesson. A must read for any fan.
Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77 ISBN: 9781401273859 (October, 2017)
For those who can’t think of Wonder Woman without thinking of Lynda Carter, this is the Wonder Woman comic for you! Set in the same reality as the classic TV show, this book maintains the same sense of family-friendly fun. Look out for a collection of the crossover mini-series with the Adam West Batman ’66 comic later this year!
Collecting the first run by acclaimed author Greg Rucka (who is writing the current Wonder Woman series as part of DC Comics Rebirth line), this series is another must-have. Rucka is rightly regarded as a master when it comes to writing strong female characters and his efforts to work more mythology into Diana’s adventures were second to none. [Editor’s note: These were originally collected in a slightly different format in the early to mid 2000s, so you might already have them in your collection.]
The Legend of Wonder Woman HC: 9781401267285 TP: 9781401274252 (November, 2017)
Collecting Renae De Liz’s excellent mini-series, this retro take on Wonder Woman’s origins set during World War II may prove an interesting contrast to the film, which is set during WWI.
Wonder Woman by Gail Simone
Wonder Woman: The Circle HC: 9781401219321 TP: 9781401220112
Wonder Woman: Ends Of The Earth HC: 9781401221362 TP: 9781401221379
Wonder Woman: Rise Of The Olympian HC: 9781401225407 TP: 9781401225131
Wonder Woman: Warkiller TP: 9781401227791
Wonder Woman: Contagion TP: 9781401229207
Sadly out of print but well worth tracking down, Gail Simone was the longest-running female writer to handle the monthly Wonder Woman book as well as one of the most critically acclaimed authors to ever handle The Amazing Amazon. Simone’s run explored both the implications of the Amazon culture and the glory of the DC Comics Universe. A prime example of this is Diana winning the service of a small army of talking gorillas as a result of an honor duel. Silly at times, but absolutely wonderful.
Wonder Woman: Her Greatest Battles ISBN: 9781401268978
Included only for the sake of completeness, this anthology volume collects a sampling of stories from many of the other collections described in this article. Good if your budget prevents you from acquiring everything on this list. Otherwise, skip it.
Librarians may be tempted to pick up this series because it is critically acclaimed and easily accessible. Don’t. While some people who don’t normally read Wonder Woman found this series to be a breath of fresh air, long-time fans were rightly horrified by The New 52 Wonder Woman series. [You can check out our review of the first volume – ed.]
Why? Well, ignoring the new conceit that Diana’s powers come from her being a bastard daughter of Zeus and that her skill as a warrior came from her receiving private lessons from Ares, there’s the fact that the Amazon society of the New 52 universe consists of a bunch of barbarian serial rapists who sell their sons into slavery.
While this may be more accurate to the depiction of Amazons in Greek mythology, it flies in the face of everything the Amazon culture, as envisioned by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston, is meant to stand for, to say nothing of skirting the upper edges of a “T for Teen” rating. The later volumes written by Meredith Finch [Here’s our review of her first volume – ed.] are not any better, with many Wonder Woman fans considering the idea of Wonder Woman taking Ares’ place as God of War as antithetical to the character’s base concept.
This book is…complicated, to put it politely and mildly. While it’s a fantastic intellectual exercise for comic geeks, it falls flat as a story that can be enjoyed by any but the most devout of comic history buffs.
Writer Grant Morrison claims to have researched classic feminist theory in an effort to capture the feel of the original Marston comics, but he succeeds only in capturing just how weird Golden Age Wonder Woman could be. While his take on Amazon culture does include openly gay relationships (and indeed is described as a paradise island of science-fiction lesbians with a side of bondage) his updated version of Diana’s sidekick, Etta Candy, gets fat-shamed by the Amazons and the bondage elements of Amazon society seem wholly gratuitous.
Still, Morrison does have some good ideas here even if there’s not much of a plot pushing them forward. One of the better innovations is Steve Trevor being black, which leads to a great scene of his talking with Hippolyta about how his ancestors were enslaved by men in power as well.
Wonder Woman and The Justice League of America Vol. 1: 9781401268343 Vol. 2: 9781401274009 (October, 2017)
This is another one we’re going to have to warn you away from. While the 1990s era Justice League stories contained in this volume aren’t terrible, they aren’t notable and Diana is but one character of a larger ensemble. The first printing of volume one also featured a printing error with multiple out-of-order pages. If you already have it in your collection it’s worth double checking which version you have, as DC are issuing replacement copies with a corrected page order.
Wonder Woman by Mike Deodato ISBN: 9781401261061
Reprinting all of the Wonder Woman comics drawn by fan-favorite artist Mike Deodato, this volume is mostly of interest to art fans as a study in contrast. The story—by William Messner-Loebs—has Diana losing her position to the more aggressive Artemis, after Queen Hippolyta demands a new contest to allow all the Amazons a chance.
While this is the series that put Deodato on the map back in the 1990s, the work that brought him critical acclaim came years later after he adopted a more photo-realistic style while working on The Incredible Hulk with Bruce Jones. Before that, Deodato’s work resembled that of Jim Lee, with elongated bodies and exaggerated facial expressions. While Deodato isn’t a bad artist at this early stage, he had an unfortunate tendency to indulge in fan-service, which undercuts Messner-Loebs’ story. All the Amazon warriors are depicted wearing thongs or toga-style dresses that somehow ride-up to leave their rear ends completely exposed! And the less said about Diana’s “costume” (a black leather strapless bra with matching jacket and black spandex shorts!) after her position as Wonder Woman is usurped, the better.
Wonder Woman by John Byrne Vol. 1: 9781401270841 (June, 2017)
Picking up where Mike Deodato’s run on Wonder Woman ended, the writer/artist who redefined Superman in 1986’s The Man of Steel took his turn in redeveloping Wonder Woman. Opinion is divided on Byrne as a creator, but his run on Wonder Woman—while not as beloved as Greg Rucka’s—is notable for having introduced the second Wonder Girl, Cassandra Sandsmark.
Wonder Woman: Who Is Wonder Woman? ISBN: 9781401272333
This is another one to avoid at all cost. While you might be tempted to give it a try based on the pedigree of Sex and the City writer Allan Heinberg being involved, the only thing this series was notable for as a monthly comic was being continually late and leading into the infamously awful Amazons Attack mini-series.
UPDATED AUGUST 2016 – Librarians across the country run Japanese manga and anime clubs of all types, most frequently appealing to middle school and high school age fans. In recent years it’s been trickier to navigate getting the appropriate licenses to show anime, but now the streaming site Crunchyroll has stepped up and offered access to their many streaming series to libraries.
The best thing about Crunchyroll is that they have a wide range of shows, both brand new and older, and if you sign up through their library service, there are no ads.
A few pointers for using Crunchyroll with your club:
There are no age ratings on Crunchyroll, so think through which shows you’ll screen ahead of time. If possible, pre-screen titles to be sure they fit with your club and community standards. Teen members may not have quite the same radar as librarians for what’s appropriate, so initially it’s a good idea to take a look at series yourself.
The videos are all streaming, so be sure you have either a solid wireless connection or a wired connection that will allow the videos to stream without interruption. It’s incredibly convenient to have streaming choices, but it’s also terribly frustrating if your connection delays or disrupts play.
The majority of videos on Crunchyroll are subtitled, not dubbed. In my library’s club at the Public Library of Brookline, watching the titles with Japanese dialog and English subtitles is part of the point of the club experience. However, if you have any members in your club who devotees of dubbed anime, they will be out of luck.
To help all of you librarians and clubs out there get to know the options offered, we’ve curated a list of the best Crunchyroll titles available for club screenings. With this 2016 update, we’ve also included a number of older teen/adult titles for those of you running adult anime clubs or clubs at universities, so make sure you check those age recommendations.
Read on and enjoy!
This list of over fifty recommended titles was originally compiled and updated this year by our anime enthusiasts on staff: Jenny, Jessikah, Marissa, Megan, Michelle, Thomas, and Allen. If you have any questions, ask ’em in the comments!
The Best of Crunchyroll
5 Centimeters per Second
Distributor/Producer: CoMixWave Films Release Year: 2007 Elevator Pitch: Two people who’ve gradually lost touch with one another look back at their once-close childhood relationship and wonder about what might have been. This early Makoto Shinkai film is as quiet, beautiful, and melancholic as we’ve come to expect from anything he creates. His fascination with animating the play of light is almost reason enough to watch his films. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of bittersweet romance and of films more focused on emotion and atmosphere than plot. The slower pacing and adult-looking-back perspective will probably appeal most to older teen and adult viewers. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: There’s not much of concern to note. Direct link: 5 Centimeters Per Second
Ano Natsu de Matteru
Distributor/Producer: Showgate (Sentai) Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: This series centers on a small-town teen witness to a strange explosion he later remembers nothing about. He gets together with his friends over the summer in order to make a movie about aliens, not immediately realizing that the cute new upperclassman who has conveniently moved in with him for the interim may actually be an alien herself. Pretty animation, unique characters, and surprising twists on a seemingly familiar premise make this funny, romantic, sometimes dramatic series worth a watch. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of other teen-boy-meets-alien?-girl stories, only with a little more emotional drama and a little less action (although there’s plenty of the latter bookending the show). Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Potential alien Takatsuki is clearly drawn with fan service in mind and doesn’t always go around the house in full attire. Direct link: Ano Natsu de Matteru (Waiting in the Summer)
Arakawa Under the Bridge
Distributor/Producer: NIS America Release Year: 2010 / 2010 Elevator Pitch: When debt-averse corporate heir Ko loses his pants and falls off a bridge, he’s rescued by Nino, a beautiful but spacey young woman who lives beneath the bridge, claims to be from Venus, and asks him to pay her back by “experiencing love” with her. Drawn into her community of riverside eccentrics–including a kappa-costumed chief, a star-masked guitarist, a well-armed nun in drag, and many, many others–Ko doesn’t realize just how well he fits in with the variously odd, ill, and wounded individuals who’ve found a home and acceptance on the riverbank. Unpredictable, hysterical, and heart-squeezing. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of stories about quasi families, flawed point-of-view characters, and all around nuttiness. The off-the-wall humor and personalities have a lot in common with Gintama, though perhaps a little more refined. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: The humor can be a little adult in nature and there are occasionally-bared bottoms, but nothing graphic or gratuitous and no sex (despite what you might think from the premise). Some of the characters may have more colorful vocabularies than others and there’s a good deal of humor-based violence with characters beating or shooting the tar out of one another with no lasting damage. Direct link: Arakawa Under the Bridge
Beyond the Boundary
Distributor/Producer: TBS (Sentai) Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: Akihito, an easygoing boy of mixed human and youmu (a type of dangerous supernatural being) parentage, finds his immortality being tested daily by shy new student Kuriyama. Having someone try to kill you every day gets tiresome. He eventually persuades her to practice her youmu hunting skills on actual threats, but personal and communal secrets and corruption could undermine their fragile friendship and put everyone around them in danger. This series has some engaging drama and humor, but the attractive visuals and especially the fluidly animated action scenes are the clear highlight and make the less carefully tended narrative nevertheless worth your time. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of moe heroines, half-monster heroes, and emotional fantasy action. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Akihito’s friend’s year-older brother has an openly acknowledged sister complex played for laughs. Direct link: Beyond the Boundary
Blue Exorcist
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex Release Year: 2011 Elevator Pitch: Learning that he’s literally the son of Satan understandably throws teenage Rin for a loop. Still, the love and support of family and friends and his faith in his own better nature help him to accept himself, build lasting bonds, and fight the forces of darkness that threaten their world. To do that, he enrolls in a mysterious school for exorcists where he learns how to deal with other people as well as how to control his powers so he can someday take on his old man. Rin’s a fun, surprisingly angst-free lead in this supernatural action series. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of teamwork stories, supernatural battles, and cheerful half-demon heroes who aren’t into brooding. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: A female teacher looks like a Gurren Lagann‘s Yoko wanna-be, only with less class and more ill-fitting attire and for no discernible reason other than to be tacky eye-candy. Milder fan service crops up with a few other female characters. With all the demon fighting / exorcising, there’s a fair amount of fantasy violence. Though it’s not gratuitous, it can be bloody, particularly with the emotionally intense yet narrative-essential death of a loved one early on in the series. Direct link: Blue Exorcist
Chihayafuru
Distributor/Producer: NTV Release Year: 2011 / 2013 Elevator Pitch: When shy boy Arata introduces kind tomboy Chihaya to the sport of karuta (a Memory-like card game in which opponents race to retrieve the card representing the second half of a recited classical poem), a fire is lit inside the middle-schooler and her life changes forever. Even after Arata moves away, Chihaya lives and breathes karuta, forming a high school team along with her best friend and unnoticed admirer Taichi. Together they take on the most powerful players in the country, including the reigning Queen. Watching karuta-obsessed Chihaya strive for her team and herself, and watching those who love her try to slowly work their way into her clueless heart while doing the same, is a joy. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of sports series, poetry, classical literature, karuta (obviously), romance, and friendship tales. If you enjoyed Hikaru no Go but want more giggles, emotion, and character development (and more action, as karuta combines both intellectual and physical prowess), this is for you. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: No content issues to speak of. Direct link: Chihayafuru
Chi’s Sweet Home: Chi’s New Address
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo Release Year: 2009 Elevator Pitch: In this sequel series to Chi’s Sweet Home, kitten Chi’s human family moves to a new home and she has to adjust. Short episodes follow her as she gets to know her new environment and neighbors and settles in. Suggested Age Range: Kids Appeals to: Cat lovers and those with a weakness for all things cute, fuzzy, and adorable. Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: There’s not much to worry about with this one beyond the potential for cuteness overload, although that may change as Chi grows up. Direct link: Chi’s Sweet Home: Chi’s New Address
Durarara!!
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex Release Year: 2010 Elevator Pitch: Mikado moves from the quiet suburbs to Tokyo’s frenetic Ikebukuro neighborhood to attend high school with his childhood friend, Kida. One by one, Kida introduces Mikado to the colorful locals but warns him away from the more dangerous elements. Unfortunately–or fortunately?–he can’t seem to avoid running into the latter, and soon the whole neighborhood is caught up in a complicated web of personal and supernatural secrets, underworld schemes, and corporate conspiracies. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of Baccano!‘s jumbled chronology, large and kooky cast, and smart, edgy, gleeful writing. Urban legend and folklore fans, social media addicts, and otaku will get a kick out of this, as well. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Though this series isn’t nearly as darkly violent as Baccano!, gang warfare can get pretty rough, as can a mysterious slasher roaming the alleys. Vending machines and lamp posts are used as weapons with surprising frequency (hee!). A pair of issue-ridden siblings have a disturbingly codependent relationship. A creepy teacher has his eye on a busty student. And a prominent female character has a non-graphic shower scene. Direct link: Durarara!!
The Eccentric Family
Distributor/Producer: Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (YTV) (NIS America) Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: Modern-day Kyoto finds humans, tengu, and tanuki sharing the same streets, but tensions are on the rise since the tragic death of the tanuki patriarch several years ago. Now his widow and four sons struggle to look after one another as politics, a bitter feud, and the dreaded Friday Fellows hotpot threaten far more than just the stability of their community. Shape-shifting, phantom trains, and sake-fueled flying teahouses are just a few of the selling points for this funny, dramatic, and surprisingly moving series about the bonds of family. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of folklore, tanuki tales, family stories, and edgy, unpredictable weirdness and wonder. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Yasaburo happily shape-shifts as a human girl for kicks while his mother regularly poses as a flamboyant human prince. Also, an aging tengu flirts with his human protégé, who is the focus of most of the series’ fan service–she’s attractive, knows it, and uses it–but it fits her and isn’t gratuitous. The fate of the boys’ father–and third son Yasaburo’s conflicted emotions regarding some of those responsible–takes the series into what might be uncomfortable territory for some viewers while simultaneously defining the show’s life-embracing themes. Direct link: The Eccentric Family
Eyeshield 21
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2005-2008 Elevator Pitch: A lowly gopher for school bullies turns out to have the agility and dodging skills needed to elevate his school’s football team into a competitive force. Now, to get the rest of the team up to speed… Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of team sports, slapstick, shonen-style progression of skills Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: There is a running gag of one of the tougher players on the team whipping out an uzi and opening fire to motivate everyone else into action or agreeing with him. In the context of the show’s tone and humor it’s just a gag, but in the moment it’s undeniably controversial.
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: Three short tales per episode relate common Japanese stories from folklore, mythology, and history. Some are cultural foundations, many are lessons on how to behave, and some are just plain fun. Japan-ophiles will happily recognize the originals of many popularly referenced figures like Momotaro (the Peach Boy), Princess Kaguya (she of the bamboo stalk), the Crane Wife, and many, many others. The animation style switches around from tale to tale–cartoony for some, delicately artsy for others–and all the voices are skillfully performed by the same two mature actors. Suggested Age Range: Younger Teen Appeals to: Fans of folklore and Japanese culture or anyone who wants to understand more jokes and allusions in their manga and anime without having to rely on an editor remembering to include translation notes. Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: This is marketed to younger kids in Japan. A few of the stories can be pretty somber and there’s occasional simplistic violence. But there’s also the likes of a tale revolving around a young wife who passes extremely forcible gas, so there ya go. Direct link: Folktales from Japan
Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Distributor/Producer: ABC Asahi Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: An all-boys swim team grows up and loses a founding member. The rest try to train up a new recruit and compete in a championship despite the return of their former friend as an opponent. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Gentle sense of humor, tales of friendship Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: This series is often billed as “fan service for girls” due to the cast of fit young men in swimming speedos. The camera’s gaze does not get pervy, but be aware the boys on this show will be in various stages of undress. Direct link: Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Distributor/Producer: GONZO (FUNimation, Geneon) Release Year: 2004 Elevator Pitch: Years after being betrayed by a friend and falsely imprisoned in an isolated space prison, Edmond Dantes returns to his former Parisian home in the guise of a fabulously wealthy and charming count from orbiting Luna in order to wreak terrible revenge on those responsible for his miseries. But what will he do when innocents threaten to become collateral damage in his initially righteous vendetta? Dumas’s classic gets a visually stunning, futuristic update, but the darkly fascinating conflict at its core remains the same. Suggested Age Range: Adult Appeals to: Lovers of the source material, slowly building psychological plots, complex revenge stories, science fiction, and groundbreaking visuals. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: The psychological drama can be intense, with sex and violence more than mere suggestion. Direct link: Gankutsuou
Gargantia on the Verduous Planet
Distributor/Producer: Production I.G. Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: Endless intergalactic war is all Ledo knows until he finds himself cast away on a strange planet covered in water. Now, Chamber the A.I. in his mecha suit is the only link to Ledo’s old life, and his only method of communicating with the strange inhabitants of a floating city known as Gargantia. Can Ledo adapt to a quiet life on the high seas or will the echos of the war he left behind threaten his new found peace? Suggested Age Range: Teen.
Appeals to: Fans of the Gundam series, Martian Successor Nadesico, Full Metal Panic, and even Last Exile should enjoy this. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: There is a bit of fan service in the way of busty female characters and an obligatory swimsuit episode. The series also takes a rather dark turn in later episodes. Direct link: Gargantia on the Verduous Planet
Gintama
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo (Sentai for Gintama) Release Year: 2006-2010 / 2012 Elevator Pitch: Instead of Admiral Perry and his “Black Ships,” aliens have forced 19th-century Japan to open its doors to the outside world(s). A few years later, former rebel samurai and diabetic sugar-fiend Gintoki partners up with Shinpachi (a serious young swordsman and pop idol fan club member)
and Kagura (an alien girl with crazy strength and an appetite to match Gin’s) to run an odd-jobs business. As they take on everything from lost cats to terrorist plots, the trio bicker amongst themselves, fail to pay the rent, get into trouble with / aid the Shinsengumi (Kyoto’s historical police force). On top of that, they battle gang bosses, adopt giant alien dogs, befriend the unemployed, and generally laze around, save the day, and leave almost as many messes as they clean up. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of Shonen Jump (the magazine’s other series are often fodder for jokes), alternate histories, sci-fi, the Shinsengumi, samurai action, quasi-family stories, and utter ridiculousness that doesn’t forget that viewers have hearts as well as funny bones. Viewers who enjoyed Samurai Champloo‘s mix of Edo era and Hip Hop culture and who appreciated the wackiness of its sillier episodes, might enjoy the goofiness and mash-up elements here, too. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: The often-juvenile, fourth-wall-breaking humor can be pretty crass and there’s a lot of focus on bodily functions (though thankfully pixelation saves the viewer’s eyes from anything too scarring). Swords and guns and other weapons get put to good use, with much of the violence fueling the humor and some the drama. The sub translators do a great job of explaining as many of the non-obvious Japanese pop cultural references as they can (and there are oodles of fun references!), so there can be a lot of text flashing by on the screen. Direct link: Gintama
Girls und Panzer
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: An all-girls high school tank team, located on a massive battleship, competes against other schools’ tank teams for personal fulfillment and school glory. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: High school comedy+drama fans, military hardware aficionados Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: The tanks used by the schools enact a war-games level of violence (rubber bullets, no blood) that nonetheless requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief while accepting that the characters are kind of in danger no matter what.
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex Release Year: 2007 Elevator Pitch: Simon lives in a subterranean society, drilling holes whenever he can. He unearths the drill-shaped key to a giant robot, setting off a course of events that will lead to discovering the truth about the surface world and beyond. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Mecha/Action fanatics, big team efforts, strength gained from one’s burning passion for life Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Jiggle-related fan service and leering male gaze. Direct link: Gurren Lagann
Haikyu
Distributor/Producer: Production I.G. Release Year: 2014/2015 Elevator Pitch: Haikyu follows volleyball newcomer Shoyo Hinata and his team Karasano’s quest to make it to the high school championships. They have a long way to go though, and clashing teammates and their powerful opponents are not going to make it easy! Full of action, great, character dynamics, and comedy, Haikyu moves along at a steady pace that leaves viewers wanting more; one particular strength of Haikyu is that the show’s tension revolves primarily around a positive spirit of competition and characters’ drive to improve. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Sports story fans and athletes; anyone who enjoys positive, light-hearted shows Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: Some of the adult characters are seen drinking, and one adult character smokes. One of the female characters is regularly put on a pedestal, although images of her do not quite cross the line into fan service.
Distributor/Producer: Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (YTV) (NIS America) Release Year: 2011 Elevator Pitch: Teen Ohana gets shipped off by her single mom to live with her strict grandmother who runs a popular inn in a resort town. As she struggles to fit in and get to know her prickly guardian, Ohana learns the value or hard work, comes to better understand her flighty mother and other family members, and starts to think about what she wants for her own future. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of coming-of-age stories and family dramas. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: The fan service is mostly mild, although one of the guests is a writer of steamy novels and tries to use the young female staff as models for his work. Direct link: Hanasaku Iroha
Horror News
Distributor/Producer: Next Media Animation Release Year: 2014 Elevator Pitch: First-year middle schooler Rei encounters an odd newspaper from tomorrow that tells of his teacher dying in a car accident. The next day, he witnesses that very accident, and dreads ever seeing that newspaper again. That midnight, and every midnight following, he is forced to bear witness to new editions of Horror News. Suggested Age Range: Younger Teen, Teen Appeals to: Fans of Death Note or the stylings of Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories Suitable for middle school? Maybe! Content notes: While the series is rooted in horror and death, the episodes are short and the premise is undeniably silly.
Distributor/Producer: NIS America Release Year: 2010 Elevator Pitch: Awkward ronin Masa hires himself out as a bodyguard only to learn that the man he’s protecting is actually part of a kidnapping ring called The Five Leaves. The more Masa gets to know enigmatic Yaichi and his atypical cohorts, the more he’s drawn into their tightly knit group and the more he sympathizes with their complicated motives. As the past catches up with them, Masa’s selfless heart may be just as important as his skillful blade in protecting his new comrades from their own demons. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of samurai stories, slowly unraveled mysteries, quasi family stories, and Natsume Ono’s haunted-eyed character art. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Yaichi’s past is not a happy one and a late flashback leaves little doubt as to the sad and bloody violence off-screen. Direct link: House of Five Leaves
Kids On The Slope
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: In 1966, an honor roll student new to town and a “bad boy” classmate become friends who bond over music. Yoko Kanno’s soundtrack uses classic jazz standards, and the series builds to a fusion of songs in a masterful performance. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Musicians, romantics Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: We recommend this for “Older Teen” not because of anything inappropriate, but because the mood and pace of the show reward a mature viewing, is all. We predict librarians who watch along with their teens will get just as sucked into this period drama.
Distributor/Producer: ADK (Bandai) Release Year: 2012 / 2013 Elevator Pitch: Kuroko—indispensable yet invisible member of The Generation of Miracles, the core players of Japan’s greatest middle school basketball team—decides to keep playing, and growing, in high school despite the fact that his former teammates have all scattered to different schools. Now his goal is to bond with his new teammates and show the old ones what can be accomplished when they don’t just focus on individual gain. Fast, over-the-top basketball action, friendship, and teamwork take center stage. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of other fun and involving sports series like Eyeshield 21 and Slam Dunk!. As with Free! Iwatobi Swim Club, due to the friends-and-rivals themes and the cast of attractive young fellows, yaoi fans seem to get as much (non-canon) fun out of the show as the sports lovers do the basketball. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: The sub translators occasionally go with the mildly stronger four-letter alternatives when the boys are under pressure, but not often enough to ruffle too many feathers. The doting father of the boys’ coach, a female classmate, is somewhat creepily obsessed with his daughter, but thankfully his role is minimal. The requisite hot springs episode has veiled nudity from both sexes, but everything’s played for laughs and there’s no sexual content. Direct link: Kuroko’s Basketball
Little Witch Academia
Distributor/Producer: Trigger Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: Hoping to become just like her idol, a witch named Shiny Chariot, Akko enrolls in Luna Nova Academy. Sadly, Akko has little magical talent, and her love for Chariot (who is considered to be hokey by “real” witches) makes her a bit of an outcast. When Diana Cavendish, the most popular girl in school accidentally unleashes a dangerous magic on Luna Nova, only Akko can save the academy, by using Shiny Chariot’s magic. Suggested Age Range: Younger Teen Appeals to: Fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service could find much to like in this short. A sequel is currently in production. Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: There is little to worry about when it comes to content. Direct link: Little Witch Academia
Lovely Muuuuuuuco!
Distributor/Producer: Doga Kobo Release Year: 2015-Present Elevator Pitch: Look at this Akita! Ahhhh! He and his owner live in the mountains, where Akita meets all sorts of people and has cute reactions to everything. Suggested Age Range: Younger Teen Appeals to: Comedy, Slice of life, Dog people who feel cheated by Chi’s Sweet Home Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: Too cute, proceed with caution
Distributor/Producer: Media Factory Release Year: 2014 Elevator Pitch: Chiyo Sakura finally gets the guts to speak to her crush, Umetaro Nozaki. However, he mistakes her attempt to talk as a request for his autograph (he is a manga-ka of a shojo manga). He has his eye on Chiyo for her art skills to assist him with his manga, so she decides to work with him and attempts to let him know her feelings. Hilarity ensues as the series progresses and we truly see how oblivious the hardworking Nozaki-kun is. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Those who enjoy romance in a slice-of-life setting. Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: There is some mild language and verbal innuendo.
Distributor/Producer: Pierrot (studio) Release Year: 2015-present Elevator Pitch: Sextuplet brothers, formerly featured in a 1960s anime, try to get along in the modern world. Themed episodes and gags abound, mixing styles of humor new and old. The only predictable thing about this show is its unpredictability. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen, Adult Appeals to: People in need of a South Park fix Suitable for middle school? NO Content notes: This series has a way of swerving from a silly pun or visual gag to blurred nudity and outright dirty jokes. You’d better review each episode in advance… but the stuff you do show will be hilarious. Direct link:Mr. Osomatsu
Mushi-Shi
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex Release Year: 2014 / 2014 Elevator Pitch: Invisible to most, mushi are elemental life forms of seemingly infinite variety that occasionally cross paths with humans. When these interactions lead to problems, Ginko remedies them. Folklore, natural beauty, and deftly created atmosphere make this show the perfect antidote to life’s often frenetic pace. Please note: Crunchyroll has the license for the OVA (original video animation) release and the sequel series, not the original Mushi-shi. The first series is available on DVD through Funimation and streaming at their site. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of folklore and quietly absorbing supernatural tales. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: The usually quiet tenor of the show (action scenes are rare but very effective) won’t suit all viewers. Some of the results of human-mushi interaction can be quite dark and somber, but not in the way of graphic horror. Direct link: Mushi-shi
My Love Story!!
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2015 Elevator Pitch: Takeo, a hulking beast of a teenager with a heart of gold, saves a girl on a train, Rinko, from a pervert. He is used to being overlooked by girls in favor of his pretty-boy pal Makoto, but Rinko only has eyes for Takeo. Watching Takeo’s exagerrated reactions to the simple joys of young love is at turns hilarious and heartwarming. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Romantics, people with strong opinions about the term “nice guy,” people who enjoy seeing a sweethearted romance turn out well Suitable for middle school? Yes
Elevator Pitch: Phantom thieves can make miracles happen, and Joker is the ultimate thief. Unlike burglars, phantom thieves use cool gadgets and always give advance notice for what treasures they plan to steal.
Suggested Age Range: Children
Appeals to: Recommend to children and tweens who like silly humor, colorful artwork, and plot-driven adventure stories.
Distributor/Producer: ADK (Aniplex, TV Tokyo) Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: A friendless, serious girl focused on her studies unintentionally acquires an unpredictable, high-energy, semi-delinquent boyfriend with no social skills, significant emotional baggage, and a big heart. Will sensible Mitty be able to calm Haru’s wild nature? Will sweet Haru be able to soften Mitty’s cold one? Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of silly romantic school comedies plus emotional conflict. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Haru throws rape out as a casual verbal threat early on, and while it’s likely he has little idea what he’s saying, it’s still disturbing. He also isn’t very careful when he gets excited or angry and accidentally bloodies Mitty’s nose on more than one occasion, though this is more clearly part of his character development and one hopes a second season will see him be more conscious and thoughtful of those around him. Direct link: My Little Monster
Nagi no Asukara
Distributor/Producer: Showgate (NIS America) Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: Four middle-schoolers from an underwater village attend school on the surface and struggle to fit in without losing their heritage or their hearts. Soon, however, the culture clash and the complicated emotional webs tying the kids from both worlds to one another take a back seat to larger concerns that could affect all life above and below the surface. The atmosphere in this beautifully animated and carefully sound-edited show is almost a character unto itself including a sunlit seaside village of peeling aquamarine paint, rusting boats, and abandoned bridge supports leading nowhere. The impressively depicted emotional development of the characters is just that much more reason to watch it. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of love polygons, “the feels,” and subtle fantasy world-building that leaves viewers increasingly goosebump-y and wondering what’s really happening in the bigger picture. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: One supernatural adult character is known to appreciate porn. There are a few instances of very mild fan service, as with obscured nudity in relevant non-sexual situations or when one of the girls is accidentally walked-in on while changing, but nothing offensive. Direct link: Nagi no Asukara (Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea)
Natsume Yujin-cho
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo / ADK (NIS America) Release Year: 2008-2011 / 2012 Elevator Pitch: Natsume has always been able to see yokai (supernatural beings that share the world with humans), but his misunderstood behavior has only gotten him shuffled from one family to another. Now in high school and finally settled with kind relatives, he discovers his deceased grandmother’s secret book filled with the names of yokai she bested. Since the potentially powerful book makes him vulnerable to greedy yokai, Natsume strikes a bargain with a strong yokai named Madara (who often takes the form of a tubby calico-ish cat, earning him the nickname Nyanko-sensei.) Madara protects him–and crankily complains–as Natsume returns names to their owners, makes friends, and learns to trust others and himself. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of folklore, quiet supernatural tales with a little action and a lot of emotion, and kitty lovers. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: There’s no fan service, but some of the less pleasant yokai (and a few humans) Natsume encounters can be pretty unsettling and violent, though not usually graphically so. Also, Nyanko-sensei is a hard-drinking yokai kitty. Direct link: Natsume Yujin-cho (Natsume’s Book of Friends)
Parasyte -the maxim-
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2014-2015 Elevator Pitch: Earth is being invaded by tiny beings that bore into the skin and control their hosts. Collectively, these parasites have agreed to covertly breach humanity’s halls of power and feast on the creatures of Earth. Some people were able to stop their parasites partway up their bodies and formed symbiotic relationships instead, gaining powers of shapeshifting and advanced phsyique. With civilization in the crosshairs of a devoted alien species, can the symbiotes broker a peace? Suggested Age Range: Older Teen, Adult Appeals to: Horror fans who like a little philosophy with their gore Suitable for middle school? NO Content notes: Lots of violence and blood, plus swearing. Explores mature themes of dominant species on Earth, the morality of taking a life, and profound grief at the death of one’s family. Direct link:Parasyte
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex; Madman Entertainment
Release Year: 2011
Elevator Pitch: When middle-schooler Madoka Kaname rescues a mysterious creature Kyubey, he asks her to make a contract with him and become a magical girl to fight witches, spirits who channel negative emotions and make things worse. Magical girl Homura tries to keep Madoka and her friends from becoming magical girls, but things quickly unravel; unfolding events reveal just what it means to be a magical girl. Cute artwork contrasts with a dark, twisted storyline and creates a compelling series that viewers won’t want to miss.
Suggested Age Range: Older Teen
Appeals to: fans of dark fantasy; fans of stories that play with familiar concepts
Suitable for middle school? No
Content notes: As the series progresses, many of the characters’ struggles will be too nuanced for younger audiences.
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2015 Elevator Pitch: Sakura once snuck into the spirit world as a child, and upon her return gained hte ability to see ghosts. Rin-Ne is half-human, half-shinigami who offers to solve people’s ghost problems for a fee via prayer box. Together, these two get to the bottom of a lot of paranormal shenanigans. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of action-comedy afterlife adventures such as Noragami or Bleach, or Rumiko Takahashi’s other madcap series Ranma 1/2 and Inu-Yasha Suitable for middle school? Yes
Distributor/Producer: Ponycan USA Release Year: 2015 Elevator Pitch: Six heroes bearing marks of destiny embark on an adventure to defeat a great evil sweeping the land. However, they soon discover seven members among their party and must deduce which of them is a traitor sent to sabotage the group. Their different abilities and backgrounds set them against each other as subtle clues guide the viewer through the mystery. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Swords & sorcery fans, whodunnit hounds Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Some of the ladies’ costumes are particularly revealing
Distributor/Producer: Rooster Teeth Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: The evil Creatures of Grimm are back. Hunters and Huntsmen, humans who can utilize the magical properties of “Dust” to create weapons, are Earth’s only hope. RWBY follows a group of teens in battle school as they train to become successful warriors. Can these new students set aside their differences and complete their training? Suggested Age Range: Official DVD rating is 13+ Appeals to: This anime-style CGI series is fast-paced (each episode is between 6 and 11 minutes) and chock full of action. The music and graphics are amazing. The series is familiar yet unique, giving it wide appeal. Suitable for Middle School? Yes Content Notes: Mild violence during fight scenes Direct link: RWBY
Samurai Flamenco
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex Release Year: 2013-2014 Elevator Pitch: A male model who grew up on sentai superhero shows decides to become a crimefighter by night, Samurai Flamenco, employing common office supplies and a heart full of gumption. He is assisted by a police officer and a trio of copycats dubbed the Flamenco Girls… but what if their hijinks poke the hornet’s nest of true supervillains they never knew were real? Suggested Age Range: Older Teen, Adult Appeals to: Fans of Kick-Ass, Power Rangers, and Sailor Moon, and especially combinations in-between Suitable for middle school? NO Content notes: The series seems to be a lighthearted take on ordinary people playing superhero, but elevates the stakes and violence in a mid-series pivot that takes the story down some dark roads. Also, the Sailor Moon analogs, the Flamenco Girls, have a fixation on defeating men by crushing their balls. Direct link:Samurai Flamenco
School Live!
Distribution/Producer: Madman Entertainment
Year: 2015
Elevator Pitch: A group of high school girls create the School Living Club after a zombie attack that originates in their school destroys everything.
Suggested Age Range: Teen
Appeal to: Recommend to those who like slice-of-life stories with more of a focus on characterization. The twists and turns, as well as the psychological aspect of dealing with trauma set against the backdrop of a generally humorous series with a cute animation style is reminiscent of Madoka Magica.
Suitable for Middle School?: No
Content Notes: There is a scene where they are trying on bikinis at the mall, as well as a scene where one of the girls is in the shower (nothing explicit is shown, however) . There’s occasional violence against the zombies, but it’s not gratuitous and the zombies are only shown as black shadows. An important part of the story is the way the main character deals with the zombie attack which is by blocking out that it ever happens. As the series progresses, it’s revealed that people she talks to and many of the things she sees are not really there but are part of her delusion.
Distributor/Producer: Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (YTV) (Sentai) Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: Brothers Mutta and Hibito have wanted to be astronauts since they were children, but somewhere along the way Mutta got sidetracked. After headbutting his boss (and subsequently losing his job) at an auto engineering firm, awkward Mutta has the chance to rediscover his love of space and to catch up to his free-spirited little brother–who’s scheduled to be the first Japanese person on the moon. The path won’t be easy for either of these wicked-smart goofballs, but their bonds of family and friendship, as well as the dedication and sacrifice of their colleagues and those who’ve come before, will support them through good times and bad as they strive for their dream. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Anyone who thought it would be awesome to be an astronaut when they were kids, who casually follows the doings of NASA or JAXA (Japan’s space agency), who can’t help but click on articles about Mars rovers or newly discovered dwarf planets beyond the Kuiper Belt, or who has grinned like a 10-year old while searching Youtube for Chris Hadfield videos. If you enjoy stories that focus on character and plot development over wall-to-wall action, this show’s patient pace as it follows the daily ins and outs of training, team building, and near-future space science will be an inspiring, uplifting addition to your day. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: There’s little fan service to speak of here, though the characters are adults in the main story and a joke here and there may be more directed at that audience (such as Mutta’s conversation with the doctor during his physical). Similarly, adult characters drink and a few smoke. Some international astronauts are depicted with unfortunate stereotypes, yet they are all portrayed as sympathetic characters whom the leads eventually get to know and respect as individuals. The latter doesn’t make the former ok, but it softens any unintentional offense. Direct link: Space Brothers
Sword Art Online (SAO)
Distributor/Producer: Madman Entertainment/Aniplex of America Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: Everyone is excited for the official release of SAO, an advanced Virtual Reality MMORPG, but the excitement quickly dwindles when players realize they are the subject of a horrific human experiment. Players are stuck in the game, with any death resulting in death in real life, until someone can beat the game. Suggested Age Range: T+ Appeals to: One of the hottest shows of summer 2013, SAO effectively portrays every aspect of an MMORPG world as well as the realistic implications of being stuck inside the game, fighting for your life. Fans of virtual reality anime like .Hack//Sign, Summer Wars, and Accel World will love this; however, the series goes far beyond the virtual reality component, which is why it has been so broadly popular. Suitable for Middle School? No Content Notes: Lots of psychological warfare going on here in addition to game violence. Part two has more of that going on than part one. Direct link: Sword Art Online
Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo (Sentai) Release Year: 2009 / 2010 Elevator Pitch: After his mother is taken away by strange men from the Capital, little Lag Sing follows in his idol Gauche’s footsteps to become a Letter Bee who delivers mail (and therefore heart) to individuals across their artificially lit world. But once he arrives at Bee HQ, he learns Gauche has mysteriously vanished. Never losing faith in his friend, Lag is determined to find and help both Gauche and his own missing mother while fulfilling his Bee calling and uncovering the truth behind their world’s artificial sun. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of fantasy, friendship tales, government conspiracy stories, sweet crybaby leads, and the color blue. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: To deliver letters, Bees have to use special heart-firing weapons (mostly guns) to dispatch giant armored insects that can leave human victims as nothing but empty shells. One of the older female Bees is clearly uniformed for fan service reasons (though everything’s covered, it’s low-slung and plenty tight). Lag’s magical assistant, Niche, is a strange, stubborn little girl-being who doesn’t always agree to wear underpants (though as she and Lag are both such innocents, this is only played for humor). Another magical being pretty much only bothers with “clothes” (e.g., her prehensile hair wrapped around her important bits like armor) for the sake of others’ sensibilities. Direct link: Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee
Time of Eve
Distributor/Producer: DIRECTIONS, Inc. Release Year: 2008 Elevator Pitch: In the near future, androids are the walking appliance servants of convenience. At the Time of Eve cafe, the cardinal rule is that nobody may discriminate between humans and androids. Androids frequent the cafe without any identifying features to distinguish them from humans. Each episode examines a different customer. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Thinkers, thought experiments, examinations of artificial intelligence Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: This series was originally released as six 15-minute episodes, but watching them all in one sitting like a movie works well. Direct link: Time of Eve
Tonari No Seki-kun: The Master of Wasting Time
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2015 Elevator Pitch: You have never seen someone go to the lengths Seki does to entertain himself during class, and neither has his desk neighbor, Rumi. As she watches his inventive games unfold, she can’t help but get absorbed and guess at the rules he invents for himself. Each episode only lasts a few minutes and comes with an extremely catchy ending theme. Suggested Age Range: Kids, Younger Teen, Teen Appeals to: Anyone who’s ever been bored in class, fans of Calvinball or Rube Goldberg devices Suitable for middle school? Yes
Distributor/Producer: Aniplex Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: Yuki moves constantly and has trouble making friends. The friends he makes on the island of Enoshima go fishing together, and together with a duck named Tapioca, they must stop an alien invasion. A breezy summer comedy that slowly builds toward world-at-stake adventure. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Breezy summer comedy Suitable for middle school? Yes Content notes: There is a girl who wears a bikini for the whole series, but her appearance is not subject to leering Direct link: Tsuritama
Utakoi
Distributor/Producer: ADK (Aniplex, TV Tokyo) Release Year: 2012 Elevator Pitch: A handful of Japan’s celebrated 100 Poems, familiar to US viewers as those used in the competitive card game of karuta, are loosely adapted into prettily-animated, interconnected stories depicting their poets and the often bittersweet experiences that may have shaped and inspired their art. Presenting the tales is witty Teiko, one of the authors and the man responsible for the poems’ compilation in the first place. To balance the melancholy of many of the backstories, amusingly anachronistic framing devices have Teiko chatting up the viewer, appearing on a talk show gossiping about the poets as if they’re reality TV personalities, and taking on a fellow compilation editor in a YuGiOh-style poetry card battle. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of romance, historical fiction, historical literature, anachronism, and especially lovers of Chihayafuru who want to learn more about the poems and poets at its heart. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: As many of the poems revolve around romantic love, sex comes up both as a topic and as plot, though it’s treated with the same courtly decorum as period manners call for, so there’s nothing much on-screen beyond dramatic kisses, pillow talk, and winking wordplay. Direct link: Utakoi
Witch Craft Works
Distributor/Producer: Kodansha Release Year: 2014 Elevator Pitch: Honoka Takemiya is always crossing paths with the school “princess”, Ayaka Kagari. What Takamiya is about to find out is that none of this is a mistake. Kagari is a “Workshop Witch”, who is sworn to protect Takamiya from the “Tower Witches” who would misuse a power hidden inside his body. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of harem anime. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: There is some suggestive dialogue, and several busty female characters vying for a piece of Takamiya. However, the switched gender roles of Takamiya and Kagari set this series apart from other harem series. Also, note that various historical methods of torture used to expose “witches” are referenced in a comedic sense. It’s all very silly, but slightly disturbing. Direct link: Witch Craft Works
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo Release Year: 2013 Elevator Pitch: Before manga or anime, there were picture storytellers who’d use paper cutouts and lanterns to draw in and entertain their outdoor audiences. Here the creators put that style to creepy use in this series of five-minute chillers featuring things like broken seals, haunted hospitals, and department store elevators that only go all the way to the “basement.” Each starts out quietly enough but builds to a shock that can make you jump even when you know it’s coming. Suggested Age Range: Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of dark folklore, horror stories, and bite-sized scares that give you the heebie-jeebies (I don’t recommend watching the reverse “banzai!” story right before bedtime–unless, of course, that’s your thing). The back lit cut-out style animation may appeal to those looking to see something a little different. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: There’s no fan service, overly-strong language, or on-screen violence here, but the sudden reveals may disturb younger viewers. Direct link: Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Yona of the Dawn
Distributor/Producer: Pierrot Co., Ltd. Release Year: 2014 Elevator Pitch: Yona is the sole heir and pampered daughter of King Il, ruler of the land of Kouka which is said to have been founded by four magical dragons. Yona is in love with her cousin, Soo-won, but her father does not approve of the match. During her birthday celebration, her life is turned upside down when Soo-won murders her father and assumes the throne. Yona escapes with her bodyguard and childhood friend Hak with plans to grow stronger to reclaim the throne one day. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fantasy fans and those who enjoy coming of age stories with a bit of romance. Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: There are depictions of combat and several battles sequences. The violence is not gratuitous, but appropriate for the context of the battles.
Distributor/Producer: TV Tokyo Release Year: 2011 / 2012 Elevator Pitch: Four childhood friends (an uptight scholar, a gentle nurturer, and a pair of sardonic identical twins) enter high school and go about their days talking and arguing about games, girls, homework, interest clubs, and whatever else comes up as they hang out at home and at school. They soon befriend an outgoing transfer student and the five boys pick on and rely on each other as they grow up a little, wrestle with first loves, and watch nervously as graduation and change loom ever closer. Silliness and warmth make this show about adolescence and friendship a happy mix of stress-relieving giggles and thoughtfulness. Suggested Age Range: Teen Appeals to: Fans of quiet, slice-of-life stories where not much happens but that’s perfectly ok. If you enjoyed The Daily Lives of High School Boys and would like to try a similarly-themed show with a little less fan service, a little longer attention span, and more emotional investment, this is for you. Also, there are random symbolic cats—so, yay! Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: Studious Kaname’s mom is overly attached to him, which amuses his friends to no end but makes the viewer a little uncomfortable. Direct link: You and Me
Young Black Jack
Distributor/Producer: Sentai Filmworks Release Year: 2015 Elevator Pitch: Before Hazama was the two-fisted surgeon with the hands of God known as Black Jack, he was a med school student eager to prove himself. From the jungles of the Vietnam War to black-market organ markets, Hazama must use his prodigal surgical skills and knowledge, as well as honed sense of the sanctity of life, to save himself and others. Suggested Age Range: Teen, Older Teen Appeals to: Fans of medical dramas and Osamu Tezuka series Suitable for middle school? No Content notes: There will be lots of surgeries and bloody messes by the end of this series, but any violence is always used in service of the story. Here and in his classic series, Black Jack often comes across Twilight Zone-esque quandaries where his moral clarity often conquers the short-term emergency but fails to cure the evil in people’s hearts.
Elevator Pitch: As a child, Kousei was a prodigy pianist, but after his terminally ill mother passed away, he was unable to hear the music or see the notes. When he meets Kaori, a brilliant violinist with a vibrant personality, he slowly learns to love music again.
Suggested Age Range: Teen
Appeal to: This is a beautifully animated slice-of-life series about a boy overcoming loss and navigating through the struggles of being known as a protege musician. It will appeal to those who like character-driven coming-of age stories as well as those who love anime with a music theme.
Suitable for Middle School?: No
Content Notes: One of the images in the Opening has Kousei and Kaori twirling around to music without clothes on. In the first episode, Kousei is recording Kaori playing her violin. A big gust of wind blows her skirt and she thinks he’s videotaping her so she hits him while accusing him of ruining her for marriage. There are a few scenes Kousei remembers from his childhood when his mother, knowing she would die soon and never play piano again, physically and mentally abuses Kousei.
Today’s graphic literature fans are enjoying a golden age of television and movies undreamed of. Whether you’re a fan of superheroics, spy-thrillers, or horror, there’s something for virtually everyone. But what happens when someone goes looking for the books that inspired their favorite shows? More often than not they get confused,.
It’s fairly simple to track down The Walking Dead books. iZombie and Preacher (soon to be a series on AMC) have been collected into neat little volumes. Even the various volumes of Hellblazer aren’t too difficult to navigate for those proud Constantine fans still hoping for a revival on The CW Network. But where do you send the little girls who want to see more Supergirl? The tweens who want to read about The Flash? The teens who want more Green Arrow?
Face Front, True Believers! We’ve got the reading lists to help you save the day!
Deadpool
Thanks to Thomas Maluck (TM) and Jennifer Wharton (JW) for writing the recommendations in this list.
Recommendations are listed alphabetically by title.
Content notes: Content notes for all titles listed here consist of “bloody violence and crude humor”.
Suggested Age Range: Age ranges for all titles list here are “15 and up”
Deadpool, Vol. 1: Dead Presidents
Written by Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan Art by Tony Moore
ISBN: 9780785166801 Published: 2013
Elevator Pitch: This is the first part of a much longer Deadpool series, kicking off here with a SHIELD-assigned black ops mission to take out reanimated ex-presidents (can you imagine the PR nightmare?). Deadpool is happy to play the absurd jester of the Marvel universe, but there’s plenty of tragedy and regret in Wade Wilson’s life in future volumes, too. (TM)
Appeals to: Fans of Deadpool! And ghosts of dead American presidents.
Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
Written by Daniel Way and Andy Diggle Art by Steve Dillon, Paco Medina, Carlo Barberi, and Bong Dazo
ISBN: 9780785185321 Published: 2013
Elevator Pitch: The Skrulls are attacking and Deadpool is there to save the day. Or join the Skrulls. Or ruin the day. Or…what the heck is he doing? Well, trying to get paid for once—but he’s going to have to defeat Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers first. Also includes several short stories, including Deadpool going up against Wolverine! (JW)
Appeals to: Fans of Deadpool, Wolverine, and general violence.
[Note: This series was previous collected as Deadpool, Vol. 1: Secret Invasion, Vol. 2: Dark Reign, and Dark Reign: Deadpool/Thunderbolts in 2010.]
Deadpool Classic, Vol. 11: Merc with a Mouth
Written by by Victor Gischler and Mary Choi Art by Bong Dazo, Kyle Baker, Rob Liefeld, Matteo Scalera, Ken Lashley, and Ed McGuinness
ISBN: 9780785197300 Published: 2015
Elevator Pitch: Deadpool’s zombie head is getting on his…well, it’s getting annoying. It’s time for Headpool to return to the Zombieverse, but getting in is easier than getting out. (JW)
Appeals to: Fans of Marvel Zombies.
[Note: This series previously collected as Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth in 2010.]
Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe
Written by Cullen Bunn Art by Dalibor Talajic
ISBN: 9780785164036 Published: 2012
Elevator Pitch: An asylum breached by villains attempts to brainwash Deadpool, but instead the voices in his head thin out to just one: a psychotic murderer. What use is Iron Man’s armor or The Hulk’s strength against a determined assassin who can regenerate? The pitch is in the title! (TM)
Appeals to: People who like to start debates with “Who would win?” or have otherwise been itching to see Deadpool square off with a good deal of Marvel characters.
Deadpool vs Thanos
Written by Tim Seeley Art by Elmo Bondoc
ISBN: 9780785198451 Published: 2015
Elevator Pitch: Deadpool is finally going up against his rival for the fair, er, skeletal hand of death—Thanos. But could there be another entity in this love triangle? (JW)
Appeals to: Fans of the movie wanting to try some shorter stories, with extra violence and a fun visit to hell.
Deadpool’s Art of War
Written by Peter David Art by Scott Koblish
ISBN: 9780785190974 Published: 2015
Elevator Pitch: Deadpool, acting as a wafer-thin author stand-in, wants to make money from writing a book, so he decides to rip off The Art of War by employing its wisdom on several factions across the Marvel universe. What starts as a prank project starts to take on a life of its own and threatens the world. (TM)
Appeals to: Sun Tzu fans, anyone wanting to see a scheme spiral out of control.
Hawkeye vs. Deadpool
Written by Gerry Duggan Art by Matteo Lolli and Jacopo Camagni
ISBN: 9780785193104 Published: 2015
Elevator Pitch: Somewhere out there is a flash drive containing the identities of every SHIELD agent, and it’s up to Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), and Deadpool to retrieve it! Oh, but Clint was brainwashed to sabotage the whole effort. And nobody wants Deadpool around, which leads to much bickering. (TM)
Appeals to: Fans of goofy crossovers or the Fraction/Aja run of Hawkeye (this book features some visual cues borrowed from that series).
Night of the Living Deadpool
Written by Cullen Bunn Art by Ramon Rosanas
ISBN: 2014 Published: 9780785190172
Elevator Pitch: Deadpool wakes from a coma in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and must fight to survive, riffing merrily on zombie movies and tropes along the way. Will Deadpool ever get to marathon Golden Girls again? (TM)
Appeals to: Fans of zombie fiction and black/white/red coloring.
Today’s graphic literature fans are enjoying a golden age of television undreamed of. Whether you’re a fan of superheroics, spy-thrillers, or horror, there’s something for virtually everyone. But what happens when someone goes looking for the books that inspired their favorite shows? More often than not they get confused,.
It’s fairly simple to track down The Walking Dead books. iZombie and Preacher (soon to be a series on AMC) have been collected into neat little volumes. Even the various volumes of Hellblazer aren’t too difficult to navigate for those proud Constantine fans still hoping for a revival on The CW Network. But where do you send the little girls who want to see more Supergirl? The tweens who want to read about The Flash? The teens who want more Green Arrow?
Face Front, True Believers! We’ve got the reading lists to help you save the day!
Daredevil by Frank Miller
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (9780785134794) Daredevil By Frank Miller & Klaus Johnson, vol. 1 (9780785134732) Daredevil By Frank Miller & Klaus Johnson, vol. 2 (9780785134749) Daredevil By Frank Miller & Klaus Johnson, vol. 3 (9780785134756) Daredevil: Born Again (9780785134817)
While Frank Miller’s recent works have been widely disparaged and Frank himself is apparently no big fan of the Netflix Daredevil series, his influence upon the character and the TV series cannot be denied. The black ninja costume, which Matt utilized for most of the show’s first season, came directly from his retelling of Daredevil’s origins in The Man Without Fear. Miller was also responsible for the modern characterization of Kingpin and the creation of Matt’s first tragic love, Elektra. We would be remiss in not recommending the whole of Miller’s work with the character, particularly his final story, Born Again, which is not only a great Daredevil story but also features one of the best portrayals of The Avengers and Captain America in comic history.
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev Ultimate Collection, vol. 1 (9780785143888) Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev Ultimate Collection, vol. 2 (9780785149507) Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev Ultimate Collection, vol. 3 (9780785149514)
The Bendis/Maleev run has done more to influence Daredevil as a character than any other creative team in recent memory. As such, it is well worth considering though it focuses upon an older Matt Murdock facing new challenges as an established vigilante and lawyer.
Daredevil by Mark Waid
Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 1 (9780785152385) Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 2 (9780785152408) Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 3 (9780785161011) Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 4 (9780785161035) Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 5 (9780785161059) Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 6 (9780785166795) Daredevil by Mark Waid, vol. 7 (9780785189619) Daredevil, vol. 1: Devil At Bay (9780785154112) Daredevil, vol. 2: West-Case Scenario (9780785154129) Daredevil, vol. 3: The Daredevil You Know (9780785192282) Daredevil, vol. 4: The Autobiography of Matt Murdock (9780785198024)
Waid’s recent runs on Daredevil stand out in sharp contrast to the works of Miller and Bendis. Faced with no other way to make Matt Murdock’s life any more depressing, Waid decided to do the unthinkable and return Matt Murdock to his swashbuckling, laugh-in-the-face-of-danger roots under Stan Lee’s pen. This is not to say that this book is any less dark or disturbed at times. Indeed, the story arcs involving the slave-trading villain Coyote and a grave-robbing Mole Man are some of the most nightmarish scenarios we’ve ever seen! But Waid restored a sense of fun that was sorely lacking in the character for several decades. It should prove an interesting contrast for those who only know the character from Netflix.
[Note: All of these series have been released multiple times in different editions (hardcover, softcover, etc.) with differing content. Before ordering, you might want to check exactly which “Daredevil, vol. 4” you already have in your collection.]
Today’s graphic literature fans are enjoying a golden age of television undreamed of. Whether you’re a fan of superheroics, spy-thrillers, or horror, there’s something for virtually everyone. But what happens when someone goes looking for the books that inspired their favorite shows? More often than not they get confused,.
It’s fairly simple to track down The Walking Dead books. iZombie and Preacher (soon to be a series on AMC) have been collected into neat little volumes. Even the various volumes of Hellblazer aren’t too difficult to navigate for those proud Constantine fans still hoping for a revival on The CW Network. But where do you send the little girls who want to see more Supergirl? The tweens who want to read about The Flash? The teens who want more Green Arrow?
Face Front, True Believers! We’ve got the reading lists to help you save the day!
Legends of Tomorrow
Creating recommendations for fans of this show is a bit tricky, since the show is based off numerous sources from the DC Comics Universe and not a lot of them have been collected. Many of the ones that have been collected are out of print and out of continuity, for what that is worth. Still, here’s a few series that might be worth tracking down.
Booster Gold
Booster Gold, vol 1: 52 Pick-Up (9781401220068) Booster Gold, vol 2: Blue & Gold (9781401220143) Booster Gold, vol 3: Day Of Death (9781401226435) Booster Gold, vol 4: Past Imperfect (9781401230241) Booster Gold, vol 5: Reality Lost (9781401222499) Booster Gold, vol 6: The Tomorrow Memory (9781401229184)
Probably the closest thing DC Comics ever published that could directly compare to the concept for Legends of Tomorrow, Booster Gold focused upon the titular glory-hogging hero as he became the secret guardian of the DC Comics’ timeline. A number of talented writers worked on this series before it ended, including Geoff Johns, Keith Giffen and Chuck Dixon. It also features Rip Hunter—the time-traveler who is leading the Legends—in a supporting role as Booster’s partner.
Justice Society of America
JSA, vol. 1: Justice Be Done (9781563896200) JSA, vol. 2: Darkness Falls (9781563897399) JSA, vol. 3: The Return of Hawkman (9781563899126) JSA, vol. 4: Fair Play (9781563899591) JSA, vol. 5: Stealing Thunder (9781563899942) JSA, vol. 6: Savage Times (9781401202538) JSA, vol. 7: Princes of Darkness (9781401204693) JSA, vol. 8: Black Reign (9781401204808) JSA, vol. 9: Lost (9781401207229) JSA, vol. 10: Black Vengeance (9781401209667) JSA, vol. 11: Mixed Signals (9781401209674) JSA, vol. 12: Ghost Stories (9781401211967)
Another classic series with writing by Man of Steel writer David Goyer as well as Geoff Johns and James Robinson. This series is noteworthy for having introduced the Kendra Saunders version of Hawkgirl as well as the origin for Hawkman utilized on The Flash and Arrow. It also features Vandal Savage as the villain of one storyline and features some stories involving time travel, including one with Rip Hunter trying to stop the JSA’s many members from being killed by a time-traveling Nazi!
Hawkgirl and Hawkman
Hawkman, vol. 1: Endless Flight (9781563899522) Hawkman, vol. 2: Allies and Enemies (9781401201968) Hawkman, vol. 3: Wings of Fury (9781401204679)
Spun out of JSA, the first 25 issues of this series were written by James Robinson and Geoff Johns and continued to expand upon the newest incarnations of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders and Carter Hall.
The Atom
The Atom Archives, vol. 1 (9781563897177) The Atom Archives, vol. 2 (9781401200145)
Ray Palmer can’t get any respect. He hasn’t had his own title in years and the hero in the comics bares little resemblance to his counterpart on Arrow. Still, one could do worse than to add these books collecting classic material from the 1960s (featuring artwork by the legendary Gil Kane at the height of his powers) to their library collection.
Firestorm
Firestorm: The Nuclear Man, vol. 1 (9781401231835)
This is the only volume collecting any of the original Firestorm series.
Fury Of Firestorm, The Nuclear Men, vol. 1: God Particle (9781401237004) Fury Of Firestorm, The Nuclear Men, vol. 2: The Firestorm Protocols (9781401240325) Fury Of Firestorm, The Nuclear Men, vol. 3: Takeover (9781401242923)
As with our Supergirl list, we’d advise against picking up this New 52 series. Despite having some talented creators working on it, this series never really clicked with most readers. Additionally, the differences between the characters in the comics relative to their counterparts on the show (who are based more on the pre-New 52 comic incarnations) may be off-putting.
White Canary
Birds of Prey:Of Like Minds (9781401201920) Birds of Prey: Sensei & Student (9781401204341) Birds of Prey: Between Dark & Dawn (9781401209407) Birds of Prey: The Battle Within (9781401210960) Birds of Prey: Perfect Pitch (9781401211912) Birds of Prey: Blood & Circuits (9781401213718) Birds of Prey: Dead Of Winter (9781401216412)
Birds of Prey, vol. 1: End Run (9781401231323) Birds of Prey, vol. 2: Death of Oracle (9781401234492)
Sara Lance is a character unique to the Arrow universe. And while there is an assassin character called White Canary, who was introduced in Gail Simone’s second Birds of Prey run, she was Asian and a villain. That being said, we’d still recommend Gail Simone’s Birds of Prey runs to anyone interested in the character.
Why? Well, Simone has done more to develop the character of Black Canary than any writer in modern history. Additionally, despite Laurel adopting the Black Canary moniker—Sara’s character drew far more inspiration from Simone’s take on the character than Laurel. Simone’s Canary trained with assassins, worked out of a clocktower, looked after a girl named Sin and was a confirmed bisexual—all traits Sara Lance has.
Black Canary, vol. 1: Kicking and Screaming (due out 2016/03/08) – (9781401261177)
We’re also going to suggest the new Black Canary collection by Brenden Fletcher and Annie Wu. Partly because it’s a good series that’s easy for new readers to get into and partly because there’s an as-of-yet unidentified female assassin with blonde hair and blue eyes that is clad in all-white chasing after Black Canary, helping her out. Could we be about to see the introduction of Sara Lance to the comics? Could be…
One of the most influential yet underrated comics series in history, John Ostrander’s run on Suicide Squad set a standard that has never truly been equaled. While none of the Squad members in the comics are a part of the Legends team, the concept of an eclectic mix of heroes and villains joining together to do the things ordinary superheroes wouldn’t or couldn’t manage was refined here. Also, the two-part story White Knight/Fail-Safe – in which the Legends have to infiltrate a Russian Prison at the height of The Cold War – owes a huge stylistic debt to the themes that permeated Suicide Squad. If nothing else, it also wouldn’t be a bad idea to have these issues on hand for when the Suicide Squad movie comes out.
The Flash
The Flash by Geoff Johns: Book 1 (9781401258733) The Flash by Geoff Johns: Book 2 (due out 2016/05/24) – (9781401261016)
Yes, we mentioned these books under our The Flash list, but we’re mentioning them again because Geoff Johns wrote the definitive Captain Cold and Heat Wave origins as part of his run on The Flash and we wanted to be sure you didn’t miss out.
Today’s graphic literature fans are enjoying a golden age of television undreamed of. Whether you’re a fan of superheroics, spy-thrillers, or horror, there’s something for virtually everyone. But what happens when someone goes looking for the books that inspired their favorite shows? More often than not they get confused,.
It’s fairly simple to track down The Walking Dead books. iZombie and Preacher (soon to be a series on AMC) have been collected into neat little volumes. Even the various volumes of Hellblazer aren’t too difficult to navigate for those proud Constantine fans still hoping for a revival on The CW Network. But where do you send the little girls who want to see more Supergirl? The tweens who want to read about The Flash? The teens who want more Green Arrow?
Face Front, True Believers! We’ve got the reading lists to help you save the day!
Arrow
Written by Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim Art by various
Arrow Vol. 1 (9781401242992) Arrow Vol. 2 (9781401246037) Arrow: Season 2.5 – Vol. 1 (9781401257484) Arrow: Season 2.5 – Vol. 2 (due out 06/28/16) – (9781401263294)
Much like The Flash: Season Zero, these volumes are set in the same universe as the Arrow TV series and written by the show’s writers. The Season 2.5 series, set between seasons 2 and 3 of Arrow, is noteworthy as it introduced a new Brother Blood who was closer in spirit to the original comic character as well as an excellent Suicide Squad story.
Green Arrow: Year One
Written by Andy Diggle Art by Jock
Green Arrow: Year One (9781401217433)
This mini-series was basically the foundation for Arrow as a series and would have redefined the character of Oliver Queen for a new generation of comic fans had it not been for the New 52 reboot only two years later. Written by Andy Diggle with art by Jock, the two topped their previous work together on the Vertigo series The Losers. A must have.
Green Arrow by Mike Grell
Written by Mike Grell Art by Mike Grell and various
Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters (9781401238629) Green Arrow Vol. 1: Hunters Moon (9781401243265) Green Arrow Vol. 2: Here There Be Dragons (9781401251338) Green Arrow Vol. 3: The Trial Of Oliver Queen (9781401255237) Green Arrow Vol. 4: Blood of the Dragon (due out 01/05/16) – (9781401258221)
For many fans, Mike Grell is the definitive Green Arrow writer and artist, his Longbow Hunters mini-series having earned The Emerald Archer his first-ever ongoing solo series. Although he didn’t do the interiors for the new book, Grell did create most of the covers for his 80-issue run, which DC Comics has only recently begun collecting in TPB format. Be warned though that this comic was intended for Mature Readers and should be kept firmly in the Adult Graphic Novel collection. It does not shy away from blood, nudity or adult subject matters.
New 52 Green Arrow
Written by various Art by various
Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Midas Touch (9781401234867) Green Arrow Vol. 2: Triple Threat (9781401238421) Green Arrow Vol. 3: Harrow (9781401244057) Green Arrow Vol. 4: The Kill Machine (9781401246907) Green Arrow Vol. 5: The Outsiders War (9781401250447) Green Arrow Vol. 6: Broken (9781401254742) Green Arrow Vol. 7: Kingdom (9781401257620) Green Arrow By Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino Deluxe Edition (9781401257613)
As with the Supergirl New 52 series, we mention these volumes only to warn you away from them. The New 52 Green Arrow title has been erratic at best in terms of quality. The creative team changed three times within the first year and most agree the book was a complete mess until Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino took over for volumes 4-6. While critics loved these three volume, many long-time Green Arrow fans felt Lemire’s story, while interesting, was not in keeping with the general mythos of Green Arrow as a character. This may be what led to two writers of the Arrow TV show taking over the series with Volume 7: Kingdom. Unfortunately, the readers who liked Lemire and Sorrentino’s work balked at the new writers’ efforts to introduce Felicity Smoak as a recurring character along with other elements of the classic pre-New 52 Green Arrow comics. You might consider getting Volumes 4-6 as they are good comics and Volume 7 as a curiosity, but you can safely avoid the New 52 Green Arrow series if your budget is tight. Helpfully, DC recently reprinted volumes 4-6 as Green Arrow By Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino Deluxe Edition.
Green Arrow by Kevin Smith
Written by Kevin Smith Art by Phil Hester and Ande Parks
Green Arrow: Quiver (New Edition) – (9781401259426) Green Arrow: The Sounds Of Violence (9781401200459)
I don’t have much to say about these volumes that I didn’t already say in my Classic Fantastic review. What I can say is that DC Comics recently put out a new edition of Quiver—the first story arc of Kevin Smith, Phil Hester, and Ande Park’s legendary run on Green Arrow. A reprint of their second story, The Sounds of Violence, has yet to be released, but it is still available and well worth tracking down. Be warned, however, that these volumes—while not as raw as the Mike Grell Green Arrow run—do still deal with some adult themes and humor. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone familiar with Kevin Smith’s work as a filmmaker, but anyone interested in these volumes would be advised to keep them in the Older Teen or Adult collections.
Today’s graphic literature fans are enjoying a golden age of television undreamed of. Whether you’re a fan of superheroics, spy-thrillers, or horror, there’s something for virtually everyone. But what happens when someone goes looking for the books that inspired their favorite shows? More often than not they get confused,.
It’s fairly simple to track down The Walking Dead books. iZombie and Preacher (soon to be a series on AMC) have been collected into neat little volumes. Even the various volumes of Hellblazer aren’t too difficult to navigate for those proud Constantine fans still hoping for a revival on The CW Network. But where do you send the little girls who want to see more Supergirl? The tweens who want to read about The Flash? The teens who want more Green Arrow?
Face Front, True Believers! We’ve got the reading lists to help you save the day!
Supergirl
The good news is that DC Comics is doing a lot to put more Supergirl books on the stands in the wake of the hit CBS series! The bad news is… well, there isn’t a lot out at the time of this writing in early 2016, but the coming months will feature plenty of both new and old material being printed.
Supergirl: Digital First
Written by Sterling Gates Art by various
Vol. 1 (due out 08/09/2016) –ISBN: 9781401262655
DC Comics, 2016
A must have. Not only is it written by Sterling Gates, whose work inspired a lot of the Supergirl TV series, but it is directly based on the TV show! Unfortunately it won’t be out until August.
Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade
Written by Landry Q. Walker Art by Eric Jones
Old edition –ISBN: 9781401225063 New edition (due out 05/10/16) –ISBN: 9781401263201
DC Comics, 2016
This fun little series should be a must-have for any children’s library graphic novel section. The artwork is cute and the writing is suitable for all ages. A new edition of this hard to find series is due out in May 2016.
Supergirl by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle
Written by Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka Art by Jamal Igle and others
Vol. 6: Who Is Superwoman? ISBN: 9781401225070 Vol. 7: Friends And Fugitives ISBN: 9781401227951 Vol. 8: Death & The Family ISBN: 9781401229139 Vol. 9: Bizarrogirl ISBN: 9781401231699
DC Comics, 2009 – 2011
These four volumes, taken from the pre-New 52 comics, are probably your best bet for teen readers. This was the run that inspired a lot of the Supergirl TV series mythology, particularly her rivalry with Cat Grant. Indeed, writer Sterling Gates has been tapped to write the upcoming comic based on the Supergirl TV series! Another bonus is that artist Jamal Igle eliminated most of the fan service that plagued the book in its early days and was careful to design a more realistically proportioned Kara.
[The following is a look at the other titles available, or soon to be available. They’re not essential titles like the ones above, but your library might still want to have them.]
New 52 Supergirl
By various creators
Vol. 1 – Last Daughter of Krypton ISBN: 9781401236809 Vol. 2 – Girl In The World ISBN: 9781401240875 Vol. 3 – Sanctuary ISBN: 9781401243180 Vol. 4 – Out Of The Past ISBN: 9781401247003 Vol. 5 – Red Daughter Of Krypton ISBN: 9781401250515 Vol. 6 – Crucible ISBN: 9781401255411
DC Comics, 2012-2015
This is included mostly because, as the most recent series, it is the series most librarians will be tempted to order. We can’t recommend this one in good faith, as this Supergirl series is a far darker beast than the more optimistic TV series, with a Supergirl who intentionally tries to separate herself from her more famous cousin and works to help people grudgingly. Additionally, due to continual crossovers with the other Super Family books, the storylines tended to be all over the place.
Supergirl: Vol. 1: The Girl of Steel (due out 1/27/16 or 2/2/16) ISBN 9781401260934
DC Comics, 2016
The Girl of Steel collects the first 12 issues of the 2005 Supergirl series. Unfortunately, this series was a bit of a mess with the writer and direction changing four times over the course of the first year. They’re not completely without merit but they are largely inaccessible to new readers, requiring a good general knowledge of the DC Universe at the time. A larger issue is that Kara isn’t so much a character in most of these stories as she is an object to be fought over and the artwork by Michael Turner and Ian Churchill objectifies her even more than the stories!
Supergirl: Vol. 4 – Beyond Good And Evil ISBN: 9781401218508 Supergirl: Vol. 5 – Way Of The World ISBN: 9781401221294
Much like the first three volumes collecting this Supergirl series, the fourth volume by Kelley Puckett suffers from being overly dependent on knowing the events of other comics. By contrast, Way of The World is an excellent stand-alone story in which Kara attempts to use her powers to save the life of one terminally ill boy.
Supergirl by Peter David and Gary Frank
Written by Peter David Art by Gary Frank
(due out 05/31/16) – ISBN: 9781401260927
DC Comics, 2016
We’re mentioning this one only to warn you off. This series wasn’t bad but it is bad for newbie comics readers. This volume collects the first eight issues of the 1990s Supergirl comic, starring a version of Supergirl that has no relation to Superman! This Supergirl is a combination of a shape-shifting artificial lifeform from a parallel universe called The Matrix and a teenage girl named Linda Danvers, who died in the middle of a Satanic ritual. And then she becomes an angel. So yeah… the whole thing is confusing as all get out and will undoubtedly annoy your more conservative patrons. So don’t get it.
The Daring Adventures of Supergirl
Written by Paul Kupperberg Art by Carmine Infantino
Vol. 1 (due out 07/19/2016) – ISBN: 9781401263461
DC Comics, 2016
This volume reprints the first 12 issues of the 1982 Supergirl series. While it’s unclear how well these stories may have aged, they’re probably safe for all ages having been printed in the pre-Crisis DC Universe. For older readers the fact that they feature artwork by Barry Allen’s co-creator and long-time DC Comics editorial director Carmen Infantino might make them worth a look.
Supergirl: The Silver Age
Omnibus Vol. 1 – (due out 06/14/16) ISBN: 9781401262464
By various creators
DC Comics, 2016
At $75 this hardcover collection may be beyond the means of most libraries. It may be of interest historically, but unless you have a large population of older comic fans it may be best to give this one a pass.
Today’s graphic literature fans are enjoying a golden age of television undreamed of. Whether you’re a fan of superheroics, spy-thrillers, or horror, there’s something for virtually everyone. But what happens when someone goes looking for the books that inspired their favorite shows? More often than not they get confused,.
It’s fairly simple to track down The Walking Dead books. iZombie and Preacher (soon to be a series on AMC) have been collected into neat little volumes. Even the various volumes of Hellblazer aren’t too difficult to navigate for those proud Constantine fans still hoping for a revival on The CW Network. But where do you send the little girls who want to see more Supergirl? The tweens who want to read about The Flash? The teens who want more Green Arrow?
Face Front, True Believers! We’ve got the reading lists to help you save the day!
The Flash: Season Zero
Written by various Art by various
The Flash: Season Zero Vol. 1 (9781401257712) The Flash: Season Zero Vol. 2 (due out 07/05/16 ) – (9781401263386)
Set in the reality of the television series and written by writers on the show’s writing staff, this series is a must-have. All of your favorite characters are here and every issue reads like an episode of the show. You can find No Flying No Tights’ full review of this title here.
New 52: The Flash
Written by Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato, Robert Venditti, and Van Jensen Art by Francis Manapul, Patrick Zircher, and Brett Booth
The Flash: Vol 1 – Move Forward (9781401235536) The Flash: Vol 2 – Rogues’ Revolution (9781401240318) The Flash: Vol 3 – Gorilla Warfare (9781401242749) The Flash: Vol 4 – Reverse (9781401247133) The Flash: Vol 5 – History Lessons (9781401249502) The Flash: Vol 6 – Out Of Time (9781401254278) The Flash: Vol 7 – Savage World (due out 01/19/16) – (9781401258757)
Unlike a lot of The New 52 comics, The Flash has been consistently well-written and easily accessible to new readers. The artwork has proven equally amazing. This is another must-have for your teen collection.
The Flash by Geoff Johns
Written by Geoff Johns Art by various
The Flash by Geoff Johns: Book 1 (9781401258733) The Flash by Geoff Johns: Book 2 (due out 05/24/16) – (9781401261016)
Johns was the definitive Flash writer throughout the 2000s and he’s co-written several episodes of The Flash TV series in addition to being an Executive Producer.
The Flash: Rebirth (9781401230012)
While it may have set the land-speed record for going out of continuity (the New 52 reboot occurred just months after this TPB hit the stands), Geoff Johns’ story detailing Barry Allen’s adjusting to life in the modern DCU after coming back from the dead is still a good crash-course in the history of all the heroes to call themselves The Flash.
Crisis On Infinite Earths
Written by Marv Wolfman Art by George Pérez
Crisis On Infinite Earths: Deluxe Edition (9781401258412)
Not the first Crisis story, but it is the one that set the standard by which all crossovers are measured. It appears that The Flash TV series may be building toward this point, at least based on the quick glimpses we’ve seen of future newspapers. Even so, this story is worth having in your collection regardless of it revealing the final fate of Barry Allen… at least until The Flash: Rebirth.
The Flash by Mark Waid
Written by Mark Waid Art by various
The Flash: The Return of Barry Allen (9781563892684) The Flash: Terminal Velocity (9781563892493) The Flash: Dead Heat (9781563896231) The Flash: Race Against Time (9781563897214)
Despite being considered by many to be the definitive Flash writer, surprisingly little of Mark Waid’s run from the 1990s has been collected. These four volumes are worth a look, though they’re focused upon the third Flash, Wally West.
The Flash by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar
Written by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar Art by Paul Ryan, John Nyberg, and Ron Wagner
The Flash by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar (9781401261023) (due out 04/19/16)
At the time of this partnership, Morrison was just barely getting his feet wet on JLA and was still better known for his Vertigo work than for redefining superheroes for the modern age. And Mark Millar was a relative unknown compared to the heights of fame he would later find for his independent work and on various titles set in Marvel Comics’ Ultimate universe. Definitely worth a look to see these two legendary creators working together.
Our criteria for this list is simple: these are the titles that are solid additions to your teen collection.
We’re updating the original list posted in December 2011. We went through and removed series waning in popularity and add in new favorites. In order to help librarians predict how much shelf space and funding they’ll need, we’ve also added an annotation to each entry to let you all know whether the series is complete, and if not, how many volumes the series currently has in print. We’ve marked series still running as such, and if they are complete in Japan, how many volumes we have to go until the end.
As with the previous list, we’re not necessarily talking rich language or literary merit — these are the titles that are proven, through circulation and reader enthusiasm, to be engaging and popular with teen readers. Think of it as similar to YALSA’s Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults — popularity is the key. The titles must be readily available, so you’ll see only titles you should be able to purchase via library vendors. We’ve also noted when omnibus (like the VIZBIG editions) printings are available, though keep in mind the binding on omnibus editions has generally proven to be weaker than with traditional length volumes.
Everyone here at NFNT helped brainstorm the list, but special kudos are due to Jennifer, Emma, Jennifer W., Jenny, Bonnie, Allen, Nichole, Matt (Morrison), Nic, Snow, Abby, Russ, Gretchen, Michael, Jessikah, Thomas, Renata, and Marissa for contributing annotations and updating title entries.
13th Boy
by SangEun Lee Yen Press, 2010-2012 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Appeals to: fans of slightly fantastical realistic, dramatic, and comedic high school romance (one character has supernatural powers that, among other things, result in a cactus / human roommate for the protagonist), complicated love quadrangles, and stubbornly proactive heroines. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Beatrice, the cactus, has a tendency to shift into his human form in his birthday suit, but it’s tamely dealt with; a character kills another anthropomorphic character, but it is later revealed that it was unintentionally so and the victim doesn’t hold too much of a grudge; the protagonist’s amusing dating history occasionally drifts into the creepy (at least one of her “boyfriends” was an older boy and a would-be pedophile who got in trouble with the law before she cluelessly became a victim). This is manhwa (Korean.) Series status: Complete in 12 volumes
Afterschool Charisma
by Kumiko Suekane VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: seinen Appeals to: Readers who enjoy historical connections (after all, it is all about clones of famous figures from history), unsettling questions about fate and scientific ethics, all mixed together with high school angst. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: The creepier side of this story increases as the volumes progress, although frequently it is more unsettling because of the idea rather than any explicitness on the page. Series status: Still running (up to 9 volumes)
Alice in the Country of Hearts
by Quinrose Art by Soumei Hoshino Yen Press, 2012 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: Teen fantasy/romance fans, fans of other Alice in Wonderland adaptations Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: A bit of violence. Series status: Complete in 3 omnibus volumes.
Arata, the Legend
by Yuu Watase VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of slightly edgy romantic fantasy, world-crossing , role-/identity-swapping Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: See Robin’s notes regarding Watase’s pushing genre boundaries with authentic voices, only the other way around as it’s published in a boy’s magazine but with appeal for girls; some rather dark violence on the part of the baddies. Series status: Still running (up to 18 volumes)
Azumanga Daioh
by Kiyohiko Azuma Yen Press, 2010 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers who enjoy awkward comedy and silly, short episodes rather than a longer story arc or wit-driven humor. Azuma has a great knack for expressions and comic timing, as is true of his series Yotsuba&! It’s also a solid example of 4-koma manga, or comic strip adventures related in 4 (typically vertical) panels. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: All of the characters are high school age, and thus the humor and activities reflect what high school kids might get up to in their day to day life, including smoking, petting cats, and making mischief. Series status: Complete in 1 omnibus edition.
Bakuman
by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata VIZ, 2010-2013 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Manga fans who dream of creating their own manga someday. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: The main characters, both teenage boys, have some ideas about women that might come across as dated or old-fashioned to American audiences. Series status: Complete in 20 volumes
Black Bird
by Kanoko Sakurakoji VIZ 2009-2014 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of romantic melodrama, prophecy, and human / supernatural-being pairings Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: One of the major plot points is what will or won’t happen to the human female protagonist if she sleeps with her tengu (crow demon) lover (or if a rival demon gets ahold of her first); occasional violence as the different tengu clans vie for power and influence. Series status: Complete in 18 volumes
Black Butler
by Yana Toboso Yen Press, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Older Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Fans of cosplay, dark humor, and bloody mayhem. Less melodrama and more humor, but similar style to Kaori Yuki’s Godchild. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: There’s a significant amount of bloody violence in this series which keeps it most appropriate for teen collections in public libraries and generally not in school libraries. Series status: Still running (up to 17 volumes)
Bleach
by Tite Kubo VIZ, 2007- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers who’ve enjoyed Naruto and want to sink their teeth into something a tiny bit older (but not by much.) Features strong female characters and a wonderfully complex mythology, so for fans of figuring out a supernatural world’s rules and codes. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: There’s a fair amount of human on creature violence in Bleach, and it will get icky when it needs to. There’s also a bit of fan service when it comes to the ladies, but nothing off-putting or inappropriate for the age range. Series status: Still running (up to 60 volumes). Also available in VIZBIG editions.
Blue Exorcist
by Kazue Kato VIZ, 2011- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Fans of magical boarding school stories, humorous sibling relationships, and cool battle scenes. Also has some fun, accessible touches of Japanese culture, like characters who love manga. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Some bloody violence, and frequent less-bloody violence, as the characters fight demons. Series status: Still running (up to 11 volumes)
Bride of the Water God
by Mi-kyung Yun Dark Horse, 2010 Publisher Age Rating: 12+ Appeals to: fans of atmospheric, gentle romance and supernatural surroundings. It’s not a nail-biter, but instead a slow build, with absolutely stunning art. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: The main character is sacrificed to appease vengeful gods and the gods are a rather petty and backstabbing, but beyond that there isn’t much violence or sexual content. This is manhwa (Korean.) Series status: Still running (up to 14 volumes)
Cactus’s Secret
by Nana Haruta VIZ, 2010 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of light-hearted romances that don’t skimp on the melodrama but never get too grim Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Given that the premise of the series is that the heroine’s object of affection is too dense to realize she’s confessing her love to him, and thus she whacks him upside the head out of frustration, there’s a good bit of comedic violence. The intention is never serious, but the knocking about is certainly visible and repeated. Series status: Complete in 4 volumes
Case Closed
by Gosho Aoyama VIZ, 2004- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of detective stories, adults who’ve turned into kids (you know it’s not that rare a plot point), and unbeatable optimism and smarts. Great for readers who want an episodic, crime-of-the-week experience, a la CSI or Law & Order. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: There is violence depicted in the crimes solved, but rarely anything too explicit. Series status: Still running (up to 51 volumes)
Children of the Sea
by Daisuke Igarashi VIZ, 2009-2013 Publisher Age Rating: Older Teen Original intended audience: seinen Appeals to:Anyone who enjoys Satoshi Kon’s Tropic of the Sea will also enjoy this. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: Some blood, although the violence is largely between war machines. Occasional male character acting perverted around female officers with suggestive humor. Series status: Complete in 5 volumes
D. Gray-man
by Katsura Hoshino VIZ, 2006- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of supernatural action adventure a la similar titles on this list (like Fullmetal Alchemist), especially given the alternate ninteenth century setting Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: The lead character is an exorcist, which leads to various ceremonies and alternate versions of religious and supernatural machinations. Violence is generally supernatural but can be gory, especially as the series veers into horror territory in later volumes. Series status: Still running (up to 23 volumes)
Death Note
by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata VIZ, 2010-2011, Black edition Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers who enjoy thrilling mysteries, clever chases, supernatural touches, and a good strong dose of suspense combined with complex ethical questions Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes:Death Note is famous for being challenged because of its very premise — that one teen takes over the power to kill and uses it to make what he believes is a better world. Death is everywhere, but the violence is minimal and mostly off screen. What makes Death Note unsettling are the ideas more than the images, but the questionable ethics on display that do make it a bit much for younger teen readers. Series status: Complete in 6 volumes in the Black edition.
Dengeki Daisy
by Kyousuke Motomi VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of romantic thrillhttp://noflyingnotights.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=23544&action=edit&message=10ers, tragic pasts, and secret identities / guardian angels Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Female high school protagonist is in mutual (though so far unacted on) love with twenty-something janitor at her school (who often suffers the “pedophile” jokes of his other adult friends); bad guys will stoop to murder if necessary. Series status: Still running (up to 14 volumes)
Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z
by Akira Toriyama VIZ, 2008- (new edition) Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers looking for crazy action plus amazingly elaborate hair styles. Rife with potty humor, random nudity (but not sexual nudity), and wise-cracks, this series is light, silly, and full of ridiculous fights. Sometimes, that’s just what you want. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: The jokes based around nudity and genitalia, which work because one character is completely innocent of the differences between the sexes and thus investigates, have caused raised eyebrows over the years. Dragon Ball Z has zero content like this, while Dragon Ball has a fair amount, if you only want to get one part of the series. Series status: Dragonball complete in 16 volumes. Dragonball Z complete in 26 volumes. Both titles also available in the VIZBIG editions.
Eyeshield 21
by Riichiro Inagaki VIZ, 2005-2011 Publisher Age Rating: Older Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to:Sports fans, slapstick comedy fans. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes:Slapstick humor. One of the football players often bullies other students into playing/training on the team sometimes with the gag of firing a machine gun at them. Series status: Complete in 37 volumes
Fairy Tail
by Hiro Mashima Kodansha USA 2012- Publisher Age Rating: T (Ages 13+) Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of the more slapstick adventures including Trigun and One Piece, Fairy Tail is a rollicking adventure full of humor, grand quests, and references to indigestion and scatological humor. The art style is so similar to One Piece that many readers presume it’s the same creator, but it’s not. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: The female characters are blessed (or cursed, depending on your point of view) with the usual buxom physique and tight clothing of many a teen shonen manga, but they are also kick-butt characters and their attitude generally negates the jiggle factor. Series status: Still running (up to 37 volumes)
Fullmetal Alchemist
by Hiromu Arakawa VIZ, 2005-2011 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers who love rich world-building, family portraits, complex politics mixed with personal stories, and a strong emotional through line. The brothers in this series are remarkable and vulnerable, and the way the story expands is like any rich fantasy series. Would appeal to fans of Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series and similarly steampunk universes, but also just works as a portrait of the price one pays for over-reaching. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Supernatural violence, some occasionally revealing clothing, and harsh situations. Series status: Complete in 27 volumes. Also available in VIZBIG editions.
Fushigi Yugi
by Yuu Watase VIZ, 2009- (VIZBIG edition) Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: readers looking for fairly traditional fantasy adventure, complete with magical circumstances, hot guys vying for the lead heroine’s attention, and a good dose of angst. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes:Anything by Yuu Watase will push the boundaries of shojo a little bit, and she frequently includes nudity, violence, and sexuality on par with prose novels like Kristin Cashore’s Graceling. She won’t talk down to her readers, or presume they’re not experiencing desire or trauma, but she does it in a visual medium, though rarely explicity. Her authentic voice, however, is what makes her so popular. Series status: Complete in 6 VIZBIG volumes.
Hana Kimi
by Hisaya Nakajo VIZ, 2004-2008 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of cross-dressing, gender-benders, high school romance Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Teen admirer disguises herself as a boy and rooms with her high-jump idol at his all-boys school, with all the expected awkward situations and orientation humor / confusion. Series status: Complete in 23 volumes. Also available in VIZBIG editions.
Hikaru no Go
by Yumi Hotta VIZ, 2004-2011 Publisher Age Rating: All Ages Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to:This series turns the strategic board game of Go into a team-centric hero’s journey that can match any shonen for heightened drama and competition. It has been particularly popular with middle schoolers at my library. It has general appeal for boys and girls of various ages. Great coming-of-age story with likeable characters. However, teens looking for a series with non-stop action may want to look elsewhere. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: High quality, “clean” series. No violence or romance. Includes a few flashbacks to Japan’s past, but always with context for the reader. Series status: Complete in 23 volumes.
Inuyasha
by Rumiko Takahashi VIZ, 2008-2014 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Fantasy readers who like historical settings for their magical battles and anyone who likes strong female characters. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Nudity and violence. Series status: Complete in 56 volumes or 18 VIZBIG volumes.
Kamisama Kiss
by Julietta Suzuki VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of Japanese folklore, supernatural romance Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: Fox spirit Tomoe indulges in women and booze when he goes off the rails early on; he and the protagonist, his teen female master, seal their contract with smooches. Series status: Still running (up to 15 volumes)
Kekkaishi
by Yellow Tanabe VIZ, 2010-2012 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of fantasy action with depth, some giggles, and a wee bit of romance Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: The author’s not afraid to kill off characters the readers know and love if it truly serves the story; some of the baddies are pretty scary, cold, and violent. Series status: Complete in 35 volumes
Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me to You
by Karuho Shiina VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of slow, gentle, high school romance and stories of misunderstood shrinking violets learning to bloom Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Teen side character’s boyfriend(s) is / are less than role model material (which she wisely realizes and breaks it off) and the story jokes around about setting her up with an amusingly annoying teacher. Series status: Still running (up to 19 volumes)
Library Wars
by Kiiro Yumi VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: library lovers, romance readers, and militant supporters of the freedom to read who don’t mind a little (or a lot of) unintentional cheese with their plot Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Lots of guns, some of which get used; social / political commentary that leans decidedly left. Series status: Still running (up to 11 volumes)
Maoh: Juvenile Remix
by Kotaro Isaka VIZ, 2010-2012 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of moral grey areas, social / political intrigue, and hints of the supernatural Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Real-world and fantasy violence (including assassins), messiah complexes, and those moral grey areas. Series status: Complete in 10 volumes
Millennium Snow
by Bisco Hatori VIZ, 2002-2014 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of paranormal romance, vampires, and melodrama Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Terminally ill teen tries to convince a depressed, cynical vampire to drink her blood and make her his partner so she can keep him company for the next 1000 years. Series status: Complete in 4 volumes, with the final volume due out December 2014.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
by Yoshikazu Yashuhiko Vertical, 2013- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to:Those who love giant robots and their pilots. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes:Some blood, although the violence is largely between war machines. Occasional male character acting perverted around female officers with suggestive humor. Series status: Still running (up to 4 volumes) in hardcover.
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation
by Yoshiyuki Nishi VIZ, 2007-2010 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of snarky, dark, supernatural mysteries and investigative teams Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Fantasy violence and assassins. Series status: Complete in 18 volumes
Naruto
by Masashi Kishimoto VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Readers who like classic shonen action with a touch of comedy and lot of character drama. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: There’s a good amount of violence and some slight gross-out and sexual humor. Series status: Still running (up to 66 volumes). Also available in 3-in-1 editions.
Natsume’s Book of Friends
by Yuki Midorikawa VIZ, 2010- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of Japanese folklore, talking yokai kitties, and (mostly) quiet, heartwarming, melancholy yet hopeful stories of the mundane and supernatural worlds mingling Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Natsume may be as warm and gentle as they come, but some of the yokai, and some of the humans, he encounters share none of those qualities and the series flirts with real / fantasy violence (and every now and then comes right out with it); his kitty’s pretty sloshed pretty often. Series status: Still running (up to 16 volumes)
by Hayao Miyazaki VIZ, 2004 (softcover), 2012 (hardcover) Publisher Age Rating: Teen Appeals to:Fans of the anime film, environmentalists, anyone with a pulse. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes:Violence, scenes of war that include dead bodies and blood. Series status: Complete in 7 volumes (softcover) or 2 volumes (hardcover)
Negima
by Ken Akamatsu Kodansha, 2011- (Omnibus edition) Publisher Age Rating: OT (Ages 16+) Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers seeking out the cartoon equivalent of raunchy teen comedies like American Pie. Very funny and filled with awkward moments, it’s a harem manga (i.e. hapless hero surrounded by a bevvy of beautiful young ladies vying for his attention), so that target audience of teenage guys are the one’s that will most likely check it out. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: There’s a lot of jiggle on display, though our hapless hero is more embarrassed than suave in his interactions with the ladies. Series status: Complete at 38 traditional volumes, still running in omnibus edition (up to 9 volumes.)
Nura, Rise of the Yokai Clan
by Hiroshi Shiibashi VIZ, 2011- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers who enjoy Japanese folklore (in this case, yokai or demons/monsters) mixed in with their reluctant hero action adventure Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Although the violence is magical, it is prevalent, as this is a fighting series at its core. Series status: Still running (up to 21 volumes). Will be complete in 25 volumes.
O-Parts Hunter
by Seishi Kishimoto VIZ, 2006-2009 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Naruto, action/adventure Manga. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: Some fan service and slapstick humor. Content draws heavily on Kabbala as well as Abrahamic religion and demonology and, less frequently, Japanese folklore and mythology. Series status: Complete in 19 volumes
One Piece
by Eiichiro Oda VIZ, 2003- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of ridiculously over the top humor, pirates with a significantly weird twist, and brilliant caricatures. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Stylized violence. Series status: Still running (up to 71 volumes)
Oresama Teacher
by Izumi Tsubaki VIZ, 2011- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of feisty, athletic heroines, former delinquents, silly alter egos, and comedic school stories Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Teen protagonist realizes her wise bully of a teacher is her childhood gang boss / idol, further muddying the waters concerning with whom she may or may not develop romance–she could just as easily steer clear of matters of the heart all together, but there’s always the possibility she won’t. Series status: Still running (up to 16 volumes)
Ouran High School Host Club
by Bisco Hatori VIZ, 2005-2012 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: Fans of romantic comedy, Japanese culture, and pretty, pretty boys. Or indeed, pretty art in general: the gorgeous costumes and scenery are also a treat for the eyes. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Frequent allusions to romantic love between a pair of twins in the Host Club (played up for the club’s female customers); some suggestive talk and behavior. Series status: Complete in 18 volumes
Rosario+Vampire
by Ikeda Akihisa VIZ, 2008-2014 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers looking for humorous horror/fantasy adventure, stories about magical high schools, and light romance – especially of the ‘many girls all interested in the same average guy’ category Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Set in a high school for monsters, this title doesn’t shy away from bloody and graphic violence. It’s also definitely from the the ‘harem manga’ tradition, where many cute girls vie for the attentions of the main character. So there are lots of semi-sexual situations played for laughs, romantic mix-ups and innuendo, and plenty of fan-service which, while not overly graphic, is prevalent both in the comedy and action sequences. Series status: Complete at 10 volumes. The sequel series Rosario + Vampire Season II will be complete in 14 volumes in 2014.
Sailor Moon (aka Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon)
by Naoko Takeuchi Kodansha Comics, 2011-2013 Publisher Age Rating: T (Ages 13+) Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of magical girl stories such as Cardcaptor Sakura who want to read one of the classics of that genre Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: The main character is air-headed and somewhat disrespectful of authority and there is some comedic violence. Series status: Complete in 12 volumes
Sand Chronicles
by Hinako Ashihara VIZ, 2008-2011 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: readers looking for the manga equivalent of Sarah Dessen. Realistic relationships, complete with overwhelming emotions and foibles, make this series feel true and refreshingly free of the contrivance common in shojo manga plots. Best of all, it’s complete in ten volumes, so you can get the whole series! Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Like any solid examination of teens growing up and entering into relationships, sex and sexuality are presented. None of it is adult-level explicit, but it is more than just blowing curtains. Series status: Complete in 10 volumes
Shugo Chara!
by Momo no Tane Kodansha USA, 2007-2011 Publisher Age Rating: T (Ages 13+) Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: readers who enjoy gentle adventures with a touch of magic, as well as charming magical creatures. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: This series is aimed at the younger end of teen, so it’s suitably innocent in its content. Series status: Complete in 12 volumes
Skip Beat!
by Yosiki Nakamura VIZ, 2006-2012 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: girls who love romance, but who are tired of female character who act like doormats to their men Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: There is a good amount of comedic violence, particularly when Kyoko’s temper gets the better of her; Kyoko is living with Sho with no parents after having dropped out of school, though it isn’t clear if they are sleeping together. This is for the most part a clean read, although it has been hinting at Ren’s dark and probably violent past. Kyoko, despite her scary hatred of Sho, is pretty naive and sweet. Series status: Still running (up to 32 volumes) Also available in VIZBIG editions.
Soul Eater
by Atsushi Okubo Yen Press, 2004- Publisher Age Rating: Older Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: Fans of Naruto and Fairy Tail will feel right at home here. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Some violence involving ninja weapons can be a bit bloody. There is also some suggestive humor, especially when the character of Blair is introduced. Maka’s father has a bit of a wandering eye when it comes to the ladies. Series status: Still ongoing (up to 20 volumes)
Story of Saiunkoku
by Sai Yukino VIZ, 2010-2013 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of fantasy-tinged historical fiction, strong young women with ambitions who aren’t afraid to challenge the “man’s world” in which they live, romance, and court intrigue Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: A principal character is pretty open about having had physical relationships with both women and men in his past; attempted assassination, manslaughter in self-defense, and other incidents of violence. Series status: Complete in 9 volumes
Strobe Edge
by Io Sakisaka VIZ, 2012-2014 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to:Big fans of romance and the rush of finding your first love. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: None! A clean manga romance Series status: Complete in 10 volumes.
Tegami Bachi
by Hiroyuki Asada VIZ, 2009- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: readers who enjoy stories set in a detailed fantasy world with its own magic, culture, and creatures, as well as tales of heroism, heart, and never giving up Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: The action centers around the exploits of ‘letter bees’ – couriers who have to traverse dangerous territories as part of their delivery routes. There are some battles with insect-like monsters called Gaichuu, but the letter bees’ weapons carry ‘heart’ and not bullets, so the battle scenes feature sparkly stars more like a kids’ video game than a blood bath. Series status: Still running (up to 16 volumes)
Tiger & Bunny
by Mizuki Sakakibara VIZ, 2013- Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to:Although the superhero team is largely male, the series has broad appeal. Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes:One of the female superheroes wears a revealing costume. This is an adaptation of an anime series, rather than the usual pattern of the manga inspiring an anime series. Series status: Still running (up to 4 volumes)
Tokyo Mew Mew
by Reiko Yoshida Kodansha, 2011-2014 Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: readers looking for light, magical adventure without too much angst or violence Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: As with Sailor Moon, Tokyo Mew Mew was one of the first magical girl manga translated here in the US, and it still has a strong appeal for girls looking for adventure. The new editions from Kodansha will be welcome to the younger readers who want their heroines sparkly. Series status: Complete in 3 omnibus volumes. Extras volumne Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode complete in 1 omnibus volume.
Vampire Knight
by Hino Matsuri VIZ, 2007-2014 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Plus, for older teens Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: fans of vampire love triangles, political intrigue, and dark, twisty melodrama Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: The blood-drinking can be a little suggestive, the politics and love triangle are quite bitter, and the violence takes no great pains to be light. Series status: Still running (up to 18 volumes). Will be complete at 19 volumes in 2014.
Wallflower
by Tomoko Hayakawa Kodansha USA, 2004-2013 Publisher Age Rating: Original intended audience: shojo Appeals to: Anyone who likes romantic comedies or beautiful boys in manga. Especially those stories that turn expectations on their heads. Suitable for middle school? No. Content notes: Horror images used for humorous effect. Some discussion of sexual situations, rampant nosebleeds (indicating feeling turned on), cartoon violence, physical objectification of characters. Series status: Complete at 31 volumes
Yu Yu Hakusho
by Yoshihiro Togashi VIZ, 2003-2010 Publisher Age Rating: Teen Original intended audience: shonen Appeals to: fans of paranormal investigation stories, tournament stories, comedy Suitable for middle school? Yes. Content notes: Fantasy violence. Series status: Complete in 19 volumes
Wonder Woman: Rebirth
Wonder Woman by George Perez
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka
The Legend of Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman: The New 52
Wonder Woman: Earth One, vol. 1
Wonder Woman by John Byrne
Wonder Woman: Who Is Wonder Woman?
5 Centimeters per Second
Ano Natsu de Matteru
Arakawa Under the Bridge
Beyond the Boundary
Blue Exorcist
Chihayafuru
Chi’s Sweet Home: Chi’s New Address
Durarara!!
The Eccentric Family
Eyeshield 21
Folktales from Japan
Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Gargantia on the Verduous Planet
Gintama
Girls und Panzer
Haikyu
Horror News
Kids On The Slope
Kuroko’s Basketball
Little Witch Academia
Lovely Muuuuuuuco!
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun
Mr. Osomatsu
Mushi-Shi
My Love Story!!
Mysterious Joker
My Little Monster
Nagi no Asukara
Natsume Yujin-cho
Parasyte -the maxim-
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Rin-Ne
Rokka – Braves of the Six Flowers
RWBY
Samurai Flamenco
School Live!
Space Brothers
Sword Art Online (SAO)
Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee
Time of Eve
Tonari No Seki-kun: The Master of Wasting Time
Tsuritama
Utakoi
Witch Craft Works
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Yona of the Dawn
You and Me (Kimi to Boku)
Young Black Jack
Your Lie in April
Daredevil by Frank Miller
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev
Daredevil by Mark Waid
Booster Gold
Justice Society of America
Hawkgirl and Hawkman
The Atom
Firestorm
White Canary
Suicide Squad
The Flash
Arrow
Green Arrow: Year One
Green Arrow by Mike Grell
New 52 Green Arrow
Green Arrow by Kevin Smith
Supergirl: Digital First
Supergirl by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle
Supergirl by Peter David and Gary Frank
The Flash: Season Zero
New 52: The Flash
The Flash by Geoff Johns
Crisis On Infinite Earths
The Flash by Mark Waid
Alice in the Country of Hearts
Children of the Sea
Eyeshield 21
Hikaru no Go
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
Nausicaa
O-Parts Hunter
Soul Eater
Strobe Edge
Tiger & Bunny
........