Newly arrived adult graphic novels
Explore the world in a different way with a graphic novel!
World Without End by Jean-Marc Jancovici
Climate expert Jean-Marc Jancovici educates artist Christophe Blain on the climate crisis, explaining humanity's deep reliance on fossil fuels, linking energy, economics, and ecology. The book clarifies complex concepts like energy return on investment, advocating for a holistic approach beyond just renewables, and championing nuclear power. Through accessible visuals and humour, it demystifies the science, urging a fundamental shift in our energy use and societal structures to navigate a future with finite resources, fostering a realistic understanding rather than just fear.
Sapiens vol. 3 by Yuval Noah Harari
The 3rd part of the graphic version of Harari's hugely successful books of the same name breaks down the 'laundry list' of who's who in history. This volume tackles the section of unification of humankind through shared myths and forces, exploring the driving forces of empire, money, and religion that have brought disparate human groups together. A wonderfully accessible way to break down the weight of our history.
Brian is a socially awkward 1970s teenager obsessed with making horror movies in which he casts Laurie, a girl who becomes the subject of his film and his intense, distorted affections. The narrative interweaves Brian's troubled reality (alcoholic mother, absent father) with his grotesque dreams and the fictional world of his film. As Brian projects his anxieties onto Laurie, their relationship becomes a poignant exploration of miscommunication and the profound disconnections of adolescence.
Jessica Harrow is a Reaper in the afterlife whose job is to ferry recently deceased souls to their final destination. The twist? Unlike every other Reaper, Jessica has no memory of how she died. Her routine existence in the afterlife is disrupted when, during a soul transfer, she inadvertently crosses over into the land of the living and she sets out to uncover the truth about her own past and the disappearance of the actual Grim Reaper, delving into the complex politics and hidden histories of the afterlife.
Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson
A sprawling, deeply personal, and meticulously researched graphic memoir by the author or Blankets and Habibi. It intertwines his childhood experiences growing up in rural Wisconsin, where his family worked extensively in ginseng farming, with a comprehensive exploration of the plant's history, global trade, cultural significance, and impact on diverse communities, all rendered in Thompson's signature detailed and expressive pen-and-ink artwork
Marietta, who, despite being thrilled about pregnancy, finds herself overwhelmed by physical pain, emotional turmoil, and an unexpected lack of connection with her newborn, Zoe. As she is over whelmed by post partum depression, she descends into the bleak and lonely space of new motherhood. Adriansen challenges societal expectations of joyful, instantaneous bonding and highlights the importance of seeking help and accepting that the transition to motherhood is often messy, complex, and far from the idealised "fairy tale."
Set in the desolate, rural Canadian town of Belle River, Ontario the story weaves together elements of small-town crime, psychological and body horror, magical realism, and coming-of-age drama. A dare gone wrong at a convenience store during the annual "fishfly season", when swarms of insects descend upon the town leads to a shooting and a subsequent manhunt, which draws in a lonely, ostracised young girl named Franny Fox. What unfolds is an unlikely and profoundly strange friendship between Franny and the mysterious fugitive, who seems to be undergoing a grotesque, insect-like transformation. A viscerally unsettling and profoundly moving novel.
Savage Messiah by Laura Grace Ford
A collection of Ford's self-published fanzine, originally created between 2005 and 2009. It's a unique blend of graphic novel, artwork, and polemic, chronicling the dramatic and often brutal transformations of London under neoliberalism and rampant gentrification, particularly in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympic Games. She maps the city's hidden histories, forgotten counter-cultures and the tangible and intangible spaces being erased by development.
