Complete your favourite series, find a boxset or limited edition. Graphic novels, Manga & Anime from around the globe
Graphic Novels & Manga Books
Gallery 13 Stephen King's the Dark Tower: The Drawing of the
Book SynopsisEnter once more the world of Roland Deschain—and the world of the Dark Tower...now presented in a stunning graphic novel omnibus form that will unlock the doorways to terrifying secrets and bold storytelling as part of the dark fantasy masterwork and magnum opus from #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King. “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” With these unforgettable words, millions were introduced to Stephen King’s iconic character Roland Deschain of Gilead. Roland is the last of his kind, a “gunslinger” charged with protecting whatever goodness and light remains in his world—a world that “moved on,” as they say. In this desolate reality—a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic, and yet one that mirrors our own in frightening ways—Roland is on a spellbinding and soul-shattering quest to locate and somehow save the mystical nexus of all worlds, all universes: the Dark Tower. Now, in the graphic novel series adaptation Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three, originally published by Marvel Comics in single-issue form and creatively overseen by Stephen King himself, the full story of Roland’s troubled past and lifelong odyssey is revealed. Sumptuously drawn by Piotr Kowalski and Jonathan Marks, adapted by Stephen King expert Robin Furth, and scripted by New York Times bestselling author Peter David, The Drawing of the Three is an extraordinary and terrifying journey—ultimately serving as the perfect introduction for a new audience to Stephen King’s modern literary classic The Dark Tower, while giving longtime fans thrilling adventures transformed from his blockbuster novels. This single-volume omnibus edition includes the complete graphic novel series The Drawing of the Three: The Prisoner; House of Cards; The Lady of Shadows; Bitter Medicine.
£74.99
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC The Skull Dragon's Precious Daughter Vol. 3
Book SynopsisUnder the watchful eye of her dragon guardian, both Eve and her fledgling consultation service continue to thrive. But soon she and Snoozy are off again in search of more of his offspring to add to Eve’s connections. During their journey, they discover a mysterious village... one that worships a dragon god! What secrets will Eve uncover there?
£12.99
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Dont Call it Mystery Omnibus Vol. 78
Book SynopsisAlso known as Do Not Say Mystery: a quirky, award-winning mystery manga from the shojo powerhouse creator of Basara and 7SEEDSinspired a live-action series and film!
£19.79
Cinebook Ltd Lucky Luke Vol. 82: Rin Tin Can's Ark
Book SynopsisA cowboy who shoots faster than his own shadow, his sarcastic horse, a quartet of incredibly stupid bandits - this is the Old West at its funniest. The 82nd adventure of Lucky Luke, the Lonesome Cowboy! Ages 8+ Arriving in Cattle Gulch, Lucky Luke runs into an unexpected scene: an apparent crackpot called Ovid Byrde is about to get lynched. The man's revolutionary opinions - animal welfare and the sanctity of life - aren't particularly well-received in this town full of ranchers and cowboys! After Luke intervenes, though, the locals simply ignore Byrde ... until he suddenly finds gold, and a pack of unscrupulous bandits take advantage of the poor idealist to establish a vegetarian dictatorship!
£7.59
Image Comics Radiant Black, Volume 4: A Massive-Verse Book
Book SynopsisSomething alien has landed on Earth - but what is it? As governments and gangs race to unlock its hidden secrets, Nathan and Marshall will be forced to make a dangerous journey that threatens to change their relationship forever. Radiant Black is the first series in the Massive-Verse.Collects RADIANT BLACK #19-24 WHAT IS THE MASSIVE-VERSE? Kyle Higgins & Marcelo Costa's breakout hit Radiant Black took superhero storytelling to new heights. But Radiant Black isn't the only character inhabiting the MASSIVE-VERSE. There's a whole universe for readers to explore! Characters like Rogue Sun, Inferno Girl Red, The Dead Lucky and more yet to be revealed each of them has a different story to tell, different adversaries to face and they each occupy a very different corner of this shared universe. What are you waiting for? Now's the time to get into the MASSIVE-VERSE!Trade Review“The most fun I've had reading a new superhero comic in years. It's the sort of book I've been dying to have on my pull list again.” -James Tynion IV“The perfect superhero comic for anyone missing INVINCIBLE...” -Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Oblivion Song“Too much fun-classic superhero greatness remade brightly and brilliantly for a new generation!” -Scott Snyder“While the powers and the stylish suit will get all the attention, it's really the person behind the powers that steals the show.” -Comicbook.com“Mixes superhero fun with Millennial ennui.” -Comic Book Resources“There is more than a little of Invincible's DNA here.” -ScreenRant
£999.99
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Let's Buy the Land and Cultivate It in a
Book SynopsisNorio, a corporate drone in modern Japan, is summoned to a fantasy world to fight evil! But it turns out that the magical ability he got doesn’t work?! Thankfully, he has a plan B. Ask for a plot of land to cultivate a farm! To his surprise, that supposedly useless magic ability turbo charges his tools, allowing him to craft with wood like a master and plant vast fields of crops. After fishing up a mermaid wife, charming a lich, and tempting a young dragon over to his side with home cooking, there’s nothing our hero can’t do!
£11.69
Boatwhistle Books Hot Dog Diary
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£21.25
Little, Brown & Company Cheeky Brat, Vol. 4
As the day of the Inter-High approaches, tension between Shizuka and Naruseskyrockets! Although Yuki's happy Naruse's so motivated to win...she could do withoutthe constant posturing or Naruse's jealous neediness whenever Shizuka's name cropsup. After all, he's coolest when he's desperate to win-not when he's being anoverbearing jerk or an overgrown brat!
£10.44
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC PULSE Vol. 2
Book SynopsisMel, a renowned heart surgeon, is well-known for being a stoic loner. She views her erotic flings with other women as a tool for pleasure rather than a show of affection. When she delivers bad news to patients’ families, her cold nature can make her seem heartless. Then she meets Lynn, a beautiful and spirited cardiac patient who needs a new heart, but refuses a transplant. The two women meet with minimal expectations but soon become enthralled in a relationship that changes everything for them both. This Girls’ Love comic--and first place winner of the 2nd Lezhin Comics World Comic Contest--is one of the most popular series by fan-favorite Thai creator Ratana Satis, also known for Soul Drifters and Lily Love. Now you can own this full-colour yuri webtoon hit in a beautiful new paperback collection!
£15.29
Fantagraphics The Complete Peanuts 1967-1968
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£25.49
Kodansha America, Inc Shangri-La Frontier 3
Book SynopsisIt's a strange world we live in, but surely we're forgiven if we don't know where to turn. Having survived a fierce attack by one of the Shangri-La Frontier PK clans, Sunraku goes into the fighting ring against ten powerful monsters as part of a unique scenario. He barely escapes with his life, only to then receive an invitation from his gamer friend Pencilgon to help her take down a unique monster known as Wethermon the Tombguard. With Wethermon still undefeated by any of the game's 30 million players, Sunraku may have bitten off more than he can chew!
£11.69
Tokyopop Press Inc Loved Circus
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£13.25
Viz Media, Subs. of Shogakukan Inc Moon & Sun, Vol. 1
Book SynopsisA laid-back yakuza heir and a striking cross-dressing beauty start an unlikely love affair.A yakuza heir indifferent to the family business butts heads with the stunning proprietress of a nearby drag club. When his yakuza grandfather starts putting on the heat regarding the family business, he runs straight into the arms of the masculine beauty! Masahiro, heir to a yakuza syndicate, has been skating through life without much purpose. When he stumbles one night into the drag club where his childhood friend Hana works, the drunk and obnoxious Masahiro causes such a stir that the beautiful owner of the club is forced to deal with the yakuza brat themself. Is one good spanking all it will take to put the heir apparent on the right path in life…and love?
£999.99
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Kiruru Kill Me Vol. 2
Book SynopsisDEADLY DARLINGSAoi Nemo is the ultra-wealthy heir to a medical business empire, and he’s fallen head over heels for a contract killer named Akaumi Kiruru. Desperate to find a way to see her again, Nemo went so far as to put a price on his own head. So far, he’s managed to survive all their deadly “dates,” and his crush has only intensified. But with such a big reward on the line, it’s only a matter of time before more killers join the hunt!
£10.44
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time Vol. 7
Book SynopsisGIRLS ALWAYS SAY THEY WANT A SENSITIVE MAN…Peter Grill is caught in the crossfire between two elven sisters! Vegan and her older sister Fulltalia whisk him away to the elven village, where he’s cursed with forbidden erotic sensitivity magic. The sisters are about to drain him dry! But why are they seeking his seed anyway? And what caused them to turn on each other? And most importantly, how will Peter wriggle out of this latest mess?!
£11.39
Capstone Press Robin Hood Graphic Revolve Common Core Editions
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£8.79
Capstone Press Graphic Revolve Common Core Editions Dracula
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£8.72
Roaring Brook Press The Big Bad Fox
Book SynopsisFox dreams of being the terror of the hen house, but no one on the farm is the least bit intimidated by him - when he picks a fight with a hen, he always ends up on the losing end. He tries to take lessons from his mentor Wolf, but Fox's incompetence always gets in the way. It looks like Fox will have to spend the rest of his life eating turnips. But then Fox and Wolf have a brilliant idea. If Fox steals some eggs, he could raise the chicks himself and have a plump, juicy chicken dinner. But Fox's plans change when three adorable chicks hatch and call him 'Mummy.' Beautifully rendered in watercolour by Benjamin Renner, The Big Bad Fox is a hilarious and surprisingly tender parable about parenthood that's sure to be a hit with new parents (and their kids too).
£12.34
WW Norton & Co Cousin Joseph: A Graphic Novel
Book SynopsisCousin Joseph introduces Detective Sam Hannigan, head of the Bay City’s Red Squad and patriarch of the Hannigan family featured in Kill My Mother. Our story opens in the Great Depression when Big Sam sees himself as a truth-seeking patriot defending the American way against left-wing unionism. At the same time, he makes secret trips on behalf of Cousin Joseph, a man he has never laid eyes on, to pay off Hollywood producers to ensure that they make only upbeat films. Step by step, the secret of his unseen mentor’s duplicity is revealed to him. Feiffer builds on his conversion to cinematic noir, bowing to heroes Will Eisner and Milton Caniff but creating a masterpiece that illuminates Hollywood and its role in producing the bipolar nation America has become.Trade Review"... there’s a joy to be found in Feiffer’s rough, raucous line work." -- The Herald
£18.04
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Monster Musume: I Heart Monster Girls Vol. 1
Book SynopsisMonster Musume has been adapted into a hit anime series, currently streaming on Crunchyroll, and boasts a passionate fanbase around the world as its manga volumes continue to top sales charts. Each volume of Monster Musume: I Heart Monster Girls will include a full-colour insert, and three bonus full-colour, double-sided postcards, each featuring a different monster girl from the series. When hapless human twenty-something Kurusu Kimihito becomes an involuntary "volunteer" in the government homestay program for monster girls, his world is turned upside down. A reptilian lamia named Miia is sent to live with him, and it is Kimihito's job to tend to her every need and make sure she integrates into his everyday life. While cold-blooded Miia is so sexy she makes Kimihito's blood boil with desire, the penalties for interspecies breeding are dire. Even worse, when a buxom centaur girl named Centorea and a scantily clad harpy named Papi move into Kimihito's house, what's a full-blooded young man with raging hormones to do? And they're only the beginning of Kimihito's foray into the world of monster girls.
£9.99
Image Comics Descender Volume 1: Tin Stars
Book SynopsisNewsweek's Best Comic Books of 20182018, 2017, 2016 YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens2015 NPR's Best Books of the Year"Your new sci-fi obsession is here, and its name is Descender." -Entertainment Weekly Young Robot boy TIM-21 and his companions struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. Written by award-winning creator, Jeff Lemire, Descender is a rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey. Lemire pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling epic. Collects Descender issues #1-6 of the critically acclaimed, bestselling science fiction series into trade paperback.Trade Review“Your new sci-fi obsession is here, and its name is Descender...a gorgeous, moody story.” —Entertainment Weekly“Exciting.” —The Los Angeles Times' HeroComplex“Beautiful.” —Nerdist“Remarkable... a journey that’s so gripping, you’ll be begging for more.” —Bleeding Cool"Lemire (Essex County) smoothly doles out information while amping up the tension, and the innocent, friendly character of TIM-21 creates real heart in the midst of extreme violence. Nguyen's watercolor artwork is marvelous, using the medium's transparency to create fluid and subtly lustrous pages." —Publishers Weekly, (starred review)“An epic sci fi tale with a huge heart.” —Scott Snyder, Wytches
£8.99
Kodansha America, Inc Say I Love You. 17
Book SynopsisFriendship? Forget it! Mei Tachibana has no friends - and she doesn't need them! Ever since her 'friends' betrayed her in elementary school, she's sworn off friendship entirely. All it leads to is betrayal and heartbreak, and she can cope just fine by herself. However, one day everything changes when she accidentally roundhouse kicks the most popular boy in school! But Yamato Kurosawa isn't angry in the slightest - in fact, he thinks his ordinary life could use an unusual girl like Mei!
£10.44
Kodansha America, Inc Sweetness And Lightning 1
Book SynopsisTeacher Kouhei is a single father who is terrible at cooking. His adorable little daughter Tsumugi barely remembers the cooking of her mother, who's passed away. But, then, the pair comes across a teenage girl eating rice balls and crying (in joy?) at the park. She takes Kouhei and Tsumugi to her mother's restaurant, where they taste their first home-cooked meal in ages. A tribute to the power of food to bind people together.
£11.69
Kodansha America, Inc Queen Emeraldas 2
Book SynopsisPublished in English for the first time, this widely admired slice of intergalactic manga contains pirates, space opera and much more. Emeraldas, known throughout the galaxy as the Pirate Queen, travels through space on her heavily-armed ship, searching for a secret. Hiroshi Umino is a young boy who escaped the bounds of Earth only by building his own spaceship. He crashes on Mars, where he encounters Emeraldas, who sees a little of herself in the reckless young man.
£999.99
Image Comics The Wicked + The Divine Volume 1: The Faust Act
Book Synopsis“solid storytelling and clean, gorgeous artwork will keep readers engrossed and eager for more.” - Publishers Weekly (Starred)"Gillen's penchant for fast, sharp dialogue and McKelvie and Wilson's razor-lined, intensely colored visuals keep things popping up to the cliffhanger ending." - Booklist“the story is beautifully drawn and populated with characters of color, diverse gender, and sexual identities, and you have my full undivided attention.” -- KirkusEvery ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critically thermonuclear floor-fillers Young Avengers and Phonogram reunite to start a new, ongoing, superhero fantasy with a beautiful, oversized issue. Welcome to The Wicked + The Divine, where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you're immortal, doesn't mean you're going to live forever.Collects The Wicked + The Divine #1-5.
£8.99
Papercutz The Smurfs Monsters
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£999.99
Kodansha America, Inc Yamada-kun & The Seven Witches 11
Book SynopsisClass troublemaker Ryu Yamada is already having a bad day when he stumbles down a staircase along with star student Urara Shiraishi. When he wakes up, he realises they have switched bodies - and that Ryu has the power to trade places with anyone with only a kiss! Plus, it turns out he's not the only kid at school with a few magic tricks up his sleeve. Also receiving a simul-pub on Crunchyroll, Yamada-Kun is sure to be one of the biggest manga hits of the year.
£10.44
Drawn & Quarterly Hark! A Vagrant
Book SynopsisFEATURED ON MORE THAN TWENTY BEST-OF LISTS, INCLUDING TIME, AMAZON, E! AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY!Hark! A Vagrant is an uproarious romp through history and literature seen through the sharp, contemporary lens of New Yorker cartoonist and comics sensation Kate Beaton. No era or tome emerges unscathed as Beaton rightly skewers the Western world''s revolutionaries, leaders, sycophants, and suffragists while equally honing her wit on the hapless heroes, heroines, and villains of the best-loved fiction.She deftly points out what really happened when Brahms fell asleep listening to Liszt, that the world''s first hipsters were obviously the Incroyables and the Merveilleuses from eighteenth-century France, that Susan B. Anthony is, of course, a "Samantha," and that the polite banality of Canadian culture never gets old. Hark! A Vagrant features sexy Batman, the true stories behind classic Nancy Drew covers, and Queen Elizabeth doing the albatross. As the 500,000 unique monthly visitors to harkavagrant.com already know, no one turns the ironic absurdities of history and literature into comedic fodder as hilariously as Beaton.
£17.95
Fantagraphics The Ladies-in-waiting
Book SynopsisA graphic novel fantasy about a real art history mystery: Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez.
£21.24
Drawn and Quarterly Cheap Novelties: The Pleasures of Urban Decay
Book SynopsisCheap Novelties is an early testament to Ben Katchor's extraordinary prescience as both a gifted cartoonist and an astute urban chronicler. Rumpled, middle-aged Julius Knipl photographs a vanishing city-an urban landscape of low-rent apartment buildings, obsolete industries, monuments to forgotten people and events, and countless sources of inexpensive food. In Katchor's signature pen and ink wash style, Cheap Novelties is a portrait of what we have lost to gentrification, globalization, and the malling of America that is as moving today as it was twenty-five years ago. In 1991, the original Cheap Novelties appeared in an unassuming paperback from the RAW contributor; it would become one of the first graphic novels of the contemporary graphic novel golden age and set the stage for Katchor as he is now regarded-a modern day cartooning genius. Drawn and Quarterly's 25th anniversary edition will be a deluxe hardcover reformatted to Katchor's original vision and will feature a new cover.Trade ReviewBen Katchor's sublime collectionchronicles the wanderings of Julius Knipl, a rumpled photographer-for-hire taking pictures of buildings in a gently surreal streetscape that vaguely resembles Manhattan's financial district of old. Knipl laments a fading world of dairy cafeterias, tchotchke salesmen and trophy manufacturers. -Wall Street Journal
£17.77
Fantagraphics The Gaze Of Drifting Skies: A Treasury of Bird's
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£25.49
Image Comics The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
Book SynopsisIntroducing the first eight volumes of the fan-favorite, New York Times Best Seller series collected into one massive paperback collection! Collects The Walking Dead #1-48. This is the perfect collection for any fan of the Emmy Award-winning television series on AMC: over one thousand pages chronicling the beginning of Robert Kirkman's Eisner Award-winning continuing story of survival horror- from Rick Grimes' waking up alone in a hospital, to him and his family seeking solace on Hershel's farm, and the controversial introduction of Woodbury despot: The Governor. In a world ruled by the dead, we are finally forced to finally start living. Trade ReviewMy recommendation is if you are a fan of the Walking Dead tv series, and you feel you want to read the largest chunk of the collected graphic novels in the lowest price per "chunk" format... pick up this compendium! -- squidoo.comThe Walking Dead is all about the living, the people who struggle to retain their humanity in the face of the unspeakable. So what does that mean? What good is being human when you're no longer the dominant species on the planet? And what's really left to hold on to? The Walking Dead is an examination of all those questions and more. -- John Hogan, The Graphic Novel Reporter
£999.99
Fantagraphics Fall Guy For Murder And Other Stories
Book SynopsisJohnny Craig always stood out thanks to his crisp, elegant and contemporary graphic style. And nowhere did this style work more beautifully than in the dozens of superb crime stories he wrote and drew for EC, collected here.
£24.64
Image Comics Saga Volume 2
Book Synopsis The smash-hit ongoing epic continues! Thanks to her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana, newborn baby Hazel has already survived lethal assassins, rampaging armies, and alien monstrosities, but in the cold vastness of outer space, the little girl encounters something truly frightening: her grandparents! Named one of Time Magazine's top 10 graphic novels for 2013
£12.59
Fantagraphics Michael Jordan: Bull On Parade
Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive graphic biography of Jordan, including his participation in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with the USA's 'Dream Team'. An in-depth and beautifully drawn depiction of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.
£21.24
Seven Stories Press,U.S. Graphic Canon, The - Vol. 3: From Heart of
Book SynopsisBrings classic literatures of the world together with legendary graphic artists and illustrators. Volume 3 showcases literature of the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st.
£26.99
Dark Horse Comics Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift Part 1
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£11.69
Dark Horse Comics Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, The: Book Two
Book SynopsisLike a Japanese version of Creepy, KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE is a perfect fusion of great art and scary storytelling.
£17.09
Dark Horse Comics Lone Wolf And Cub Omnibus Volume 4
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£17.09
Shambhala Publications Inc The 47 Ronin: A Graphic Novel
Book SynopsisA graphic novel depiction of the most dramatic example of bushido—the samurai code—in Japanese history In the eighteenth century, forty-seven samurai avenged the death of their master in a plot that would take over two years to complete. After succeeding in their mission, the masterless samurai—known as ronin—all committed ritual suicide. The story, which is a national legend, remains the most potent example of Japan’s deeply rooted cultural imperative of honor, persistence, loyalty, and sacrifice. The historical event has inspired many writers and artists over the years and numerous fictionalized versions and adaptations have emerged. In The 47 Ronin, Sean Michael Wilson has created a historically factual portrait, enhanced by evocative and often lyrical drawings by Akiko Shimojima. While there are other depictions of the story in manga form, this version stands out as being the most accurate and most compelling. Wilson and Shimojima have made the characters nuanced and relatable.
£13.29
Kodansha America, Inc The Seven Deadly Sins 6
Book SynopsisThis new manga series takes readers to the land of Britannia, a picturesque country ruled by the benevolent King Lyonnesse - or at least it was, until the king's guard assassinated him and started a full-blown Holy War!
£10.44
Kodansha America, Inc Xxxholic Rei 4
Book SynopsisIn xxxHolic Rei, Kimihiro Watanuki continues his relationship with the Space-Time Witch, Yuko. In her mysterious shop where wishes are granted - for a price - will he discover even more secrets? And what will he have to trade this time for the answers he seeks? The thrilling new instalment of a successful series that sees customers enter a mysterious shop somewhere in Tokyo. In it, their wishes may be granted. But always at a steep price. Beautifully seductive artwork and uniquely Japanese depictions of the supernatural will hypnotise Clamp fans and manga fans alike.
£999.99
Kodansha America, Inc Fairy Tail 7
Book SynopsisFairy Tail's rival guild, Phantom Lord, has taken the competition to dangerous levels by smashing the Fairy Tail building and nearly killing three wizards. What is Fairy Tail's response? A full-frontal assault on Phantom Lord! But this clash is all part of the Phantom Lord's evil plot to capture a coveted prize. Includes special extras after the story!
£10.44
Image Comics The Walking Dead Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life
Book Synopsis The world we knew is gone. The world of commerce and frivolous necessity has been replaced by a world of survival and responsibility. An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, the survivors are forced to finally start living. Trapped in a town surrounded by madmen, Rick must find a way out or die trying. Meanwhile, back at the prison, the rest of the survivors come to grips with the fact Rick may be dead, and a major turning point in the series is reached. Reprint Edition
£999.99
Dark Horse Comics,U.S. Berserk Volume 33
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£13.49
Roaring Brook Press Legends of Zita the Spacegirl
Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERBen Hatke brings back our intrepid space heroine for another delightful sci-fi/fantasy adventure. Zita is determined to find her way home to earth, following the events of the first book. But things are never simple, and certainly never easy, in space. Zita's exploits from her first adventure have made her an intergalactic megastar! But she's about to find out that fame doesn't come without a price. And who can you trust when your true self is being eclipsed by your public persona, and you've got a robot doppelganger wreaking havoc ...while wearing your face? Still, if anyone can find their way through this intractible mess of mistaken identity and alien invaders, it's the indomitable Zita, in "Legends of Zita the Spacegirl."Legends of Zita the Spacegirl" is one of "Kirkus Reviews'" Best Children's Books of 2012.Trade ReviewZita's moxie is positively contagious, and her adventures are un-put-downable. Readers would be hard-pressed to not find something to like in these tales; they're a winning formula of eye-catching aesthetics and plot and creativity, adeptly executed. "Kirkus Reviews, starred review"
£12.51
First Second American Born Chinese
Book SynopsisOriginal Series Now Available on Disney+A tour-de-force by New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he''s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny''s life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax.American Born Chinese is the winner of the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award, a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People''s Literature, the winner of the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, an Eisner Award nominee for Best Coloring, a 2007 Bank Street Best Children''s Book of the Year, and a New York Times bestseller.
£21.24
Roaring Brook Press American Born Chinese
Book SynopsisThis is a tour-de-force new work by rising indie comics star Gene Yang. "American Born Chinese" maps the adolescent Chinese-American experience through three separate but interwoven stories. One story centres on Jin Wang, a Chinese-American student at an all-white California high school. Jin is plagued by jocks and bullies, so when another Chinese student transfers to the school, Jin wants nothing to do with him. Next is a comic update of the legendary story of the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese morality tale. Finally, there's the gross and surreal stereotype of Chin-Kee, the ultimate negative Chinese cliche, complete with a sitcom-style "laugh track". These three apparently unrelated tales come together in an astonishing climax - all with a mighty blast of humour, surprising poignancy and skilled artistry.Trade ReviewAs alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the school-yard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting store about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood: it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggles to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. (Sept.) Publisher's Weekly Graphic novels that focus on nonwhite characters are exceedingly rare in American comics. Enter American Born Chinese, a well-crafted work that aptly explores issues of self-image, cultural identity, transformation, and self-acceptance. In a series of three linked tales, the central characters are introduced: Jin Wang, a teen who meets with ridicule and social isolation when his family moves from San Francisco's Chinatown to an exclusively white suburb; Danny, a popular blond, blue-eyed high school jock whose social status is jeopardized when his goofy, embarrassing Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, enrolls at his high school; and the Monkey King who, unsatisfied with his current sovereign, desperately longs to be elevated to the status of a god. Their stories converge into a satisfying coming-of-age novel that aptly blends traditional Chinese fables and legends with bathroom humor, action figures, and playground politics. Yang's crisp line drawings, linear panel arrangement, and muted colors provide a strong visual complement to the textual narrative. Like Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Laurence Yep's Dragonwings, this novel explores the impact of the American dream on those outside the dominant culture in a finely wrought story that is an effective combination of humor and drama. School Library Journal Gr. 10-12. With vibrant colors and visual panache, indie writer-illustrator Yang (Rosary Comic Book) focuses on three characters in tales that touch on facets of Chinese American life. Jin is a boy faced with the casual racism of fellow students and the pressure of his crush on a Caucasian girl; the Monkey King, a character from Chinese folklore, has attained great power but feels he is being held back because of what the gods perceive as his lowly status; and Danny, a popular high-school student, suffers through an annual visit from his cousin Chin-Kee, a walking, talking compendium of egregious Chinese stereotypes. Each of the characters is flawed but familiar, and, in a clever postmodern twist, all share a deep, unforeseen connection. Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or oppose the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller. The stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects - shame, racism, and friendship - receive thoughtful, powerful examination. Booklist Three seemingly unrelated stories blend into a memorable tale of growing up Chinese American. The book begins with the ancient fable of the Monkey King, the proud leader of the monkeys. He is punished for entering the god's dinner party by being buried under a mountain for five hundred years. Second in the story of Jin Wang, the son of immigrants struggling to retain his Chinese identity while longing to be more Americanized. The fnial story is that of Cousin Chin-Kee, an amalgamation of the worst Chinese stereotypes. Chin-Kee yearly visits his all-American cousin Danny, causing so much embarrassment that Danny must chage schools. The final chapter unifies the three tales into one version of what it means to be American-born Chinese. This graphic novel first appeared as a long running web comic on www.moderntales.com, where it enjoyed an enthusiastic following. The artwork is clean and distinctive, with varying panel styles and inking that is visually appealing. The Cousin Chin-Kee story line is extremely hyperbolic and at times difficult to read, as it embraces the most extreme negative Chinese stereotypes, but it displays some of the difficulties in perception faced by young Chinese Americans. This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions. This book is recommended for libraries serving teens and adults, particularly those enjoying graphic novels. Sherrie Willians, VOYA Raised in San Francisco's Chinatown, Jin Wang moves to a new neighborhood and a new school in third grade, where he quickly realizes that he's an oddball among Anglo-American classmates. Further complicating his life is the arrival of a Taiwanese student who latches onto him for companionship and sticks like a burr on through junior high. The picture of dorkiness in his huge eyeglasses, Robo Happy shirt, hiked-up pants, and cowlick, Wei-Chen Sun turns into Jin's closest friend and greatest embarrassment, both a cheerleader and a stumbling block to Jin's efforts to fit into mainstream school life and win the blonde girl of his dreams. Weaving around and ultimately converging with the seriocomic story of Jin's coming-of-age problems are two related tales that comment on issues of identity. In the first, the Chinese legendary Monkey Kong, banished from the gods' dinner party because he is a monkey, perfects his skills and disciplines to the point where he claims to have transcended his monkeyness. As "The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven," he's ready to take on all comers including the creator god Tze-Yo-Tzuh, but he is ultimately punished, humbled, and redirected to the understanding that his freedom will only come through acceptance of his true nature. The last piece of the narrative triad is a sitcom, "Everyone Wuvs Chin-Kee," complete with a laugh track, in which broadly stereotyped Chin-Kee turns up on an annual visit to Americanized cousin Danny and, in a series of classroom episodes that play out Jin Wang's worst nightmares, turns Danny's social life into a shambles. The graphic novel format is particularly well suited to managing the flow of three simultaneous storylines, and the action sequences of the Monkey King's tale and over-the-top satire on the portrayal of immigrants in American pop culture settle right into their spacious frames on the generously white bordered pages. Compositions are tidy and the palette is softly muted, so that even the strongest colors in the action scenes never reach the intensity of a visual assault. Kids fighting an uphill battle to convince parents and teachers of the literary merit of graphic novels will do well to share this title. EB The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections. M.C. (from the Graphic Novels column by Martha Cornog & Steve Raiteri), Library Journal American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that tells the story of two protagonists. The Monkey King is a figure from Chinese folklore. Angry at not being admitted to a Heavenly Dinner Party because he isn't wearing shoes, the Monkey King masters the twelve disciplines of King Fu and sets about proving that he is a god to his fellow deities. He does this by beating up anyone who calls him a monkey. Danny, an Asian boy drawn with white features, wants to be like the rest of the kids in his high school. Unfortunately, the arrival of his cousin from China, Chin-Kee, dashes his hopes. Chin-Kee is every cliche about Chinese people (pronounce his name phonetically) rolled into one fun-filled package. Chin-Kee is so full of fun that a laugh track follows him around, but Danny, who has transferred out of two high schools already because of Chin-Kee's past antics, isn't laughing. There is also a third storyline featuring Jin Wang (Danny in junior high) and his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun. This is one of the best graphic novels I've read this year. It reminds me of Derek Kirk Kim's excellent Same Difference and Other Stories, which is also worth purchasing. The three storylines are interrelated, and all have the same theme: accept who you are. Be warned that the character of Chin-Kee will arouse strong feelings: some may find him offensive while others may think he's funny. American Born Chinese contains racial stereotypes, comic book violence, and one urinating monkey (from the back). It is highly recommended for all graphic novel collections. KLIATT Is it so bad to grow up Asian in America? One might be forgiven for asking upon encountering American Born Chinese, a graphic novel that, with its dark exploration of Asian-American adolescence, won last year's Michael L. Printz Award for young adult literature and was also a finalist in its genre for a National Book Award. After all, Asians are widely perceived to have it easier than other minorities in the United States, especially African-Americans, whose coming-of-age struggles have been chronicled for decades by writers like Walter Dean Myers, Jacqueline Woodson and Sharon G. Flake. But in American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang makes growing up Chinese in California seem positively terrifying. The narrative is divided into three parts: the coming-of-age tale of the Asian-American Jin Wang, which centers on his relationship with his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun; the fantastical tale of a Monkey King who does not want to be a monkey; and the deeply disturbing story of Chin-Kee, a grotesque who takes every Chinese stereotype and wraps it into a leering, drooling package. Yang seems to use Chin-Kee to express his deepest fears of how others perceive Asian-Americans. In the book's more realistic sections, Wang's friend Wei-Chen is embarrassingly "fresh off the boat"; Chin-Kee is less embarrassing than monstrous. He comes to the United States for an extended visit with Danny, his blond, blue-eyed cousin, and enters with a shout of "Harro Amellica!" (The author uses Chin-Kee's L/R switch to great effect - at one point he says he's having a "lorricking good time" in his new school.) He wants to bind the feet of Danny's attractive study partner. His eyes are pupil-less slits. And he dominates Danny's classes, reminding us that the image of a Chinese student filling out all the SAT bubbles correctly can be as damaging as one eating "flied cat gizzards." More disquieting than Chin-Kee himself is the reaction of his American peers. They accept him with blank, idealized political correctness. Only when he begins to engage in truly disgusting behavior do they turn on him. It is as if Chin-Kee is trying to make others despise him. While Chin-Kee's coolie outfit harks back to the 19th century, Yang - who teaches high school computer science in San Francisco - also takes from modern sources. In one scene, Chin-Kee dances on a table singing "She Bangs" in the style of William Hung, the Berkeley student who turned a ridiculed American Idol audition into a brief singing career in 2004. Hung's hooks were his geeky appearance and accent; his music video soaked him in bling and surrounded him with backup dancers to drive home the point that he would never have bling or backup dancers. American Born Chinese blends Chinese and American cultures in inventive, unexpected ways. Structurally, its interwoven stories form a trilogy - a familiar Western construction - but the tale of the Monkey King is dominated by groups of four: four Major Heavenly Disciplines of kung fu; four emissaries of Tze-Yo-Tzuh, creator of all existence (an invention of Yang's). Thus four, a cursed number in Chinese numerology, dogs the Monkey King until he comes to terms with his identity. At the end of his story, in the book's most clever ethnic synthesis, he turns four to his favor, becoming one of four emissaries to the West who replace the wise men in their pilgrimage to see Jesus. This image of the blending of Asian-American and white cultures will be tested in the coming years. As the white population in America falls below 50 percent, around 2060 (according to census projections), the definition of "white" is once again set to expand as it did for Italian- and Irish-Americans. Who will get to join the club? Or will the club finally fall to pieces? Caught up in these complex questions, it is easy to forget that American Born Chinese also functions well as a comic book. (Many graphic novelists are taking back this once-disparaging term.) The art blends the clean lines of anime with a bold American palette. Yang is equally adept at depicting a high school cafeteria and the Monkey King's fantastical realm. American Born Chinese is sometimes needlessly crass - it opens with a joke about breasts and peaches - and it is hampered by a confusing ending that stretches to resolve the three tales. But with Chin-Kee's striking embodiment of ethnic confusion and self-betrayal, Gene Luen Yang has created that rare article: a youthful tale with something new to say about American youth. NED VIZZINI, New York Times Book Review, Children's Books "
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