BookShelf Magazine #30: Science Fiction

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THE SCIENCE FICTION ISSUE • • • •

How to create a science fiction graphic novel display Graphic novel lesson plans by Prof. Katie Monnin Graphic novel reviews for schools and libraries And much more!

SHE SAID DESTROY A SCI-FI, FANTASY ADVENTURE

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ritten by Joseph Corallo and illustrated by Liana Kangas, this fantasy space epic is a story Joe has always wanted to tell. With their shared love of both fantasy and space adventures such as Sailor Moon, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, and Hayao Miyazaki films, these creators have teamed up to make a unique sci-fi, fantasy adventure. In the below author letter, Corallo opens up about the inspiration and motivation behind She Said Destroy.

“She Said Destroy is both the story I’ve always wanted to tell since I was kid, and a story I only knew I had in me about a year ago. When I was young, I vividly remember getting up early on school days in 5th grade so I could watch Sailor Moon. It was the first anime I really fell in love with. Within the next year or so, I was getting into JRPGs like the Final Fantasy and Phantasy Stars series, Hayao Miyazaki films, and Star Wars; and by the time I got to college and beyond, I was getting into comics like The Sandman and Legion of Super-Heroes. I was always interested in stories that pushed the visual mediums they were in and didn’t feel like they had to be confined to our preexisting notions of what does and doesn’t make sense. Stories you immerse yourself in without question. I remember one Christmas asking for books on paganism from my parents and getting them without question, and Excaliburis still a favorite movie of mine. Those sorts of stories have followed me nearly all my life but telling a story like that hadn’t occurred to me.

All these thoughts, ideas, and memories floated around my mind, doing their own thing until I had a conversation with my friend Beth about the Morrigan. She was expressing frustration with how The Morrigan is so often portrayed as the villain in literature and pop-culture when there is so much more you could do with them as a character. As that conversation was happening, all those unconnected thoughts, ideas, and memories going back decades all converged into a single idea – She Said Destroy. It’s a story about the Morrigan, a God of Death, being a force for good, and Brigid, a God of the Sun, being a tyrant. The core idea and the main cast of characters all remained intact from when I first started writing the pitch out about a year ago.

Liana Kangas, my collaborator and the illustrator of She Said Destroy, was my first choice on the project. I met Liana at a signing at Forbidden Planet just a few months prior, and we hit it off.

As soon as I had the pitch written out, I sent it to her. I didn’t know it at the time, but we had a lot of similar interests growing up and were quickly on the same page with the aesthetic of this story. I will note that Liana’s favorite Final Fantasy is X and mine is IX though, but we’ve worked past that.

This comic is going to look gorgeous because of Liana. She makes me want to tell this story. I know it probably sounds cliché, but this is a story I’ve always wanted to tell. It’s got so much of what I have loved in stories growing up and still love today: spaceships, old gods, young heroes with a destiny they must grapple with, magic, moral ambiguity, and a lot more. I cannot stress enough how happy I am to be writing a comic with castles in space. The story takes all these elements in a unique direction that will feel fresh to readers that enjoy the same stories I have over the years. She Said Destroy is a comic I wish I had when I was 14, and that I’m thrilled to be writing at 34. I hope after reading this comic you’ll be as excited about it as I am.”

She Said Destroy tells the story of Brigid, Goddess of the Sun, and her sister The Morrigan, Goddess of Death. Over millennia, Brigid has conquered and converted the entire solar system into worshipping her and her alone, save one space colony. The witches of Fey are the last believers of The Morrigan, and as Brigid’s forces prepare for one final battle, The Morrigan prepares to do what she does best: Destroy!

She Said Destroy (978193942501) is being published by Vault Comics and will be available anywhere you buy books November 2019.

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WELCOME TO BOOKSHELF

EDITOR Ashley Kronsberg DESIGNER Belinda Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Katie Monnin Monica Gingerich Maria Ronseca Alicia Brown Tiffany Henderson REVIEWERS Bette McDowell

Graphic Novels have a lot to offer as literature, education tools, entertainment and more! Whether you are a teacher or reading specialist seeking to incorporate graphic novels into the classroom; or a librarian or media specialist looking to add graphic novels to your collection, our mission with Diamond BookShelf is to provide you with comprehensive information on the latest graphic novel news, reviews, events, and more.

BookShelf Magazine was created as a compliment to the Diamond BookShelf website. With this publication, you’ll find articles designed to introduce you to the world of graphic novels and help you learn how to integrate them into your classroom or library as well as reviews, core lists, reference recommendations and other special extras!

If you want to know what comics and graphic novels are and how or why to use them, or if you are already familiar with graphic novels and are looking for a great resource to improve your collection… Read on!

CONTENTS Graphic Novels 101 ............................................6

Patricia Jimenez Jonathan Khan SPECIAL THANKS TO

News & Notes ....................................................8

Reviews ........................................................... 24

Cindy Anderson Roger Fletcher Dan Manser Steve Geppi For ad rates and info email ads@diamondcomics.com

Core Lists ........................................................ 26

Resources ....................................................... 29

How to Order Graphic Novels ...................... 30

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©2019 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, Diamond Books logo, Diamond BookShelf logo and diamondbookshelf.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in the United States and/or other countries.

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CONTENTS Who Are The Psi-Lords? ........................................... 13 Fred Van Lente discusses his new sci-fi mystery epic from Valiant Entertainment.

An Intergalactic Feline Story ................................... 19 Check out a preview of Captain Ginger from Ahoy Comics.

Under The Moon .......................................................22 Prof. Katie Monnin provides a review and classroom lesson plan for Lauren Myracle and Isaac Goodhart’s Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale from DC Comics.

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A Girl’s First Love ......................................................23 Prof. Katie Monnin provides a review and classroom lesson plan for Caly’s Breath of Flowers Volume 1 from Tokyopop.

SPECIAL FEATURES Creating a Multiverse in Your Library .................................................................................... 10 Public School Librarian Monica Gingerich explores the logistics of maintaining a successful science fiction graphic novel display and strategies for curation such as pairing popular titles and how to handle planning promotion.

Creating Connections: Planning a Library Comic-Con ............................................................................................... 16 Public Librarians Maria Fonseca, Alicia Brown, and Tiffany Henderson discuss why budget doesn’t matter when organizing a library event if you build relationships with your community.

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GRAPHIC NOVELS 101

STARTING A GRAPHIC NOVEL COLLECTION

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eciding to include comic books and graphic novels in your collection is the first step into a larger world. Now, you must decide what to do once you’re there. Here are some basic steps on your path to using graphic novels in your collection:

1. Determine Needs

First, you need to ascertain what books you would like to incorporate into your collection.

Perhaps you have one or two graphic novels already, or you may be deciding to carry these books for the first time. You’ll need to decide which books would be appropriate for your community of readers, which books they’re hankering for, and which books would delight and surprise them.

2. Find An Expert

You don’t have to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of comics and graphic novels to successfully integrate them into your library’s offerings. There are people out there who can advise you on what books are valuable. Reach out to your library community or local comic book retailers who are armed with detailed information about this area of reading they have a vested interest in supporting. (See “A Great Resource: Your Local Comics Shop“ on page 46 for information) And, of course, you can also feel free to contact those of us at the Diamond Bookshelf!

5. Promote Your Graphic Novels

You could have the finest graphic novel collection in history, but if no one knows about, it won’t matter. The success of your collection relies on a certain level of promotion. If you don’t get the word out, no one will know the books are there. Start including the news about your graphic novels into your existing newsletters, pamphlets, and other promotional materials. Put up easy-to-read signs at the entrances to your library so that nobody who enters will fail to know about the new additions. Add the news to your e-mail correspondence. Contact your local media and encourage them to do a story about your library’s efforts to expand and enhance readership through this vital art form. Stage contests, offer giveaways, and plan fun events.

Coordinate promotions with your local comic book retailer.

3. Purchase The Books

Once you have consulted with your readers, experts in the field, and any others who can offer insight, you’ll be ready with a list of titles of graphic novels to acquire for your library.

4. Decide How To Catalog/ Where To Shelve

Now you need to decide where to put them! For information on cataloging to make integrating graphic novels into your collection easier and shelving, visit the BookShelf website for a comprehensive look at options and resources.

6. Evaluate Success / Circulation Data

After a certain period of time, you’re going to want to crunch the numbers. Measuring the graphic novel circulation at your library indicates the extent to which your readers are using this new library resource and will help you evaluate the success of the program. It will also point you in the right direction as to which titles and series to snap up in the future!

GRAPHIC NOVEL SELECTION IS KEY

There is no national standard when it comes to appropriateness of graphic novels, so it is vital — once you’ve decided on a particular book — to read through the book yourself. What might pass muster in some communities may not pass muster in yours. This website and the various resources listed throughout are your best starting points if you are approaching comics from a starter’s perspective.

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THREE CATEGORIES TO KEEP IN MIND:

7. Poll Patrons

Never forget to meet the needs of your readership. Consulting the experts and embarking on your own research into which titles to carry is a necessary element of this program, but asking your patrons what they want is also crucial.

1. BESTSELLERS Lists of bestselling graphic novels

8. Make Graphic Novels a Regular Part of Your Ordering Cycle

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www.

DiamondBookShelf.com.

Additionally,

resources

Once you’ve talked to your readers and assessed your circulation data to see how successful the addition of comic books and graphic novels has been, you’ll want to keep the ball rolling. An established graphic novel program in your library needs to be sustained, and making graphic novels a regular part of your ordering cycle will ensure the vibrancy of your collection. Including these titles in your regular decisions on what books to carry will help make them a significant and popular segment of your library.

such as BookScan (www.

REMEMBER:

new readers, and also make

As with any collection development, there is a period of experimentation during which you will learn which titles will circulate and which will not. You cannot judge the effectiveness of a graphic novel collection with a handful of titles, any more than you would do so with a handful of DVDs or audiobooks. If there’s no room in your budget to make a large initial purchase, start small and evaluate regularly. Add titles as you can, polling your patrons, reading review sources, and keeping diversity in mind. As time goes on, you will find the right combination for your readership and community.

bookscan.com) can provide similar information for the highest

selling

graphic

novels in the book-store market.

2. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED TITLES Graphic novels that have received stellar reviews and won

literary

awards

are

sure to generate interest in the medium, will attract a great case for having a graphic There

novel are

collection.

a

number

literary

publications

review

graphic

of that

novels,

including Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA and others. See pages 40-41 for a selection of recent reviews.

3. MEDIA TIE-INS Titles that tie in to hit movies, games, novels and TV shows are sure to appeal to fans of the same. Many manga

Soon, you’ll come to realize that comic books and graphic novels are an engaging and vibrant form of literature, and the promotional possibilities for your library are endless!

titles are also TV cartoons, and

many

blockbuster

movies are adapted from comic books. The BookShelf newsletter

stays

current

with the latest media tie-ins and adaptations.

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NEWS AND NOTES The Walking Dead #193 Marks End of LongRunning Comic Book Series Image/Skybound’s long-running series THE WALKING DEAD

by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard has come to its conclusion with it’s #193 issue.

Steve Geppi Delivers Commencement Speech at Capitol Technology University Caps and gowns, diplomas and degrees - with them come inspiring, thought provoking speeches to newly minted graduates. Diamond Comic Book Distributors President and CEO, Steve Geppi, gave one such address on Saturday, May 4, 2019, as the commencement speaker at Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland.

“I’ll say it again, I love (loved… oh, god, I’m not ready for past tense) writing this series. I really don’t want it to end. In fact, I’ve been… kind of unsettled since I wrote the script for this issue. The whole thing just feels… weird,” Kirkman wrote in the letter. “In a way, killing this series has been a lot like killing a major character. Much, much harder… but the same feeling. I don’t WANT to do it. I’d rather keep going… but the story is telling me what it wants and what it needs. This needs to happen.

Whether I want it or not.”

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE #193 will be collected in the final volume of the series releasing in 2020.

Join ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table!

The Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table of the American Library Association is dedicated to supporting library staff in all aspects of engaging with graphic novels and comics, including collection development, programming, and advocacy. For more information connect with GNCRT on…

Twitter: @libcomix Instagram: @libcomix Facebook: ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table group or the GNCRT ALA Connect page.

He was introduced by Haden Land, chairmen of the Board of Trustees who told the graduates and gathered audience about Geppi’s rise in the comic industry from opening his first Geppi’s Comic World to his position as president and CEO of Diamond Comic Book Distributors and its sister companies.

Geppi warmed up the crowd by joking about all the cell phone pictures being snapped, and the fact that commencement was taking place on May the Fourth, the unofficial Star Wars holiday and Free Comic Book Day. In the meat of his address, he discussed his upbringing and the challenges he faced as well as how technology is changing the world. He advocated for being a good listener and encouraged the graduates to use their talents but cautioned them to pay attention to how and where they use them.

Geppi’s introduction and speech can be viewed at the following link, starting at around 49:35 mark of the commencement: https://youtu.be/ KiaeNTyFBeE.

For more of the latest news, sign up for our monthly newsletter here: http://bit.ly/BookShelfNews.

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CREATING A MULTIVERSE IN YOUR LIBRARY

HOW TO PROMOTE SCIENCE FICTION GRAPHIC NOVELS

“B O I N N N N G ! ”

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hat is the sound of your patrons getting whiplash as they turn to check out the amazing display on science fiction graphic novels you made! But how do we promote these fantastic titles featuring diverse and inclusive universes to our students? This how-to guide will help you put together an effective display of science fiction graphic novels that will have your students running to the shelves.

L O G IST ICS

mantled in the first hour, having no backup titles to put out. Make sure to pull all your selected titles before revealing your display, so it can easily be replenished. During the curation process you can determine which titles will be considered top choices, second choices and related titles. Then, based on your collection, you can determine the size of your display area and the duration of the display. For example, a smaller collection of science fiction graphic novels will result in a shorter display life of one to two weeks versus a larger collection that could sustain a display for a month.

Having additional signs on how to place items on hold as well as books lists available for patrons to take with them can also help several years, to sustain any display.

Location, location, location.

“In the past The first thing to decide when putting together your display the number of graphic novels CU R A T I O N is where it will be. Making sure featuring diverse characters In the past several years, the your books are readily visible and approachable to patrons has increased significantly.” number of graphic novels featuring diverse characters is essential. I typically choose has increased significantly. one area of the library where the bulk of the disHowever, if your collection is still lacking science play will be, always considering spaces such as on fiction titles with diverse characters and universes, top of bookshelves, on the circulation desk, or on here are a few tricks to help you discover and acprominent shelving in the front of the library. Once quire more. decided, I then place additional titles and signs on a small portion of the circulation desk. As patrons are checking out other books or headphones and Book lists. Finding the right titles can make or browsing the titles on the desk, you can direct break a display. After exhausting keyword searches in your ILS system, there are several additional them to the larger display. places you can look. Professional publications such Having attractive signage relating to the display as this Diamond Bookshelf, School Library Jourwill also help draw your patrons over. Using bright nal, Voices of Young Adults (VOYA), and Booklist colors, familiar characters, three-dimensional let- are great places to find thorough reviews of titles tering and a variety of textures (such as shiny, from colleagues. Most of these publications also corrugated or reusing old comic pages) also help make a point of separating titles by format, and it make the display pop out to your readers. Pinter- is easy to skip to the graphic novel section. This is est can be a great resource for design inspiration! also a great time to mark additional titles to order for future displays.

Take stock. There is nothing worse than putting hours into an amazing display only to have it dis-

Another place to go for a list of a list of resources is the We Need Diverse Book organization. Under “Resources” and then “Where To Find Diverse Books,” you will find links for a variety of lists from prominent education organizations like the Young Adult Library Services Association to book bloggers.

What a pair! Consider pairing modern titles with diverse characters and settings with vintage or classic science fiction titles. For example, pair an

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original Ms. Marvel from the 1960s-1980s or any other Avenger comic from that era with the 2014 version of the series featuring Kamala Kahn. This also can be achieved by choosing covers with similar colors or compositions.

Depending on your collection, you can also pair books to movies, video games, television series or YouTube channels. I love to promote reading for pleasure and tying titles to other forms of entertainment is an effective way to engage new readers. Some pairings can be obvious, such as displaying Marvel’s The Runaways with its television adaptation; or based on similar themes or topics, pairing the fantastical thriller series Stranger Things with The Lumberjanes series by Shannon Watters and Paper Girls series by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang.

“I love to promote reading for pleasure and tying titles to other forms of entertainment will engage new readers.”

Remember you do not need to limit your display to print materials; you can include titles available in an electronic format too. Whether the title is available in your library’s online eBook collection or through free sources online, you can print out cover images and place them in the physical display. Having colorful printouts to display for popular titles is a good idea for print materials too since patrons always have the option to put them on hold.

P ROM OTION Promoting your display in the routine communications you have with your community is always the best way to reach loyal patrons. However, consider expanding your methods of promotion to reach a wider audience.

Onsite. The power of an all school announcement or a simple flyer should not be underestimated.

Other on location promotions could include bookmarks with information, pamphlets and handouts with lists of titles, and emails to teachers, staff and patrons about new displays. Another great way to increase awareness about your new displays is by giving book talks when classes come to visit the library or before the start of a program. It is amazing how a simple book talk can move a title off your shelves and into the hands of a new reader!

In addition, have students and staff members give virtual book talks. These can easily be recorded on a computer or phone and uploaded to Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook. Book talks should be 60 seconds or less, and filters should be used to obscure faces or photo release forms should be obtained from participants. Give your book talkers the freedom to share whatever they want about the book, and your authentic book talks will be a hit!

Social Media. We know many of our patrons spend a fair amount of their time on social media sites, so we should meet them there. Announcing your physical display of science fiction graphic novels on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook is an easy way to engage. Canva and Adobe Spark are wonderful free programs that enable you to develop eye-catching social media announcements.

C O N CL U S I O N Much of this how-to article you could be applied to any subject area you want to highlight in your collection; however, it is important to note the unique challenges the science fiction genre in graphic novels brings. We are lucky to live in a time where diversity in graphic novels is valued by patrons everywhere and cannot be ignored by publishing companies. By planning your display properly, you will be able to win over new and old readers alike.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR • Monica Gingerich is a public school librarian serving a diverse population of grades 6-12 graders in the heart of Washington, DC at the Cardozo Education Campus. She has previously worked as a Young Adult Librarian in Central Virginia, and she will be celebrating 9 years of librarianship this fall.

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WHO ARE THE

Diamond: First off, what are PSI-LORDS? What is their relationship to the rest of the Valiant Universe?

Fred Van Lente: PSI-LORDS the book is very much set in the present day of the Valiant Universe, and though we are set very much in the space opera science-fiction corner of the Universe, it is an integral and important book for the fate of the VU moving forward.

Psi-Lords the characters are incredibly powerful psychic beings birthed by the Big Bang that ruled the cosmos millions of years ago—they’re the closest to gods we’ve yet met in the VU.

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our space explorers awake in an otherworldly prison known as the Gyre with no memory of how they got there. Sent by space agencies from across the Earth and gifted with strange new celestial powers, these spacefarers will have to work together to survive. And out in these star-flung reaches, they’ll have nothing but their wits to guide them. That, and a mysterious voice in their heads that tells them if they want to escape and find their way home there is one thing they must do… Find the Psi-Lords.

In Fred Van Lente’s new ongoing series, new corners of the Valiant Universe are explored and secrets are revealed as four astronauts awake in an otherworldly prison with new memory how they got there.

Fred Van Lente talked to Diamond about the new Valiant series and what readers can expect from this sci-fi mystery.

Valiant’s Psi-Lords Volume 1 will be available everywhere November 26, 2019.

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Diamond: Now, who are Our Heroes? How do we meet them in the beginning of the story?

Fred Van Lente: We follow a quartet of imprisoned astronauts who have been imbued with just a small fraction of the Psi-Lords’ power. Now they just gotta bust out of space jail to get their hands on the rest of it.

Diamond: Tell us about The Gyre. What is this place?

Fred Van Lente: The Gyre is the aforementioned jail. It’s an artificial construct millions of years old formed by spaceships who have been caught in the orbit of Nihilio, the Vampire Star. No one has ever been able to escape it, not once in a million years. Our four heroes must figure out a way to break that record.

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Diamond: The series has a very “Game of Thrones in space” feel. What are some of the inspirations for this story?

Fred Van Lente: Sure, the Gyre has all sorts of interesting factions and cults, so it is a big, sweeping epic. I looked to my favorite French graphic albums to tell a science fiction comics story of this magnitude, particularly Jodorowsky’s The Metabarons.

Diamond: What can fans expect from the rest of the series?

Fred Van Lente: Gorgeous art from Renato Guedes, amazing reveals, heartbreaking and heartstring-tugging character interactions, massive explosions, weird creatures, and more fun that you can possibly stand.

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CREATING CONNECTIONS: PLANNING A LIBRARY COMIC- CON

BY MARIA FONSECA, ALICIA BROWN, AND TIFFANY HENDERSON

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hen I started working at the Matteson Area Public Library District in May of 2018, I was quickly approached by co-workers in my department with the idea of hosting a comic-con. In addition to being a librarian, I have been a vendor and artist at comic-cons for over five years, taking part in conventions like Emerald City, C2E2 and New York Comic-Con. As the brainstorming process began, it was clear my co-workers, Tiffany and Alicia, along with myself wanted to create an event that felt less “library program-ish” and felt more like an actual comic-con. With months of preparation and a lot of legwork, our event was a huge success, bringing in over 600 people from not only our community but also the surrounding areas. We wanted to share our process on what worked, what didn’t and how you can organize a large scale event on modest, small or even no programming budget at all!

The Building Blocks First, we selected a date and name (MAPLD FanFest) for our event eight months prior. We wanted to have ample time for planning, community outreach and advertisment. As with any library, we knew our budget for this program was limited and exclusively for program materials and presenters.

With that in mind, our focus shifted to obtaining donations from local businesses, publishers, and other retail entities. We began sending out sponsorship letters in October that broke down different levels a company could choose based on the value of their donation which included simple shout-outs on our social media sites for smaller donations or inclusion in our program booklet.

Two months prior to the event, we sent 100 letters to potential donors, and received items from 32 organizations. Ninety percent of all the items

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we gave away were donated to us. Some publishers and retailers do not accept donation requests earlier than three months in advance, while others were quick to respond and sent items five months before the event. Don’t hesitate to follow up, be specific with your donation request, and always start the email with a description of your event, number of attendees you anticipate and how the donation and event could impact your community.

Reach out to local bookstores, comic book shops and retailers. Comic-cons attract an audience, and you will be surprised how many businesses are willing to donate materials, espcially to a library.

Some retail entities require a formal request through their corporate entities – this is where a sponsorship letter and event flyer help showcase the event.

We created a shareable spreadsheet to document all interactions. We had fields for the name of the organization contacted, date contact was made, if items were sent, and date items received.

This made it easier to do follow up emails or phone calls, and it helped us avoid contacing the same person muliple times. Also included in the spreadsheet were what types of materials were donated and an estimation on the amount of the donated materials.

Next, we used Google Forms to make our vendor/ artist sign-up sheet. We asked for a photo of their booth set-up, description of products, contact email, website, and location. We also used Google Forms for our cosplay and video game competittion. These sign-up forms were available on our library website, and we shared the link in Facebook groups with interests that included cosplaying, artists, local conventions and

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posted on nine of the twenty sites we contacted.

The calendar event request was free of charge for all the sites we contacted. We started posting the website link to all our social media pages as well as the library’s home page.

Patrons enjoying the Video Game Truck (Matteson Area Public Library) local vendors. A separate Facebook event page was created for us to post updates about our event, including all donations we received with the appropriate organizations tagged in the post.

A website for the FanFest was also created. This gave us a platform to showcase our donors, an area to list artists/vendors bios, the scheduled programs for the day, and photos of our giveaways. It was a great way to advertise the event and attract outside organizations that might want to offer their services. Our website domain name was under $20 and the hosting of the site was free due to our not-for-profit status as a library.

The Big Day With all the hard work done, the big day finally came! Within the first 45 minutes, our 75 “exclusive” prize tote bags for adults and children were gone. We had a prize wheel each patron spun for attending (extra spin for those in costumes and for completing our scavanger hunt). Most of the prizes (comics, graphic novels, books, etc.) were gone by late afternoon.

Programs were scheduled throughout the day and included Japanese writing (hosted by WTTW PBS), a cosplay contest and panel, a video game tournament, arts and crafts, and a scavanger hunt.

Four different cosplay groups were in attendance and available for photos with patrons. Locally known cosplayers and stage performers assisted us with our cosplay panel and emceeing the event.

Local restaurants donated food and beverages for staff, presenters, artists, and vendors.

Changes for Next Year There is always room for improvement with any event, and we wanted to make sure that we received feedback from the particapants and patrons. Vendors, artists and presenters were sent a follow-up email which include our thanks, attendance number and the option to respond with suggestions.

Then we went out to the community, equipped with “save the date” flyers, our sponsorship letters, and business cards. We created a pitch for our event that laid out the type of program we were conducting along with how their organization can help us achieve our goals. We started posting the event in local businesses two months prior to the date, and many allowed us to come back periodically and put out more flyers if need be.

Lastly, once the website was populated with all our events, guests, and programs, we submitted the event to multiple online calendar pages: from local news websites and city wide event pages to small blogs that posted local events for parents and children. We were able to have our event

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Artist alley (Photo courtsey of Power Cosmic Photography)

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Cosplay winners and entrants.

(Photo courtsey of Power Cosmic Photography) The concensus was that everyone involved enjoy themselves and would like to take part in a future event. However, we did get some insight on improvements. A major one was signage in the library. We are a two-story library and despite the traffic we had, artists/vendors felt patrons weren’t fully aware of their location. Program location was also cited as an issue by patrons.

Next year, we will include directional dry-erase boards showcasing a program’s time and location in the library. Patron feedback was all about the weather. We have decided to set next year’s date in the late summer/early fall.

Why Budget Doesn’t Matter We went slightly over our $1,500 budget due to the cost of renting a video game truck and for our main program for the youth department. Smaller purchases were made for art supplies for the event, superhero cardboard cutouts, a few prizes and our program booklet. However, we strongly believe that based on our donations we could have easily cut that budget by half or more and still created the same large event. More programs could be conducted by staff or even artists willing to volunteer an hour of their time. Most of the arts and crafts purchased for our “Puppet Making” and “Superhero Cosplay Creation” were foam sheets and felt costing us a little under $150.

MARIA F ON S ECA is the Digital Information Tech.

Librarian and previously was a YA Librarian for over 5 years. She enjoys selling her art and crafts with her husband at conventions, playing video games and hanging with her dog Harley.

Al icia B rown is the Marketing and Graphic Designer with a Bachelors in Animation and an Associates in Graphic Design. She enjoys watching anime, playing video games and shopping in her free time.

Tif f an y Hen ders on is the Community Engagement Coordinator and the Outreach liaison. She considers herself a compulsive crafter and believes “Everything is better when crafting, even Mondays.”

Bottom line, donations and attendance will always vary. The process was time consuming and sometimes headache-prone, but it was completely worth it! Nothing beats having superheroes running around your library and patrons having a great time. We are looking forward to planning next year!

Robots roaming the building (Photo courtsey of Power Cosmic Photography)

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CAPTAIN GINGER Published by: Ahoy Comics Written by: Stuart Moore Illustrated by: June Brigman and Roy Richardson ISBN: 9780998044217 Now in one volume: the acclaimed tale of a starship run by cats! The intrepid Captain Ginger struggles to keep his fellow felines united against a hostile universe—and their own worst feline instincts, too. Featuring the entire original miniseries, plus two rare extra stories and a sketchbook of character designs.

Written and co-created by novelist/comics writer Stuart Moore (The Zodiac Legacy, EGOs, Deadpool the Duck). Art by cocreator June Brigman (Power Pack, Star Wars novels). Color by Veronica Gandini. Introduction by Walter Simonson (Thor, Ragnarok).

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KATIE’S KORNER:

GRAPHIC NOVEL TEACHER’S GUIDES

BY DR. KATIE MONNIN

One of the best origin stories I’ve ever read for any superhero character, I can’t wait to read the next graphic novel in the series.

Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale

DC Comics Written by: Lauren Myracle Illustrated by: Isaac Goodhart ISBN: 9781401285913 Ages: 13+

Elements of Story

Plot: As a teenager, Selina is misunderstood.

She’s misunderstood at home by her mother, and especially by her mother’s boyfriend “Dernell.”

She’s even misunderstood at school. All of that changes, however, when Selina rescues an abandoned kitten and feels her destiny take hold.

Review As the Gotham Growler terrorizes citizens, a middle school-aged Selina Kyle battles some of her own problems at home. After years of her mothers’ monthly boyfriends, Selina has almost given up hope on her mother’s decision-making skills.

Although all the other men seem to come and go regularly, one day a guy named Dernell shows up and Selina’s mother gives him total control over the house. Including control over Selina.

When Selina finds an abandoned kitten outside of her home she has an immediate urge to save the kitten naming it “Cinders.” Trying her best to hide the kitten, Dernell’s control still looms heavily around the house until Cinders and Selina are found out.

When they are caught, Selina leaves the house, disowns her mother, and also decides her school doesn’t really fit her new lifestyle either. Before leaving school, Selina is chased down for a talk with shy, high school Bruce Wayne. He offers to let Selina stay at Wayne Manor, but Selina responds like a cat and resents Wayne and his interdependence on money and good looks. Selina respects the way cats solve their problems—independently and often at night.

The independence of the streets offer Selina new opportunities, and when she meets another street kid named “Ojo” she learns the city-scaped acrobatics of Parkour. Mastering the streets with her growing Parkour skills, Selina teams up with Ojo and his friends. Together, Selina and her new crew have accidentally broken into Bruce Wayne’s house, but once Selina realizes, she returns what they stole. Bruce and the rest of Selina’s new crew know that Selina might need more help than she thinks.

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Characters: Selina, Selina’s mom, Dernell, Angie, Tristan, Bruce Wayne, Gotham Growler, Cinders, Ojo, Yang, “Rosie” or Briar Rose, Rosie’s dog, Rosie’s brother Settings: Selina’s home, Gotham High, city streets and parks, Falcone Tower, 404 Longmont Circle, Gotham Plaza, Todd’s shed, Wayne Manor, 1313 Wayfarer Lane Themes: Family, Abuse, Self Identity, Independence, Trust, Superhero Lore, Human-to-Animal Relationships

Lesson Plan Recommendation Using the Common Core Standards (CCS) for Young Adults Common Core Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.5 Craft and Structure: Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.

Directions for Lesson Plan Lauren Myracle’s Under the Moon is one of the most striking graphic novels of the year. Because of its intensity and brand-new origin story, the author’s choices on how to structure the plot are imperative to student comprehension.

“The Chapter Tracker” graphic organizer calls on students to really think about each of the following: chapter title, problem to be solved in chapter, problem resolution or not, significant metaphors/ similes, and next chapter prediction(s).

For the full lesson plan and organization table, please visit: http://bit.ly/2WWmqUw

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Breath of Flowers Volume 1

Gwyn is a girl trying to play basketball on a more and more serious level Azami not only falls more in love with her, but truly embraces Gwyn’s dreams.

Tokyopop Written by: Caly Illustrated by: Caly ISBN: 9781427861511 Ages: 13+

Major Characters: Gwyn Torm, Azami Takahashi, Basketball Teammates and Rivals, Roman, Thomas, Alvin, Judith, Zachary, Idina

Review

Azami has a serious, serious crush! However, there may be a societal concern about Azami’s crush.

Years ago, Gwyn signed up to attend Azami’s school, blindly taking advice from a friend.

What Gwyn did not realize is that her new high school does not have a girls’ basketball team. So when the team assumes she is a boy she rolls with it. However, an admirer of one of the team members keeps showing up for practice (Azami).

Unbeknownst to Gwyn, Azami has a crush on her.

At first, Azami is upset by finding out Gwyn is a girl. Later, however, Azami tells her “It means that my feelings haven’t changed even though now I know you’re a girl.” When they get teased out in pubic by one of Gwyn’s middle school friends, Azami gets frustrated and angry with Alvin and knocks over all their drinks in the cafe in order to prove her point.

When Gwyn passes out during basketball practice she is sent to the school nurse. Azami accompanies her, and to her astonishment notices scars and bandages around Gwyn’s chest. The school nurse tells Gwyn that if she keeps binding her chest and not eating in order to look more like a boy, she will have to call her parents. Gwyn immediately starts to isolate herself from Azami. She hides in the library. She starts spending her time with another friend, Judith. And Judith has some serious plans of her own.

At the end of the day, however, Judith’s help becomes an issue, and Gwyn and Azami must figure out together what they really want for themselves and each other.

Major Settings: High School, the Mall, Cafe, Nurse’s Office, Basketball Court, Summer Picnics, Outside Basketball Court, Gwyn’s House, Azami’s House Themes: Friendship, Gender Identity, Love, Rivalry, Relationships, Goals

Lesson Plan Recommendations Using the Common Core Standards for Middle and High School Readers Key Ideas & Details CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2 Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text. *The number(s) referenced above corresponds to the number used by the Common Core Standards (www.corestandards.com)

Lesson Idea for Middle and High School Readers

Before reading, review the themes listed above with your students.

Next, and while reading, ask students to choose two themes and identify and analyze their development throughout the story. Students should include how their two themes inform and overlap with each other as well.

If any students want to share their ideas, please allow some time for sharing.

Language Arts Elements of Story

Plot: Azami has been attending high school basketball practice because she has a crush on a member of the team, Gwyn. When she finds out ABOUT THE AUTHOR • Dr. Katie Monnin is the Director of Education at Pop Culture Classroom in Denver, Colorado. She has written dozens of articles, curricula, reviews, lesson plans, and 8 books about teaching graphic novels, animation, video games, social media and other pop culture topics in the classroom.

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GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS

Betrothed Volume 1

By Night

This Romeo and Juliet tale with sci-fi elements centers on high school seniors Kieron and Tamara, whose first meeting immediately turns violent.

The two are drawn to each other romantically, but Tamara feels the urge to battle Kieron every chance she gets. Kieron and Tamara find out that they are the leaders of opposing armies from a different dimension, where their people have been at war for years. Upon their 18th birthday, they are to consummate their relationship and bring their people together or fight to the death. When the war in their dimension follows them to Earth, the two must work together to end the conflict before it spreads to their current home.

Once-best-friends Jane and Heather run into each other after having spent their college years apart.

Jane now works at a commercial lab in the town she grew up in, Heather is more into the local bar scene life. When the two girls overhear that the local Charleswood Estate has been abandoned and left unguarded, Heather decides they should explore it. While at the estate, the two discover a hidden room and accidently unlock a portal into what looks like a ripple in space.

Publisher: AfterShock Written by: Sean Lewis Illustrated by: Steve Uy ISBN: 9781949028119 Ages: 13 and up

Steve Uy’s art has a manga influence and is dynamic and fun. The character designs for the people of Priam and Nuam are fantastic but are often accompanied by blurry backgrounds. The stakes are clearly high for Tamara and Kieron.

Unfortunately, there is not much development of the main characters’ relationship. Things move along too quickly to get invested in the story. The ending sets up the reader for the next chapter, but although this title is labeled Volume 1, the summary states that the book contains the entire series.

Some sexual content (no nudity) and plenty of violence and swearing make it suited for an older teen or adult audience.

Reviewed by Bette, Pflugerville Public Library

Publisher: Boom Box! Written by: John Allison Illustrated by: Christine Larsen Colored by: Sarah Stern Format: Softcover, 112 pages, color ISBN: 9781684152827 Ages: 13 and up

After a short-lived mental breakdown, Jane pulls herself together and looks for signs of life with Heather. They bump into a green-skinned, ogrelooking fellow by the name of Gardt. Who warns them of a wolfman in this new world and helps them escape back to the world they came from before the wolfman can find them. Jane can’t get over the excitement from her visit to the alternate dimension. She sees an escape from her average, cookie-cutter life and wants to explore and experience more of this new world. She enlists Heather to make another trip. They make another trip to Charleswood, and this time she brings along her coworker Barney. Jane and Heather pass through the portal and leave Barney to guard the entrance until they return. However, as the night passes and turns to morning, they never return.

This book perfectly captures what it is like to live in a small town and wish for something more. Fans

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CORE LISTS

BOOKSHELF PRESENTS A LIST OF SELECTED ESSENTIAL TITLES FOR DIFFERENT AGE RANGES RELEASING BETWEEN MAY 2018 AND AUGUST 2018 KIDS (Ages 4-8)

Camp Midnight Volume 2 Image Comics | 9781534313415

The Adorable Beastling Action Lab | 9781632295231

Debian Perl Lion Forge | 9781549303326

ERF Dynamite | 9781524112219

Diary JY | 9781975332792

Geek Fab 5 Volume 1 Papercutz | 9781545801239

Just Beyond: The Scare School OGN BOOM! Studios | 9781684154166

Melowy Volume 2 Papercutz | 9781545803639 Little Witches Oni Press | 9781620105535 Miraland Fantasyland Tour Guide Action Lab | 9781632294937 Seafoam: A Friend for Madison Action Lab | 9781632294906 The Smurfs 3-in-1 Papercutz | 9781545803332 W.I.T.C.H Part VI Volume 1 JY | 9781975332228

MIDDLE GRADE (Ages 9-12) Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon BOOM! Studios | 9781684154180 Casper the Friendly Ghost Volume 1 American Mythology | 9781945205170

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Lockhart’s Carnival Zenescope | 9781942275916 Marvel Action: Black Panther IDW Publishing | 9781684055210 Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys: Mystery of the Missing Adults Dynamite | 9781524111786 Oddly Normal Volume 4 Image Comics | 9781534310650 Princeless Volume 9 Action Lab | 9781632295194 Red Panda & Moon Bear Top Shelf | 9781603094443 Robots VS Princesses Dynamite | 9781524108564 Science! The Elements of Dark Energy Bedside Press | 9781988715278 Steven Universe: Harmony BOOM! Studios | 9781684154654 diamondbookshelf.com

Unplugged and Unpopular Oni Press | 9781620106693 Wait, What?

Oni Press | 9781620106594 Witchy Lion Forge | 9781549304811

TEENS+ (Ages 13 and up) A Witch’s Printing Office Yen Press | 9781975331467 Ascender Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534313484 Breath of Flowers Volume 2 Tokyopop | 9781427861528 Cold Blood Samurai Volume 1 Action Lab | 9781632294890 Deep Scar Volume 1 Tokyopop | 9781427861535 Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel Z2 Comics | 9781940878294 Excellence Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534313620 Fairlady Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534313316 The Forgotten Queen Valiant | 9781682153246 Free S**t Fantagraphics | 9781683962601

Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla – Bundles of Joy Action Lab | 9781632294944 Horde AfterShock | 9781949028072 I Know What I Am Fantagraphics | 9781683962113 Irena Volume 1 Lion Forge | 9781549306792

Rose Volume 1 IDW Publishing | 9781684053599 Scarlet Soul Volume Tokyopop | 9781427861573 Seven Little Sons of the Dragon Yen Press | 9781975359614 Still Sick Volume 1 Tokyopop | 9781427862082 WWE: The Phenomenal One BOOM! Studios | 9781684153893

Mooncakes Lion Forge | 9781549303043 Mary Shelley: Monster Hunter AfterShock | 9781949028256

Older Teens (Ages 16 and up) At the End of Your Tether Lion Forge | 9781549304712

Mother Goth Rhymes Hermes Press | 9781613451731

Bloodshot Definitive Edition Volume 1 Valiant | 9781682153345

No Ivy League Lion Forge | 9781549303050

Bungo Stray Dogs, Another Story Volume 1 Yen Press | 9781975359003

Oberon Volume 1 AfterShock | 9781949028195

Dark Red Volume AfterShock | 9781949028263

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Volume 4 Udon | 9781772941074 Overlord a la Carte Volume 1 Yen Press | 9781975384906 Persona 3 Volume 11 Udon | 9781772940824 Psi-Lords Volume 1 Valiant | 9781682153390 Reborn As a Polar Bear Volume 1 Yen Press | 9781975305529

Doctor Who: Revelation of the Daleks BBC | 9781785944352 The Goon: A Ragged Return to Lonely Street Albatross | 9781949889925 Hashtag: Danger!

Volume 1 Ahoy Comics | 9780998044262 Jeremiah AdHouse | 9780990588399

Kill or Be Killed Definitive Edition Image Comics | 9781534313606 Little Bird Image Comics | 9781534313453 Little Mama Lion Forge | 9781549307959 Mother, Maiden, Crone Bedside Press | 9781988715216 Pleading with Stars AdHouse | 9781935233527 Pug Davis Albatross | 9781949889918 Resonant Volume 1 Vault Comics | 9781939424495 Rough Age AdHouse | 9780990588320 Saga Compendium One Image Comics | 9781534313460 Sharkey The Bounty Hunter Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534313668 Simon Says Volume 1 Image Comics | 9781534313194 She Said Destroy Volume 1 Vault Comics | 9781939424501 Stravaganza Volume 1 Udon | 9781772941036 Stronghold Volume 1 AfterShock | 9781949028201 Test Volume 1 Vault Comics | 9781939424518

For more core list titles by age group, visit diamondbookshelf.com

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RESOURCES

BOOKS ABOUT GRAPHIC NOVELS Superhero Comics

By Chris Galaver A complete guide to the history, form and contexts of the genre, Superhero Comics helps readers explore the most successful and familiar of comic book genres. In an accessible and easy-to-navigate format, the book reveals: the history of superhero comics-from mythic influences to 21st-century evolutions; cultural contexts-from the formative politics of colonialism, eugenics, KKK vigilantism, and WWII fascism to the Cold War’s transformative threat of mutually assured destruction to the on-going revolutions in African American and sexual representation; key texts-from the earliest pre-Comics-Code Superman and Batman to the latest post-Code Ms. Marvel and Black Panther; approaches to visual analysis-from layout norms to narrative structure to styles of abstraction.

Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom

By Stephen Cary Comics are natural for second language development. Their unique mix of abundant comprehension-building visuals and authentic text readily engages learners, contextualizes language, and offers a window into the culture. Building on the latest brain-based research, second language acquisition theory, and progressive literacy principles, Stephen Cary offers twenty-five proven activities for comics-based instruction in all classrooms, especially TESL/TEFL settings, and for all grade and English-proficiency levels.

Reading with Pictures: Comics That Make Kids Smarter

By Josh Elder Uniting the finest creative talents in the comics industry with the nation’s leading experts in visual literacy to create a gamechanging tool for the classroom and beyond, this full-color volume features more than a dozen short stories (both fiction and nonfiction) that address topics in Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, and Science, while offering an immersive textual and visual experience that kids will enjoy.

Graphic Novels in High School and Middle School Classrooms: A Disciplinary Literacies Approach

By William Boerman-Cornell, Jung Kim and Michael L. Manderino The ultimate guide for using graphic novels in any middle school or high school classroom, this book considers how the graphic novel format can support critical thinking and help reach disciplinary goals in history, English language arts, science, math, fine arts, and other subjects. Using specific graphic novels as examples, this book considers how to help students read, question, and write about both fiction and non-fiction. Whether teachers are new to graphic novels or have been working with them for years, this book will help improve instruction.

USEFUL LINKS The Comic Book Project – Center for Educational Pathways http://www.comicbookproject.org/

Good Comics for Kids (School Library Journal Blog) http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids

ComicsResearch.org – Academic & Library Resources http://www.comicsresearch.org/academic.html

Making Curriculum Pop http://mcpopmb.ning.com

Eek! Comics in the Classroom! (Education World) http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev105. shtml

Maryland Comic Book Initiative http://archives.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/ recognition-partnerships/md-comic-book.html

Expanding Literacies through Graphic Novels (Members Only) http://www1.ncte.org/Library/files/Free/recruitment/ EJ0956Expanding.pdf

No Flying, No Tights (Graphic Novel Review Site) http://www.noflyingnotights.com/

Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels: Page

by Page, Panel by Panel http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com

Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom (The CouncilChronicle, Sept. 05) http://www.ncte.org/magazine/archives/122031 YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens List http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt

GNLib: Graphic Novels in Libraries https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gn4lib/info

More Links DiamondBookShelf.com maintains an ever-growing database of web resources for educators and librarians.

Categories include official Publisher sites, resources for teachers, resources for librarians, graphic novel and comics review sites, resources for kids and more!

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HOW TO ORDER COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS YOU HAVE MANY OPTIONS – CHOOSE THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!

1. BUY FROM YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK SHOP For a variety of reasons, your local comic book shop could be the best possible resource for your purchase of graphic novels. In fact, many local comic shops service both schools and libraries already with the latest comics and graphic novels.

2. BUY FROM YOUR USUAL WHOLESALER OR BOOK JOBBER Baker & Taylor, Booksource, Brodart, Follett, Ingram, and other wholesalers all carry a full line of graphic novels. Most schools and libraries already do business with one or more of these companies, and it’s easy to add in your order through these procurement channels.

3. BUY DIRECT FROM DIAMOND If there are no comic book stores in your area and your usual wholesaler doesn’t have deep stock on a variety of titles, Diamond does sell directly to educators and librarians.

For more information, call Allan Greenberg at 443-318-8001 ext. 8564 or email library@diamondcomics.com or schools@diamondcomics.com

A GREAT RESOURCE: YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK SHOP Quality comic book shops are a valuable resource for libraries and schools seeking graphic novels and graphic novel information. In the past, such partnerships have proven successful for all involved, with increased sales and circulation, as well as the satisfaction that comes with community involvement.

As comic book and graphic novel specialists, comic shop retailers have up-to-date knowledge on the most recent and upcoming hits, and a great familiarity with what their customers are reading and enjoying.

Many are more than willing to work together on crosspromotional events, reaching out to and expanding the audience of graphic novel fans. So, how do you go about finding and dealing with your local comic shop?

Well, it’s easier than you think. By following these easy steps, you’ll be coordinating with your local comic shop in no time!

Research and Choose a Store. Once you’ve located a store, the next thing to do is find out more about it. If you used the Comic Shop Locator, many of the stores have posted brief profiles. The best way to find out more information about a store is to visit it in person. That way, you’ll have the opportunity to browse through the store’s collection and get personal advice from the knowledgeable experts on hand. All stores will have their own unique approach – find one that you feel comfortable with.

Introduce

Yourself. Going into any new environment can be intimidating, especially when you have preconceived notions. But there’s nothing to fear from comic shop retailers. Many of them are happy to welcome librarians and teachers into their stores because they understand the mutual benefit working together can achieve. Let them know you’re interested in using graphic novels, and they will be more than happy to help!

Find a Store. We’ve already done the work for you! To find your closest comic shop, all you have to do is use the Comic Shop Locator Service.

Just log on to http://www.comicshoplocator.com and enter your zip code. It’s as simple as that! Located on the store listings is the School and Library Partners icon above. Stores with this designation have told us they are willing to partner with schools and libraries to aid with selection, programming, purchasing, and more.

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We at Diamond have known for years that comic books and graphic novels are excellent teaching and learning tools… we’re pleased that so many educators are starting to agree! We hope you find this publication and our website a useful resource to convince others that comics can make a difference in helping to promote literacy, motivate readers, and more.

If you find Diamond BookShelf worthwhile, be sure to pass it on and tell your colleagues!

Diamond Comic Distributors is the world’s largest distributor of English-language comic books, graphic novels and comics-related merchandise.

We believe that comics are not only great fun and great art, but also have educational value and are terrific tools for promoting literacy.

The BookShelf magazine and website are two of Diamond’s outreach initiatives to support the use of comics and graphic novels in schools and libraries.

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