Looking for your next graphic novel read? Whether you’re a longtime comics fan or just dipping your toe into the medium, here all the different ways you can find graphic novels at the library.
Print Comics and Graphic Novels
With over 8,000 graphic novels in our print collection, there’s something for every reader! You can simplify searching for these titles in the catalog using search filters.
For instance, say you’re looking Batman comics. Well, searching for “Batman” will show you every book, movie, and TV series with Batman in it. But if you click “Graphic Novel” under the Material Type filter, you’ll get what you’re really looking for!
Get started with one of our most popular titles:
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman – This wholesome queer romance inspired the hit Netflix series. Be on the lookout for volume 5, coming out this December.
Uzumaki by Junji Ito – If you’re ready for spooky season, check out this masterwork of horror manga about a town cursed by spirals.
Maus by Art Spiegelman – Perennially popular and always moving, Spiegelman relates the story of his father’s traumatic experiences during the Holocaust through anthropomorphized mice and the cats who hunt them.
How to Find New Graphic Novels
Stay on top of the library’s newest graphic novels by checking out New Arrivals in the catalog. First choose “Adult Fiction” or “Children and Teens” then look for the Graphic Novel category in the next menu.
Here are some newer titles we recommend:
Penguin Classics Marvel Collection (Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four) – Penguin Classics has continued its series collecting the best of Marvel’s early superhero stories. With great accompanying introductions and essays, these stories are now accessible to a whole new generation.
Mother Nature by Jamie Lee Curtis – Actress Jamie Lee Curtis makes her graphic novel debut with this eco-conscious supernatural story, an adaptation of her own screenplay.
A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll – Another great read for Halloween, Emily Carroll’s unconventional page layout and colors immerse you in this creepy story of a woman, the widower she recently married, and the haunting memory of his first wife.
Digital Comics and Graphic Novels in cloudLibrary
CloudLibrary offers two ways to read graphic novels (see below for more about the new comics section, Comics Plus). Here, we’ll focus on graphic novels in the regular e-book collection.
Here’s how to find them in the cloudLibrary app:
- Tap “search” in the cloudLibrary app (or “browse” on a computer)
- Tap over to the “All” tab
- Tap the arrow below the “All” tab
- Choose the Nonfiction section for the age group you want to browse (Adult, Teen, Kids)
- Tap the “Comics and Graphic Novels” category
- Tap Save
Now you can browse graphic novels from the search screen! Here are some we like on cloudLibrary:
Mexikid by Pedro Martín – This very funny but moving graphic memoir about a once-in-a-lifetime road trip to bring a family’s grandfather to the United States from Mexico is a must read.
Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld – This collection of Gauld’s cartoons is an excellent demonstration of his wit and simple but expressive art.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross – The master of painterly comics, Alex Ross, tries out a whole new style in this sequel to one of the most beloved Fantastic Four stories: This Man…This Monster!
Digital Comics and Graphic Novels in Comics Plus
The newest addition to our digital comics collection is Comics Plus, powered by Library Pass and available right inside the cloudLibrary app. Just tap the Comics tab to get started.
This is the only place to read some of the most popular comics out there. Also, unlike the other graphic novels on cloudLibrary where you might have to wait for a hold, or on hoopla where you might run out of borrows, books on Comics Plus are always available!
Here are some ones you should check out:
Bone by Jeff Smith – This classic fantasy series has been popular with kids and adults alike for over 20 years, and for good reason! Jeff Smith created a rich fantasy world filled with unique influences — from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick to Saturday morning cartoons.
Clementine by Tillie Walden – Walden brings the weight of her emotional storytelling to the world of The Walking Dead’s zombie apocalypse in this series of graphic novels featuring the fan favorite character, Clementine. Get caught up now because book 2 comes out October 4.
Walt Disney’s Donald Duck by Carl Barks – Fantagraphics Books has collected the work of Carl Barks, who has arguably had a bigger impact on some of Walt Disney’s characters than the man himself. These fun and funny stories are enjoyable for all ages.
Digital Comics and Graphic Novels in hoopla
Hoopla has long prided itself on its digital comics collection and with good reason! With a few clicks you can read some of the oldest comics, like the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics #1 from 1938 to the latest new releases, like the critically acclaimed graphic biography of Charles Schulz, Funny Things.
Hoopla also has a great feature called Action View that allows you to move from panel to panel with one tap or click, making it perfect for reading comics on any device.
Right now, hoopla has a BingePass available that gives you access to ComicsKingdom. If you’re a fan of daily comic strips like Zits, Blondie, and Beetle Bailey, this is a great way to catch up even without a newspaper subscription.
Finally, hoopla recently added a whole new manga collection that includes everything from classics like Oh My Goddess! to new favorites like Mob Psycho 100.
Here are some of our picks from hoopla:
The Last Ronin by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and Tom Waltz – The original creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to their classic characters for a completely new and surprising story of the future.
Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor – Celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop with this graphic novel series that explores the early history of the genre.
Big Nate: Move It or Lose It! by Lincoln Peirce – Read the latest collection in the Big Nate series, a perfect back-to-school book as Nate continues to navigate the trials and tribulations of middle school.
