Comics and manga are for everyone, but a single book club can’t serve every potential reader. A book club for younger readers is unlikely to satisfy teen or adult interests, while genre-specific book clubs can potentially appeal to readers of overlapping ages. Alternatively, community reads are typically intended to engage readers of all ages and interests.
The titles you select will depend on who your book club is intended to serve, and can vary greatly by genre, art style, and complexity. We’ve created reader’s guides for some of our favorite comics and manga, including discussion questions and a notable review for each one, to help you get started.
This month, we’re spotlighting Clementine: Book One (Image Comics) and Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism (Fantagraphics) for older teens and adult readers.
Clementine: Book One (Image Comics)
Come for a zombie tale with connections to The Walking Dead’s TV shows and videogames, then be engaged by Clementine’s surprising emotional depth and a diverse cast of characters that will spark unexpected conversations.
As the teens set themselves to the harrowing task of forging a hospitable homestead on a snowbound mountainside with limited resources, Walden explores the unique perspective of a generation who were raised to view trust and cooperation as liabilities. She also meditates on the difference between striving for survival and leading a life worth living… Walden’s knack for character development and unique perspective result in a tale perfect for diehard fans of The Walking Dead, as well as newcomers. Library Journal
Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism (Fantagraphics)
A nonfiction anthology of stories from veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Invisible Wounds will inspire deep discussions about the mental and physical impact that America wages on its own soldiers.
The art is an empathic broad-brush realism, with dominant bold tones of gray, tan, blue, and orange, and no explicit violence. These dozen dramatized interviews speak for the uncountable war veterans throughout history who died with their PTSD, guilt, and pain undiagnosed and misunderstood. Highly recommended for readers willing to brave the wars inside veterans and thus better understand the wars outside them. Library Journal
Start Your Own Comics & Manga Book Club
Starting a comic or manga book club at your library or school might seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re not personally familiar with the medium, so we’ve put together a free resource, Hosting Comics & Manga Book Clubs, designed to ensure you and your readers have the best experience possible.
- Prepare: What you’ll need to do before scheduling your first book club event.
- Promote: How to get the word out about your book club event.
- Participate: How to ensure your book club members have a great experience.
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