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 Erased Vol. 1 (Yen Press) and Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? (Dark Horse) for older teens and adult readers.
Erased Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Satoru Fujinuma is having flashbacks about local kidnappings that occurred during his childhood, and he is starting to understand that these memories are not what he once thought them to be. There is a lot to unpack in this story, perfect for lively discussions.
“Once I got sucked into volume one, I couldn’t put this book down… This story is so well written and has so much depth. The illustrations are average manga illustrations, but they are enough for the story being told. I feel that this title belongs to the fantastique, one of my favorite genres, as the ‘revival’ power is not really explained, so there are elements of mystery, fantasy, and surrealism.” —The Graphic Library
Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? (Dark Horse)
Norman Bates. Leatherface. Buffalo Bill. These and many other chill-inducing fictional serial killers were all inspired by the murders of Edward Theodore Gein. Readers with strong stomachs will enjoy discussing this one.
“Powell’s soft, realistic art, in a green-tinged grayscale recalling the aesthetic quality of Hitchcock’s black-and-white films, renders faces beautifully, keeping them distinct and recognizable even as they age over the decades-long timeframe of the book, and though there’s plenty of gruesomeness, he only toes the line of luridness (an inevitability, for sure, in any book about Gein)… A natural choice for true-crime fans.” —Booklist
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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