Eisner nominees, screen adaptations and book clubs galore!
June represents an exciting time for graphic novels and comics with the announcement of the Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards, representing the cream of the crop of this year’s comics and potentially important additions to your library’s collection. Take a look below at the full list, featuring some established names and new players in the field.
At ALIA Graphic, we are always chuffed to see graphic novels take on new life as other forms, which is becoming wonderfully more common as their popularity grows. As June is also National Pride Month, we are even more excited to hear from Alice Oseman about adapting their LGBTIQ+ graphic novel series Heartstopper into a live action Netflix series.
With a recent resurgence of sorts in Manga, we have also included a bunch of news and resources (and an excellent podcast!) on the topic for your listening and reading pleasure.
Looking ahead to July and our first ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics Book Club is slated for Sunday July 25th at 3:00pm AEST. Through a fun monthly chat about graphic novels and comics, we aim to celebrate the medium, share ideas and enhance our collective Readers’ Advisory skills. We have also added a brand new ‘Graphic Novel Club’ tab to our website for all of your book club information needs. Read all information and register your interest in the event - we hope to see you there!
News
- If you’re in the Northern Territory in July, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation has organised a launch for not one but three graphic novels with Indigenous creators. Follow the link to book your place.
- Nominations Announced for 2021 Will Eisner Awards: The Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards, honoring the best comics of the year, announced this year's nominees, which are led by publishers Image and Fantagraphics, with 17 and 18 respectively, and cartoonist Gene Luen Yang, who led all artists with five nominations. A full list of the nominations for the 2021 Eisner Awards can be found on the San Diego Comic-Con website.
- The Conversation has published a great article about comics and graphic novels examining refugee border-crossing experiences. On that note, we hope you listened to our Creator Chat with Safdar Ahmed talking about his graphic novel Still Alive: Notes From Australia’s Immigration Detention System.
- Melbourne creator Rachel Ang has signed a two book deal with Drawn & Quarterly.
- Alice Oseman talks about adapting her graphic novels for the screen. Alice Oseman is the author of four contemporary YA novels with HarperCollins Children’s, including Loveless, which was recently awarded the YA Book Prize 2021. She is also the creator of LGBTIQ+ YA graphic novel series Heartstopper.
- The Comics Beat has published an extensive article covering the ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable and how libraries are responding to the surge in popularity of graphic novels.
- Skybound Entertainment, a multiplatform entertainment company and an imprint of Image Comics, which was founded by Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, announced plans to launch Skybound Comet. The new imprint will publish original graphic novels aimed at young adults and middle grade readers, and will begin releasing titles in 2022.
- Z2 Comics' newest graphic novel Uzo focuses on its titular warrior's struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, based on Jason Derulo's concept.
Collections & PD
- We’re currently in the middle of another wave in popularity for Manga. We had an excellent chat with Ashley Hawkins where she took us through the basics and suggested great titles for all age brackets. You can watch the chat on our YouTube Channel or listen to it on Apple Podcasts.
- The Manga webinar series organised by the NYCSLA and the GNRCRT continues. This month’s episode covered representation of women and girls in Manga. You can find all the info (and some more) on Ashley’s handy blog post.
- Register now for the free Reading Graphic Part 1 webinar organised by Booklist and listen to representatives from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, Scholastic, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing presenting upcoming graphic novels and guest appearances from author/illustrators.
- You can also register now for the free Library Con coming up July 15 organised by Penguin Random House. A free event featuring authors, creators, the inside scoop, & more!
Media & Resources
- Graphic Nature podcast has a new episode out with Australian comics legend Tim McEwen.
- Why graphic novels could be an antidote to 'doom scrolling'.
- If you ever dreamed of listening to Neil Gaiman, Karen Berger and Paul Levitz talking about the origins of Sandman this is your lucky day thanks to the Comics Beat.
New Releases June 2021
Junior
- The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel - Ryan North, Derek Charm (DC Comics)
- Pawcasso - Remy Lai (Allen & Unwin)
- The Tea Dragon Tapestry - K. O’Neill (Oni Press)
YA
- Alone in Space - Tillie Walden (Avery Hill)
- Castlevania: The art of the animated series - FREDERATOR STUDIOS (Dark Horse Books)
- The Girl From the Sea - Molly Knox Ostertag (Graphix)
- Kyle’s Little Sister - BonHyung Jeong (Yen Press)
- Suki, Alone - Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman, Adele Matera (Dark Horse)
- Renegade Rule - Ben Kahn, Rachel Silverstein (Dark Horse)
- Seven Secrets - Tom Taylor, Daniele Di Nicuolo (Boom!)
Adult General
- DCeased: Hope at World’s End - Tom Taylor, Various artists (DC Comics)
- The Down River People - Adam Smith, Matthew Fox (Archaia)
- Under the Air - Osamu Tezuka (Digital Manga)
- The World Of Black Hammer Library Edition Volume 3 - Jeff Lemire, Tate Brombal, Tyler Crook, Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Dark Horse Books)
- The Way of the House Husband, Vol. 5 - Kousuke Oono (Viz Media)
- Resident Alien Vol. 6: Your ride’s here - Peter Hogan (Dark Horse)