If you aren't already obsessed with comic books you obviously aren't reading the right ones. Graphic novels are exactly like any other book, just with way more pictures.
Here are a couple recommendations to get you started:
"Amulet" by Kazu Kibuishi
Source: Amazon
If you’ve seen the newly redesigned "Harry Potter" covers, you know who Kazu Kibuishi is. He made a name for himself in the illustration world with his graphic novel series, "Amulet," which follows a girl named Emily as she discovers a fantasy world hidden underneath her grandfather’s old house. The book is full of wildly creative characters and settings, and the world only grows with each installment. As of right now, there are seven books in the series with two more on the way.
Laddertop" by Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card, illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardoloza
Source: Amazon
Orson Scott Card is best known for "Ender’s Game," but this graphic novel holds up just as well as any of his other books. The story follows two teenage girls, Robbi and Azure, as they undergo trials to work on the Ladders — massive structures that have the ability to harness the power of the sun, given to Earth by a mysterious race of aliens called “The Givers.” The book is everything you would expect from a great sci-fi novel and the pictures only improve the story.
"Nimona" by Noelle Stevenson
Source: Gingerhaze
Nimona started out as Stevenson’s senior thesis while she was still in school at Maryland Institute College of Art. The series became so popular online that it was selected to be published in print. Stevenson combines wry humor and her own unique drawing style to tell the story of Nimona, a shape shifting girl who teams up with super villain Ballister Blackheart. Don’t let the goofy drawings fool you, though. The book quickly shifts from quick hitting punch lines to a more serious questioning of good and evil.
"This One Summer" by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Source: Goodreads
This one is a little more serious, so buckle up. The story meanders through a few weeks in a tween girl’s summer as she navigates friendships and crushes. It may seem lighthearted on the surface, things heat quickly up when a pregnant teenager, family issues and sexism are thrown into the mix. Above all, this book is about a young girl realizing, for the first time in her life, how the world treats women. It isn’t easy or comfortable, but that’s what makes it real.
"Step Aside, Pops" by Kate Beaton
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Kate Beaton draws most of her humor from classic literature and history. In this collection of comics, she brings out the funniest aspects of your favorite fictional characters and historical figures. They’re vulgar, intelligent and genuinely hilarious. If you’re a fan of "Monty Python" sketches, these are right up your alley.
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