LibGuides: Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels: Manga

Manga at Marist

Akane-banashi by Yuki Suenaga; Takamasa Moue (Illustrator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 A33 2023
ISBN: 9781974736485
Publication Date: 2023-
Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father! Shinta Arakawa wants nothing more than to pass his shin'uchi exam--the test that would make him a top-rank headliner and master storyteller in the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. Akane Osaki, his daughter and biggest fan, spies on him while he practices and learns his routines for herself. When rakugo master Issho Arakawa expels everyone after the exam with no explanation, a fire is lit inside Akane. From that day forth, she has had one goal--to avenge her father and prove his art was worthy of the title of shin'uchi.
At 30 I Realized I had No Gender: Life Lessons From a 50-Year-Old After Two Decades of Self-Discovery by Shou Arai
Call Number: Graphic HQ78.2.J3 A73 2023
ISBN: 9781427873453
Publication Date: 2023
At age 30, transgender intersex mangaka Shou Arai (he/him) came to a realization; he had no gender. Now he was faced with a question he'd never really considered: how to age in a society where everything is so strongly segregated between two genders? This autobiographical manga explores Japanese culture surrounding gender, transgender issues, and the day to day obstacles faced by gender minorities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community with a lighthearted, comedic attitude.
Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 B53 2016
ISBN: 9781506701240
Publication Date: 2016-2019
A cursed, seemingly immortal warrior aids a young girl in her quest for revenge, as the students of a brutal new sword school tear a bloody path across Japan. Blade of the Immortal Omnibus Volume 1 contains the first 3 volumes of Blade of the Immortal by Dark Horse.
Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 B535 2016
ISBN: 9781942993780
Publication Date: 2005-2007
One of the manga world's most intriguing artists returns to the English language world with a re-release of his breakthrough work, BLAME! In a dystopian future, a complex network of machines has pushed humanity to the brink. Robots known as the Builders continued to build a meaningless civilisation with no one to reside in it. Soon these cities reach out to the outer planets, and another breed of life form emerges.
Bleach by Tite Kubo
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 B54 2011
ISBN: 9781421539928
Publication Date: 2011-2016
Part-time student, full-time Soul Reaper, Ichigo is one of the chosen few guardians of the afterlife. Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts--he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow--a malevolent lost soul--Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo's Bleach has become an international manga smash-hit!
Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 B543 2011
ISBN: 9781421540320
Publication Date: 2011-
Rin and his exorcist classmates are caught in a secret war against the forces of darkness. Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth--the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!
The Bride Was a Boy by Chii
Call Number: Graphic Novels - 2nd Floor ; HQ77.8.C45 A3 2018
ISBN: 9781626928886
Publication Date: 2018
Chii and her husband are like any other happily married couple, except for one thing: Chii was assigned male at birth. Chii details her autobiographical account of growing up with gender dysphoria and ultimately deciding to transition in her early adult years. Shortly after Chii starts transitioning, she meets a man who is instantly enamored by her, and although he is surprised when Chii eventually tells him she used to live as a guy, he still wants to go out with her. As Chii continues to transition, her boyfriend supports her through the process, culminating in their marriage once her transition is complete.
Cirque du Freak: the Manga by Darren Shan
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 C57 2009
ISBN: 9780759530416
Publication Date: 2006-2009
Darren Shan was an average kid until destiny brought him to the Cirque du Freak. Now Darren's been immersed into a shadowy world inhabited by vampires, werewolves, and strange creatures the likes of which he's never imagined, and his life will be changed forever!
Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba; Takeshi Obata (Illustrator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 D43 2005
ISBN: 9781421501680
Publication Date: 2003-2006
When Light Yagami finds a notebook giving him power over death, will he use it for good--or evil? Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects--and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal...or his life?
Embrace Your Size: My Own Body Positivity by hara
Call Number: Graphic Novels BF697.5.B63 H37 2022
ISBN: 9781975347291
Publication Date: 2022
What do you do when your body doesn't match the ideal shape as dictated by society? What do you wear when sweats seem to be the only clothes that fit you? How do you deal with the constant, overwhelming waves of criticism about your appearance from yourself and others? A love letter to anyone striving to embrace their size, this wonderfully illustrated, uplifting comic essay by a plus-size author chronicles her own journey with body positivity, what inspired her to change her mindset, and how she learned to love herself as she is.
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 F78 2016
ISBN: 9780316360166
Publication Date: 2016-
After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own-when touched by the opposite sex, the Sohmas turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac! Perennial favorite of fans and librarians alike, Natsuki Takaya's beloved Fruits Basket series returns to print in gorgeous omnibus editions featuring exclusive anniversary content, French flaps, and beautiful full-color illustrations that are not to be missed!
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 F85 2011
ISBN: 9781421540184
Publication Date: 2001-2010
Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world, somewhere between magic, art and science. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, dabbled in these powers to grant their dearest wish, one of them lost an arm and a leg...and the other became nothing but a soul locked into a body of living iron. Now they are agents of the government, slaves of the military-alchemical complex, using their unique powers to obey their orders...even to kill. But their powers aren't unique. The world crawls with evil alchemists. And in pursuit of the ultimate alchemical treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, their enemies are even more ruthless than they are...
The Girl That Can't Get a Girlfriend by Mieri Hiranishi (Created by)
Call Number: Graphic Novels - 2nd Floor ; PN6790.J34 G57 2023
ISBN: 9781974736591
Publication Date: 2023
Mieri is an awkward, nerdy college student with no dating experience, and her previous crushes on fellow butch women have all ended in disaster. That all changes when she meets Ash and has her feelings returned for the first time. But when first love turns to first heartbreak, Mieri will do everything possible to win Ash back.
Gyo (2-In-1 Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito
Call Number: Graphic PN6790.J34 G96 2015
ISBN: 9781421579153
Publication Date: 2015
The floating smell of death hangs over the island. What is it? A strange, legged fish appears on the scene... So begins Tadashi and Kaori's spiral into the horror and stench of the sea. Here is the creepiest masterpiece of horror manga ever from the creator of Uzumaki, Junji Ito. Hold your breath until all is revealed. Something's rotten in Okinawa...
Haruki Murakami Manga Stories by Haruki Murakami; Jean-Christophe Deveney (Adapted by); PMGL (Illustrator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 H37 2023
ISBN: 9784805317648
Publication Date: 2023
For the first time in English, the work of master Haruki Murakami is available in manga form. In this collection you'll find striking full-color adaptations of these iconic short stories: Super-frog saves Tokyo -- A few days after an earthquake, Katagirl-san finds a giant frog in his home. The frog promises to save Tokyo from the next earthquake, but Katagiri-san must help him. Is this real, or a dream? Where I'm likely to find it -- A woman's husband goes missing and she hires a detective to find him. As the detective picks up clues about the man's whereabouts, he reflects on the meaning of his own life. Birthday girl -- A woman tells a friend the story of a surreal encounter on her twentieth birthday with the owner of the restaurant where she works. The seventh man -- A man who is deeply scarred by the depth of his childhood friend must find a way to deal with this trauma as an adult.
Helter Skelter by Kyoko Okazaki
Call Number: Graphic Novels - 2nd Floor ; PN6790.J34 H45 2013
ISBN: 9781935654834
Publication Date: 2013
If you are aware of fashion in Japan you must have seen Liliko's face. For the last few years she has been at the top of the modeling world, with her face and body promoting the biggest brands. But as everyone who is in this world admits, staying on top is a constant and never ending battle. There are always new faces introduced to the public. Younger models and new looks are brought into the fold every season. And keeping that position means learning to adapt and learning to cope with change. To maintain her position Liliko has decided to go under the knife. This is not her first go with this service. It is yet another round of plastic surgery, all done to keep herself looking young and vibrant. However in this case just a little nip and tuck was not enough. Liliko is bent on undergoing a full body makeover. From head-to-toe, every inch of her will undergo cosmetic surgery, and thus begins her madness.
I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino (Illustrator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 I33 2017
ISBN: 9781944937300
Publication Date: 2017
Because of a hearing disability, Kohei is often misunderstood and has trouble integrating into life on campus, so he learns to keep his distance. That is until he meets the outspoken and cheerful Taichi. He tells Kohei that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi's words cut through Kohei's usual defense mechanisms and open his heart. More than friends, less than lovers, their relationship changes Kohei forever.
I Hear the Sunspot. Theory of Happiness by Yuki Fumino
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 I33 2018
ISBN: 9781944937416
Publication Date: 2018
Due to the overwhelming success of I Hear the Sunspot, the sequel has finally arrived, I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness! How will this 'more than friends, less than lovers' relationship evolve? Because of a hearing disability Kohei is often alone. Taichi is outspoken and cheerful. At first, Kohei keeps himself well guarded, but after he meets Taichi he slowly learns to open up.
Japan, Inc by Shotaro Ishinomori; Peter Duus (Introduction by)
Call Number: Graphic Novels HC462.9 .I7413 1988
ISBN: 9780520062887
Publication Date: 1988
They are burning Japanese cars in Detroit. The top management at Toyosan Motors must decide whether to begin offshore production of its cars in the U.S. But our hero Mr. Kudo fears that offshore production will devastate the numerous local subcontractors of Toyosan, leading to a hollowing out of the auto industry in Japan, leaving only a financial shell. The American color TV industry has already suffered such a fate. The villain, Mr. Tsugawa, calls Kudo a wimp and sees a splendid opportunity for union busting. Will our hero prevail? Thus begins the first episode of this rollicking yet incisive introduction to the world economy from the Japanese point of view. Other episodes treat the appreciation of the yen, the impact of the 1970s oil shocks, deficit financing, the internationalization of business and banking, and the post-industrial future of Japan and the Pacific Rim. The book is an English edition of volume 1 of Manga Nihon keizai nyumon, originally published in 1986 by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the Japanese equivalent of the Wall Street Journal. It is based on a serious introductory text put out by the newspaper and is packed with informative charts and facts. When the comic book was first published in Japan, it was an immediate best-seller, selling over 550,000 copies in less than a year. The stories in the book reflect Japan's national mood during the "Japanese miracle" and into the 1980s economic bubble: apprehension and optimism jostle one another, and there is a sense of national self-pity. The book also reflects a deep suspicion of politics and bureaucrats. The prime minister appears more worried about his government's popularity than about taking the right economic course. Ultimately, the employees at Toyosan Motors demonstrate that the success of the Japanese economy will not depend on natural resources or politics but on business practices that are ethical, socially responsible, and forward-looking.
Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike; Goseki Kojima (Illustrator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 L66 2013
ISBN: 9781616551346
Publication Date: 1970-1976
Follows the adventures of Ogami Itto, a samurai framed and forced into exile with his infant son, as he pursues his quest for revenge against those who murdered his wife.
Love's in Sight! by Uoyama
Call Number: Graphic PN6790.J34 L68 2023
ISBN: 9781974736812
Publication Date: 2023-
Morio Kurokawa is the toughest-looking tough guy around. Yukiko Akaza is a self-possessed girl with a vision impairment attending a school for the blind. The whole city fears Morio, but Yukiko sees the real him--he's a soft sweetheart who's just searching for his place in the world! Mori the Black Panther has won over a hundred fights. He's beloved by his goons and feared by the public. But now, he faces his biggest challenge yet when he meets Yukiko...and falls in love at first sight! Can Morio outgrow his delinquent roots and turn over a new leaf for his unexpected love?
The Minamata Story by Sean Michael Wilson; Akiko Shimojima (Illustrator); Brian Small (Introduction by)
Call Number: Graphic Novels RA1231.M5 W55 2021
ISBN: 9781611720563
Publication Date: 2021
A powerful graphic novel /manga that tells the story of "Minamata disease," a debilitating and sometimes fatal condition caused by the Chisso chemical factory's careless release of methylmercury into the waters of the coastal community of Minamata in southern Japan. First identified in 1956, it became a hot topic in Japan in the 1970s and 80s, growing into an iconic struggle between people versus corporations and government agencies. This struggle is relevant today, not simply because many people are still living with the disease but also because, in this time of growing concern over the safety of our environment--viz. Flint, Michigan--Minamata gives us as a very moving example of such human-caused environmental disasters and what we can do about them.

Manga at Marist

My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders by Monzusu
Call Number: Graphic Novels RC570 .M66 2022
ISBN: 9781638582359
Publication Date: 2022
Navigating Life with a Developmental Disorder. This intimate manga collection follows nine adults with developmental disorders as they outline their struggles and triumphs. Experience the stories of a high school dropout's new path to education; a person seeing the world through new eyes thanks to their medication; a father and daughter learning to thrive together, and more. This manga illustrates diverse anxieties but also self-empowerment in learning to navigate a world not built with everyone in mind
My Brother's Husband, Volumes 1 And 2 by Gengoroh Tagame; Anne Ishii (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 M93 2020
ISBN: 9780375715181
Publication Date: 2020
Yaichi is a work-at-home suburban dad in contemporary Tokyo, married to wife Natsuki, father to young daughter Kana. Their lives are suddenly upended with the arrival at their doorstep of a hulking, affable Canadian named Mike Flanagan, who declares himself the widower of Yaichi's estranged gay twin, Ryoji. Mike is on a quest to explore Ryoji's past, and the family reluctantly but dutifully takes him in. What follows is an unprecedented, revelatory look at and journey into the largely still-closeted Japanese gay culture: how it's been affected by the West, and how the next generation has the chance to change the preconceptions of and prejudices against it
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 M94 2015
ISBN: 9781421582696
Publication Date: 2014-
What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called "Quirks"? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless? Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn't got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny...
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 M95 2023
ISBN: 9798888432099
Publication Date: 2023
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness is an honest and heartfelt look at one young woman's exploration of her sexuality, mental well-being, and growing up in our modern age. Told using expressive artwork that invokes both laughter and tears, this moving and highly entertaining single volume depicts not only the artist's burgeoning sexuality, but many other personal aspects of her life that will resonate with readers.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 N38 2012
ISBN: 9781421550640
Publication Date: 1982-1994
An epic fantasy about the princess of a small kingdom who becomes involved in a war, while environmental disaster threatens the survival of humankind. On her journey, she struggles to bring about a peaceful coexistence among the people of her world, as well as between humanity and nature.
Nijigahara Holograph by Inio Asano (Artist); Matt Thorn (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 N55 2014
ISBN: 9781606995839
Publication Date: 2014
Butterflies ominously proliferate as children whisper rumors of a mysterious creature lurking in the tunnel behind the school. To appease its wrath, they decide to offer it a sacrifice--a human one. But this is only the beginning of Nijigahara Holograph, which takes place in two separate timelines and involves the suicidal Amahiko; Kohta, the lovestruck bully; their teacher Miss Sakaki, whose heavily bandaged face remains a mystery; and many more brothers, sisters, parents, co-workers, teachers, aggressors and victims who are all inextricably linked to one another. Ten years later, all will have to face what they've done or suffered through--and maybe the end of the world.
Okinawa by Susumu Higa; Jocelyne Allen (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels DS894.99.O375 H54 2023
ISBN: 9781683961185
Publication Date: 2023
A peaceful, independent kingdom until its annexation by the Japanese Empire in the 19th century, Okinawa was the site of the most destructive land battle of the Pacific War. Today, the archipelago is Japan's poorest prefecture and unwilling host to 75% of all US military bases in Japan. Okinawa brings together two collections of intertwined stories by the island's pre-eminent mangaka, Susumu Higa, which reflect on this difficult history and pull together traditional Okinawan spirituality, the modern-day realities of the continuing US military occupation, and the senselessness of the War. The first collection, Sword of Sand, is a ground level, unflinching look at the horrors of the Battle of Okinawa. Higa then turns an observant eye to the present-day in Mabui (Okinawan for "spirit"), where he explores how the American occupation has irreversibly changed the island prefecture, through the lens of the archipelago's indigenous spirituality and the central character of the yuta priestess.
Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Shigeru Mizuki; Jocelyne Allen (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 O59 2022
ISBN: 9781770466302
Publication Date: 2022
Kokopo, 1943: A platoon of soldiers is ordered into battle. The objective is death. The alternative is certain execution as a consequence of survival. Inspired by Eisner Award-winning author Shigeru Mizuki's own mandatory tour of duty as an active combatant in the Imperial Japanese Army, Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths portrays a flailing infantry unit on its last legs near the end of the Second World War. This deeply personal and landmark anti-war work could only have been made by a pacifist. The desperation and moral depravity on display is devastating. Mizuki's fanciful characters must make do against a photo-realistic backdrop teeming with tropical life that remains inhospitable. Indeed, commanding officers prove even more ferocious than the wild unknown of Papua New Guinea. And yet the human instinct endures, seeing through the absurdity of such a rigid and outdated command structure with gallows humor.
Parasyte by Hitoshi Iwaaki
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 P37 2013
ISBN: 9781612620756
Publication Date: 1988-1995
Aliens parasites have invaded Earth and taken over the minds of ordinary people. Shin has been infected with a parasite, but he still can think and act for himself. Now he's been approached by two mysterious victims of the invasion- Tamiya, a beautiful schoolteacher, and Shimada, another student. What do the aliens want with humanity... and with Shin?
Pluto : Urasawa X Tezuka by Naoki Urasawa, Osamu Tezuka, Takashi Nagasaki
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 P58 2009
Publication Date: 2009-2010
In a world where man and robots coexist, the powerful Swiss robot Mont Blanc has been destroyed. Elsewhere a key figure in a robot rights group is murdered. The two incidents appear to be unrelated ... except for one very conspicuous clue -- the bodies of both victims have been fashioned into some sort of bizarre collage complete with makeshift horns placed by the victims' heads. Interpol assigns robot detective Gesicht to this most strange and complex case -- and he eventually discovers that he too, as one of the seven great robots of the world, is one of the targets.
The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai; Posuka Demizu (Illustrator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 P76 2018
ISBN: 9781421597133
Publication Date: 2016-2020
Life at Grace Field House is good for Emma and her fellow orphans. While the daily studying and exams they have to take are tough, their loving caretaker provides them with delicious food and plenty of playtime. But perhaps not everything is as it seems... Behind the facade of a happy orphanage, the children of Grace Field House are secretly being raised as food for demons! Determined to save themselves and the other kids, Emma, Norman and Ray begin planning an escape. But their caretaker, "Mom," has brought in extra help to keep the orphans in line...
Red : a Haida manga by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6733.Y24 R43 2014
ISBN: 9781771620222
Publication Date: 2014
Referencing a classic Haida oral narrative, this stunning full-colour graphic novel documents the tragic story of a leader so blinded by revenge that he leads his community to the brink of war and destruction. Consisting of 108 pages of hand-painted illustrations, Red is a groundbreaking mix of Haida imagery and Japanese manga. Red is the prideful leader of a small village in the islands off the northwest coast of British Columbia. His sister was abducted years ago by a band of raiders. When news comes that she has been spotted in a nearby village, Red sets out to rescue his sister and exact revenge on her captors. Tragic and time- less, it is reminiscent of such classic stories as Oedipus Rex and Macbeth. Red is an action-packed and dazzling graphic novel that is also a cautionary tale about the devastating effects of rage and retribution.
Run on Your New Legs by Wataru Midori
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 R86 2022
ISBN: 9781975339005
Publication Date: 2022-
Shouta Kikuzato's hopes of starting on his school's prestigious soccer team are derailed when a terrible incident costs him his leg. Now in his first year of high school (again), Kikuzato has resigned himself to never reaching his athletic dreams. But when Chidori, a passing prosthetist, notices Kikuzato's artificial limb-- and speed--as he races through the train station, the specialist proposes a partnership: Chidori will build Kikuzato a brand-new leg designed solely for speed. All Kikuzato has to do is run!
Shuna's Journey by Hayao Miyazaki; Alex Dudok de Wit (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 S58 2022
ISBN: 9781250846525
Publication Date: 2022
Shuna, the prince of a poor land, watches in despair as his people work themselves to death harvesting the little grain that grows there. And so, when a traveler presents him with a sample of seeds from a mysterious western land, he sets out to find the source of the golden grain, dreaming of a better life for his subjects. It is not long before he meets a proud girl named Thea. After freeing her from captivity, he is pursued by her enemies, and while Thea escapes north, Shuna continues toward the west, finally reaching the Land of the God-Folk. Will Shuna ever see Thea again? And will he make it back home from his quest for the golden grain?
Showa: a History of Japan. 1926-1939 by Shigeru Mizuki; Zack Davisson (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels DS888.5 .M59 2013 v.1
ISBN: 9781770461352
Publication Date: 2013
Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan is the first volume of Shigeru Mizuki's meticulously researched historical portrait of twentieth-century Japan. This volume deals with the period leading up to World War II, a time of high unemployment and other economic hardships caused by the Great Depression. Mizuki's photo-realist style effortlessly brings to life the Japan of the 1920s and 1930s, depicting bustling city streets and abandoned graveyards with equal ease. When the Showa era began, Mizuki himself was just a few years old, so his earliest memories coincide with the earliest events of the time. With his trusty narrator Rat Man, Mizuki brings history into the realm of the personal, making it palatable, and indeed compelling, for young audiences as well as more mature readers. As he describes the militarization that leads up to World War II, Mizuki's stance toward war is thoughtful and often downright critical--his portrayal of the Nanjing Massacre clearly paints the incident (a disputed topic within Japan) as an atrocity. Mizuki's Showa 1926-1939 is a beautifully told history that tracks how technological developments and the country's shifting economic stability had a role in shaping Japan's foreign policy in the early twentieth century.
Solanin by Inio Asano
Call Number: Graphic Novels - 2nd Floor ; PN6790.J34 S65 2008
ISBN: 9781421523217
Publication Date: 2008
Meiko Inoue is a recent college grad working as an office lady in a job she hates. Her boyfriend Shigeo is permanently crashing at her apartment because his job as a freelance illustrator doesn't pay enough for rent. And her parents in the country keep sending her boxes of veggies that just rot in her fridge. Straddling the line between her years as a student and the rest of her life, Meiko struggles with the feeling that she's just not cut out to be a part of the real world.
Tono Monogatari by Shigeru Mizuki; Zack Davisson (Translator)
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 T66 2021
ISBN: 9781770464360
Publication Date: 2021
Shigeru Mizuki--Japan's grand master of Yokai comics--adapts one of the most important works of supernatural literature into comic book form. The cultural equivalent of Brothers Grimm's fairy tales, Tono Monogatari is a defining text of Japanese folklore and one of the country's most important works of literature. This graphic novel was created during the later stage of Mizuki's career, after he had retired from the daily grind of commercial comics to create personal, lasting works of art. Originally written in 1910 by folklorists and field researchers Kunio Yanagita and Kizen Sasaki, Tono Monogatari celebrates and archives legends from the Tono region. These stories were recorded as Japan's rapid modernization led to the disappearance of traditional culture. This adaptation mingles the original text with autobiography: Mizuki attempts to retrace Yanagita and Sasaki's path, but finds his old body is not quite up to the challenge of following in their footsteps. As Mizuki wanders through Tono he retells some of the most famous legends, manifesting a host of monsters, dragons, and foxes. In the finale, Mizuki meets Yanagita himself and the two sit down to discuss their works.
Uzaki-Chan Wants to Hang Out! by Take
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6790.J34 U93 2019
ISBN: 9781642753363
Publication Date: 2019-
Sakurai Shinichi's one wish is for a little peace and quiet. But Uzaki Hana-his boisterous, well-endowed underclassman-has other plans. All she wants is to hang out and poke fun at him. With the help of her chipper charm and peppy persistence, this might just be the start of a beautiful relationship! Fans of slice-of-life comedy are sure to enjoy this new "odd couple" tale about misadventures in a college setting.
Uzumaki by Junji Ito
Call Number: Graphic Novels - 2nd Floor ; PN6790.J34 U98 2013
ISBN: 9781421561325
Publication Date: 2013
Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral--the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It manifests itself in everything from seashells and whirlpools in water to the spiral marks on people's bodies, the insane obsessions of Shuichi's father and the voice from the cochlea in our inner ear. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of Kurouzu-cho are pulled ever deeper into a whirlpool from which there is no return!
War of the Blink by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas
Call Number: Graphic Novels PN6733.Y24 W27 2017
ISBN: 9780995994621
Publication Date: 2017
This is the story of a fisherman who suspects a party of raiders is descending upon his island home. When his warnings are not heeded, the man sets out to guard the village on his own, only to find himself caught up in a high-stakes game of kidnap and bluff. All this leads to a final showdown, in which one of the sides must blink first--and the villagers find a surprising way to save face and their home, and avoid bloodshed. Combining traditional Northwest coast and Japanese comic art in Yahgulanaas' own, dizzyingly original mish-mash, War of the Blink is a timeless fable about the bravery it takes to choose peace over war.
With the Light : Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe
Call Number: Graphic Novels RJ506.A9 T62 2007
ISBN: 9780759523562
Publication Date: 2000-2010
Born during the sunrise - an auspicious beginning - the Azumas' newborn son is named Hikaru, which means "light". But during one play date, his mother notices that her son is slightly different from the other children. In the alternately heartwarming and bittersweet tale, a young mother tries to cope with both the overwhelming discovery of her child's autism and the trials of raising him while keeping her family together. This is a story that resonates not only for those whose families have been affected by autism, but also for all past, present, and future parents.
X-Gender by Asuka Miyazaki
Call Number: Graphic Novels HQ18.55 .M59 2022
ISBN: 9781638583998
Publication Date: 2022-
Asuka is neither a woman nor a man-they're X-gender (a non-binary identity)-and they've realized they like women! Okay, now what? Adult films are fun to watch, but real sex is less appealing. Would having a penis make that better or worse? Periods already suck, and sex means more fluids from more people! This autobiographical manga follows Asuka's feelings about their body, their relationships, and the fun (and sometimes terrible) experience of having an awakening in their thirties.