One of the best perks of running this blog is the opportunity to learn from all of the guest contributors. I love it when Robert Prickett is on the list. I learn new information from him every time. He is an expert on the YA graphic novel. This time he has teamed up with his colleague from Winthrop University, Casey Cothran. I would be the first one to acknowledge, that in most cases, my students in a YA course know more about graphic novels than I do. I am always learning (I don't what to look stupid; which, as I age and get further removed from some aspects of popular culture, happens all of the time.). So, thanks Robert and Casey. This is a great post and I have a longer too read list. This a post that you should share with others. Take a minute and share the URL.
Before you get too far into graphic mysteries, take some time to check Robert's previous posts. He has one on YAL that is connected to Politics and Activism and a second on Female Coming of Age in the Graphic Novel.
Before you get too far into graphic mysteries, take some time to check Robert's previous posts. He has one on YAL that is connected to Politics and Activism and a second on Female Coming of Age in the Graphic Novel.
YA Graphic Mysteries
You may be thinking … Graphic mysteries?! For young adults?! Just how graphic is graphic?! However, today we’re discussing comic books and graphic novels. (Which, to be honest, may very well include a graphic murder or two.) But why is it important to think about the graphic mystery text in relation to YA readers? Mystery can be a controversial genre, as it often deals with issues of violence, human cruelty, injustice, and suffering. Nevertheless, many argue that, despite its dark moments, the mystery story allows the reader opportunities both to solve complex puzzles and also to regain faith in the idea that answers to difficult questions do exist.
Furthermore, when combined with the graphic novel format, the mystery might be said to inspire “double-detective* work” on the part of the reader. (And aren’t we always trying to encourage YA readers to think deeply?) In a typical mystery, the reader is constantly on the alert. She is paying attention to physical clues, to mysterious past events, and to character behavior, as well as to the tone and language of the story she is reading. Ultimately, she is working to solve the riddle of the crisis before the detective does! Additionally, one might note that the reader of the comic book also does special work in an effort to follow the plot of the graphic text. He is paying attention to both the written words on the page and to the graphic imagery. It is the pictures in the comic book that communicate major events of the plot, the feelings of characters, and the tone of the story. Ultimately, when one combines the mystery narrative with the medium of the comic book, the critical thinking requirements are amplified. In their efforts to solve mystery puzzles, readers of these texts are inspired to investigate the interaction between text and image, the coloring of a panel, or the discrepancies that may exist between character dialogue and blocks of narration. They have to become reader-detectives.
Furthermore, when combined with the graphic novel format, the mystery might be said to inspire “double-detective* work” on the part of the reader. (And aren’t we always trying to encourage YA readers to think deeply?) In a typical mystery, the reader is constantly on the alert. She is paying attention to physical clues, to mysterious past events, and to character behavior, as well as to the tone and language of the story she is reading. Ultimately, she is working to solve the riddle of the crisis before the detective does! Additionally, one might note that the reader of the comic book also does special work in an effort to follow the plot of the graphic text. He is paying attention to both the written words on the page and to the graphic imagery. It is the pictures in the comic book that communicate major events of the plot, the feelings of characters, and the tone of the story. Ultimately, when one combines the mystery narrative with the medium of the comic book, the critical thinking requirements are amplified. In their efforts to solve mystery puzzles, readers of these texts are inspired to investigate the interaction between text and image, the coloring of a panel, or the discrepancies that may exist between character dialogue and blocks of narration. They have to become reader-detectives.
And how much fun is that? It’s a lot of fun. So, here are a variety of graphic (and great) mysteries for you to investigate on your own. FYI: Book title links are to Amazon; author/illustrator links are to personal webpages or social media accounts. (Please note: we purposefully have focused on YA-friendly graphic novel mysteries in the list below. There are some classic graphic novel mysteries like Watchmen, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Blacksad, and The Fade Out which are appropriate for older adolescents and adults.)
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Angel City: Town without Pity written by Janet Harvey and illustrated by Megan Levens and Nick Filardi
A “classic” Hollywood noir, presented with style, this story follows Dolores Dare, a former starry-eyed ingénue turned enforcer, whose past and present collide when an old friend is found murdered.
A “classic” Hollywood noir, presented with style, this story follows Dolores Dare, a former starry-eyed ingénue turned enforcer, whose past and present collide when an old friend is found murdered.
Bad Machinery series written and illustrated by John Allison
Two groups of sleuths: three girls, three boys compete (and sometimes collaborate) to solve mysteries around Keane End, Tackleford and Griswalds Grammar School. Very humorous. Very British.
Two groups of sleuths: three girls, three boys compete (and sometimes collaborate) to solve mysteries around Keane End, Tackleford and Griswalds Grammar School. Very humorous. Very British.
Batman: The Long Halloween written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale
This collected graphic novel (of the original 13 issue series) follows Batman as he tries to catch a serial killer. Can Batman catch the murderer, who is killing only on holidays, before the killer strikes again?
This collected graphic novel (of the original 13 issue series) follows Batman as he tries to catch a serial killer. Can Batman catch the murderer, who is killing only on holidays, before the killer strikes again?
Black Dahlia (Treasury of XXth Century Murder) written and illustrated by Rick Geary
Named a 2017 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Nonfiction, this graphic novel recounts the life and death of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short , who would become known in 1947 as “Black Dahlia”.
Named a 2017 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Nonfiction, this graphic novel recounts the life and death of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short , who would become known in 1947 as “Black Dahlia”.
Bungo Stray Dogs written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa
This manga centers around gifted detectives with supernatural powers who form the “Armed Detective Agency” solving mysteries and carrying out missions for the mafia.
This manga centers around gifted detectives with supernatural powers who form the “Armed Detective Agency” solving mysteries and carrying out missions for the mafia.
Chew written by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory
Tony Chu is a detective. Tony Chu is Cibopathic – meaning he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. Tony Chu is a good detective as long as he doesn’t mind chewing a corpse or two.
Tony Chu is a detective. Tony Chu is Cibopathic – meaning he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. Tony Chu is a good detective as long as he doesn’t mind chewing a corpse or two.
The Mystery Society written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Fiona Staples
Anastasia Collins and Nick Hammond are the Mystery Society. They are rich, resourceful, refined, determined to uncover the paranormal secrets of the world’s underbelly . . . and in need of new recruits: a ghoul named Secret Skull, two twin girls from Area 51, and a robot with the brain of Jules Verne round out the gang.
Anastasia Collins and Nick Hammond are the Mystery Society. They are rich, resourceful, refined, determined to uncover the paranormal secrets of the world’s underbelly . . . and in need of new recruits: a ghoul named Secret Skull, two twin girls from Area 51, and a robot with the brain of Jules Verne round out the gang.
Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie written by Anthony Del Col and illustrated by Werther Dell’edera
Teenage brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy, are accused of murdering their father. They must prove their innocence by teaming up with Nancy Drew to solve the mystery. This is a re-imagining of the classic teen detectives.
Teenage brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy, are accused of murdering their father. They must prove their innocence by teaming up with Nancy Drew to solve the mystery. This is a re-imagining of the classic teen detectives.
Scooby Apocalypse written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, and illustrated by Howard Porter, Dale Eaglesham, Wellington Alves, and Scott Hanna
The classic gang is back (or rather in the post-apocalyptic future): Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby Doo still fight crime – but “the apocalypse has happened” and “the old rules about logic do not apply.” Like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, check out this re-imagining of classic mystery sleuths.
The classic gang is back (or rather in the post-apocalyptic future): Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby Doo still fight crime – but “the apocalypse has happened” and “the old rules about logic do not apply.” Like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, check out this re-imagining of classic mystery sleuths.
I am Princess X written by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Kali Ciesemier
This is a particularly unique text; it combines a traditional mystery novel with graphic segments, so it is not quite a “graphic novel” or a “traditional novel,” but it is excellent nonetheless. Two best friends create a comic book princess together. A few years later, one of the girls, Libby, dies in a car crash. The surviving friend, May, now sixteen discovers a sticker with a remarkable likeness to Princess X, the princess created many years ago. Soon, May sees the Princess everywhere.
This is a particularly unique text; it combines a traditional mystery novel with graphic segments, so it is not quite a “graphic novel” or a “traditional novel,” but it is excellent nonetheless. Two best friends create a comic book princess together. A few years later, one of the girls, Libby, dies in a car crash. The surviving friend, May, now sixteen discovers a sticker with a remarkable likeness to Princess X, the princess created many years ago. Soon, May sees the Princess everywhere.
Stephen King wrote in Under the Dome, “Murder is like potato chips: you can’t stop with just one.” We’d agree and argue that “Graphic mysteries are like potato chips: you can’t stop with just one.” Enjoy!
*For a deeper scholarly analysis of the idea of the double-detective, see our forthcoming article, “The Double Detective: Compounding Complexity in The Fade Out, a Noir Graphic Novel” in Clues: A Journal of Detection, 36.2 (Winter 2018).
Until next time.
Until next time.
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