Great Reading: Bookmark It!

Volume 32, Number 1, October 2004

Graphic Novels

Michelle Gorman

Mystery, Murder & Mayhem!

Grades 7-12

Batman: The long Halloween. Jeph Loeb, Time Sale. DC Comics, 1999. $19.95. 1-56389-469-6. A serial killer has targeted Gotham City and beginning with Halloween, each successive crime takes place on a holiday.

The beast of Chicago: An account of the life and crimes of Herman W. Mudgett, known to the world As H.H. Holmes . Rick Geary. NBM/Comics Lit, 2004. $8.95. 1-561633-65-8. In this latest in Geary’s graphic series depicting “Victorian Murder,” the art is as gritty as the story of a mass murderer from the 19 th century who is often cited as the world’s first serial killer.

CSI: Crime scene investigation: Bad Rap. Max Collins, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ashley Wood. IDW Publishing, 2003. $19.99. 193238220-8. As intense as the television show, this graphic work follows a crime scene investigation team as they attempt to solve a series of murders that revolve around local rapper Busta Kapp.

The Kindaichi case files: The legend of Lake Hiren. Yozaburo Kanari, Fumiya Sato. Tokyopop, 2004. $9.99. 1591823609. There is no time for romance when teenage detective Hajime Kindaichi finds himself in the middle of murder at a lakefront resort where he is a guest.

Powers, Vol. 1: Who killed Retro Girl? Brian Bendis, Michael Oeming. Image Comics, 2000. $21.95. 1-58240-183-7. In the city of Powers, someone has killed local superhero Retro Girl and it is up to Detective Christian Walker and his new rookie partner, Deena Pilgim, to solve the case.

Michele Gorman: Wired for Youth Librarian in Austin, TX, and author of Getting graphic! Using graphic novels to promote literacy with preteens and teens. comixlibrarian@aol.com