This star means that the title or site is recommended especially for younger teens

Top Ten

Pedro and Me by Judd Winick
strong nonfiction memoir, excellent black and white art, and a valuable meditation on frienship all rolled into one

Maus by Art Speigelman
harrowing memoir of the Holocaust, Pulizter Prize winner, a strong candidate to win over skeptics to the genre

Ultimate Spiderman: Power and Responsibility by Bill Jemas and Brian Michael Bendis
one of the best examples of the wit, vivid colors, and action of recent superhero comics

Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
by far one of the most popular sci-fi titles out there, this series is also a great introduction to Japanese manga

The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot
lest readers get overwhelmed by fantasy and superheroes, this title brings us back to the real world, once again with superior artwork and a sensitive tale

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
No superhero collection is complete without Frank Miller's dark reinvention of Batman -- grim, powerful, and still startling in its originality

Watchmen by Alan Moore
A sophisticated, thought-provoking analysis of superheroes and their professional and personal lives -- excellent writing, a true novel at over 300 pages, and a great title for those who might not see the depth that superhero stories can contain

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
more clean black and white art, amazing wit, chock full of references to fairy tales, and great for all ages

Meridian by Barbara Kesel
with the vivid color and style of the best animated films, this fantasy tale only gets better as the story progresses

Bone by Jeff Smith
another strong choice for all ages, a humorous and sympathetic quest

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The Best of the Rest

Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi
a great choice to introduce manga into the collection, this hilarious comedy mixes magic with the everyday

Truer than True Romance by Jeanne Martinet
For those grrls out there, rather than only the girls, this spoof on Romance comics is bound to inspire guffaws

Red Star: Battle at Dar Kathra's Gate by Christian Gossett
epic, absolutely gorgeous, packed with alternate history, this title shows the new range of computer art combined with traditional illustration

Clan Apis by Jay Hosler
Another great realistic title, clean, crisp, entertaining, and slyly full of information

Dropsie Avenue: The Neighborhood by Will Eisner
This portrait of one neighborhood hasn't lost it's punch, and it's another excellent example of the power of comic art telling an everyday story

Berlin: City of Stones by Jason Lutes
Like Maus, this title is another example for those who might doubt that comics can address complex issues

Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? by Brian Michael Bendis
Undeniably cool style, rapid-fire dialog, one of the best examples of recent comics mixing genres (in this case, superheroes and cop dramas)

Age of Reptiles by Ricardo Delgato
A pure example of comic art, with dinosaurs to boot

Blue Monday by Chynna Clugston-Majors
A wonderful melding of manga and American styles, romance, humor, and unique art all make this one a winner

Geisha by Andi Watson
Another small press gem which shows that great things come in small packages

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Manga Titles
Boys Over Flowers By Yoko Kamio
Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP
Chobits by CLAMP
Clover by CLAMP
Confidential Confessions by various authors
Cowboy Bebop by Yutaka Nanten and Hajime Yatate
Dark Angel: The Path to Destiny by Kia Asimiya
Eerie Queerie by Shuri Shiozu
Fake by Sanami Matoh
Gravitation by Maki Murakami
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz by Hajime Yadate and Yoshiyuki Tomino
Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre by Louis Cha
Hikaru No Go by Yumi Hotta
Inu-Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale by Rumiko Takahashi
Iron Wok Jan! by Shinji Saijyo
Kill Me, Kiss Me Lee Young Yuu
The Kindaichi Case Files: The Opera House Murders by Yozaburo Kanari
Love Hina by Ken Akamatsu
Mai the Psychic Girl by Kazuya Kudo
Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi
Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi
Mars by Fuyumi Soryo
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind by Hiyao Miyazaki
Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Oh My Goddess! 1-555-Goddess by Kosuke Fushijuma
Peach Girl by Miwa Ueda
Please Save My Earth by Saki Hiwatari
Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi
Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP
Wish by CLAMP

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The Strong Girls List
This list is here for those curious about how women and girls are represented in comics. While I can't promise that these titles automatically represent women in the best light (really, where would be the story in that?), these titles feature strong female leads and are good titles to boot.

Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres
Artesia: Artesia Afield by Mark Smylie
The Authority: Relentless by Warren Ellis
Batgirl by Scott Peterson
Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey by Chuck Dixon
Blue Monday: The Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston-Majors
Blue Monday: Absolute Beginners by Chynna Clugston-Majors
Boneyard by Richard Moore
Boys Over Flowers By Yoko Kamio
Buffy: Tales of the Slayers by Joss Whedon (and others)
Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP
Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
Castle Waiting: The Lucky Road by Linda Medley
Catwoman: The Dark End of the Street by Ed Brubaker
Catwoman: Selina's Big Score by Darwyn Cooke
Cheat by Christine Norrie
Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh
Days Like This by J. Torres
Crux: Atlantis Rising by Mark Waid
A Distant Soil: The Gathering by Colleen Doran
A Distant Soil: The Ascendant by Colleen Doran
A Distant Soil: The Aria by Colleen Doran
Electric Girl by Michael Brennan
Exiles by Judd Winick
Fables: Legends in Exiles by Bill Willingham
Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham
Geisha by Andi Watson
GoGirl! by Trina Robbins
Hopeless Savages by Jen Van Meter
Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero by Jen Van Meter
Inu-Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale by Rumiko Takahashi
Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority by Mark Millar
Jinx by Brian Michael Bendis
Kabuki by David Mack
Kill Me, Kiss Me Lee Young Yuu
The League of Exraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
Leave It To Chance: Shaman's Rain by James Robinson
Leave It To Chance: Trick or Threat and Other Stories by James Robinson
Mai the Psychic Girl by Kazuya Kudo
Meridian: Flying Solo by Barbara Kesel
Meridian: Going to Ground by Barbara Kesel
Meridian: Taking the Skies by Barbara Kesel
Mystic: Rite of Passage by Ron Marz
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind by Hiyao Miyazaki
Outsiders: Looking for Trouble by Judd Winick
Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? by Brian Michael Bendis
Powers: Roleplay by Brian Michael Bendis
Powers: Little Deaths by Brian Michael Bendis
Powers: Supergroup by Brian Michael Bendis
Queen and Country: Broken Ground by Greg Rucka
Queen and Country: Morning Star by Greg Rucka
Queen and Country: Crystal Ball by Greg Rucka
Queen and Country: Declassified by Greg Rucka
Queen and Country: Blackwall by Greg Rucka
Queen and Country: Storm Front by Greg Rucka
Red Star: The Battle at Kar Dathra's Gate by Christian Gossett
Rose by Jeff Smith
Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Sidekicks: The Transfer Student by J. Torres
Skinwalker by Nunzio DeFillipis
Sparks: An Urban Fairytale by Lawrence Marvitt
Ultimate X-Men by Mark Millar
X-Men Evolution by Devon Grayson
Whiteout by Greg Rucka

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For Middle Schoolers
All the titles which are marked as great for younger teens. Many of the other titles on this site are appropriate, be assured -- this list is just a beginning point.

Ultimate Spiderman: Power and Responsibility by Brian Michael Bendis
Ultimate Spiderman: Learning Curve by Brian Michael Bendis
Ultimate Spiderman: Double Trouble by Brian Michael Bendis
Electric Girl by Michael Brennan
Marvels by Kurt Busiek
Spyboy: The Deadly Gourmet Affair by Peter David
Age of Reptiles by Ricardo Delgato
Tellos: Reluctant Heroes by Todd Dezago
Tellos: Kindred Spirits by Todd Dezago
Nightwing: A Knight of Bludhaven by Chuck Dixon
Clan Apis by Jay Hosler
Meridian: Flying Solo by Barbara Kesel
Meridian: Going to Ground by Barbara Kesel
Meridian: Taking the Skies by Barbara Kesel
Castle Waiting: The Lucky Road by Linda Medley
Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki
Magic Pickle by Scott Morse
Thieves and Kings by Mark Oakley
Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Bone by Jeff Smith
Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, adapted by Sean Deming and Chuck Dixon
Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres
Sidekicks: The Transfer Student by J. Torres

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Manga For Middle Schoolers
This is a list of manga appropriate for the middle school age range. The titles that we've reviewed are linked -- the other titles may not be officially reviewed yet but are definitely recommended.

For a few general notes -- manga will often include content in titles aimed at younger viewers that might startle some Westerners. òThe most useful example I can think of is this: in a Western comic, if a character takes a bath, the water is opaque. òIn a Japanese comic, the water is clear. òMost often, this kind of nudity is not at all sexual and is instead incidental (getting changed, taking a bath, etc.) or part of a slapstick joke. òYou'll have to make your own decisions about how your community might handle this -- most of the time for a teen collection, these moments are fine and fleeting, but might not suit a Children's collection.

.hack//Legend of the Twilight by Tatsuya Hamazaki
Angelic Layer by CLAMP
Aria by Kozue Amano
Azumanga Daioh by Kiyohiko Azuma
Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP
CLAMP School Detectives by CLAMP
Comic Party by Sekihiko Inui
D N Angel by Yukiru Sugisaki
Demon Diary by Jee-Hyung Lee
Dragonball by Akira Toriyam
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Fushigi Yugi by Yu Watase
Harlem Beat by Yuriko Nishiyama
Hikaru No Go by Yumi Hotta
Inu-Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale by Rumiko Takahashi
Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda
The Kindaichi Case Files: The Opera House Murders by Yozaburo Kanari
Marmalade Boy
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
One Piece by Eiichiro Oda
Pretear by Kaori Naruse
The Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi
Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
Tsubasa by CLAMP
Wish by CLAMP
World of Narue by Tomohiro Marukawa
XXXholic by CLAMP

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