500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide [Paperback]

Gene Kannenberg (Author), Tim Pilcher (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0061474517 | ISBN-13: 978-0061474514 | Publication Date: August 5, 2008

500 Essential Graphic Novels is an all-in-one guide to this exciting form of visual literature.

Including more than 350 authors and 400 artists, this lush volume contains an essential mix of some of the finest visually-stunning stories of our time. From politically-charged non-fiction sagas to imaginative fantasy tales, this ultimate guide has something to satisfy everyone's taste.

The first of its kind, this book focuses on each graphic novel separately, honing in on art technique, style and prose, plus an age rating system so parents will know what is suitable for their children. Chapters are divided by genre, complete with individual plot synopses and star-scaled reviews for each book, providing the reader with a concise and balanced understanding of today's best graphic novels.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gene Kannenberg, Jr. gained his PhD in comics at the University of Connecticut and has published numerous articles on comic art, including work for The Comics Journal. He has served as Chair of the International Comic Arts Festival (ICAF) and is the current Director of ComicsResearch.org

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Harper Design (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061474517
• ISBN-13: 978-0061474514
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,027,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great starting place..., October 31, 2008

By 

Jeff Howard "vitaminj" (North Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide (Paperback)

Kannenberg's book is a ton of fun to read. It's very easy to pick and flip through. This book has caused me to spend hundreds of dollars to catch up on "necessary reading."

It is organized by genre: horror, superhero, non-fiction, crime, humor, etc. There is some manga in the book, but that's not really the emphasis here. Please note that superhero is listed as a genre, so if you're looking for that it's in the book but in a limited way. (It should also be noted that Kannenberg's team of contributors does a great job listing some amazing superhero stuff. They know what they're talking about.)

I really love the 4 color, glossy paper--it really makes the covers and art shine. he also lists ISBN's and publishers. It's a great tool for creating what-to-buy lists. The summaries of the titles are accurate and fairly short. The commentary on the various titles is pretty good. He throws in some cool info nuggets here and there. I wanted more commentary on certain titles, but that's a minor complaint. Again, this book helps you focus your reading on the titles that are likely to interest you.

I have some quibbles on the star ratings, but that's to be expected. I also like the age ratings--very helpful for finding some titles for my son.

I enjoy this book so much for quick little reading bursts that I am inclined to get the companion book on top 500 anime movies.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive overview of the realm graphic novels, October 4, 2008

By 

James Britt - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide (Paperback)

This is a very good overview of what's out there in the world of the graphic novel. Broken up into genres, you'll find short reviews and observations on each book. If you are new to this art form and want to get some sense of where to start, this book can serve as a solid guide for selecting material.

It's impressive, too, that the author did not limit the titles only to what's currently hip, but includes older work, such as the timeless (and excellently crafted) Tin-tin stories of Herge.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough going over..., October 15, 2008

By 

Tim Pilcher "Writer" (Brighton, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide (Paperback)

A fantastic book, and the most comprehensive on the market. This book is "Essential" for teachers and librarians and for converting the non-fans in your life. It's guaranteed to stir up controversy, as no-one is going to agree with all the choices included (or omitted), but that's half the fun. The other half is discovering new gems to seek out and read. Part-guide book, part-conversation piece--no self-respecting fanboy should be without one!