Yes, Graphic Novels Are Reading!
- 07/09/2025
- 14:07
- maureen
For too long, graphic novels have been unfairly dismissed as “not real reading.” But the verdict is in, and the literary world is finally embracing graphic novels as a powerful and legitimate form of storytelling. Once overlooked or even scorned, graphic novels now offer an exciting alternative for readers of all ages. And thankfully, the outdated notion that they’re only for kids or less sophisticated readers is fading fast.
I thought a graphic novel was a comic book.
It’s important to recognize the difference between comic books and graphic novels. While comic books often follow serialized plots, graphic novels are typically longer, complete narratives that explore a wide range of genres and themes, from memoirs and historical accounts to fantasy, sci-fi, and social commentary. They may not fit the mold of traditional literature, but that doesn’t make them second-rate.
Graphic novels can also be the perfect entry point for young or reluctant readers.
- Their blend of visuals and text makes complex topics more approachable, particularly in areas like history, social justice, and memoir.
- A powerful story can be even more impactful when paired with compelling visuals.
This quote perfectly captures the magic of the medium:
“Images are a way of writing. When you have the talent to be able to write and draw, it seems a shame to choose one. I think it’s better to do both.” — Marjane Satrapi, author/creator of Persepolis
Years ago, as a child and in my early teens, I was drawn to anime and comic books, but I didn’t realize how deeply visual storytelling had evolved within the literary world. It wasn’t until my book club picked Maus by Art Spiegelman—a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel—that I began to see the genre in a new light. Maus opened the door, and I was eager to step through. Seymour Library’s collection had everything from manga to literary graphic novels, and I dove in headfirst. It felt like a rediscovery of something I had loved in my teens (when I tore through the Watchmen series), only now with a deeper appreciation for the storytelling potential of the format.
Today, I aim to read at least three or four graphic novels each year, and I’m always discovering new favorites. In 2025, there’s even more to look forward to! Our head librarian has handpicked and reviewed some of the best new titles of the year, and I’ve already added several to my TBR list.
Curious where to start? Check out our growing graphic novel collection at Seymour Library, with some of the latest editions to hit our shelves!
Under the Oak Tree by Namu and Suji Kim – When stuttering Lady Maximilian is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin. Riftan leaves for war the morning after their disastrous wedding night, and it’s three years before Maxi sees him again.
Now, the husband she barely knows is a war hero. And when he comes home to claim her, Maxi will need to master her own bewildering desire—and Riftan’s—before she can hope to become the true mistress of their enormous castle estate. That task will demand courage from Maxi, even as she struggles to find her own voice.
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami – To gain the power he needs to save his friend from a cursed spirit, Yuji Itadori swallows a piece of a demon, only to find himself caught in the midst of a horrific war of the supernatural!
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…
It Rhymes With Takei by George Takei, Steven Scott, Justin Eisinger, Harmony Becker – George Takei has shown the world many faces: actor, author, outspoken activist, helmsman of the starship Enterprise, living witness to the internment of Japanese Americans, and king of social media. But until October 27, 2005, there was always one piece missing—one face he did not show the world. There was one very intimate fact about George that he never shared…and it rhymes with Takei.
Now, for the first time ever, George shares the full story of his life in the closet, his decision to come out as gay at the age of 68, and the way that moment transformed everything. Following the phenomenal success of his first graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, George Takei reunites with the team of Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger for a jaw-dropping new testament. From his earliest childhood crushes and youthful experiments in the rigidly conformist 1950s, to global fame as an actor and the terrible fear of exposure, to the watershed moment of speaking his truth and becoming one of the most high-profile gay men on the planet, It Rhymes with Takei offers a sweeping portrait of one iconic American navigating the tides of LGBTQ+ history.
Combining historical context with intimate subjectivity, It Rhymes with Takei shows how the personal and the political have always been intertwined. Its richly emotional words and images depict the terror of entrapment even in gay community spaces, the anguish of speaking up for so many issues while remaining silent on his most personal issue, the grief of losing friends to AIDS, the joy of finding true love with Brad Altman, and the determination to declare that love openly—and legally—before the whole world.
Looking back on his astonishing life on both sides of the closet door, George Takei presents a charismatic and candid account of how far America has come…and how precious that progress is.
1984: The Graphic Novel by George Orwell, Fido Nesti – In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called the Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.
With evocative, immersive art from Fido Nesti, this vision of George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece provides a new perspective for longtime fans but is also an accessible entry point for young readers and adults who have yet to discover the iconic story that is still so relevant today.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe – Elf mage Frieren and her courageous fellow adventurers have defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the land. But Frieren will long outlive the rest of her former party. How will she come to understand what life means to the people around her?
Decades after their victory, the funeral of one her friends confronts Frieren with her own near immortality. Frieren sets out to fulfill the last wishes of her comrades and finds herself beginning a new adventure…
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins by Critical Role, Matthew Colville, Jody Houser, Olivia Samson, Chris Northrop – What do a flirtatious bard, a clueless barbarian, a naïve druid, and a pair of stealthy twins all have in common? They’re not sure either, but one day they’ll become the heroes known as Vox Machina! Follow the main characters from the smash-hit series Critical Role as they team up for the first time, facing cults and curses in the revelation of their origins and the path that will lead them to glory…eventually.
The Summer You Were There by Yuama – Shizuku is a shy high schooler who hardly talks to other people. Instead, she loses herself in writing, crafting a novel that she never intends to show anyone. But when her cute, popular classmate Kaori gets her hands on Shizuku’s manuscript, everything changes. Kaori suggests that, in order to give Shizuku material for her next book, the two of them should start dating! Can this mismatched pair create their own happily ever after?
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun by AidaIro – “Hanako-san, Hanako-san…are you there?” At Kamome Academy, rumors abound about the school’s Seven Mysteries, one of which is Hanako-san. Said to occupy the third stall of the third floor girls’ bathroom in the old school building, Hanako-san grants any wish when summoned. Nene Yashiro, an occult-loving high school girl who dreams of romance, ventures into this haunted bathroom…but the Hanako-san she meets there is nothing like she imagined! Kamome Academy’s Hanako-san…is a boy!
Homunculus by Hideo Yamamoto – Nakoshi Susumu, age thirty-four, lives out of his car. Between spending his days with the homeless and his nights in his vehicle, he has little to his name. When a medical student begins to stalk him, offering to pay Nakoshi a significant sum of cash to undergo a strange surgical procedure, Nakoshi initially refuses. But after his beloved car is towed, he finally agrees to take the offer and subjects himself to the operating table. What, if anything, will Nakoshi see differently once he awakens?
Gaysians by Michael Curato – When AJ moves to Seattle in the early aughts, he’s ready to reinvent himself as a gay Asian man—but his dreams hit reality fast with no friends, no job, and an apartment so far out, “not even lesbians live there.” Then a spilled drink at a bar introduces him to K, a glamorous drag queen; John, a shy gamer; and Steven, a reckless flirt. AJ’s “Boy Luck Club” helps him find love, pride, and belonging—until a brutal attack tests everything they know about friendship and family.
Meticulously observed and gorgeously illustrated, Gaysians is a fierce, funny, and tender story of queer resilience and self-discovery.
Whether you’re new to the format or a lifelong fan, we’re happy to help you find something that will speak to you and then draw you in! Stop by in person or search Novelist for additional recommendations. And don’t forget that graphic novels count as part of our Read More! Reading Challenge!