Compiled lists of eleven comics titles that libraries should shelve

(#) = number of multiple recommendations

Note: Although I've placed a few titles in "all ages and young adult" and "mature" categories, many of the other categories contain comics suitable for varying ages or reading levels. The organization of this list is a work in progress, if you have any suggestions let me know (tangognat {at} tangognat . com).

All Ages and Young Adult

PS238: With Liberty & Recess for All by Aaron Williams (Henchmen Publishing)

Ursula by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba (AiT/Planet Lar)

Castle Waiting, by Linda Medley (Olio) (2)

Castle Waiting: The Lucky Road

Clan Apis (3) by Jay Hosler

The Sandwalk Adventures by Jay Hosler (Active Synapse)

Simpsons Comics

Akiko by Mark Crilley (2)

Uncle Scrooge: His Life and Times

Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Fantagraphics and Dark Horse): (3)

Usagi Yojimbo: the Grasscutter Saga

The Complete Bone by Jeff Smith (7)

Dungeon, by Lewis Trondheim and Joann Sfar (NBM) [Note: This is currently only available as individual chapters in comics, but NBM will start releasing it as color GNs soon, starting with vol. 1: Duck Heart ISBN 1-56163-401-8.]

The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, adapted by P. Craig Russell (NBM)

Herobear & the Kid by Mike Kunkel (2)

Summer of Love Debbie Drechsler (3)

Amy Unbounded by Rachel Hartman (4)

Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming (Pug House Press)

Sock Monkey by Tony Millionaire (Dark Horse)

Dog & Pony Show by Pam Bliss (Paradise Valley Comics)

The Courageous Princess, Books 1-3, by Rod Espinoza

Finder: Talisman, by Carla Speed McNeil (Lightspeed Press) (2)

Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson

Amelia Rules

Adventures of Super Diaper Baby

Leave it to Chance by James Robinson (2)

Jetcat Clubhouse

Pinky and Stinky by James Kochalka

Starry Night by Michele Lemieux. (Kids Can Press)

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Anthologies

The Monkeysuit Anthologies from Monkeysuit Press

The Smithsonian Book of Newspaper Comics (2)

The Smithsonian Book of Comic Books (2)

The Mad Archives, Volume One (DC)

Read Yourself Raw (Pantheon) Art Spiegelman & Francoise Mouly (2)

Flight (Image) (2)

McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #13 by Chris Ware et al (McSweeney's)

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Mature Readers

The Invisibles (6) by Grant Morrison

Alan Moore

Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons (6)
V For Vendetta (3)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (ABC): (3)
From Hell (5)

Flex Mentallo by Grant Morrison

Metabarons - Jodo and Gimenez (Humanoids publishing)

Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis/Darick Robertson (Vertigo)

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Non-Fiction and Autobiography

Maus by Art Spiegelman (6)

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon) (6)

True Story, Swear to God by Tom Beland (AiT/Planetlar) (3)

Jim Ottaviani

Dignifying Science by and various (G.T. Labs) (3)
Fallout
Suspended in Language by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis (G.T. Labs) (2)

Still I Rise: A Cartoon History of African-Americans. by Roland and Taneisha Laird.

Pedro and Me (4) by Judd Winick

Scott McCloud

Understanding Comics (13)
Re-Inventing Comics (2) by (Perennial)

Buddha for Beginners by Stephen T. Asma

Jack Jackson, Los Tejanos (Fantagraphics)

Joe Sacco:

SAFE AREA GORAZDE: The War In Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995 (2)
Notes from A Defeatist (Fantagraphics)
Palestine (Fantagraphics) (2)

300 by Frank Miller (2)

David B. Epileptic 1 (L'Association)

Alec by Eddie Campbell

Abe: Wrong for All the Right Reasons by Glenn Dakin

The Fatal Bullet by Rick Geary (NBM)

American Splendor by Harvey Pekar

Imagination Rocket by Brian Clopper et al. (Behemoth Books)

The Cartoon Guide to Sex by Larry Gonick & Christine DeVault (Harper Collins)

Testament by Jim Kreuger et al. (Metron Press)

Graphic Storytelling by Will Eisner

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Superheroes

Dc Archives and Marvel Masterworks

Aquaman Archives 1
The Essential Silver Surfer
X-Men
Essential Spider-Man Vol. 1
Superman from the '30s to the '70s
Origins of Marvel Comics

Fantastic Four Legends: Unstable Molecules by James Sturm

Batman: The Killing Joke (DC)

Batman: Year One (DC)

The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told. (DC)

The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (DC): (4)

The Punisher: Welcome Back Frank (Marvel)

Ultimate Spider-Man (3)

Ultimate Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility (Marvel)

Superman For All Seasons (DC) (2)

Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross (Marvel) (5)

Planetary by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday (2)

Zot! by Scott McCloud (Kitchen Sink Press)

Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller

Inhumans - Jenkins and Lee (Marvel)

Justice League Adventures by Dan Slott and John Delaney

Ultimate Spider-man vol 1 by Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley

Daredevil:Man without fear by Miller/Romita jr.

Batman:Shadow of the Bat N.40 + 41 ANARKY: The Anarkist Manifesto by Grant/Leon/McCarthy

Batman: War on Crime by Paul Dini and Alex Ross

Stormwatch by Warren Ellis

Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar (DC)

New X-Men by Grant Morrison (2)

Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? by Brian Michael Bendis (Image)

Kingdom Come (DC)

Top Ten Book 1 (WildStorm)

Swamp Thing by Alan Moore (DC)

Fathom by Michael Turner, Bill O'Neil (Image)

Crisis on Infinite Earths (DC)

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Newspaper Comics/Political Cartoons/Comic Strips

The Complete Far Side

Krazy Kat by Patrick McDonell

"That Big-Ass Krazy Kat Hardcover" (?)

Sick Sick Sick by Jules Feiffer

Up Front by Bill Mauldin

Walt Kelly, Ten Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed Years With Pogo (Simon and Shuster) (2)

Peter Arno

Wendel All Together by Howard Cruse

Bruno (web comic) (2)

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson (Andrews McMeel Publishing)

One! Hundred! Demons! by Lynda Barry. (Sasquatch Books)

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Fantasy/Horror

Hellboy by Mike Mignola (3) (Dark Horse)

Hellboy: The Chained Coffin
Hellboy: The Conqueror Worm
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction

SANDMAN (Vertigo): (8)

Book 3: Dream Country
Book 4: Season of Mists (2)

Lucifer (Vertigo)

Strangehaven by Gary Spencer Millidge (Abiogenesis)

The Replacement God by Zander Cannon (Amaze Ink) (2)

Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics by Ted Naifeh

Promethea - Alan Moore and J H Williams III (ABC)

Goon by Eric Powell (2)

Dylan Dog Zed by Tiziano Sclavi, Bruno Brindisi

The Crow by James O'Barr (Pocket Books)

Battle Pope by Robert Kirkman/Terry Moore

Meridian by Barbara Kesel (Crossgen)

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Crime & Suspense

Whiteout by Greg Rucka & Steve Lieber (Oni)

100 Bullets - Azzarello and Risso (DC/Vertigo) (2) mature readers

Stray Bullets by David Lapham

Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko mature readers

Queen & Country by Greg Ruka

Ruse by Mark Waid (Crossgen)

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Manga

Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa (Last Gasp)

Nausicaa, by Hayao Miyazaki (Viz): (4)

Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo

Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi

Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima (4) mature readers

Princess Mermaid by Junko Mizuno mature readers

Osamu Tezuka (2)

Astro Boy (Dark Horse)
Buddha (Vertical)

Rumble Girls, by Lea Hernandez

Clockwork Angels, by Lea Hernandez

Vagabond - Takehiko Inoue (Viz) mature readers

Blade of the Immortal - Hiroaki Samura (Dark Horse) mature readers

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (Viz) all ages

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Comics of the World

Passionate Journey: A Novel in 165 Woodcuts by Frans Masereel

Les Passagers du Vent by François Bourgeon

Astérix Legionnaire by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

Blueberry by Charlier & Moebius,

Khru Baan Nok "Teacher in the Country" by Khammaan Khonkhai

Blood Sword Dynasty by Mike Baron (us) and Ma Wing Shing (hk)

Broussaille 1 by Frank/Bom

Mort Cinder by Alberto Breccia

Onkel Dagobert: Sein Leben, Seine Milliarden by Don Rosa

Approximate Continuum Comics by Lewis Trondheim

Held by Flix

Die Augen der Angst by LGX Lillian Mousli. (JOCHEN Enterprises)

Isaac the Pirate by Christophe Blain

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Art Comics and Independents

Will Eisner (4)

The Spirit Archives, Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3 (2)

A Contract with God (2)

Breakdowns by Art Spiegelman (Nostalgia)
out of print 1977: isbn 0914646141

Jimmy Corrigan: Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware (2)

Craig Thompson (5)

Blankets (2)
Good-bye, Chunky Rice (3)

The Diary of a Teenage Girl by Phoebe Gloeckner

R. Crumb

Complete Crumb Comics, Volumes 3, 4 & 15 (Fantagraphics)

Jason Lutes

Jar of Fools (Drawn and Quarterly)
Berlin: City of Stone (Drawn and Quarterly)

Cerebus by Dave Sim (2)
(no online presence. fan site at
http://www.cerebusfangirl.com/)

High Society
Church and State

Age of Bronze by Eric Shanower (Image): (3)

Madman by Mike Allred

Daniel Clowes

Eightball #22: "Ice Haven"
Like A Velvet Glove In Iron

Los Bros Hernandez (4)

Love and Rockets
Palomar (2)
Locas

Poison River by Gilbert Hernandez

The Lost Women, by Jamie Hernandez

Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel

Dylan Horrocks

Hicksville (2)
Pickle

Kabuki by David Mack (Image) (4)

Kabuki: Circle of Blood (2)

Beyond the Pale by Kim Deitch (Fantagraphics)

The Tale of One Bad Rat by Brian Talbot

Kane, by Paul Grist (Dancing Elephant and Image)
fan site: http://www.weisshahn.de/kane/

The Interman by Jeff Parker (Octopus) (2)

The Golem's Mighty Swing by James Sturm (Drawn and Quarterly)

Dumped by Andi Watson (Oni Press)

The Indelible Alison Bechdel by Alison Bechdel (Firebrand Books)

Same Difference by Derek Kirk Kim

Cages by Dave McKean

Through the Habitrails by Jeff Nicholson

Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse (DC Comics/Paradox Press) (2)

Baker Street by Guy Davis and Gary Reed (Caliber Press/I Books)

Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero, by Jen van Meter, Bryan O'Malley, Andi Watson, Chynna Clugston Major, Xtine Norrie (Oni Press)

Hate by Peter Bagge

Channel Zero - Brian Wood (AIT Planetlar) (2)

Shi: Senryaku - Billy Tucci (Crusade Comics)

Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson

Liberty Meadows WEDDING ALBUM by Frank Cho

SUMMER BLONDE by Adrian Tomine

Why I Hate Saturn (DC) by Kyle Baker

Louis Riel by Chester Brown

The Frank Book by Jim Woodring (Fantagraphics)

Dear Julia by Brian Biggs. (Top Shelf)

Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs

Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds. (Jonathan Cape)

Secret Language by Molly Barker. (City Lights)

Can of Worms by Catherine Doherty. (Fantagraphics)

A Chance of Sunshine by Jimmy Liao. (Creative Editions)

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot

Hey Buddy! by Peter Bagge

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Lists of Eleven Compiled From:

 

If I left your List of Eleven off this list, e-mail me: tangognat at tangognat.com