Best Reads of 2012 (11th in a series)

Dip into FCPL’s new Adult Graphic Novel collection with a few of my favorites from the past year.  I chose all graphic novels, because busy dads barely have time for pleasure reading!  Be warned, however, that these comic books are definitely for adults.

Scalped, Vol. 1: Indian Country

FBI agent Dashiell Bad Horse returns to the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation to take down notorious casino operator Chief Red Horse.  What follows is a descent into madness and murder that threatens the one thing both men care about most: the future of the reservation.  Jason Aaron’s bleak crime drama balances gritty violence with surprisingly nuanced characters in the tradition of The Sopranos.

Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft

After their father’s murder, Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode Locke relocate to Keyhouse, the family estate in Massachusetts.  But this old house holds dark secrets for the Locke family, including a set of mysterious keys that opens more than just doors.  Joe Hill’s multi-generational horror story is a sinister delight, perfect for fans of the author’s famous father, Stephen King.

Batman, Incorporated

Batman goes corporate when Bruce Wayne turns the caped crusader into an international franchise.  Batmen and Batwomen from around the world join forces to stop the international crime syndicate known only as Leviathan, whose dastardly deeds are the final plot of a super villain succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease.  Grant Morrison’s Batman, Inc. is by far the freshest and most fascinating take on Batman since Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Ross Gericke
Information Services Supervisor