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Paul Register recommended joining this website. You can log in with your Amazon account if you have one. There is a selection of free comics available to read on line and you can look up age ratings of titles which is really useful!
https://www.comixology.co.uk/

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Digital Comics - Comics by comiXology: Web UK

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Read over 75,000 comics and over 700 free comics available from publishers such as Marvel, DC, Image, BOOM, IDW, Top Shelf, and Oni Press on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android, Windows, browser and more.

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Paul Register, ex-school librarian aka The Bloke of Steel latest comic & graphic novel recommendations.

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HOT STUFF is where you will find my most up-to-date graphic novel recommendations for your libraries. These recommendations are designed to create an immediate buzz and excitement amongst your students. Click on the covers for more details plus the suggested age rating. This page will be frequently updated so please keep checking back.

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Useful information, booklists and links about comics and graphic novels from Book Trust, the UK reading charity.

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Our leaflet Graphic novels in the classroom: tips for Key Stage 3 teachers has useful information, ideas and our top 20 books for this age group, plus an incredible fold-out comic strip created by graphic novel artist ILYA

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Our leaflet Graphic novels in the classroom: tips for Key Stage 3 teachers has useful information, ideas and our top 20 books for this age group, plus an incredible fold-out comic strip created by graphic novel artist ILYA

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The Welcome Library has a great range of science based graphic novels. Check out their catalogue or visit the  library in Euston Road.
https://search.wellcomelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sd:(Comic%20books%20strips%20etc)?lang=eng

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Charlie Adlard's 'Walking Dead' comics are super popular in the library at Stoke Newington School.

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The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard has been appointed as the UK's new comics laureate - taking the opportunity to call time on use of the expression "graphic novel".

Adlard, who has worked on comics including 2000AD, Mars Attacks, The X-Files, Judge Dredd and X-Men, as well as being the artist behind the popular zombie series The Walking Dead, was appointed to the role at the Lakes international comic art festival in Kendal, Cumbria at the weekend. He is the UK's second comics laureate, following Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, who was appointed in 2014. The role is intended to "raise awareness of the impact comics can have in terms of increasing literacy and creativity", and can go to a comics creator, writer or artist.

One of the new laureate's key focuses will be to increase the acceptance of comics as a tool for learning. "I would like to approach it from an angle of how comics are very inclusive. From a personal point of view, my eldest is dyslexic, and the only thing he's ever read willingly has been comics. It's indicative of what comics can do, as opposed to trying to force him to read some teenage fiction," said Adlard, who takes up his new role in February.

The artist described himself as "delighted and deeply honoured" to be appointed as the comics laureate. "The power of comics to encourage learning and develop literacy shouldn't be underestimated. Comics can connect with people who may never pick up a normal book and really help encourage a love of reading. I see this as a great opportunity to bring the wonder of comics to a wider audience," he said.

Julie Tait, director of the Lakes festival, said the laureateship was "a really vital role for the comics art form ... The comics laureate isn't just a title; we already have a programme of events taking shape that will ... reach out to new audiences and raise the profile and the understanding of the importance of comics for education, inspiration and literacy," she said.

Adlard stressed: "I'd like to see comics for all ages. I don't just want the industry to be regarded as just for kids," he said. "If there's one phrase I loathe, it's the graphic novel. It is somebody sticking a label on something and saying they can't call it comics as that's for children ... it is a label saying 'this is for mature people' - giving it another title to make it for grownups. [But] comics are literally for everyone, and there should be no labelling."

Despite being best known for his images of zombies, Adlard said he described himself as a cartoonist. "I'm as much a cartoonist as [Peanuts creator Charles M] Schulz is a cartoonist. It's the same medium - that doesn't necessarily mean it's for children," he said.

Dave Gibbons said he would be supporting Adlard "from behind the scenes" in his new position. "It's been a great honour to fill the post of comics laureate for the past two years. It's been a wonderful opportunity to talk about my love of the medium, and its role in education and literacy. Most importantly, there has been an increasingly positive response from teachers and school librarians to the use of comics in schools. However, there is still work to be done," he said.

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New comics laureate Charlie Adlard declares war on 'the graphic novel'

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The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard has been appointed as the UK's new comics laureate - taking the opportunity to call time on use of the expression "graphic novel".

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List of 104 titles, recommended for those ages 12-18.

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The list of 104 titles, drawn from 145 official nominations, is presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The books, recommended for those ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens.

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Good for ideas as well as getting involved

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The Excelsior Award is the only nationwide book award for graphic novels and manga - where kids aged 11-18 decide the winner by rating each book as they read it! In 2021, twelve graphic novels/manga will be selected for the four age-appropriate shortlists and it now attracts over two hundred schools from all over the UK and Ireland! The overall goal of this scheme is to encourage reading amongst teenagers. However, its secondary target is to raise the profile of graphic novels and manga amongst school librarians and teachers. This storytelling medium has been a largely underused resource within education for many years. The Excelsior Award attempts to highlight some of the amazing books that are out there - books that fully deserve to be in our school libraries alongside regular fiction!

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The Excelsior Award is the only nationwide book award for graphic novels and manga - where kids aged 11-18 decide the winner by rating each book as they read it! In 2021, twelve graphic novels/manga will be selected for the four age-appropriate shortlists and it now attracts over two hundred schools from all over the UK and Ireland!

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The best starter graphic novels for YA readers

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The best starter graphic novels for YA readers

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A list of great starter graphic novels that might get you hooked!

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The world of graphic novels can seem like a minefield to navigate, especially if you are new to the genre. Traditionally the home of superheroes and their arch nemeses, first time readers who aren't into the superhero theme might not realise what else is out there too! This genre is home to some of illustration's finest talent, as well as writers who take storytelling to a new imaginative level. There are many fantastic YA graphic novels to discover that offer a breath of fresh air.

It can be hard to know where to begin since there are so many beautiful works out there and not all of them are aimed at teen readers. So here's a list of great starter graphic novels that might get you hooked.

The Encyclopedia of Early Earth by Isabel Greenberg

When this book first hit the shelves a few years ago, I was instantly struck by how breathtakingly beautiful it was. This was when I was first starting to become interested in the world of graphic novels and I couldn't get over how stunning each and everything page in this chunky, hardback book were.

This is the story of a boy from the North Pole who travels to the South Pole, only to meet the love of his life. However, there's a catch. They can't touch. So in a bid to save their relationship, the boy and girl travel the world in search of the answer to all their problems. This story is told through a series of folk tales that read with a natural lyricism, as if they are being read aloud around a camp fire. Prepare for some stunning mythology that you will never have read before, full of gods and demons of various shapes and sizes. All the while the central story of longing and love captivates all the way through to the end.

This is the kind of book you will want to take home and keep forever. It's timeless folklore and exquisite drawings will convert lovers of fantasy and mythology to the wonders of graphic novels.

This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki

Rose spends every summer at the beach but this summer her parents can't stop arguing. She looks for a distraction but finds trouble instead. This is a coming of age story with a twist and older YA readers will find lots to admire here. It's a relatable story full of heart-break and shocking revelations but it is ultimately about growing up and dealing with change. We are drawn into the heart of Rose's life and her struggles which unfold through a serious of sensitively drawn illustrations. There is mature content here only suitable for older readers. Scrumptiously painted, this graphic novel will make a gorgeous addition to any YA reader's bookshelf.

One of the most tumultuous periods in modern British history is given the graphic novel treatment. Following the story of one woman who joins the campaign for women's equality, Sally Heathcote and her collaborators take the reader inside a pivotal moments in democracy, introducing us to key historical figures along the way. Although this book can be a little dry at times, the writer has done a great job at combining historical fact with an engaging story line. This is definitely one for older teens. There's violence and hardship aplenty, but translating the fight for equal rights into graphic novel form is a joy to see and a great way to learn a bit more about the time, as seen through the eyes of the characters who lived it.

The Gigantic Beard that was Evil by Stephen Collins

This is a story about an ordinary man, who leads an ordinary life, until one day he grows a gigantic, town-swallowing beard. Sounds simple (and childish enough) but this wonderfully weird story is full of enough surreal twists and turns to keep you entertained. Stephen Collins has meticulously penned his illustrations in this modern fable about identity and what it means to fit in. In some ways, it reads more like a picture book for adults in that there are lots of lovely double page illustrations that are different to the traditional graphic novel layout. I read this in one sitting and think it's a great introduction to graphic novels for those just looking to get a taster of what this storytelling medium can offer.

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Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

There is a whole diverse world of genres waiting to be explored in the graphic novel world, to show it's not all just action adventure and superheroes and Emily Carroll's Through the Woods is a perfect example. Inspired by Penny Dreadfulls and a Victorian fascination with all things gothic, this is a collection of five thrillingly scary stories that will keep you up at night. Fans of YA horror fiction will appreciate the kooky illustrations and how Carroll plays with typical horror plot elements. Not only is this a great read, the illustrations really build the suspense, while making you marvel at her drawing skills. See how Emily Carroll's Through the Woods inspired one children's books teen site member to make her own graphic novel in our fan art gallery.

The Graveyard Book, graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and P Craig Russell

Eerie yet loveable, The Graveyard Book has long been the beloved book of choice for YA readers internationally. So it was a tall order for P Craig Russell to take such a highly imagined and finely crafted fantasy story by award-winning Gaiman and turn it into a graphic novel. But he pulls it off.

The story follows orphan Nobody Owens, or Bod, who is raised in graveyard by a pair of ghosts and a vampire. Meanwhile, his parent's killer seeks to find him and finish the job. The sheer scale and scope of Neil Gaiman's multi-world story is captured pain-staking detail by Russell's illustrations. We see life with Bod's graveyard pals and the series of other worlds his visits throughout brought to realisation on the page; a fantastic testament to Gaiman's imaginative power and sheer talent for storytelling. Seeing the characters we all loved and imagined realised in ink is a real treat.

If you loved the book in it's original form, then this graphic novel version is one not to be missed. And if you are new to Gaiman's stories then this is the perfect introduction to one of the most distinctively unique and quirky writers writing for YA there is. And if that isn't enough, there is also a graphic novel adaption of Coraline, also penned by P Craig Russell for the die-hard Gaiman fans.

Persopolis by Marjane Satrapi

This wonderful graphic novel tells the story of Marjane Satrapi's life in Tehran from the ages of six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. It's gorgeously drawn and immensely moving story paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Not recommended to anyone under 12 as it is quite an upsetting read with strong themes, even though it tells the story through a child's eyes. You can read a review of Persopolis by site member SaiWish0221 which gives you some more info. But do read it! There is also a Persopolis 2 which tells the story of the next eight years of Marjane's life.

Tell us your favourite graphic novels and why they're so good so we can add them to this blog. Tweet us at @GdnChildrensBks or email us at childrens.books@theguardian.com and we'll add your ideas.

Tabitha Panter (@TabithaPanter)
.@GdnChildrensBks Ghost World by Daniel Clowes, classic that navigates that awkward gap between teen and adult
April 25, 2016

Mary, via email
I highly recommend Jeremy Bastian's The Cursed Pirate Girl. I read the first book and I anxiously await the second. The illustrations are very, very cool. Also, for anyone who is curious about Wonder Woman but doesn't know exactly where to start, I would highly recommend The Legend of Wonder Woman, which DC just released. It has really amazing origin stories, strong female characters across the board. Great for young kids too.

Emily Drabble (@EmilyDrabs)
I recommend @CeceBellBooks graphic novel El Deafo for all ages https://t.co/wPare9IRmc - it's one of my fav books of 2015 @GdnChildrensBks
April 25, 2016

thebookseekers (@thebookseekers)
@GdnChildrensBks @neilhimself @Marji_Satrapi @emilyterrible Blacksad by Canales & Guarnido. The artwork is awesome. https://t.co/JxXmHlQLD0
April 25, 2016

David Robinson (@MrRobinsonHK)
Boxers and Saints & American Born Chinese by @geneluenyang + Anya's Ghost by Vera Grosgal are good @GdnChildrensBks
April 25, 2016

BooKa Uhu (@BooKaUhu)
@GdnChildrensBks Delilah Dirk by @TangoCharlie @01FirstSecond I LOVE this swashbuckling series, especially cautious Mr Selim and his tea :)
April 25, 2016

Niki Marion (@cle0niki)
@GdnChildrensBks NIMONA!!! By the great @Gingerhazing also Lumberjanes, and Monstress (when it comes out in a collected volume)
April 25, 2016

Hannah Rolls (@HannahTheEditor)
@GdnChildrensBks @neilhimself @Marji_Satrapi @emilyterrible I love everything by @hopelarson. They're all ace (esp. Salamander Dream)
April 25, 2016

Louie Stowell (@Louiestowell)
@GdnChildrensBks For younger teens Mo Bot High by @neillcameron is super cute (probably upper middle grade?)
April 25, 2016

Louie Stowell (@Louiestowell)
@GdnChildrensBks I'd recommend Maus as long as the reader isn't too young/sensitive. Beautiful and moving.
April 25, 2016

Glenthorne Library (@glenthornelrc)
.@GdnChildrensBks I recommend Broxo by Zack Giallongo
Barbarians vs. Zombies with magic through in for good measure.
April 25, 2016

Louie Stowell (@Louiestowell)
@GdnChildrensBks oh, another one that's also quite harrowing: Lighter than my Shadow by Katie Green (anorexia memoir). It's A1 though.
April 25, 2016

Pelle Sten (@pelles)
@GdnChildrensBks Lumberjanes is great! Wish I had this when I was at that age. https://t.co/s39ksQZGzh @neilhimself
April 25, 2016

Louie Stowell (@Louiestowell)
@GdnChildrensBks And on the manga side of things, Pluto and Death Note.
April 25, 2016

phil earle (@philearle)
@EmilyDrabs I wish I'd had Craig Thompson's BLANKETS to read as a teen, to help navigate first love a little more successfully...
April 25, 2016

LibWithAttitude (@LibWithAttitude)
@GdnChildrensBks Great recs I would add @malorieblackman Noughts & Crosses
April 26, 2016

Jen Coleman (@Jeniwren87)
I'd go the Manga route! Or Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury/@GrisGrimly #YA #kidlit https://t.co/ETNzNZmRtQ
April 25, 2016

Katharine Evans (@cleverevans)
@GdnChildrensBks @neilhimself what about BONE? It definitely deserves mentioning.
April 25, 2016

LibWithAttitude (@LibWithAttitude)
@Louiestowell @GdnChildrensBks Tyranny , Lesley Fairfield is also on the subject of anorexia, harrowing yes but a good one for teens
April 26, 2016

ComicsOrDeath! (@ComicsOrDeath)
@GdnChildrensBks Papergirls by @HeyBKV and @cliffchiang - it's like a classic 80s kids film (Goonies, BMX Bandits, etc)
April 26, 2016

Judge Mookie (@Tim_Pilcher)
@GuardianBooks @GdnChildrensBks There are LOTS more #graphicnovel publishers out there! Like @HumanoidsUK @KnockaboutComix @OfficialPanini
April 26, 2016

Judge Mookie (@Tim_Pilcher)
@GuardianBooks @GdnChildrensBks Look out 4 Brussli, great YA #graphicnovel coming in August (£17.99) by @HumanoidsUK pic.twitter.com/KCVH08sAfQ
April 26, 2016

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children's fantasy books (children's and teens)

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comics and graphic novels (children and teens)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The best starter graphic novels for YA readers

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The world of graphic novels can seem like a minefield to navigate, especially if you are new to the genre. Traditionally the home of superheroes and their arch nemeses, first time readers who aren't into the superhero theme might not realise what else is out there too!