Believe it or not, Harvey Dent used to be a defender of the law. He was the District Attorney of Gotham City. However, he had a dark secret: he had an alternate personality that was violent and destructive deep within him. Harvey contained it, the best he could, but it would not last forever. After a conflict with criminals, half of Harvey's face was severely burned, leaving half of his face completely grotesque. The injury altered his psyche. His violent personality surfaced and both personalities are at war, mentally. As a result, Harvey is obsessed with duality. Order and chaos, good and evil, everything he does reflects his own wicked sense of balance. He decides what action to take with the help of his lucky double headed silver dollar coin. His coin was burnt on one side from his accident. Whenever he flips the coin, he will do whatever side the coin lands on. If it lands on the good side, his victims are spared. On the bad side, they are dead. Thus is the way of the criminal mastermind known as Two Face!
For more on Two Face, check out: Batman: Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale/Batman/Two-Face: Face to Face by James Robinson and various artists
Go completely mental over these recommendations:
The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich (e-book)- 20 years ago, a fire at a high school killed 3 students and 1 student named Carly Johnson disappeared. If it wasn't tragic enough, the fire was arson (someone caused the fire on purpose). The prime suspect is a girl named Kaitlyn. Told through journal entries, notes, and records, the story explores Kaitlyn's mind including her alternate personality: Carly Johnson.
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga (book)- Jazz would be considered a normal teenager if it wasn't for the fact that his father is the world's most infamous serial killer. Even though his father is in jail, another serial killer is haunting a small town. Jazz is on the hunt for this killer. He is determined to catch this new serial killer, not just to deliver justice, but also prove that he is nothing like his killer father.
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (book/audio CD/e-book/e-audio)- Five high school students enter detention...only four come out. Before the end of detention, the fifth student, the creator of a high school gossip app, dies. The four remaining students become suspects. Who did it and what exactly are they trying to hide that makes them willing to kill?
Bane was born in prison in the foreign land of Santa Prisca. The corrupted laws of Santa Prisca made Bane fulfill his father's life sentence in prison after his father died unexpectedly. He grew up within the walls of jail but then became a candidate for an experimental drug. The drug was a super steroid called Venom. The effects of the drug included increased strength, muscle mass, and bone density. However, the drug was so dangerous that previous test subjects died, but not Bane. Bane survived the procedure out of sheer will and concentration. He then used this new drug to escape the prison. Equipped with a tank of Venom on his back, he injects the Venom into his body to become a muscle bound monster that no one can stop. Watch out because he may break you!
For more on Bane, check out Batman Knightfall Saga by Chuck Dixon and Batman Versus Bane by Chuck Dixon
Check out this back breaking recommendations:
The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves (book/e-book/e-audio)- Tired of being bullied at school, David Espinoza dedicates his summer to working out so he can be muscular enough for the bullying to stop. Maybe even get some payback on the bullies as well. However, when he's not getting the results as fast as he wants, a fellow bodybuilders offers him steroids to help. How far is he willing to go to get the body he wants and what will it cost him?
Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks (book)- Enter the diary of a fifteen-year-old girl who fell into the world of drug abuse. Explore how far the downward spiral goes and how much you can lose with substance abuse.
Out of Reach by Carrie Arcos (book)- Join Rachel and Tyler as they travel to San Diego to find Rachel's run away and drug addicted brother, Micah, and bring him home. The only problem is that Micah doesn't want to come home. He is so deep into his addiction that he ran away from home to feed it. Rachel feels guilty because she did not tell her parents about his addiction, thinking that he had it under control. After Rachel finds an anonymous note saying that her brother is in danger, she gets Micah's best friend, Tyler, and set a course to find him.
Barry Allen had a tough childhood. His mother was mysteriously murdered by an unknown assailant and his father was wrongfully convicted for her death. Barry vowed to avenge his mother and free his father by finding the real killer. He became a forensic scientist to solve crimes and maybe solve his own mystery. However, things changed forever when he was struck by lightning during a science experiment. The result granted him the power of super speed. With these new powers, he is easily the fastest man alive and will fight crime faster than you can blink. The world would know him as The Flash!
For more on the Flash, consider these titles: Flash (series)/ Justice League (film)
For some fast pacing action, take a look at these recommendations:
Virals by Kathy Reichs (book/audio CD/e-book/e-audio)-
Tory Brennan lives off the coast of South Carolina and is a real science nerd along with her group of friends. One night, Tory and her friends try to save a dog at a medical testing facility and suddenly they get exposed to a strange virus. The virus gave the teens dog-like abilities, such as agility and heightened senses. With these new abilities, they just might have what it takes to solve a case that was never solved.
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson (book/audio CD)-
Daniel is following the same life as his parents who were Alien Hunters. Hunting aliens should be easy if you have the power to create anything you want! However, after his parents die, Daniel is ready to find their killer while protecting the planet from any aliens that intend to do harm.
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (book/audio CD/e-book)
Max, along with a bunch of other kids, escaped from a top secret laboratory after tortuous experiments. Max and her new family of escapees are "bird-people", genetically altered humans with bird wings to fly. They have been on the run from their captors for a long time. However, Max sees that there is more to this lab than making kids that fly...something big. What exactly is going on in this lab and how can she find out while running away and taking care of the other kids?
Have you ever wanted to draw and write your own comics? We all have an artist within us all. The only problem is knowing where and how to start. Luckily, the library is the best place to find and learn about any skill you want. With that being said, let's get some paper and pencils because here are some suggestions to get your comic book career started!
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee
From the creator of the iconic Marvel heroes (Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, X-Men, Doctor Strange, and so many more). Stan Lee will show you how start your skills in the ways of Marvel. While Stan Lee may have been a writer, he was always a visionary and knew how a superhero should look. If anyone can show how to create an inspiring hero, Stan is your man.
Stan Lee's Master Class by Stan Lee
This offers a more in-depth look in the work of comics by Stan Lee himself. From drawing, world-building, storytelling, manga, and digital comics, he has answers to them all. If you're ready to become a legend like him, give it a try.
The Art of Comic Book Writing: The Definitive Guide to Outlining, Scripting, and Pitching your Sequential Art Stories by Mark Kneece
More of a writer than a drawer? That's okay! That's what this book is for. This will show you the process of comic book writing and what really goes into it. Writing dialogue, creating character, story arcs, it has it all. With this your words can come to life with illustrations.
Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels by Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud is truly an expert when it comes to understanding comics...literally he's got a book titled Understanding Comics. He is a fan of comics and he has been studying them for years. He can easily guide you through the comic book world. Also, he explains it in comic book form. You will never lose sight of what he's talking about because it is all one big comic book that explains everything about comics. You can't go wrong with a comic book that teaches you on making comics.
Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner
Will Eisner is a true legend. He is considered the Father of the Graphic Novel because he was the first to turn comics into an actual book. Back in his day, it was just strips on newspapers. He has made a big name for himself since then. As a result, he gives his own thought about comics and the ideas of what makes good storytelling in comics. If anyone can lead you onto the right path, it's him.
Manga is the Japanese form of comic book art. This is a unique form of comic book literature, from its unique story development, character development, and plot devices. It shares the culture of Japan and tells stories that you might never heard of in America. Manga is made for magazines in Japan. If it gets popular enough, it can be turned into a TV show (anime) or translated into English and sent to America (manga and/or anime). Keep in mind though: manga is read from right to left, rather than left to right like how we usually read. Once you get used to that concept, you'll dive into incredibly unique stories unlike any other. Here is a list of manga that are very popular and I hope you all find them interesting. This list is in no particular order. Enjoy what you may find!
Naruto-
A boy strives to be the best ninja of his village. The only problem is that he is underachieving at the ninja academy, constantly getting into trouble, and nobody wants anything to do with him. How can he become the greatest ninja with everything stacked against him?
One Piece- There once was a pirate who was considered "King of the Pirates" named Gol D. Roger. Before he was publicly executed by the Marines, Roger said in his final words that his fortune is up for grabs for anyone who can find it. He left it all in "One Piece". Ever since then, pirates from all over the world set sail to look for One Piece. That includes one Monkey D. Luffy, a boy with strange stretchy powers. He dreams of creating his own pirate crew, finding One Piece, and become King of the Pirates! (Note: This story has been going on for many years and is still going on with nearly 100 volumes!)
Dragonball- One of the iconic mangas of all time and may have even started the manga industry itself! The story focuses on the life of a boy named Goku who is on a journey to find the Dragonballs. The Dragonballs are seven magical starred balls that, when brought together, can summon a giant dragon that will grant any wish. Can Goku make his dreams come true? He just has to fight his hardest to do so! There are other series such as Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT, and Dragonball Super.
Fairy Tail- In a world full of magic and fantasy, wizards establish guilds where they can find work in odd jobs. There is one guild that stands above all the rest: The Fairy Tail Guild. Filled with oddballs and misfits, the Fairy Tail Guild includes unique characters such as a fire magic user who was raised by a dragon, a girl who has magical keys representing the zodiac, and a blue, flying, and talking cat. Together they set out on adventures and use their magic to confront any obstacle in their way.
My Hero Academia- In a world where 80% of the world's population have super powers (or quirks as they call them), everyone in the world dreams of being a superhero. Superheroes are basically celebrities and are paid based on their publicity and popularity. One boy named Izuku Midoriya dreams of becoming a hero himself but to truly help people rather than for fame and fortune. There's only one problem: he's quirkless. Without superpowers, quirkless people are looked down upon on society and considered worthless. As a result, Izuku is constantly bullied and no one pays much attention to him. All of that changes when he meets his personal idol, the number one hero in the world, the symbol of peace, All Might. After witnessing a selfless and heroic act by quirkless Izuku, All Might is inspired to train him to be a hero. All Might then tells him the secret of his incredible power: he can pass his quirk on to another person and wants to pass it down to Izuku. To become a hero, Izuku needs to go to the top super hero high school: UA Academy. Can he make it with All Might's help?
Dr. Stone- It was a normal day for science prodigy high school student, Senku. All of that changes when a green light engulfs the entire planet and every single human being is turned into stone. Senku miraculously comes back to life after 3,700 years. With his scientific knowledge, Seku sets out to bring humanity back to its former glory and maybe find out what actually happened. It all comes down to the power of science!
Demon Slayer- Tanjiro lives in Feudal Japan. He returns home to find his family killed by demons. He and his sister survived but at a price. Tanjiro finds his sister has turned into a demon while still retaining some of her humanity. To cure his sister and avenge his family, Tanjiro becomes a demon slayer and saves those who tormented by demons.
Ouran High School Host Club- A middle class girl named Haruhi is enrolled as an honor student at a prestigious school reserved for rich kids. She accidentally stumbles upon the school's host club, a club where handsome boys entertain girl students for fun. While the boys of the club mistake Haruhi as a boy, she accidentally breaks a valuable vase and has no money to pay them back. To pay off her debt, the club recruits her as a new member. If she can get girls to request her services, the club will forgive her debt. When the members find out that Haruhi is actually a girl, romantic comedy ensues.
Attack on Titan- Humanity is endangered by the titans (large giants). When the titans breach the massive outer wall of a big city, the humans are forced to retreat to the inner walls. Unfortunately, not all humans made it. This include Eren Jaeger's mother, who was eaten by a titan. After this, he vows vengeance on the titans by joining the military with the desire to kill every titan in existence. How far is he willing to go and at what price?
Sword Art Online-
After a new virtual reality video game comes out, players log in to test it. However, they all find out that it was a trap. They are unable to leave the game unless they beat it and if they die in the game, they die in real life. Who will live and who will die?
Full Metal Alchemist- Edward and Alphonse were prodigies in alchemy (the study of transforming matter). Ever since they were kids, they dreamed of becoming professional alchemists. However, all of that changed after their mother died. Edward and Alphonse then attempt something that they shouldn't have: they attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy. Their experiment goes wrong, leaving Edward without an arm and leg and Alphonse's soul is trapped within a suit of armor. As a result, Edward and Alphonse embark on a quest to become professional alchemists in order to get their bodies back. How far are they willing to go and how much will it cost them?
Death Note- Light Yagami was a prodigal student who was truly bored with life. One day, he finds a black notebook. Inside the notebook, it says that whoever's name is written in the pages, that person will die. Light doesn't think much of it at first but when he writes the name of a criminal in the notebook, he is shocked to see that it worked! He then encounters the owner of the notebook, a shinigami (spirit of death or grim reaper) name Ryuk. With the power of this notebook, Light sets his sights on killing all criminals and becoming a god in a new criminal-free world in his image. Is he a god or is he just a ruthless killer?
Case Closed (Detective Conan) - Jimmy Kudo was a brilliant high school detective who consulted with the police in impossible cases on a daily basis. One night, he saw something that he shouldn't have. Someone hit him from behind and force-fed him an experimental poison. Jimmy was left for dead but survived. Instead, the poison changed his body into the size of a child! Under the alias Conan Edogawa, Jimmy solves numerous mysteries while trying to solve his own in hopes of changing back into a teen. (This series has been around for a long time and is still going with nearly 100 volumes!)
Assassination Classroom- It all starts with the moon. One minute it's fine. Then, BOOM! 70% of the moon completely vaporizes in a second, leaving the moon in a permanent crescent shape. The story takes place in a prestigious middle school where students are ranked based on their academic performance, from Class A being the top honor students to Class E being the underachievers, misfits, and delinquents. On the first day of school, Class E is introduced to a yellow octopus monster who claims to have destroyed the moon and threatens to do the same thing to planet Earth by the end of the school year! Until then, he's going to be their new teacher. With the help of the Department of Defense, all of the Class E students must train to become assassins and kill the teacher before he destroys the planet. The only problem is that he's unkillable with his super speed (topping off at Mach 20). How can they kill something that fast and what can this monster actually teach them?
Soul Eater- A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and a sound body. In a school founded and run by the Grim Reaper himself, students train with other students who can transform into weapons so they can claim souls that are pure evil. If they claim enough souls, they become Death Scythes, the Grim Reaper's own personal weapons. Can these students preserve peace in a world full of witches, monsters, and evil souls?
Bonus: Shaman King- This is one of my personal favorite mangas ever (the anime is also good)! This story focuses on a boy named Yoh Asakura. Yoh is a shaman, someone who interacts with spirits and the world beyond. Yoh, along with other shamans in the world, is preparing for the Shaman Tournament which happens once every 500 years. Whoever wins the tournament will be crowned Shaman King and will be blessed with the power of the Great King of Spirits to shape the world however they see fit. With the power of spirits in his hands, can Yoh become Shaman King and save the world from those of evil intent?
If you want even more manga suggestions and maybe even play a little game with it, check out the link below and see if you can guess real or fake anime!
![Batman/Two-Face: Face the Face Deluxe Edition (Batman (1940-2011)) by [James Robinson, Don Kramer, Leonard Kirk, Andy Clarke, Wayne Faucher]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ajQbyFaQL.jpg)
20 years ago, a fire at a high school killed 3 students and 1 student named Carly Johnson disappeared. If it wasn't tragic enough, the fire was arson (someone caused the fire on purpose). The prime suspect is a girl named Kaitlyn. Told through journal entries, notes, and records, the story explores Kaitlyn's mind including her alternate personality: Carly Johnson.
Jazz would be considered a normal teenager if it wasn't for the fact that his father is the world's most infamous serial killer. Even though his father is in jail, another serial killer is haunting a small town. Jazz is on the hunt for this killer. He is determined to catch this new serial killer, not just to deliver justice, but also prove that he is nothing like his killer father.
Five high school students enter detention...only four come out. Before the end of detention, the fifth student, the creator of a high school gossip app, dies. The four remaining students become suspects. Who did it and what exactly are they trying to hide that makes them willing to kill?
![Batman: Knightfall Vol. 1 by [Chuck Dixon, Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Dennis O'Neil, Various]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517CTueUHKL.jpg)
