So, it’s spring break and you’re haunted by the pile of required reading that is waiting for you next week. You spend hours watching bad television just to relax your poor, tired brain. But then you start to feel a little guilty—you love reading, after all. It’s just that reading for college classes can often be a bit dense. (Dense is the smart word for “boring.”) Don’t fret! There are these things called graphic novels. They’re endless fun to read, often while telling important and serious stories.
Here are five must-read graphic novels to get you started. Feel free to add any ones you think I missed in the comments!
- Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
This graphic novel, an autobiographical coming-of-age story set in revolutionary Iran, was recently banned by Chicago public schools. Hopefully that gives you incentive enough to read it. (Banned books are usually the best ones.)
2. The Scott Pilgrim series by Bryan Lee O’Malley
A must-read for hip, hapless twentysomethings who like to daydream about being in garage bands and beating up their girlfriend’s exes.
3. Blankets by Craig Thompson
For those who veer more towards the sentimental, Blankets is a beautifully illustrated story of first love.
4. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
A memoir/coming of age/coming out story. Mostly, though, this is the incredibly captivating story of Bechdel and her relationship to her father. A must-read for anyone interested in LGBT lit.
5. Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
Another one for the post-adolescents. This is the story of two best friends on the cusp of adulthood in an alienating town.