Comics & Graphic Novels

Comics are a great way to read all sorts of stories, whether fiction, nonfiction, or a compelling blend of the two. Ivanka Hahnenberger, translator of more than 70 graphic novels, talks us through some of her favourites, from the history of the atomic bomb to the heartbreaking story of Olympic athlete Samia Yusuf Oman, from the 'Rumble in the Jungle' to contemporary Iran and Paris.

Graphic novels are ideally suited to fantasy worlds because they can immerse a reader completely, says author Mike Carey. He tells Five Books about his five favourite fantasy graphic novels, and their wildly fantastical worlds and characters – which range from embodied ideas to sentient beans.

The European graphic novel scene has unparalleled range. From indie science fiction to historical fiction, from France to Slovenia, there's a sheer diversity of styles, palettes, and stories on display. Fulbright-winning and Eisner-nominated translator Edward Gauvin recommends five European graphic novels that show off the continent's best writers, artists, and writer-artists.

Transforming a graphic novel into a movie might seem straightforward, but not everything that works on the page makes sense on the screen. Walt Hickey, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for illustrated reporting, recommends five outstanding comics that were turned into films—with varying degrees of fidelity, and varying degrees of success.

Graphic histories can offer complex and layered insights into the past and are underused as a medium, argue historian Eleanor Janega and illustrator Neil Emmanuel, authors of The Middle Ages: A Graphic History. Here, they recommend five graphic histories that show the power of comics not only for telling moving stories but also transmitting difficult concepts.

Even as kids become old enough to read books without pictures, reading a graphic novel is a great way to relax or get a grasp of a complex subject (like quantum physics). 11 year old Harald, an avid reader, recommends some of the best ones he's read that other kids his age might also enjoy.

Nonfiction comics are an important genre and the tales they tell address important emotional and societal issues. Literary scholar Hillary Chute picks some of the best graphic narratives.

Fed up of superhero films? Hiding your copy of Watchmen behind the Economist on the train? Comics are a serious literary form as well as being fun, says the author of a new book on Batman.

The cartoonist and illustrator says the relationship between words and pictures is an interesting one. A bad picture book would say "this is an apple", a good one "this is not a pipe"

The adventures of Tintin are some of the bestselling books of all time, translated from French into languages across the globe, and still in bookshops nearly a century since they first started being published. Their stories, their humour, their characters continue to delight. Here, Tintinologist Michael Farr explains why the Tintin books have such enduring appeal and how their creator, Hergé, came to write them.