Posted Thursday August 6th 2009
by Nikesh Shukla

Booktrusters, I have a confession. You ready?

I'm Nikesh Shukla and I still read comics.

Every Thursday, I head to Avalon Comics in Clapham Junction and I buy comics: anything Spider-man, Daredevil, Batman or X-Men. I love it.

There, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Phew, the air feels fresher, the light is brighter. But seriously, even if you can't bear the intense obsessive comic-ment of a Thursday trip to your local comic shop, there's always graphic novels.

As worthy as highbrow literature, as action-packed as a Sly Stallone film and sometimes as politically relevant as the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the graphic novel is a medium that explores everything from the expanse of the human mind and unknown universe to the minutiae of everyday life. We've provided you with a diverse list of graphic novels to start with, some now films you may have seen (Ghost World, The Watchmen, Persepolis), some funny, some action-packed – all perfect for your introduction into the world of graphic fiction. Perfect if you're just getting back into reading, or want something different, the marriage of pictures and words is a powerful medium. Certainly, our children's laureate, Anthony Browne, would agree. Graphic novels aren't just for children; certainly this list deals with some adult content. Get reading and feel free to let us know how you get on, and if you like the ones mentioned here, be sure to leave a comment asking for more recommendations once you know what type of graphic novel you like.

Click here to see our graphic novels book list

Image from Ghost World © Daniel Clowes