13 Titles to Pick Up in Our B2G1 Image, Marvel, and DC Graphic Novel Sale

Batman: White Knight, by Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth
Gotham City has a new hero: Jack Napier, the reformed Joker, who is determined to bring healing to the city he once terrorized with the help of the long-suffering Harley Quinn. This new Joker becomes a civic hero by exposing corruption in Gotham City as part of a crusade which sees him discrediting the man he sees as Gotham’s true villain: Batman. The past soon closes in on both Jack and Bruce, threatening to destroy them both. This cinematic standalone work marks the debut of DC’s Black Label imprint, which gives A-list creators the chance to offer their own takes on DC’s iconic characters.

Maestros, Vol. 1, by Steve Skroce, Dave Stewart, and Fonografiks
Once banished from an alternate realm to Earth, Orlando millennial and magician-for-hire Will is surprised to inherit a magic kingdom after his entire otherworldly family is murdered by monsters. Now next in line to be Wizard King,  Will suddenly finds he has enemies on all sides—but he also has access to a spell that gives its user god-like powers. This is punk rock fantasy with a dark sense of humor that will appeal to fans of Curse Words, with trippy, hyper-detailed, and gleefully gory art that will put a smile on your face. It’s easy to see why it garnered that Best New Series Eisner nod.

Runaways by Rainbow Rowell, Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever, by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, and Matthew Wilson
For a time, the Brian K. Vaughan-created Runaways was one of Marvel’s buzziest series. But then it wasn’t, and in the wake of the book’s cancellation, the various characters dispersed into the larger Marvel U. Novelist Rowell made it her mission to get the old gang back together, reassembling almost the entire original team over the course of Volume 1. Now that they’re a family again, they realize that they need a guardian, and are joined by Karolina’s girlfriend (and veteran hero) Julie Power. This teen hero drama welcomes new readers, and the fashion-forward art from Kris Anka (with popping colors from Eisner-winner Matt Wilson) is like candy.

Isola, Vol. 1: Barnes & Noble Exclusive, by Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl, and Msassyk
Inspired by the work of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, but nevertheless unique, Isola  is a visually stunning story about the Queen of Maar, under the influence of an evil spell that has transformed her into a tiger, and the Captain of her guard who will stop at nothing to save her, even as the only hope lies half a world away on the mythical island of Isola. The story of two equally formidable women on a quest is available as a very nice B&N Exclusive Edition that includes not just extra design pages and pre-production materials, but also a 10-page prequel story.

Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 2, by Grant Morrison, Yanick Paquette, and Nathan Fairbairn
Volume 1 chronicled Diana’s chance encounter with pilot Steve Trevor and her first journey to man’s world. The stellar creative team from that book, one of the highlights of WW’s recent comic renaissance, returns here as the American government grows suspicious of Diana’s peace-and-love message, declaring her a threat to society. Of course,  darker forces are happy to encourage the conflict. Morrison and Paquette are two of comics’ most innovative creators, and their take on the Amazing Amazon continues to impress.

Batman, Vol. 7: The Wedding, by Tom King, Mikel Janin, and Tony S. Daniel
This buzz-worthy storyline was featured in The New York Times—the paper rather shamelessly spoiling the fact that the wedding of the century didn’t exactly go off without a hitch. No matter: the romance between the Bat and the Cat is one of pop culture’s longest-running flirtations, and this volume is a milestone even amid writer Tom King and artist Mikel Janin’s already legendary run. What might have been an ending is, in fact, the beginning of a new chapter for the couple.

Batman and the Justice League, Vol. 1, by Shiori Teshirogi
In English for the first time, Shiori Teshirogi’s manga combines Japanese influences with Western-style superhero storytelling, making for a uniquely fun experience for fans of either. A young boy from Japan lost his parents in the explosion of an experimental power plant a year ago, but believes that there’s more to the story, and that they’re still alive. His visit to Gotham City in search of answers puts him at odds with powerful forces, but he’ll soon find help from some impressive heroes.

Monstress, Vol. 3 (B&N Exclusive Edition), by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
In the shadow of war, teenager Maika Halfwolf shares a psychic connection with a powerful monster. The latest chapter in the Eisner-winning epic fantasy series sees Maika forced to find allies as invasion looms. Confronting trauma and racism with a cast of powerful and nuanced women, this truly visually stunning book is one of the most acclaimed titles of recent years. And once again, B&N has an exclusive edition of the newest volume of this beloved, buzz-worthy series.

Scarlet, Book One, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
Scarlet Rue is a young woman from Portland who rebels against the corruption in the local police force. After her life is ruined, everyone expects her to back down and go away. Instead, she fights back, becoming a counter-culture figure and the spark that fires a new American revolution. Bendis and Maleev stand with the all-time great creator teams, and this book is one of their best.

Gideon Falls, Vol. 1: The Black Barn, by Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino (Artist), Dave Stewart
Two men become connected, even without meeting, by their search for a mysterious structure called “The Black Barn.” Norton is a disturbed young man searching the garbage in an unnamed city for bits and pieces of wood and nails that he believes connect to the building, while Father Fred, a similarly troubled Catholic priest, is sent to the small town of Gideon Falls, where he confronts horror among the corn fields. The disorienting tone of mystery and horror in this conspiracy thriller makes for an impressively creepy read.

Star Wars: Darth Vader—Dark Lord of the Sith, Vol. 2: Legacy’s End, by Charles Soule, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Daniele Orlandini, and David Curiel
The Darth Vader books have been among the best in Marvel’s now-extensive SW library, and that trend continues with the second volume of Soule and Camuncoli’s run, set shortly after the birth of Vader in Episode III. Heading up the newly formed Inquisitorius, the Sith Lord is charged with hunting down and eliminating the few Jedi who survived Palpatine’s purge. Opposing them is Jedi librarian Jocasta Nu, determined to preserve whatever remains of the ancient Order. But she’s not guaranteed a win: this is a tale from the dark side of the Star Wars galaxy.

You Are Deadpool, by Al Ewing, Salva Espin, and Paco Diaz
This standalone volume starring the Merc with the Mouth allows you, the reader, to create (and recreate) the story as you go along, making choices about what Wade should do, what items he should carry, etc. Because it’s Deadpool, he’s your fourth-wall breaking guide to a combat adventure in which you’re also invited to keep score and roll dice to determine paths. The book is cleverly constructed, and the cheeky, silly Deadpool humor means that things remain light and funny even when they get complicated. The gimmick shouldn’t work nearly as well as it does, but isn’t that always the case with Deadpool?

Captain America by Mark Waid: Promised Land, by Mark Waid, Leonardo Romero, Jordie Bellaire, and Adam Hughes
One of Cap’s all-time great chroniclers, Mark Waid, returns to the book, but not so much to Steve Rogers. This is the year 2314, and the original Captain’s descendent Jack is living in the type of American utopia that Steve always dreamed of. Things aren’t so great for his family, though: the super-soldier serum that’s been adapted to keep the rest of the population healthy is poison to his own son, and he wants to know why. The quest for knowledge leads him to a disturbing realization about what’s really going on in this future America.