Bobby Joseph's Laureate Library List of Graphic Novels

by Cassie Ash, Quentin Blake Centre team

13 August 2024

Last year, author and graphic novelist Bobby Joseph was announced as the UK Comics Laureate. Championing the art form at every opportunity, Bobby has carefully selected 30 graphic novel and manga titles, releasing the very first Laureate Library List of Graphic Novels.

Two people stand and chat, framed illustrations are on the wall in the background. — Lindsey Glen and Bobby Joseph at Quentin Blake Centre Illustration Studio © Nifty50Digital

The Laureate Library List of Graphic Novels is supported by Arts Council England and will be distributed to libraries across the UK. The plan is to update this list annually, ensuring it evolves. Below, you can explore this curated list, featuring works by a diverse range of comic creators.

Bobby says, “The main reason why I created the Laureate list is to give UK comic creators a spotlight in libraries throughout the whole of the country.”

Front cover of Mongrel by Sayra Begum with an illustration of two halves of two heads.

Front cover of a book with an illustration of a person looking back with shadow or black shape behind them and the wording, 'Lucy Sullivan' and 'Barking'.

“The choices I made with regards to titles, were made due to the diverse nature of the UK Comics readership,” he explains. “Go into Forbidden Planet or Gosh Comics, or any bookshop. Who’s buying comics/graphic novels/manga? Everyone! That’s who! So, therefore, representation was important to me.”

Front cover of Forty Lies by David Shenton, with an illustration of a person playing with a paper fortune teller.

The front cover of Sennen by Shanti Rai, with an illustration of a person standing in a large hand, against a starry sky.

Graphic novels by UK comic creators

Lavender Clouds – Comics about Neurodivergence and Mental Health by Bex Ollerton
Mongrel by Sayra Begum
Barking by Lucy Sullivan
Forty Lies: A Work of IPSEDIXITISM by David Shenton
Sennen by Shanti Rai
What We Don’t Talk About by Charlot Kristensen
Shame Pudding by Danny Noble
The Roles We Play by Sabba Khan
Catalyst by Various Artists
Lip Hook: A Tale of Rural Unease by David Hine and Mark Stafford

Front cover of book, DANDADAN by Yukinobu Tatsu, with an illustration of two figures.

Children's graphic novels

Saving Sunshine by Saadia Farugi and Shazleen Khan
Donny Digits: Heroes! Heists! Hot Dogs! by Woodrow Phoenix
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea by Dav Pikey
Bumble and Snug and the Shy Ghost by Mark Bradley
Corpse Talk: Season 1 by Adam and Lisa Murphy
Mexikid by Pedro Martin
Drawn to Change The World Graphic Novel Collection by Emma Reynolds
Akissi: Tales of Mischief by Marguerite Abouet and Mathieu Sapin
Bunny vs Monkey: Bunny Bonanza! by Jamie Smart
Juniper Mae: Knight of Tykotech City by Sarah Soh

Front cover of Mexikid by Pedro Martin with an illustration of a child, they are smiling and are surrounded by lots of animals, plants and objects including a coach.

Front cover of Dav Pilkey's Dog Man Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea with an illustration of two characters dressed as superheroes on a boat on the sea.

Manga

One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Volume 1 by Eiichiro Oda
Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1 by Gege Akutami
My Hero Academia, Vol 1 by Kohei Horikoshi
Dandadan, Vol. 1 by Yukinobu Tatsu
Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1 by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Spy x Family, Volume 1 by Tatsuya Endo
Death Note Black Edition, Vol. 1 – Death Note Black Edition 1 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
One Punch Man Vol 1 by Yusake Murate
Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Hajime Isayama
Naruto (3-in-1 Edition) by Masaschi Kishimoto

Front cover of SPY x FAMILY by Tatsuya Endo with an illustration of a smartly dressed person sitting on a design chair reading a newspaper. They are wearing gloves.

Front cover of book, Naruto (3-in-1 Edition) by Masaschi Kishimoto, with an illustration of a person emerging from water or smoke.

Find out more information about Bobby Joseph's Laureate Library List of Graphic Novels