8 Comic Characters You Need to Know for Arab American Heritage Month
Need some comic picks for Arab American Heritage Month? We’ve got you covered.
10 Sensational Mech Books, 45 Years After Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam—one of the greatest mech anime of all time—debuted 45 years ago, and we’re celebrating with plenty of giant robot comics and manga. You just need your library card!
10 Comics You Need to Read if You Love X-Men ‘97
The X-Men of the ‘90s are back and better than ever. Check out comics that inspired both X-Men ‘97 and its beloved predecessor from 30 years ago.
Today in Hip Hop History: 40 Years of Run-DMC
Four decades ago, one of the most innovative, influential groups in hip hop made their debut. Since then, music and culture have never been the same.
It’s Act Happy Day! Here Are 5 Books About Happiness (and 10 about Toxic Positivity)
Whether you’re in need of some positivity or the very thought makes you recoil in horror, the Library has essential reading for you.
15 Comic Artists to Check Out for Women’s History Month
We wouldn’t have comics without talented women. These 15 artists are among the best.
Top 10 Black Comic Book Writers You Need to Read Now
Celebrate the achievements of exceptional Black writers this Black History month with these 10 great comics.
Who Needs Romance? Here are 10 Horror Films for Valentine’s Day
These 10 horror movies show that there’s more to Valentine’s Day than hearts and Cupid.
10 Great Green Day Media to Celebrate 30 Years of Dookie
Three decades ago, Green Day released one of the biggest punk albums to ever break into the mainstream. Check out our 10 favorite albums, books, and movies from and about these East Bay pop punk icons.
Spark Your Imagination on National LEGO Day
National LEGO Day is the perfect time to put your imagination to work, and the following books (along with one exceptional film) can help put you in the right mindset.
10 Big Marvel Crossovers, 40 years after Secret Wars
40 years ago, Marvel brought together their biggest heroes into one book and changed comics forever. In honor of Secret Wars, check out these 10 exceptional superhero crossovers.
10 Important LGBTQIA+ Superheroes, 45 Years After the First Appearance of Northstar
45 years ago today, Northstar, the first major openly gay superhero, debuted in the pages of Uncanny X-Men. Celebrate this landmark moment with some of the greatest LGBTQIA+ characters from Marvel, DC, and more.
Celebrating 10 Years of Ms. Marvel with These 10 Great Comics
Kamala Khan, the star of Ms. Marvel and The Marvels, is celebrating 10 years of bringing fun, relatability, and diversity to Marvel Comics. Check out these 10 books, showing plenty of room for more amazing superheroines!
Today in Pop Culture History: Honoring 45 years of Superman: The Movie
The influence Christopher Reeve’s performance in 1978’s Superman: The Movie is still felt today. Take a moment to reflect on its legacy with these 10 Kryptonian-approved books, films, and soundtracks.
10 Remarkable Punk Bands on the 50th Anniversary of CBGB
The famed punk rock venue CBGB opened 50 years ago this week. Celebrate its legacy with these 10 bands that shaped its iconic early years.
6 Coolest Holiday Songs for People Who Hate Holiday Songs
If you're tired of listening to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," here are some deep cut alternatives.
Top 10 Essential Alan Moore Comics in Honor of His 70th Birthday
Celebrate one of the most influential comic book writers of all time with some of his classic stories (and maybe a few deep cuts).
Top 10 Must Read Manga (Including Astro Boy) on Osamu Tezuka’s 95th Birthday
Osamu Tezuka is one of the masters of manga. Celebrate his birthday this month by reading some of his greatest works.
Top 10 Terrifying Horror Manga to Go with Your Spooky Season Vibe
Get ready for Halloween with these eerie manga.
10 Classic Horror Movies to Stream for Free on Kanopy this Halloween
Travel back to simpler times with these horror mainstays and cult classics that have helped shape the spooky films we have today.
Celebrate National Comic Book Day 2023 with These 12 Must Read Books
It’s National Comic Book Day, so get out your manga, webcomics, graphic novels, zines, or superhero books!
10 Best Comic Books Featuring the Dark Knight for Batman Day 2023
Batman has been striking fear into the hearts of criminals for almost a century—even without any superpowers. Celebrate the Caped Crusader’s comic book legacy with some of our favorite stories.
Excited for Blue Beetle? Check Out These 6 Awesome Comics
Blue Beetle isn’t exactly a household name, so we got you covered with all the Blue Beetle comics you should read.
10 Winning Comic Books on Hoopla from the 2023 Eisner Awards
The “Academy Awards of Comics” has named its winners—and they can be read on hoopla with your Library card!
10 Main Event Worthy Books and Movies for Wrestling Marks This SummerSlam
SummerSlam, the WWE’s second biggest pay-per-view event of the year, is (Sa) Aug. 5th. You don’t even have to use any elbow drops or powerbombs to check out these insightful books and movies about pro wrestling—just your Library card.
Tired of Marvel and DC? Try these 10 Under the Radar Superhero Movies
Do you have Marvel fatigue? Try these heroes instead.
Top 10 Radical Must Read TMNT Comics to Prepare for Mutant Mayhem
These comics will make you want to yell, “Cowabunga!
This World Listening Day, Stop Talking and Start Listening
Less "silence is golden" and more "be curious, not judgmental."
12 Books to Read While You’re Not Playing Video Games
You won’t need any cheat codes to check out these insightful books about video games—just your Library card!
Farewell, Comics Legend John Romita
Celebrate the legacy of one of comics’ most beloved artists by exploring some of his most enduring works.
Check Out These 15 Great Comics Before Watching Secret Invasion
Your friends and neighbors might be undercover Skrull agents, but you can definitely trust these 15 excellent Marvel comics.
Girls to the Front: 15 Female-Fronted Rock Bands for Your Summer Playlist
Jam out with some of the best women in rock.
Transform and Roll Out with These Transformers Comics
Rise of the Beasts is in theaters, but for the best Transformers stories, you need to check out the comics.
Round 1…FIGHT! Or Rather, Read and Watch These Street Fighter Books and Movies
With the sixth installment of Street Fighter upon us, the library has plenty of media to get you ready to fight in the streets...virtually, of course.
10 Best Flash Comics
Get ready for the Flash’s first solo movie with these 10 great comics featuring the Scarlet Speedster.
Blink-182 is Back! Check Out These Pop Punk Classics Before Seeing Them on Tour
So, you thought pop punk died out in the early 2000s? Think again.
10 Best Spider-Man Comics
Prepare to once again enter the Spider-Verse with some of our favorite Spidey comics!
15 Great Underground Hip Hop Albums
Whether you’ve avoided hip hop in the past or are simply looking for something fresh for your playlist, these artists’ approach to production, rhythm, flow, and lyrics are sure to send you down the endless rabbit hole of independent and underground hip hop.
We’re Halfway to Halloween, So Check Out These 10 Spooky Movies
Spooky season is a still six months away, but why not plan ahead with these stellar scary movies?
10 Great Jeff Lemire Comics to Prepare for Sweet Tooth Season Two
Get ready for Gus’ return to the small screen with these 10 great comics from original series creator, Jeff Lemire.
Get Ready for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with These 10 Stellar Comics
Before you see Star-Lord, Groot, Gamora, Drax, and friends return to the big screen, make sure to check out some of their greatest comic book adventures.
What Are You Drawing for Draw a Bird Day? These 10 Books Will Help You…Draw a Bird
It’s officially Draw a Bird Day. Celebrate by busting out a pencil and paper and doodling your favorite bird—artistic skill is optional!
10 Video Game Inspired Comics to Prepare for The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Before you see The Super Mario Bros. Movie, check out these other video game adaptations.
Prepare for Fury of the Gods with These 6 Shazam! Comics
The follow-up to 2019’s underrated film, Shazam! is upon us. Get in the spirit with these exceptional comics featuring Captain Marvel himself.
It’s Master Comics Creator Will Eisner’s Birthday, Here’s What You Need to Read
Celebrate one of comics’ most iconic storytellers by checking out some of his most enduring books.
There are 1,008 Species of Pokémon – Celebrate Them All on National Pokémon Day
Catch ‘em all on National Pokémon Day with these great books.
Check Out These 5 Superhero Comic Creators for Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month with 5 of superhero comics’ greatest artists and writers.
10 Ant-Man and the Wasp Comics to Prepare for Quantumania
Before you see Quantumania, be sure to check out these 10 stellar adventures from Marvel’s most famous size-variable heroes, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
The Mandalorian Returns!
Celebrate the return of Mando and company with these great books from a galaxy far, far away.
10 Indie and Arthouse Films to Celebrate Sundance Season
Get ready for the Sundance Film Festival with these 10 great Indie and Arthouse movies!
8 More Punk Rock Hidden Gems on Freegal
Check out 8 more albums, EPs, and singles from the world of punk, emo, riot grrl, and more—all free to stream and download on Freegal.
5 Non-Traditional Christmas Movies
Get into the holiday spirit with these not-so-typical Christmas films.
8 Best Doom Patrol Comics
Before you watch the fourth season of the TV show, make sure to check out some of our favorite Doom Patrol comics!
10 Great Comics to Read Before Seeing Wakanda Forever
Prepare for Wakanda Forever with these great Marvel comics.
8 Punk Rock Hidden Gems on Freegal
Check out these underappreciated albums and EPs from the world of punk, emo, hardcore, and more—all free to stream and download on Freegal!
10 Great Weird Al albums
Prepare for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story with these hilarious albums.
15 Spookiest, Must Read Horror Comics to Read This Halloween
Why should movies be the only reason you sleep with the lights on this Halloween? Check out these eerie comics and graphic novels.
10 Best Black Adam and Shazam Comics
Excited for the upcoming Black Adam movie? Check out these great comics featuring him and his arch-nemesis, Shazam!
15 B-Movie Horror Films for Spooky Season
Wander off the beaten path this Halloween with these 15 B-Movie hidden gems.
Banned Books Week: Comics and Graphic Novels
Celebrate Banned Books Week by checking out these 5 controversial (but fantastic) comics and graphic novels.
So You’ve Discovered Metallica: 10 Metal Albums from the 1980s to Listen to Next
Has Stranger Things brought out your inner metalhead? Check out these classic albums from the ‘80s.
10 Great Comics from Jack “The King” Kirby
Celebrate iconic comic artist Jack Kirby’s birthday with these 10 exceptional superhero books.
10 Best Thor Comics to Read After Watching Thor: Love and Thunder
Celebrate Thor: Love and Thunder by checking out our favorite comics featuring the God of Thunder.
15 Comics for Fans of Sandman
Excited for the new Sandman show? Make sure to check out these comics.
9 Best Tim Sale Comics
Celebrate the late Tim Sale with some of his greatest comics.
15 Films from the 1980s to Watch if You Love Stranger Things
Celebrate the return of Stranger Things with 15 classics from the ‘80s.
10 Best Doctor Strange Comics
Excited for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Check out some of the Sorcerer Supreme’s greatest comic book adventures.
5 Comics To Read If You Like Moon Knight
Excited for Moon Knight on Disney+? The library has plenty of comics for fans of the so-called Fist of Khonshu.
Horror Comics for Spooky Season
Get in the Halloween mood with these eerie, gruesome, and macabre comic book tales.
Comics and Graphic Novels for Latinx Cultural Heritage Month
Check out these comics by some of our favorite Latinx creators!
Get Ready for Black Widow with Marvel’s Greatest Superheroines
Before seeing Black Widow, get your superheroine fix with these Marvel adventures
Comics and Graphic Novels for Mental Health Awareness Month
Observe Mental Health Awareness Month with these comics from your local Toledo Library.
Need some comic books and graphic novels to read during Black History Month? The library has you covered.
During Black History Months, we are reminded of the countless ways African Americans have contributed to visual arts, music, film, and fashion, among other creative endeavors. Like jazz, comic books are a truly American artform whose influence showcases the talent of countless Black creators. While comics have had a frustrating history with diversity and representation, the number of Black authors, illustrators, inkers, letterers, and colorists who have contributed to the medium is extensive and ever-increasing. By no means an exhaustive list, hopefully these books provide a starting point for those hoping to delve into the diverse world of comics created by African Americans.
