Drawn and Quarterly

My graphic novel recommendation is actually a publisher - the outstanding Canadian publisher 'Drawn and Quarterly' - as I have tended to educate myself by learning the catalogues of the best publishers.

Firstly, they publish their own original books, notably by the group of Seth (my personal favourite of their books is his 'It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken'), Chester Brown and Joe Matt, and also later titles by graphic journalist Joe Sacco and uber-craftsman Chris Ware.

Also, they publish a regular magazine promoting new Comic talent, called appropriately, Drawn and Quarterly.

They also publish the best reprints of classic comics that are available. Many of you will have seen their reprints of the Moomin comics, and their reprints of the classic Manga artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi.

These all display their trademark attention to production quality, which added to the constant interest in the content of their books, makes all their items worthy of note, and desirable objets indeed.

PS. Also look out for their books by Gabrielle Bell (partner of director Michel Gondry) books, and the superb Jason Lutes.

PPS. Other interesting publishers include Fantagraphics (the real authority for 'interesting' comics) and more recently Jonathan Cape in the UK have been reprinting the best from the US, and have started commissioning some of their own.

Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood / Tony Lee / Walker Books / 9781406308877 / £9.99

His real life and true identity may have been shrouded in mystery for over 800 years, but the essence of Robin Hood has never died as subsequent generations of storytellers adapt, and add to, the few facts known.

This stunning and spellbinding graphic novel (ages 11 and upwards) mixes the innovative with the tradititonal to present a complete tale spanning Robin's life from boyhood to marriage with the feisty Maid Marian.

Peppered with both wry humour and extreme violence, against a backdrop of the mystical depths of Sherwood Forest, this is a captivating retelling with punchy dialogue and suitably dark and atmospheric images.

Astérix / Goscinny and Uderzo / Orion / £7.99

For 50 years Goscinny and Uderzo's tale of a small Gaulish village engaged in manful resistance against the expanding Roman empire has delighted children and adults alike. Published and serialized in the French children's magazine Pilote (the first appearing on October 29th 1959), the sharp, historically based humour and distinctive illustration proved and instant success with its slightly older audience.

Over the course of thirty three classic comics, Asterix, Obelix and the faithful Dogmatix trample their way through a plethora of countries, adventures and Romans fortified by a magic potion brewed by the aptly named village druid, Getafix. Exciting, fast paced, underhandedly educational and genuinely funny, there's nothing you... or your child could want to read more.

The Complete D.R & Quinch / Alan Moore et al / Rebellion / £8.99 / 9781904265481

Back in the dark days of the mid 80's I was a kid with a craving. From the first time i picked up a 2000AD comic I was hooked by the crazy stories, D.R. & Quinch being a personal favourite. The D.R. stands for diminished responsibility, in case you were wondering, and boy is it appropriate.

The two main proto-agonists are mutant college students who are out to shake up the world a little. Very much in the vein of Hunter S.Thompson and Dr.Gonzo (Oscar Zeta Acosta) in the mood for fear and loathing, only with a cosmic time travelling twist. As they spin through the ages encounters with historical figures mix with dinosaur hunts and other such oddities.

The co-creator, Alan Moore, is now known as the God of graphic novels, at that time his satire was a bit more underground. With these characters he was poking fun with a sharpened pencil, the language being a bizarre spin on L.A. valleyspeak, yet coming across as something that could only be English. Loveable, but dangerous, and most of all hilarious. Just check out the Marlon Brando read-through to see what I mean. They will even help you with your personal problems, as they have an (incredibly excruciating) agony page. Go ahead and tickle your funny bone.

Tintin: The Seven Crystal Balls/Prisoners of the Sun / Hergé / Egmont / £6.99 each / 978140520624/9781405206259

For me the world has always been divided into those that get Tintin and those who miss the point completely and of the latter I have always held the dimmest view, so let's not hear any whining about race issues/sexism or any other red herrings (because then, naturally, we'd also have to disregard 99.9% of anything written before the late 1980s etc etc).

Let's glory instead in the riot of colour, adventure and imagination that Herge has now provided generations of kids and adults and turn our attention to my two favourite romps, The Seven Crystal Balls and its sequel, Prisoners of the Sun, two stories that I have spent many a lost hour completely absorbed in from my earliest childhood (I was lucky enough to be given a complete set of Tintin by an older cousin at around the age of 8) right the way through my life and have since introduced my own kids to.

As one expects with Herge, not only is the plot unbeatable (a bunch of distinguished archeologists return from a dig in Peru only to fall prey to a mysterious sleeping sickness; Tintin legs it out to South America and the chase begins: up and down mountains, through jungle and ice fields, until he finally reeaches the last secret survivors of the Inca race), but the illustrations are all based on the most fantastically meticulous research. The Inca temples and artifacts we are shown are all based on the real thing, ditto the remains of the creepy Rapar Capac and each frame provides its own world that any child or adult can lose themselves in.

To deprive one's kids of Tintin should be a punishable offence, for in these fabulous stories are the seeds to stimulate lifelong interests in the natural world, archeology, astronomy and Lord knows what else. Hell, these should be on the national curriculum.

In a beautiful large sized format with sumptuous colour printing throughout, these are amazing value at £6.99 especially as they'll be read and reread for years.

So there we have it: pleasure aplenty and education by stealth--what's not to love?

Othello (Manga Shakespeare) / Illustr. Ryuta Osada / Selfmade Hero/ £7.99 / 9780955816956

Adapted by Richard Appignanesi, the man who gave us the ‘Introducing’ series, this title in an excellent and dynamic collection is undoubtedly useful to teachers and pupils alike, though purists will still shudder at his treatment of the original.

Sir Laurence Olivier never had the opportunity to make use of it in his performance, but it's possible the current West End portrayal by Lenny Henry was in some way influenced by manga sensibilities. And we mustn't forget that Olivier blacked up for the part. Thank heavens times have changed in that respect.

Persepolis (I & II) / Marjane Satrapi / Jonathan Cape or Vintage (smaller format) / £14.99/£7.99 / 9780224080392/9780099523994

Marjane Satrapi's moving account of her coming of age, in politically unstable Iran during the 1980s, makes not only brilliant, deeply thought-provoking reading, but also serves as an excellent introduction to the world of the Graphic Novel for those who have yet to venture into this medium.

Throughout the memoir we as readers experience the emotional upheaval the protagonist-author faces as a result of having to cope with changing regimes, different cultures (she moves to Europe as a young adult only to return home years later to a much-altered Iran) not as a spectacle but alongside her, as sympathetic witnesses to the troubles she faces as a young person. Reference to contemporary issues abound: her coming to terms with her faith and quest for her identity as a young woman in the early 1990s still resonate powerfully today.

Highly recommended to graphic-novel connoisseurs and novices alike.