Library Celebrates Graphic Novel Day With Authors, Book-Signings, & Superheroes

Graphic Novel Day Houston Hero Headquarters.

Fort Bend County Libraries will celebrate the art and authors of the graphic-novel literary world on Sunday, May 7, from 1:30 to 4:00 pm, at George Memorial Library in Richmond. The “Graphic Novel Day” family event will feature special guest appearances and book signings by popular graphic novelists Falynn Koch, Dave Roman, and Ru Xu.

Families are welcome to dress up as their favorite superheroes for the event. There will be opportunities for photographs with Batman and Wonder Woman, who will be visiting from Houston Hero Headquarters. In addition, each child will receive a free comic book as part of the National Free Comic Book Day celebration.

Co-sponsored by the Friends of the George Memorial Library and Bedrock City Comics, the event is a great opportunity for fans of children’s graphic novels to interact with a variety of literary creators. Books will be available for sale and signing in the Bohachevsky Gallery, on the lower level of the library, throughout the afternoon. A portion of the sales will benefit the Friends of the Library organization.

 The novelists will also make appearances in the Meeting Room of the library to talk about their individual experiences as graphic-novel creators. Hear about their love of the genre, how they began writing graphic novels, and how their characters came into being.

Falynn Koch will talk about and sign copies of her graphic novel Science Comics – Bats: Learning to Fly. An illustrator, comic-book artist, and storyteller, Koch received her Master’s degree from Savannah College of Art and Design, and is a graduate of the International Culinary Center in New York City. She is a former food-truck owner and is the writer and illustrator for two books in First Second Books’ Science Comics series.

First Second Books created the Science Comics series to introduce particular topics, such as dinosaurs, coral reefs, the solar system, volcanoes, and flying machines. Bats: Learning to Fly is Koch’s first graphic novel with First Second Books.

Dave Roman

Dave Roman will talk about and sign copies of his book Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry, published by First Second Books for ages 10 to 14. With a sprawling cast of unforgettable characters, this fun graphic novel is a high-octane, hilarious follow-up to Roman’s quirky Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity.

 Roman worked as a comics editor for the groundbreaking Nickelodeon Magazine from 1998 to 2009, and is the editor of First Second’s Science Comics series. He also co-authored two New York Times bestselling graphic novels, X-Men: Misfits and The Last Airbender: Zuko’s Story.

 

“Ru Xu Author Photo”
Photographer: Casey Gardner

Ru Xu will talk about and sign copies of her debut graphic novel NewsPrints, a story about the power of friendship and finding the courage to be one’s true self. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in Sequential Art, Ru Xu is the creator of the popular webcomic Saint for Rent. NewsPrints is published by Scholastic for children from 8 to 12 years of age.

 Those attending this event will also be treated to a display of artwork created by local youth who participate in the library’s bi-monthly Creative Connections program for grades 4 through 8. This exhibit will be available for viewing in the library’s Bohachevsky Gallery.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call George Memorial Library at 281-342-4455 or the library system’s Public Information Office at 281-633-4734.

 George Memorial Library is located at 1001 Golfview in Richmond.