These 4 Graphic Novel Recommendations Will Shock and Awe Your Blown Mind. #3 Will Leave You Weeping Blood and Speaking in Tongues.

4 Graphic Novels to Get Started With

by Corey Schroeder, owner and Enthusiast

There an absolute metric TON of comics and graphic novels in the world today! From Marvel to DC to Image and so many more publishers, mainstream and independent, it can be insurmountably difficult to know exactly where to begin and what to read first. That is where Two Cats Comic Book Store shines, but it can be handy to come to the table with some knowledge of what you're looking for, and to that end: 4 Graphic Novels to start off a lifetime of comics reading!

Civil War Trade Paperback

Not only is this the next, most anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe offering, but it’s the gateway into exactly what’s been going on with the Marvel U comics for the last decade. It can almost all be traced back to this one, simple trade paperback and, fortunately, Mark Millar and Steve McNiven created a book worthy of all that hype. After a major disaster leaves hundreds dead, calls for superhero registration sweep the nation and the heroes themselves are staunchly divided into pro and anti-registration camps, with surprising heroes on both sides. It’s not only required reading if you want to get into the current movie climate, it’s one helluva great read on its own.

More recommendations after the jump!

Two Cats Comic Book Store's Top 5 Graphic Novels For Kids

Top 5 Graphic Novels for Kids!

by Corey Schroeder, Owner and Enthusiast

It can be tricky to know whether or not a graphic novel is appropriate for kids, particularly when so many people still think ALL comics are for kids. For those who know that's definitively NOT the case, comics can be something of a minefield. But never fret! Two Cats Comic Book Store is here with a definitive list of five graphic novels that are absolutely fantastic for any kid of any age.

Hilo Volume 01 Hard Cover

Judd Winick is known for inverting the tropes of children’s books to deliver some decidedly adult themes. One need look no further than the delightfully vulgar BARRY WEEN: BOY GENIUS to see evidence of that. But Hilo is a book without any of that: there is no irony nor satire nor hidden “dark” meanings, this is a book that is decidedly delightful. The visuals are bright and adorable and the writing is solid enough to make it a truly ALL ages book.

Lumberjanes Volume 01 Paperback

Five awesome teen girls camping in the woods having themselves some awesome adventures! Lumberjanes is equal parts fairytale, bonding and wall-to-wall action. Veteran artist Noelle Stevenson brings her one-of-a-kind style to relative newcomer Grace Ellis’ tale of young women forging their path through the many dangers of the woods.

Tiny Titans: Growing Up Tiny Paperback

I could have chosen any collection of TINY TITANS to put in this entry, but I chose my personal favorite. This series represents the perfect culmination of a series that is for kids but never talks down to them. The book is clever and witty while having actual activities between chapters for kids to do, and while they’re simple, they’re also thematic and extremely fun. This is an all encompassing gift for the younger set.

Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens Paperback

The strangest cartoon on TV has taken many forms in comics, all of them fantastic, but there’s something truly special about this tale of Marceline (the Vampire Queen) forming the coolest, riotous band she possibly can and taking them on the road. To Adventure. Time. Marceline, Princess Bubblegum and BeeMO come together to rock the land of Ooo! and have their very own Adventure...Time.

Fortunately, The Milk Hard Cover

Neil Gaiman might be known for his darkly whimsical adult prose, but his comic work as well as his children's books shouldn’t be underestimated and while THE GRAVEYARD BOOK might be a better overall story, I think this is a better full-on kids' book. Told in rambling, but coherent prose with amazing artwork by Scottie Young, this story of why a father was so long in returning from the grocery store stacks improbability on top of improbability, stretching the very bounds of credibility. Fortunately, the milk was there.

Free Comic Book Day Recap!

Remember a few months ago when Free Comic Book Day graced all your faces with smiles and awesome free comics? Yea, that was pretty great. And although it happened SO LONG AGO (we know it feels like an eternity when it comes to the next we'll get free stuff) we just wanted to say thank you to all of you who came by to check out free comics on May 4th this year! Hopefully you were able to get your hands on some comic book goodness, and maybe--MAYBE--even find something new to reignite that special spark that only a comic book can provide.

Check out this crazy awesome time-lapse, courtesy of Tim "Jersey" Clark, to see the magic unfold.

New Twelfth Doctor Who Volume 1 Trailer Released!

By Liz Baker

Calling all Whovians! The wibbley wobbley time has come--the new Dr. Who comic trailer for the Twelfth Doctor's Terrorformer Volume 1 is here! If you're a fan of Capaldi, like we are, as the wonderful and very Scottish Dr. Who, today is your lucky day. Titan Comics, which has been releasing Dr. Who comics from the new reboot since last July, is finally releasing it's first collection of Capaldi stories. This collection--unlike the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor arcs--takes place within the series, with Clara as the companion. Though it took a minute for Capaldi's Doctor to hit the radar, it seems that he's quickly been taking off as one of the best doctors to the date (though no one can really say no to David Tennant, let's be serious.) This volume features all new characters and adventures as well, which is super exciting for those of us who are jonsing for more Doctor Who in this mid-season dry spell.

 Check out the trailer and see what you think of the new Doctor's comic!

This new volume, entitled Dr. Who: Terrorformer, is written by Robbie Morrison, with art by Dave Taylor and Mariano Laclaustra, so we're in for some delicious photo-realism with this one. Trade is in store now, so grab your TARDIS--er, copy--today!

What do you think about the new Dr. Who Series? Drop us a line and let us know below!

How to Get Stores to Care About Your Creator-Owned Comic (And Other Dream-Enabling Wisdom)

By Liz Baker

It seems like everyone is trying to write a comic these days. With so many publishers out there, along with the power of the internet, there is now more of a chance than ever to get your story out into the world! The problem is, pretty much everyone has that golden idea that could make the best comic or zine ever to grace the history of the written world. And although there are a lot more outlets for writers and artists, the comic book market has also gotten increasingly competitive to break into as a result. Luckily, you found this article, so you are ahead of all those crazy creators who want to write stories about their toasters coming to life or cops with killer chicken sidekicks.

Here are a few tips and step-by-steps for getting your comic into your local Comic Store:

1) Get in the Game! Prepare for Battle!

Every soldier must prepare before they head into battle. In the case of the comic book business, this means getting to know your environment. You wouldn't just walk up to a volcano without wearing some seriously heavy-duty sneakers, would you? Of course not. That's ridiculous. Treat your local comic book stores like your ultimate volcano (they're hot stuff.) Create a relationship with your favorite shop that--this is important--has the capacity to distribute your book. Once you find your one and only, the next step is to become a customer if you aren't already. I know this sounds like a "no duh" kind of tip, but not everyone does it, and it can greatly help out your chances of your book being carried by a shop. This does not mean you should spend your entire savings account at a comic book store in the hopes that they throw you a bone. That's just bribery, and since comic book stores aren't Congress, it just doesn't work that way. Being a customer just helps the store get to know you and who you are. And really, if hanging out at a shop and talking about things like whether or not the Scarlet Spider has the best costume ever (No, he doesn't) with the coolest people on Earth doesn't sound entertaining to you, you're gonna have a bad time. 

This is what giving up looks like.

2) Don’t Ask For The Owner

Now that you've created a blood oath with your store of choice, it's time to think about how you're going to approach talking about your incredible ideas. The first tip here is, please, DON'T ask for the owner. I know it sounds strange, but asking for owner is just about the equivalent of asking to talk to the President in the middle of an Area A crisis. While it seems like a good idea, the reality of it is that if you ask for the owner, you’re basically taking them away from something that is almost definitely more important to them than your comic book pitch. There’s a good chance that, being the owner of a small company, they've probably been dealing sales people, both on and off the internet, and have been saying “No” for the past few hours. It’s crazy, even now with caller ID, how many people desperately NEED you to change phone services or radio services or delivery for your Beet of the Month Club services. If you absolutely must ask for the owner, always ask for them by name. This shows that at least you did some research before showing up and trying to convince them to join the cause that is your awesomeness.

"Which one do you like better? Beets me."

In case you're wondering, don't ask for the manager either. Most shops don't actually have managers, and those that do probably do more nah-saying than the owners on the daily. Sure, they'll listen to you, but it might just go in one ear and out the other if they've got a stack of projects on their hands.

Bottom Line: don’t ask for the owner. Talk to the representative who is at the shop instead. They are as good a source as any.

More Awesome Tips, after the jump!