True North Country Comics presents Manfred J. von Vulte’s top 10 go-to comic book and graphic novel list.

Manfred is the published author of numerous articles, as well as two children’s works, a history book, and an educational guide on the use of comic books and experiential learning for parents and teachers. Manfred has been teaching for over twenty years, and recently joined the Durham Catholic District School Board in Ontario in 2017. He established a comic book club at St. Leo Catholic School in Brooklin. Manfred often volunteers his time to work with reluctant writers and readers for schools in Toronto. He is the Director of the Comic Book Project Canada and was featured on the Space Channel and the Global Television Network. 

The Comic Book Project is a world-renowned literacy initiative that engages young people in the process of planning, writing, designing, and publishing original comic books. Since then, the CBP has engaged more than 250,000 learners in a creative process leading to academic achievement, social awareness, and community development. By engaging youths in brainstorming, sketching, plotting, designing, and publishing original comic books, CBP encourages students to become active learners and content creators, rather than mere information receivers. The Comic Book Project has now landed in Canada. 

Here’s the top 10 go-to comic books and graphic novels from Manfred J. von Vulte:

1. Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown by Louise Simonson and Walt Simonson. Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams 
   “A great waning Cold War and post Chernobyl story with story art done in colouring I have never seen with the style of its painted art. I wish I owned a still / panel of this. I would have it framed.”
   

2. Cloak and Dagger #1 (1985) by Bill Mantlo 
“An eerie tale of dark and light juxtaposed with frightening shades of hope and fear.”

3. Alpha Flight #1 (1983) by John Byrne 
“I loved the characters and the idea of a Canadian X-Men / Avengers group with compelling story telling. John Byrne’s work has always captivated me.”

4. Batman Year One (1988) by Frank Miller and  David Mazzucchelli
“So many Batman books to choose from, but I like the way the seminal character is introduced and reconstituted after Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns; also a huge favourite.”

5. Uncanny X-Men #237 (1988) by Chris Claremont
“I really enjoy Chris Claremont’s writing and the nod to H.G. Wells was a brilliant reference.”

6. Captain Marvel #1 -10 (1967 – 68) by Stan Lee and Gene Colan. 
“The pure joy of storytelling and artistic conceptualization; I always thought this gave me insights into Lee’s creative process. Learning at the foot of the master from a distance.”

7. Kill Shakespeare (2010) by Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery, Andy Belanger, Ian Herring, and Kagan McLeod
“Ever since my mom had me memorize and present Hamlet’s soliloquy in Kindergarten, have I been a huge fan of the Bard. This is a masterful production of writing combining Shakespeare’s characters in one world. Somewhere Sir Francis Bacon and von Goethe are staging this very work in the great beyond in a final nod to the pen being mightier than the sword.”

8. Mark Twain’s Niagara (2018) by Shane Kirshenblatt et al. 
“Kirshenblatt helps to illustrates a delightful tale of one of my favourite authors and a story that has as many exciting twists and turns with moments of discovery and awe.”

9. Zip Kramer: Saviour of the Cosmos (2016) by Marvin Law and Sam Noir
“A fantastic and enjoyable ride by an illustrator who needs far more exposure for his brilliance and unique style.”

10. Above A Planet Named Up-In-the-Sky (2016) by Amy and Keith Grachow
“Another delightful story my son enjoyed with unique and eye-catching illustrations.”

Full disclosure: “Shane Kirshenblatt, Marvin Law and Keith Grachow are also friends of mine whose artistic talent I have had the pleasure to marvel at for nearly a decade. True talents with great gifts.” 

BONUS: Favourite Series: Inferno: Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Terminators, Excalibur, and The New Mutants (1989) by Simonson, Claremont, Engelheart, Conway, Michelinie, Austin, Jones, Bogdanove, and Nocenti. 
“A captivating story that spurred on the collector in me to acquire every single aspect of the story and delight in its apparition and manifestation in so many different books. I still read this on rainy days.”

You can discover more on Twitter at @ComicCanada and online at ComicBookProjectCanada.com