1- Elmer by Gerry Alanguilan
Elmer tells the story of a chicken who suddenly gains human intelligence—the ability to read, write, and speak. As chickens rise to the same intellectual status as humans, society reacts with fear and resentment, especially because chickens have long been viewed merely as food. This shift disrupts the social order and leads to numerous conflicts, exposing deep-seated prejudice and inequality. Beneath its unusual premise, Elmer carries powerful hidden meanings that reflect real social issues in the Philippines, particularly the country’s diversity and the wide gap between the rich and the poor. Created by acclaimed Filipino comic artist Gerry Alanguilan, Elmer has received several awards and is widely recognized for its bold storytelling and strong social commentary.
2-The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonnie Liew
More than a conventional graphic novel; it is a layered and thought-provoking work that explores how history is written and who gets to tell it. Sonny Liew presents the story through the fictional life of Charlie Chan, a pioneering Singaporean comic artist, using his career to reveal an alternative view of Singapore’s past—one that contrasts with the officially promoted “Singapore Story.” Through this approach, the novel examines themes of memory, artistic freedom, and state authority. The book drew significant attention when Singapore’s National Arts Council withdrew a grant prior to its publication, citing political concerns, an action that echoed the very issues the novel critiques. Despite the controversy, the book received widespread acclaim, becoming the first graphic novel to win the Singapore Literature Prize and later earning three Eisner Awards in 2017, solidifying its status as a landmark work in graphic literature.
3-Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Written by Marjane Satrapi, it is a powerful and deeply personal graphic memoir that presents a rare, humanizing portrayal of life in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution, seen through the perspective of a young girl coming of age amid political upheaval. Through its stark black-and-white artwork and candid storytelling, the book explores themes of identity, repression, resistance, and personal freedom. Persepolis has received widespread international acclaim, winning several major literary awards, including the Angoulême Coup de Cœur Award and recognition as a New York Times Notable Book. At the same time, the memoir has been the subject of recurring controversy and censorship, with bans and challenges in schools and libraries across various countries due to its political content and critical depiction of religious extremism. These attempts to suppress the book have only reinforced its importance, establishing Persepolis as both an award-winning literary achievement and a vital work of political and cultural testimony.
4-Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle
This graphic novel by Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisle is a landmark graphic memoir that offers a personal, often surreal portrayal of life inside one of the world’s most isolated nations. Based on Delisle’s two-month stay in Pyongyang in the early 2000s, the book recounts his experience supervising animation work for a French company, granting him rare access as one of the few Westerners permitted in the country at the time. Rather than delivering overt political commentary, Delisle focuses on the small, unsettling details of everyday life under a totalitarian regime, using dry humor and a minimalist art style to highlight the absurdities of constant surveillance, rigid propaganda, and enforced conformity. The book has received widespread international acclaim for its sharp observation and understated storytelling, earning praise from critics and readers alike as a significant work of graphic nonfiction. At the same time, its unflinching depiction of North Korean society has led to the book being banned in North Korea and criticized by pro-regime voices, underscoring its impact as both an artistic achievement and a provocative examination of life behind one of the world’s most closed borders.
5-The Magic Fish by Trung Lê Nguyễn
A poignant and beautifully crafted graphic novel that follows Tiên, a young Vietnamese American teenager who shares a love of fairy tales with his mother, Helen as they read together to practice English. The story skillfully weaves three interconnected narrative threads—Tiên’s present-day life, his mother’s memories of growing up in Vietnam, and the fairy tales they read together—each distinguished by its own color palette to guide the reader through different timelines and emotional spaces. At its heart, the novel explores Tiên’s struggle to come out to his parents, complicated by linguistic and cultural barriers: he lacks the vocabulary in Vietnamese to express his sexuality, while his parents are still learning English. The reimagined fairy tales, including Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, serve as a powerful emotional bridge, allowing mother and son to communicate feelings that words alone cannot convey. The Magic Fish has received widespread critical acclaim, earning honors such as the Stonewall Book Award and recognition as a New York Times Notable Book. Despite its warm and empathetic storytelling, the book has also faced bans and challenges in schools and libraries due to its LGBTQ+ themes, highlighting its role as both a celebrated literary work and an important voice for queer and immigrant representation.
