Five Graphic Novels Your Kids Will Enjoy (and So Will You)

Over the next few days, thousands upon thousands of die-hard comics fans will descend upon San Diego for the annual San Diego Comic Con, the biggest comic-book convention in the world.

But what about those people who want to read comics but aren't die-hard fans? There are plenty of great titles out there that fans of all genres will enjoy, but with hundreds of new graphic novels coming out every month, it's hard to pick a place to start.

So, here are a few titles to get you started. These five graphic novels are fun, funny, exciting and entertaining. More importantly, they're appropriate for most kids, but also a lot of fun for adults.

1. Bone by Jeff Smith — For lack of a better description, Bone is the Lord of the Rings of comics. Jeff Smith has created a magical world full of adventure and danger that will make you laugh and get your heart pumping. It's epic in scope, but full of the small moments that make all fiction great. One of comics' all-time great achievements, Bone is available in a series of full-color books from Scholastic or as one massive all-in-one black-and-white volume from Smith's own Cartoon Books company.

2. Beanworld by Larry Marder — One of the weirdest comics ever put out, Marder's Beanworld is, as he put it best, "a most peculiar comic-book experience." Basically, it's an ecological fable, starring a bunch of beans who have to collect food and overcome the strange struggles of their world in order to survive. Um, yeah, that kind of describes it, but it's so much more. Beanworld examines what makes us special, the need for art, the desire for adventure, and the magic of life. With three volumes in print so far, and more to come, this is a story you'll be able to share with your kids and enjoy on multiple levels.

3. The Smurfs by Peyo — That's right, the Smurfs are back! Papercutz will release the first American-published Smurfs book in a generation next month, presenting classic stories by Belgium's national treasure, the cartoonist Peyo. If all you know of the Smurfs is the old cartoon, this first book is a revelation. It's funny and exciting and it all feels completely new, even though the stories are decades old. If you can't wait until August, try your local comics shop, which might have the $1 preview book that Papercutz released in July.

4. Johnny Boo by James Kochalka — Kochalka may be one of the hardest working cartoonists in the industry today, as well as one of the most creative. This tale of a friendly ghost is charming and goofy, and maybe a little gross, but in a way that kids will find hilarious. (A word of caution, though: a lot of Kochalka's work is strictly for adults, so don't pick up just any book by him and give it to your kids!)

5. Kaput and Zosky by Lewis Trondheim — I just discovered Trondheim, and I can't get enough of him. Translated from the French, this hilariously odd little graphic novel isn't so much a novel as a much of anecdotes about two aliens out to conquer the universe. The problem is, they aren't very good at what they do. Trondheim's art is quirky, his stories are quick-paced, and his sense of humor switches between slapstick and word-play. It all adds up to a lot of fun.

This list just scratches the surface, and barely at that, but give these books a look and see where they lead you!

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Photos courtesy of Cartoon Books, Dark Horse Comics, Papercutz, Top Shelf Comix and First Second Books.