Thrilling, daring, and downright gruesome stories from American history, in graphic novel form.

1. Trenches, Treaties, Mud and Blood: This one gets number one spot for sheer ambition in retelling the foundational history of WW1. All in the form of animal mascots. It sounds silly, but it did help differentiate all the countries and show how the Great War really spanned the globe and changed modern warfare. It does so in a way that gives you a good grasp of major events and battles, and the sheer hell of war, while also pointing out that this is just a little peek into the theater of WW1. And like any good historical fiction, it made me want to learn more.
2. Alamo All Stars: Another book about epic battles. Yes, I say battles because even though everyone remembers the Alamo they may not realize it’s because the battle of the Alamo was such a failure that the next battle is where they said their famous cry. It delves into the Mexican side of the story, why Davy Crockett was such a beloved hero and was a rollicking good time.
3. Cold War Correspondent: A lot of these books get into the top 5 by virtue of introducing me to something new. In this case, I learned about Marguerite Higgins, one of the first female war correspondents, and the Korean War which tends to get buried between WW2 and Vietnam.
4. Lafayette: I’ll admit, I hear the Hamilton rap every time I see the title. But that aside, like Hamilton did for Alexander, this book dives into the Marquis’ life, highlighting his flaws, his glories and how this orphan was desperate for a family and soon found one with his Revolutionary comrades. He made this ultra-privileged French noble from centuries ago feel human.
5. The Underground Abductor: This one gets into the top 5 by virtue of being the first one I read and thus getting me into this epic series of American History. Not to mention introducing me to the greater story of Harriet Tubman. I mean, not just the part about being the most successful conductor of the Underground Railroad but like everything that came before and after-her real name, Aramanita Ross, her husband, being hit on the head by a brick which gave her narcolepsy and visions that aided her work, freeing 800 slaves on a plantation, and so much more. We’re always taught that Harriet Tubman is a hero and role model, this story helped hit it home.