This Isn’t A Library: Notable Releases To The Comics Direct Market



Here are the books that make an impression on me staring at this week's no-doubt largely accurate list of books shipping from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. to comic book and hobby shops across North America.

I might not buy all of the works listed here. I might not buy any. You never know. I'd sure look at the following, though.

*****

FEB120044 RESET #1 (OF 4) BAGGE CVR $3.50
FEB120336 ROCKETEER ADVENTURES 2 #2 (OF 4) $3.99
JAN128231 PROPHET #23 VAR CVR 2ND PTG $2.99
FEB120516 PROPHET #24 $2.99
FEB120872 PEANUTS #4 (OF 4) $3.99
FEB120048 3 STORY SECRET FILES O/T GIANT MAN ONE SHOT $3.50
FEB121039 CASTLE WAITING VOL II #16 (RES) $3.95
If Peter Bagge has a new comic book-style comic book out this week, than that's where our attention will be at the comics shop -- Bagge is one of the great cartoonists behind the last quarter-century of that format. I have no idea what the science fiction story Reset is like, but it has a tremendous want-to-see hold over me right now. That's where I'd head first in the comics shop. The rest of the comic books this week are an odd bunch: another issue of the Rocketeer anthology, which I would at least check out, a reprint and new issue of the popular (with the writers I follow on superhero comics, anyway) Prophet revamp, the last issue in that odd decision to do some Peanuts-related comic book stories, something new (I think) from Matt Kindt and a new issue of Castle Waiting. That Castle Waiting comic is usually a pretty satisfying package in terms of how it looks and the amount of story it provides.

FEB121157 SHARK KING GN $12.95
It's also great to have R. Kikuo Johnson back on the stands this week as another cartoonist from whom we don't see a lot of comics-shop ready comics. This is a Toon project, and is fairly straightforward in the way it's executed. It's incredibly handsome, though.

JAN120108 ARCHIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 05 $49.99
FEB121131 ASTERIX OMNIBUS SC VOL 03 $19.95
My Archie rule applies to both of these comics, despite one not being Archie-related at all: I don't know that I understand how this work is being published or on how many different tracks, but I'll look at all of it.

FEB120239 BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #7 (OF 7) $3.99
I'm pulling this one out distinct from the other comic-book comics because Neal Adams' series was vastly entertaining in both a completely bugnuts way and as an odd but affecting yet unsubtle meditation on the difference between comic books in the 1970s and the comic books that are published now that owe a debt to those comics. I swear this was going to be 13 issues at one point, too. [Update: I've been informed that second set of seven issues has been made into its own series to fold into the new 52 initiative; this makes no sense except in the context that very little about this series makes sense.] Anyway, I look forward to eventually owning all of these via our nation's vast repository of dollar bins.

FEB120809 SURVIVALIST ONE SHOT $7.99
I know very little about this Box Brown effort, but I'd sure pick it up and look at it.

FEB120676 EMMA GN TP $14.99
Whenever I see these non-traditional Marvel comics, I think of Tucker Stone's line from the last Holiday Interview Series about how Marvel is more in tune with publishing whatever will make them some money. I don't think that fully explains it, but it mostly explains it.

JAN121286 NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 20 $12.99
The best of the mainstream-ish manga series with a volume out this week.

SEP111099 KRAZY & IGNATZ TP 1922-1924 DRIM OF LOVE $24.99
SEP111100 KRAZY IGNATZ LTD HC FIRST SUNDAYS (1916-1924) $95.00
Still may be the best comic. That's a long time to stay on any pedestal constructed by pedestal knocking-over comics fans.

DEC111207 HARVEY PEKAR CLEVELAND HC $21.99
I have to admit that while going through my comics collection last year after being sick that I didn't like a lot of the post-first magazine run American Splendor work as well as I hoped I would. Exceptions could be found in a few pieces, particularly in Pekar's collaborations with Joseph Remnant, who falls under the "brings his own bit of visual verve to Pekar's comics" label along with folks like Joe Sacco and, of course, Crumb. I'm hoping this is the graceful end note it wasn't intended to be but that people will be looking for.

*****

The full list of this week's releases, including some titles with multiple cover variations and a long, impressive list of toys and other stuff that isn't comics, can be found here. Despite this official list there's no guarantee a comic will show up in the stores as promised, or in all of the stores as opposed to just a few. Also, stores choose what they carry and don't carry so your shop may not carry a specific publication. There are a lot of comics out there.

To find your local comic book store, check this list; and for one I can personally recommend because I've shopped there, albeit a while back, try this.

The above titles are listed with their Diamond order code in the first field, which may assist you in finding comics at your shop or having them order something for you they don't have in-stock. Ordering through a direct market shop can be a frustrating experience, so if you have a direct line to something -- you know another shop has it, you know a bookstore has it -- I'd urge you to consider all of your options.

If I failed to list your comic, that's on me. I apologize.

*****



*****
*****
 
posted 6:00 am PST | Permalink
 

---

 
Daily Blog Archives
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
 
Full Archives