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



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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.

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JUN151278 MELODY STORY OF A NUDE DANCER GN (MR) $22.95
This was a big seller for D+Q at San Diego this year, and I think should do well for them overall. It's the case of a market and a readership finally catching up to an intriguing work. Chris Oliveros was talking my ear off about this book 15 months ago.

MAY150886 CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND HC $29.95
One of the great joy of summer at the comics shop is picking up sizable work from talent that's new to you. This is the best book of that type this week, an Alternative Comics-distributed work from the Floating World nation in their Risk-Board like empire. Here's a nice look at those pages. Summer is where comics fans fall in love with creators, so look out.

MAY150085 LOBSTER JOHNSON A CHAIN FORGED IN LIFE ONE SHOT $3.50
JAN150673 CASANOVA ACEDIA #3 (MR) $3.99
APR150649 LAZARUS #18 (MR) $3.50
APR150554 SEX CRIMINALS #11 (MR) $3.50
MAY150528 SOUTHERN BASTARDS #10 (MR) $3.50
Here are your serial comic books of interesting, starting with the regular appearance of a Mignola-verse book -- this one features Troy Nixey and Kevin Nowland, so that is going to be one handsome comics. The latest Casanova will almost certainly be one of the sharper looking works on the stands right now; I'm having fun with this recent cycle, although I wonder how quickly it's going to have to end up moving by the time the story ends. Lazarus has become a fun book; I like it best when I don't mull over the politics, not because of their orientation but because I think the comic works best focused on its affecting lead. This is the issue of Sex Criminals with a Bryan Lee O'Malley variant and one copy out of several having a drawing from one of its creators. The story continues to bounce around in "recruitment of hero" mode, which is a fun thing on which to riff. Southern Bastards continues to do what it does very well; there's something about the way the book is concerned with a variety of different perspectives in a kind of overlapping horribleness that I find most interesting of all.

OCT140937 HAWKEYE TP VOL 04 RIO BRAVO $17.99
A rare quality mainstream superhero comic not best collected in trade form, but I'm sure plenty have anyway. I'd like for this comic to be done for about six months before I go back and figure it out a bit, and it looks like I'll have my wishes.

APR151501 LEAF HC $24.99
APR151499 NOT FUNNY HA HA HC $16.99
Two standalones from Fantragraphics. I've only read the second, a wry telling of two stories revolving around abortion, and even then only a part of it has been consumed. Hopefully it will do some social good as well. The first is from a Chinese artist.

MAR158553 COMPLETE CHI SWEET HOME TP VOL 01 $24.95
JUN151475 GOODBYE CHUNKY RICE PANTHEON ED NEW PTG $15.00
JUN151436 PHOEBE GLOECKNER DIARY OF TEENAGE GIRL GN REVISED ED (MR) $18.95
Books out again after a while, all worthy of a second read or maybe even multiples if you can stand it. There is a lot of Craig Thompson being released right now, which should make the launch of his Space Dumplins that much more interesting.

MAY150435 WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #46 YOUTH ACTIVISM & CLIMATE (MR) $7.00
WW3 is always of interest. If you store carries it, you have a good store.

JUN151419 POSTERS OTOMO KATSUHIRO GRAPHICS DESIGN SC $69.00
It's hard for me to imagine anything on this week's list matching the fun of a big graphic design book featuring Otomo's work; my understanding is that there's an English translations of the big interview in there, too, which should make it easier for some to buy. I don't think we talk enough about Otomo as a foundational talent.

APR151505 DEMONS & ANGELS HC VOL 02 CLAY WILSON (MR) $34.99
Patrick Rosenkranz has been the star writer about comics over the last half-decade, recording and publishing like mad his take on the underground comix era even as those men fade from the world and their comics fade from view. His best subject is S. Clay Wilson, who with the shift in attitudes about what makes good or responsible art has suddenly become the most interesting of that generation of artists. I'm so grateful these books exist.

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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 because I hate you.

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