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.

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JAN110542 GENIUS ISOLATED LIFE & ART OF ALEX TOTH HC $49.99
The first of a projected three lushly illustrated volumes about one of mainstream comics most difficult and celebrated figures; no one with even a cursory knowledge of comics will think any less of a person that uses this book to make this one of those rare weeks where a book about comics takes point.

DEC108322 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 07 $49.99
DEC100077 OUTLAW PRINCE LTD HC $49.99
JAN110122 TUROK SON OF STONE ARCHIVES HC VOL 08 $49.99
Speaking of expensive purchases, I thought it worth noting that Dark Horse has almost as many $50 books out this week (3) as it has $3.50 comic books (5). I'm not sure what that means, but I know from checking the PR that the second of the three efforts above sold out of its first print run. Anything $50 you can sell out of likely indicates a direction to the overall marketplace.

JAN110265 BATMAN INCORPORATED #5 $2.99
FEB110188 XOMBI #2 $2.99
FEB110544 MIGHTY THOR #1 $3.99
One place to find comics that aren't $50 is in a decent group of stand-alone comics of interest out this week. Here's three mainstream comics that are either well-lauded in their initial issues or come from creative pedigrees expected to perform well. I'm sure there are many more. I'd look at all three of these at least were I in a comics shop today. I haven't seen any of the Batman Incorporated books yet, and while it seems like the kind of book I'll pick up two years from now in a dollar bin I might buy it sooner if more of the writers about superhero comics I read were to talk about it with greater enthusiasm.

FEB111043 HATE ANNUAL #9 (MR) $4.95
JAN111078 RASL #10 (MR) $3.50
Two likely excellent alt-indy selections in comic book form from very dependable creators. You can pretend it's 1996, but mostly you'll just probably enjoy the comics. I like how loopy and ridiculous the Buddy Bradley narrative has become in the Hate Annuals.

JAN110881 EMPIRE STATE A LOVE STORY OR NOT GN $17.95
FEB110810 SLEEPYHEADS GN $24.99
FEB110428 BULLETPROOF COFFIN TP (MR) $17.99
FEB110704 REMAKE SPECIAL GN VOL 02 (MR) $9.95
A week in graphic novels made for browsing, with promising work that's maybe not all that familiar to most readers. I imagine audiences are going to split big time on Jason Shiga's Abrams effort Empire State. The Blank Slate-published Sleepyheads is one I'd even need to refresh myself on before purchasing -- it's really pretty, and previewed here. Bulletproof Coffin certainly had a quality, much of it emanating from its art, although that's one I think I'll just keep in comic book form. Remake Special offers up early Jay Stephens' building energy through a kind of early James Kochalka self-absorption. Even if you get those references I'm not sure it's totally accurate or fair; suffice to say I enjoyed the earlier Lamar Abrams book more than I thought I would and want to see more.

JAN110335 SHOWCASE PRESENTS GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 05 $19.99
You probably know the "socially-conscious" Green Lantern/Green Arrow material -- the Speedy-is-a-junkie/what have you done for the black man stuff -- but have you read the comics? We're a generation past the last time these were reprinted as comic books (1984) and the original comics themselves came out 40 years ago, which is both alarming and sort of feels like 100 years ago, frankly. Even in today slightly more rational back-issues market, the originals are either expensive comics or books you can't find at all. Anyway, those books are encompassed in DC's cheap reprints program if you've ever wanted to have black and white versions around under one cover.


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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 on me. I apologize.

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