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.

*****

JUN131298 MARCH GN BOOK 01 [DIG] $14.95
It's hard to imagine a book you would want to check out in the comics shop on a day like today more than this one, and it's hard to imagine a better week for it to come out. I haven't read more than about 25 pages here and there in short bursts -- I'm saving it -- but the subject matter is wholly admirable and Nate Powell is in a good comics page-making place right now. Also, Congressman John Lewis has been an admirable partner for Top Shelf on the project: doing tons of press, pushing for a generally high standard in the way the project is presented, and routinely diverting attention to his collaborators.

APR130307 MARK SCHULTZ XENOZOIC TALES ARTIST ED HC PI
This is more expensive -- I think this one hovers somewhere around $100 -- but is also the sole reason that many people will go to a comics shop this week. I like these books as much as most people have: it's fun to look at this material at the original size and note the corrections made -- all the standard, bordering-on-cliché tributes. Schultz is fondly remembered but almost never discussed, certainly not in a way that reflects his one-time undeniable indy-comics superstardom. I imagine this release might have the same effect the Rocketeer and Thor book for their respective artists' reputation, if only in terms of people talking about Schultz again.

APR130044 BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 06 RETURN O/T MASTER $19.99
This week's Mignola-verse offering is a trade paperback; I've been tempted to collect these in that form, even though I'm a comic book nut, as some of the individual issues are hard to track down. As I've written a bunch of times here, I suspect the regularity with which comics trade are released in the more active series is helping transform serial comics readers into serial trades buyers, which is a fascinating thing.

JUN130454 SAGA #13 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130569 WALKING DEAD #113 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130290 ASTRO CITY #3 $3.99
JUN131170 BUCK ROGERS IN 25TH CENTURY #1 CHAYKIN CVR $3.99
MAY130253 DJANGO UNCHAINED #6 (MR) $4.99
A light group of comic-book comics this week, too. I only list the Django Unchained comic because it seems like that movie came out when this nation still had slavery. It's hard for me to imagine people staying in a Django mindset for so long that they're anticipating this series as it comes out, although I know that there are some folks that feel that way. They still have an issue left. Saga and Walking Dead together make this a big, big week for non-Big Two comics. The pacing on the Saga felt different to me than it did in previous issues, but I'm not invested enough with that one to say with 100 percent certainty that this is a real thing rather than imagined. The Astro City work finishes up the call-center storyline begun in the second issue, and seems to me the same comic it always was. I will always read and/or look at Howard Chaykin.

JUN130487 ONE TRICK RIP OFF DEEP CUTS TP $19.99
Paul Pope's recent, big trade of individual stories in softcover; there's a lot of work here that I'd completely forgotten, and it's a pretty good first work for those interested in trying Pope out; you should have some idea what he's about and whether that's for you by the time you're about 2/3 of the way through this one.

MAY131338 DOROHEDORO GN VOL 10 (MR) $12.99
I think this is the best of the mainstream, broad-audience oriented manga series with a volume out this week.

JUN131294 OTTOS BACKWARDS DAY HC $12.95
JUN131295 PATRICK EATS HIS PEAS & OTHER STORIES HC $12.95
Two heavy-hitters from Toon -- a sequel to one of the line's original big-splash releases, and the latest from that line's all-time MVP Geoffrey Hayes. I will get them both.

JUN131313 AMAZING FACTS AND BEYOND HC $24.95
If it's not clear from the above, this is sort of a light week -- at least from my perspective. If it's one from yours, maybe consider picking up this collection of alt-newspaper strips from Dan Zettwoch and Kevin Huizenga, two mega-talents.

*****

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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