This Isn’t A Library: New And 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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DEC141608 ARIOL SC VOL 06 NASTY CAT $12.99
I'm always delighted to see another volume of the translated Ariol series hit North American stores. I'm enough in the bag for the work that I'm actually mor worried about that mean-looking cat than I am pleased about an incremental push forward in the publishing effort. But this would be the first thing I'd read were I carrying these book home in a bag, for sure.

NOV141548 YO MISS GN A GRAPHIC TALE OF HIGH SCHOOL $12.95
It's a light week for most of the kinds of books enjoy, so I tried to see if there was anything at the margins of my comics-awareness I might find compelling. This one seems to more than fit that bill: a memoir of a teacher working in urban classrooms, with all the challenges that must entail. I have to admit I'm completely unfamiliar with the cartoonist, but I like the clarity of the pages I've seen and the ambitious nature of the project as a whole.

NOV141525 BARBARELLA WRATH OF THE MINUTE EATER HC (MR) $34.95
The second of the newly-translated Barabarella books, utilizing Kelly Sue DeConnick as a writer on the after-translation end. I always enjoy this work, although my memory of it isn't strong enough to tell you if the work becomes as weird as it eventually gets now or in a future volume.

DEC140056 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #128 $3.50
DEC140123 DARK HORSE PRESENTS 2014 #7 MAIN BA CVR $4.99
DEC140136 GROO FRIENDS AND FOES #2 $3.99
DEC140770 AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #4 (MR) $2.99
DEC148186 AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #4 CVR B (MR) $2.99
SEP140728 INVINCIBLE #117 $2.99
DEC140095 EI8HT #1 OUTCAST $3.50
DEC140740 LAZARUS #15 (MR) $3.50
DEC140721 BITCH PLANET #3 (MR) $3.50
DEC141214 LUMBERJANES #11 $3.99
DEC140257 MULTIVERSITY MASTERMEN #1 $4.99
There's a whole bunch of interesting comic-book comics out today, although again, none really central to my comics buying. I always look at Mike Mignola-related comics. The Dark Horse Presents I'm told is a 200th issue of the series if you count all of its forms and permutations, so congratulations to them. I always buy Sergio Aragones, I don't care what he's doing, but Groo is as good as anything he does. Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw is a fantasy book from Image and creators Ben Dewey and Kurt Busiek, and one that I'm watching a bit to see how it develops. Invincible starts its space storyline this issue, I think. Ei8ht has art and co-writing from Rafael Alburqueque, a creator I track. I enjoy Lazarus; it has a stately pace to it, kind of like old 1970s glossy genre comics. I'm at least an issue behind on Bitch Planet and three on Lumberjanes but they are not waiting on my indolence to thrill their audiences and build more buzz. There's also the latest in the Multiversity series, which if you haven't sussed it out are all #1's.

DEC140876 ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 $3.99
DEC140874 ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA FEAR HIM #3 $3.99
Is this really two separate series? Why would you do that? If it's not, I apologize.

DEC141894 NEIL GAIMAN DAVE MCKEAN CRAZY HAIR YR SC $6.99
OCT141477 WALKING MAN HC 10TH ANNIVERSARY ED $25.00
DEC140655 CRIMINAL TP VOL 02 LAWLESS (MR) $14.99
Three re-issues. The first is one of the Gaiman/McKean kids books, and I believe that one was all the way unavailable by now. They're cute and if you're a fan of either comics-maker, I think they're worth having. The Walking Man I'm a little less certain of the exact provenance but it looks like this is a reprint of the original formulation for the book rather than an expanded version we've been promised for a while now. The Criminal books are back for the Brubaker/Phillips team as they settle in even further at Image. I always thought those were undersold in their original conception, and I think the below design is appealing in a way that other design wasn't, which might help.

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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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