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



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Here are the books that make an impression on me staring at this week's 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. But were I in a comic book shop tomorrow I would wrap each one in swaddling clothes to see if any were the Baby Book Jesus.

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Bring your platinum card, comics generalists:

AUG090239 SHADE THE CHANGING MAN TP VOL 01 AMERICAN SCREAM NEW PTG (MR) $17.99
AUG090240 SHADE THE CHANGING MAN TP VOL 02 EDGE OF VISION TP (MR) $19.99
I'm not sure how far into the series previous trade publishing initiatives for this seminal Vertigo title got, but my memory is that it wasn't very far, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this is the first time some of this material is in book form. Vertigo's not a strength for a me, though, so double-check.

AUG090208 WINTER MEN TP (MR) $19.99
This is the long-anticipated collection of the highly-regarded science fantasy series. Sure looks awesome; I'll be buying this before the end of the year.

SEP090530 ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 05 GHOST BOX $24.99
I think this is the first post-Whedon/Cassaday trade for this title. I've only seen bits and parts and haven't stumbled across anyone talking about the series, but the artwork is awfully pretty.

SEP090032 BEASTS OF BURDEN #3 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP090012 THE GOON (OSW) #33 $3.50
SEP090024 USAGI YOJIMBO #124 $3.50
SEP090092 BLACKEST NIGHT #5 (OF 8) $3.99
SEP090222 NORTHLANDERS #22 (MR) $2.99
SEP090435 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #138 $3.99
SEP090438 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20 $3.99
AUG090718 DIE HARD YEAR ONE #3 $3.99
SEP090425 FANTASTIC FOUR #573 $2.99
A good week for pretty good serial comic books about which I have no extra comment beyond "there they are." The current Marvel books of interest -- Iron Man, Fantastic Four -- are included. It seems like it's been a while since an issue of The Goon came out. Incredible Hercules I think ends soon with a transformation into a title with a colon in it. I haven't caught up with the Dorkin/Thompson or the Chaykin Die Hard thing, although if I had a comic book shop within three hours I certainly would have.

SEP098102 IMAGE UNITED #1 (OF 6) BLANK CVR $3.99
There are about 8,000 cover variation on this Image founders + Robert Kirkman crossover, which is either hilarious or sad, I can't tell. Anyway, I have the same feeling when I see this as when I see movies like Transformers: they've moved on to someone else's childhood now.

SEP090494 INCOGNITO TP (MR) $18.99
JUN090606 CAPTAIN AMERICA DEATH OF OMNIBUS HC $64.99
AUG090543 CRIMINAL SINNERS #2 (MR) $3.50
Three sturdy to excellent efforts from Mr. Ed Brubaker and his talented comics-making partners. I'm not certain I'd ever want a giant book of Captain America comics, whether he dies or not, but I liked the individual comics. Like many people without a comics shop, I missed out on Incognito entirely.

JUN090890 A DISTANT NEIGHBORHOOD GN VOL 02 $23.00
MAY090842 PM23 YEARS OF THE ELEPHANT GN $18.95
Two from Fanfare/Ponent Mon in the same week? What's next, an offering from Star Comics? Seriously, these have to be in the top five of books you'll have offered to you this week and both are potential book of the year candidates. The Distant Neighborhood stuff is as good as advertised and I think a lot of people may be surprised by the Willy Linthout book.

SEP090832 GANGES #3 $7.95
The likely book of the week in a very, very, very strong week overall. I don't think people will fall in love with this Kevin Huizenga effort the way they did the first two (and particularly the first one) in this great-looking Ignatz series, but it's as challenge and rewarding a read as those two initial books.

JUL090829 MOYASIMON GN VOL 01 $10.99
OCT091124 NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER TP VOL 01 (O/A) $9.99
Two auspicious manga debuts. The first is the new series you want to read, the second is an offered/again from a series I hope you're reading -- or will consider doing so now.

SEP090663 SPARKY O HARE MASTER ELECTRICIAN GN (MR) $8.99
SEP090662 PROPER GO WELL HIGH GN $19.99
Two from Blank Slate, even! I really like the cartooning in the first book, a comedy by Mawil with an anthropomorphic element, and I like the second book (from Oliver East) generally.

SEP090429 IMMORTAL WEAPONS #5 (OF 5) $3.99
I think this is the last of the Iron Fist books for now, or we're getting close to it. I was going to just post some Lost Horizon lyrics here, but the Internet has failed to cough them up. Are there no Bobby Van fans left?

SEP090523 STAR COMICS TP ALL-STAR COLLECTION VOL 01 GN $19.99
Well, shut my mouth.

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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 didn't list your comic here, we might gonna have us a showdown.

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