This Isn’t A Library: New, Notable Releases Into 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.

*****

JAN160502 PARACUELLOS TP VOL 01 $24.99
I'm very excited for this release, inaugurating a new line of curated European classics. This is a autobiographically informed work from Carlos Giménez featuring vignettes from the state orphanage system in Spain as the 20th Century moved into its second half. It should be well supported by text: Dean Mullaney and IDW have contributed mightily to the "significant volumes with significant essays in support" wave of the last 15 years. I liked the work, although it comes from a place in comics history where you can sort of taste the novelty and break from tradition that working in autobiographical, serious modes used to bring to the page.

DEC150970 STREET DAWGZ (MR) $5.00
JAN160159 AW YEAH COMICS ACTION CAT & ADVENTURE BUG #1 $2.99
JAN160296 GOTHAM ACADEMY #16 $2.99
JAN160581 DESCENDER #11 (MR) $2.99
JAN160586 HEAD LOPPER #3 CVR A MACLEAN $5.99
JAN160587 HEAD LOPPER #3 CVR B STOKOE $5.99
DEC158783 DOCTOR STRANGE #5 NOWLAN 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
JAN160874 DOCTOR STRANGE #6 $4.99
JAN160811 HOWARD THE DUCK #5 $3.99
JAN160803 VISION #5 $3.99
AN161174 THE UNMENTIONABLES (ONE SHOT) $6.00

Seems like a solid week for comic-book comics, including a Lizz Lunney effort (an honest to god alt-comic) coming from the Alternative Comics camp. The rest is genre work, but solid for the lack of huge series names: the latest Aw Yeah! effort, as reliable a source for kids comics as anything we have that's not a reprint series; one of DC's better-selling off-kilter efforts that I noticed just for the fact that we're already 16 issues in; Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen continuing their pre-sold science fiction serial; the very fun Head Lopper, which combines cute design and constant violence and undercuts it with a great deal of comedy, and then the three Marvel comics I currently follow (not an straight-up endorsement of their quality, because we're only a few issues in, but an endorsement of suitability for me as an older reader tired of the basic mainstream formulae). That Dr. Strange is getting some second printing action may indicate some underlying demand ahead of the sales number. To take us full circle, the Jack Teagle The Unmentionables is another straight-up alt-comic, this time from Retrofit. I saw that one a long time ago, but don't know that the comics retailers have.

SEP150292 BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS OMNIBUS HC $99.99
For me the visuals are more fun than any of the stories; there's something about the relative seriousness claimed for Adams' style that makes the lunatic parts of Batman that much more fun, like casting Tab Hunter in Polyester. I'm sure many fans would be happy to have this in their libraries, and I'd certainly take a peek.

DEC150513 MARCH OVERSIZED HC BOOK 01 LTD ED $29.99
I would imagine this is a sign of the series' overall success that a limited edition of the first March book seems commercially viable. The extra size should flatter Nate Powell's art. I wasn't as big a fan of this first volume as I was the more focused second, but I know people that feel the opposite way, even, and I would assume if this one sells even a little volumes two and three will follow in this format.

JAN161483 DELILAH DIRK & KINGS SHILLING GN $17.99
Well-crafted work with an on-line serialization pedigree. I think this is the second published through First Second, a company that does a good job with author-driven work of this type. I have yet to catch up with the work itself, but I'm looking forward to it.

DEC151267 THROUGH THE HABITRAILS LIFE BEFORE AFTER CAREER IN CUBICLES $14.95
This is the surprise offering for me, a new version of Jeff Nicholson's offbeat, placid treatment of life lived in corporate work settings. Nicholson had a prolific period through the 1980s and 1990s as relentless as any alt-cartoonist. His fans are kind of all the place; heck I don't think context-providers Steve Bissette and Matt Fraction are two creators you think of working from the same perspective. It should be interesting to see if discussion of this one pierces the usual veil of silence when it comes to reprinted work, if it speaks to readers today the way it did to that array of comics fan when it was first published.

*****

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.

*****



*****
*****
 
posted 9:55 pm PST | Permalink
 

---

 
Daily Blog Archives
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
 
Full Archives