This Isn’t A Library: New, 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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APR161576 HOT DOG TASTE TEST HC $22.95
This is a light week at the comics shop for me, so I guess I'll be forced to buy Lisa Hanawalt's stupid new book. I'll be moderating her spotlight panel at Comic-Con International next month and like all the interviews I do with the LA-based cartoonist and illustrator I will be pressuring her to retire.

APR161330 ELF CAT IN LOVE GN $15.00
The always-prolific James Kochalka has a new offering this week, with 100 pages wrapped in hardcover from Retrofit, who rarely -- if ever -- do hardcovers. Actually, checking that out on the Internet just now I see it's their first. Kochalka is always interesting to me, and Retrofit's books have been compelling more often than not over the last two years.

MAR161467 HIP HOP FAMILY TREE #10 $3.99
FEB160044 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #142 $3.50
APR160413 ASTRO CITY #36 $3.99
APR160760 INVINCIBLE #129 $2.99
APR160712 LAZARUS #22 (MR) $3.99
It's a small group of comic-book comics this week led by the first double-digit issue of Ed Piskor's Hip Hop Family Tree, which is an amazing thing, really. There's a Mike Mignola created universe book after that one, continue what seems in past issues to a be a slow build-up to the next anniversary peak. I'm always glad to see the solid Astro City on the stands; ditto Robert Kirkman's under-appreciated hit-the-landing accomplishment Invincible. I enjoy Greg Rucka and Michael Lark's Lazarus series the same way I used to enjoy serials in Epic Illustrated when I was a kid. There's enough material there you can invest yourself in the world-building and outsized political commentary, but nothing is too far into the kind of gritty details and emotional turmoil that comes from a lot of non-genre material. You're engaged, just not consumed, which makes it really diverting.

FEB160019 NEIL GAIMANS HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES HC $17.99
FEB160250 DARK NIGHT A TRUE BATMAN STORY HC (MR) $22.99
These are two projects of kinds that rarely work for me: the first being an adaptation from a short prose story by the famous writer in question, the second being a true story that touches on our relationship to corporate owned icons. There are some interesting artists involved with these particular takes: Eduardo Risso working with Paul Dini's story of recovery from violence; Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon on the Gaiman short. That means they're both worth a look.

OCT150608 SEX CRIMINALS TP VOL 03 THREE THE HARD WAY (MR) $14.99
That's gotta be a happy day in certain comics shops when a new trade of this series come out -- not Saga trade day happy, but pretty happy. I enjoyed the re-read that I got when the first two trades landed in my lap, so I expect a similar experience here. I like that there seems to be a undercurrent of just what a comic like this means and what it does informing a narrative far removed from that kind of noodling.

MAR160939 PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT TP VOL 01 HOOKED ON FELINE $17.99
FEB160043 SAPIEN TP VOL 07 SECRET FIRE $19.99
Here's two solid-looking trade featuring characters that would seem to have greater potential as the kinds of characters that could hold our attention for a series or several. The Patsy Walker character has always sort of seemed that way to me, going all the way back to her being processed into a superhero in the Avengers comics I read as a kid.

APR161701 ALEXANDRO JODOROWSKY SCREAMING PLANET GN (MR) $19.95
JAN161697 SHOWMAN KILLER HC VOL 02 GOLDEN CHILD (MR) $15.99
Since we're doing pairs today, here's a pair of works involving Alexandro Jodorowsky. I'm not a fervent reader of his work in any medium, but I think the Screaming Planet book as short stories with some primetime collaborator might be one to help me change my mind.

APR161657 COMPASS SOUTH GN $17.99
This is a nautically themed straight-up all-ages book from the FSG part of MacMillan, by writer Hope Larson and artist Rebecca Mock. At least one sequel of a hopeful series is planned. This is the kind of book that tends to be subsumed in the fury and crush of weekly comics-shop buying, so I hope people make the effort with this one.

AUG151899 GREAT SHOWDOWNS THE REVENGE HC $14.95
I'm not sure why the latest book in this series is showing up in comics shops about a year after I remember it being advertised for purchase in general retail, but whether it's a re-release or a delayed release or a specialty-market late-coming, I enjoy the books enough to note it here. I have a pair of friends not interested in comics but are movie fans that like these books a lot.

APR160539 GODZILLA TREASURY ED $9.99
This is a collection of James Stokoe's work with the Godzilla character, and that work has been really fun and a really nice showcase for the kind of art Stokoe pursues. I want it, for sure.

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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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