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.

APR181742 ENTROPY GN $19.95
I know next to nothing about this book and what I know about Aaron Costain I've mostly forgotten, but this sure looks like a fine alt-comic style collection in a week lacking same. Secret Acres its a reliable publishing imprint, so it's going to have a great chance to be at least good.

MAY180255 SCALES & SCOUNDRELS TP VOL 02 TREASUREHEARTS $16.99
I read a lot of fantasy comics and this artist has a quality, so to speak, where the art looks both considered and loose, both grounded in specific fantasy traditions but fresh enough to keep one's interest. It's companion reading, something to bide the time, as opposed to a work that challenges assumptions and overwhelms with beauty. Still: so many works like this out enough for these genial shorts to stand out.

MAY181218 GIANT DAYS #40 $3.99
MAY180773 CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 $4.99
MAY180450 BATMAN #50 $4.99
MAY180273 THIEF OF THIEVES #38 (MR) $3.99
MAY180281 WALKING DEAD #181 CVR B SIENKIEWICZ (MR) $3.99
Hey, it's the comic-comics. I'll buy anything by John Allison, although I prefer him to be drawing as well. There's something about speed and tone that's very different when he's able to draw his comics. I didn't hear a peep about today's publication of Captain America #1, which makes me wonder after the post-Cebulski line in terms of it being more than moving the deckchairs around. Batman #50 and its self-reverential storyline say a whole lot about where DC is despite getting back on its feet by publishing solid artists and veteran writers as if it's their job rather than some great gift for the fans. Thief Of Thieves is back, even though I thought it was done forever. That's a nice TV part for someone in the 45-60 range. The Walking Dead comic moves deeper into its latest serial, which has a social criticism element.

MAN181031 AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $125.00
I quite admire Jonathan Hickman's work with mainstream comics and think pop culture history will look on it very kindly. He never had a a reliable run with a superior artist on the Marvel stuff, or at least not one I can remember -- as much as a lot of them were talented I think of Hickman as a solo contributor instead of as part of a team. Still, the art approaches on a book like the Avengers titles come out of a common style and tends to be easy to track through personnel changes. My memory of reading Hickman's take on the world's greatest superheroes as gruff, cynical figures of power being dragged into events they can barely handle while plodding grimly forward was that it was surprisingly affecting.

APR181713 CORMORANCE GN $31.95
This is a new Jonathan Cape book and looks really beautiful. That's about the extent of my knowledge, but it's enough I'm buying one today.

MAY182069 COMICS AND ADAPTATION HC $70.00
MAY182070 GARY LARSON AND THE FAR SIDE SC $25.00
Two academic books worth noting. Judging from the price point, the Larson is one of the rare books from that kind of press to go into softcover.

JAN180153 LONE WOLF & CUB GALLERY ED HC $99.99
I don't remember which one of the various knock-offs of the publish-from=original-art school founded for all intents and purposes by Scott Dunbier, but I'd take a look at some Lone Wolf pages at original size and from the original art, you bet.

DEC170542 LITTLE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE HC NEW HOLLYWOOD $14.99
I just popped this one in here because I like the cover. I figure this is a 1960s/1970s Hollywood book of the same kind as the various European biographies of American figures that have been hitting over here. I'd look at it, why not?

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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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