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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JAN198511 DOG MAN GN VOL 07 FOR WHOM BALL ROLLS $12.99
Dav Pilkey's work on both this latest series and the Captain Underpants material is really due a major critical piece by one of the better writers out there. I don't think that happens in a preview article, although I like the Pilkey's comics whenever I read them, and enjoy their visual stamp a lot; I like looking at these comics. They're the comics of the moment for sure.

MAY191758 DUNKIRK ONE SHOT GLANZMAN CVR 2ND PTG $9.99
I don't want to question whatever series of events has given us a bunch of Sam Glanzman war comics edition in the late 2010s, but I'm happy to look at them every time I see them in the shot. Glanzman always does the work, and his fealty to a certain kind of accuracy in the depictions makes for its own through-line in the comics. The cover here with the mix of naval craft, their functions and their modernity relative to one another all make me take notice. I hope there are more of these.

JUN191263 ONCE & FUTURE #1 (OF 6) $3.99
JUN190694 USAGI YOJIMBO #3 CVR A SAKAI $3.99
MAY199082 SECOND COMING #1 2ND PTG (MR) $3.99
JUN191368 SECOND COMING #2 (MR) $3.99
Hey, it's comic-book comics, including two series positioning themselves for a strong sales run. Once & Future is apparently doing advance scarcity in a way that drives buzz, while Second Coming is starting a cycle of re-orders and multiple printings that is either more advance work or the first fruits of earlier exposure to those comics. In between is Usagi Yojimbo, which is eternal and which if there are comics in heaven I will read 1000 years' worth.

APR190279 BORGIAS TP (MR) $29.99
I don't have a refined aesthetic for either comics-maker involved here, although I'm interested in the potential of the result. Exceedingly handsome comics likely to be the result. I'd have to do a pretty serious reading to say anything else. I have no idea of its public reputation.

APR190315 EC ARCHIVES CRIME SUSPENSTORIES HC VOL 04 $59.99
DEC180652 JOKER THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC $99.99
FEB190976 MARVEL MASTERS OF SUSPENSE LEE & DITKO OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $100.00
Hey, it's the expensive books section. I haven't found a way back into the EC comics with either the latest more tradition title-by-title reprinting or the black and white Fantagraphics, author-to-author presentation, but that's always been about where I am oriented than what the comics reveal to me. Never quite understood the Joker, but the move to completely unpleasant serial-killer comics would seem to me fun to watch in fits and starts. As for Steve Ditko, give me a look at every last page: that's an intriguing way to look at the world -- very 20th Century, and might be more flattered by a writer with Lee's lack of heft.

JUN191758 SCIENCE COMICS CATS NATURE & NURTURE HC GN $19.99
I haven't been paying a lot of attention to these First Second science comics, so one with a bunch of cat would seem a friendlier-than-usual re-entry point. Everybody likes cats.

MAY191414 ARCHIE ART OF FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA HC $24.99
This has to be attractive; if I have my doubts about playing around too much with the Archie formula, it comes from the narrative flexibility more than the artists they have presenting these various takes. Francavilla is very talented.

JUN191315 YOU ARE MY FRIEND STORY MR ROGERS & NEIGHBORHOOD PICTUREBOOK $17.99
It makes sense that there would be some Fred Rogers culture in comics form, and I'd definitely want to see the books if only for a flip-through.

APR191970 DRUILLETS THE NIGHT (LA NUIT) HC (RES) (MR) $24.99
When in doubt, dig your way into an impressive artist and see what results.

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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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