This Isn’t A Library: Notable Releases To The 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.

*****

AUG121142 JULIOS DAY HC $19.99
This is the second major book for Gilbert Hernandez in what may be seen as his year, a changes-the-way-you-view-it collection of a recent, and I'd dare to say lightly-regarded in that initial publication, serial. It's also a fine companion to the already-released Marble Season for its strategy of depicting a life through several moments spread out over years and years as opposed to a series of vignettes from a specific time. Gilbert Hernandez can do it all.

JAN131274 BENJAMIN BEAR IN BRIGHT IDEAS HC $12.95
The previous Coudray book from Toon was talked about a lot in my direction from comics-reading friends of mine who quite enjoyed it. I didn't always hear if the kid loved that book as much as the adults, but anyone loving anything in comics form is a) worth reporting, b) worth at least picking up and looking over in the comics shop. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

FEB130050 SNOW ANGEL ONE SHOT $3.50
FEB130026 1 FOR $1 THE MASSIVE #1 $1.00
FEB130010 ABE SAPIEN DARK & TERRIBLE #1 $3.50
JAN130586 GLORY #34 [DIG] $3.99
JAN138337 SEX #1 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
FEB130474 AGE OF ULTRON #4 $3.99
FEB130543 ALL NEW X-MEN #10 NOW $3.99
JAN138280 ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #2 2ND PTG $3.99
This isn't exactly a stellar week for serial comics work -- which is an area inhabited almost solely by mainstream-oriented material these days -- meaning I would probably dip a bit more heavily into what's out there that didn't obviously hit my interests more squarely. One that I would like buy any week including one stuffed with material aimed directly at me is the Snow Angel book, which is a collection of recent David Chelsea shorts. As for the rest, it ranges a bit. There's a $1 comic and a Mignola-verse effort from Dark Horse, which are pretty reliable. The Ross Campbell-drawn Glory ends with this issue, and that was a wonderful-looking thing at times. I already have the Joe Casey book, reminiscent of 1980s city-focused books like Mister X. Those are the two Marvel Comics I would most consider picking up this week, including the latest issue of their major "event," this time out featuring dickish super-robot Ultron. The last one is a Boom! licensed comic from a group of cartoon-related book that have been well-liked thus far.

JAN130330 PUNK ROCK JESUS TP (MR) $16.99
I have this, but haven't read it: Sean Murphy's solo mini-series for Vertigo, now collected. It just sounds Vertigo-y, doesn't it?

NOV121175 ADVENTURES OF JODELLE HC (RES) (MR) $45.00
This is a massively beautiful book that I also have but have yet to read, a 1960s erotic comic from Guy Peellaert and Pierre Bartier, heavily influenced by pop art trends, collected and tidied. For some reason, my knowledge of what was going on in terms of adult content in 1960s French-language comics was even more rudimentary than I would have guessed.

JAN131190 ARMIES HC (MR) $34.95
I bet Jog wrote graphs and graphs about this one, but my memory tells me only that it contains key work from the 1970s Metal Hurlant days, and likely looks freaking gorgeous. I don't have much immersion into that realm of comics, which would make having it in my hands such a wonderful thing, one of the reasons comics shops are the best.

JAN131202 ARE YOU MY MOTHER A COMIC DRAMA SC $15.95
NOV121177 COMPLETE CRUMB COMICS TP VOL 02 MORE STRUGGLE (MR) $19.99
Two formidable new editions: the softcover of the recent Alison Bechdel meditation/memoir; early Robert Crumb with that specific volume enjoying a much longer in-print lifetime. I would imagine many, many adult comics fans wanting both in their library, and if your comics shop carries them both, it's a gem of a place.

DEC121110 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 19 1987-1988 $28.99
Speaking of libraries, here's the latest in the Peanuts series, this time around featuring an introduction from Garry Trudeau and the big Schulz shift into three-panel dailies.

DEC121064 LETTING IT GO HC (MR) $24.95
Finally, you could have an excellent week at the comics shop showing up and only buying this Miriam Katin book, her follow-up to the memoir We Are On Our Own. It's about Katin having to deal with her son's moving to Berlin and the tidal wave of emotions this sets in motion.

*****

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 am actively plotting against you.

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