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.

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MAY121293 WIZZYWIG HC (MR) $19.95
This is Ed Piskor's book about proto-hackers, which is about as good an idea for a graphic novel exploration as anyone has had in years and years. That is one fascinating sub-culture, and, if you must justify your spending this holiday indoors looking at musty pulp, a uniquely American one.

MAY120455 POPEYE #3 $3.99
APR120319 ROCKETEER ADVENTURES 2 #4 $3.99
APR120543 INVINCIBLE #93 $2.99
MAR120491 MORNING GLORIES #20 (MR) $2.99
MAY120631 THIEF OF THIEVES #6 $2.99
APR121098 CASTLE WAITING VOL II #17 $3.95
APR120649 INFERNAL MAN-THING #1 $3.99
MAY120704 MUPPETS #1 $2.99
A very odd week in comic-book comics: Roger Langridge work still be published by Marvel and Roger Langridge working with Tom Neely on a full-length Popeye story. A few of the popular Image serial comic through which that company is gathering together more and more of a market share. The latest Castle Waiting book. The Steve Gerber/Kevin Nowlan Man-Thing collaboration. Another one of the Rocketeer comics. I probably don't have to tell you there's nothing more American than Popeye, the Muppets or swamp monsters.

NOV110943 DREADSTAR OMNIBUS TP $29.99
This is apparently the first several issues of the Dreadstar comic book, which my memory tells me started out as a kind of science-fantasy book about the nature of intractable war as a determinant for society and moved more and more into more traditional superhero-driven space opera. I was more interested in the former than the latter as a kid, and kind of moved away from the series pretty quickly, but it was certainly around for a long time and had several fans.

MAR120054 TARZAN THE JESSE MARSH YEARS HC VOL 11 $49.99
These are always wonderful to see; there's something vital and pretty and unaffected about Jesse Marsh's art, particularly consumed in big bunches.

APR121121 PARIS SOIREES HC (MR) $69.95
Another handsome-looking Humanoids book, I think of work that's been seen in bits and pieces in anthologies. I'd definitely pick it up and look it over, even at that extravagant price.

APR121305 5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND $18.95
This is the obvious manga pick-up-and-look-at of the week, a stand-alone from Vertical of a manga that came after the career-making animated film work by Makoto Shinkai from around the middle of last decade.

APR120984 LEONARD STARRS MARY PERKINS ON STAGE TP VOL 10 $24.95
APR121262 NARUTO TP VOL 57 $9.99
I'm trying to figure out which is the more impressive market achievement: that we somehow have ten volumes of Mary Perkins On Stage/On Stage or that we have 57 volumes of a popular manga franchise and that this seen as a routine thing.

APR120983 ADVENTURES OF BUCK O RUE TP $29.95
No, wait, the way more amazing thing is that we have any volume at all of Dick Huemer's early '50s western comedy strip. You can see here it's a good-looking thing. I hope it's a good read.

APR120949 SKETCHBOOK ADVENTURES OF PETER POPLASKI HC (MR) $25.00
MAR121311 IDLE HANDS ART OF COOP HC (RES) (MR) $50.00
MAR120883 OTHER SIDES OF HOWARD CRUSE HC (MR) $24.99
Big week for books I had no idea were coming from artists with fervent fan followings, or at least the hints of one. The Howard Cruse in particular I'd seek out were I in a comics shop today. My memory is that his short work tends to be pretty strong, but I honestly have no idea exactly what works would be in a collection like this one. I believe the Poplaski may have had a previous life.

FEB120863 I TOLD YOU SO HC (MR) $17.99
Finally, a new book of Shannon Wheeler's New Yorker submissions. I think it's nice these have a second life as more than a curiosity posted to a blog at some point. I think Boom! is a good partner for Wheeler on works like this one. I've seen a couple of covers on this one, so I hope the one below is the one that's out there.

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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 on me. I apologize.

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