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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APR120279 RIGHT STATE HC (MR) $24.99
FEB120397 NEVSKY HERO OF THE PEOPLE HC [DIG] $24.99
MAY121172 CARDBOARD GN $12.99
MAY121173 CARDBOARD HC $24.99
JUN121188 GAME FOR SWALLOWS TO DIE TO LEAVE TO RETURN GN $9.95
JUN121155 DISTRICT COMICS UNCONVENTIONAL HIST WASHINGTON DC GN $24.95
It's a strong week for graphic novel-sized material where I have no idea what the hell the material is about beyond reading some descriptions on-line. The one in the accompanying image above is from a Lebanese cartoonist and is another book in the basic vein of Marjane Satrapi's mightily influential Persepolis. Is it any good? Couldn't tell you. I'd want to look at that sucker, though. The District Comics book I learned about from a Facebook posting by the editor and writer Jim Ottaviani, and he's supposedly in there -- that's enough to make me pick it up and give it a look-over.

JUN121334 WILL EISNERS CONTRACT WITH GOD TRILOGY HC NEW PTG (NOTE PRICE) $35.00
MAY121013 RASL TP VOL 04 LOST JOURNALS OF NIKOLA TESLA $19.95
MAY121234 SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR HC VOL 01 $24.99
APR121240 JOHNNY HIRO GN VOL 01 HALF ASIAN ALL HERO (MR) $16.99
FEB120053 GRENDEL OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 HUNTER ROSE $24.99
This also seems like a pretty strong week for material where we have a strong idea what it is -- collections and reprintings. The Scott Pilgrim material seems like it would hold color very well and the Grendel book seems like it could stand to be collected right now. I thought the Johnny Hiro material was charming when I read it. I love the over-sized format on the RASL, and I think the supporting material in that one flatters the book without being overwhelming. The Contract With God book is one you want for your library, even if you're on the negative side when it comes to the ongoing appraisal of Will Eisner's work. I find the Norton handling of Eisner's backlist sort of fascinating, really.

MAY120370 BERNIE WRIGHTSON MUCK MONSTER ARTIST ED PORTFOLIO $29.99
Bernie Wright anything, I'd look at that. I like this recent explosion of work and re-packagings of material from 1970s guys like Wrightson and Richard Corben; I hope it does at least reasonably well for them.

MAY120466 STEVE CANYON HC VOL 02 1949-1950 $49.99
I've been told this is the primetime material, although Caniff is a difficult cartoonist for me to enjoy.

JUN121416 WE GO POGO WALT KELLY POLITICS & AMERICAN SATIRE HC $65.00
JUN121417 WE GO POGO WALT KELLY POLITICS & AMERICAN SATIRE SC $25.00
Walt Kelly is also a difficult cartoonist for me to process, but I'd welcome a solid book about the man; perhaps this is that book.

JUN120326 GODZILLA HALF CENTURY WAR #1 [DIG] $3.99
MAR120753 MOUSE GUARD BLACK AXE #5 $3.50
JUN120946 ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE SCREAM QUEENS #2 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
JUN120428 IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #1 [DIG] $2.99
Finally, it's not the best week for traditional, comic-book sized offerings, but there's not a lot in terms of the first-tier Image Comics and not a lot that I saw in the DC and Marvel books, so this makes it an indy-comic Wednesday. The James Stokoe-drawn Godzilla material is probably the belle of the ball here, although that's one ruthlessly depressing issue of the David Petersen fantasy series, and I think better for it. I don't know a thing about the It Girl book beyond being sort of interested that someone is doing a comic with a supporting character from a Mike Allred book, and the Adventure Time stuff I list mostly because I'm starting to be confused by them. I don't know if that's a bad sign for the comic or a bad sign for me.

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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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