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.

*****

MAY111197 INFINITE KUNG FU GN $24.95
A potential star-maker for Kagan McLeod: a massive, energetically-told kung fu fable of the kind you'd think would have been done a bunch of times in comics but have a hard time of thinking of a similar work. Nicely-presented support site here.

JUN110035 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #3 DAVE GIBBONS CVR $7.99
JUN110036 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #3 PAUL CHADWICK CVR $7.99
I hope this anthology series continues to get over because serial features and short stories seem perfectly suited to artists like Gibbons and Chadwick in a marketable way that mini-series and one-off complete books maybe make less sense now. That's basically a hunch on my part, I couldn't prove it on a chalkboard.

MAY111048 BIG QUESTIONS S&N HC (MR) $69.95
Book of the week. I think it was Sean T. Collins that pointed out that this book is so big that it's not only Anders Nilsen's latest work but the first comics in there are Nilsen's first comics work. There's a not-signed and presumably not-numbered edition for around $45, I think.

MAR110064 BLACKJACKED & PISTOL WHIPPED CRIME DOES NOT PAY PRIMER $19.99
A best-of featuring the classic crime comics title, one of the most important series in history and one-time industry sensation? I'm dying to see this one. I've heard complaints from some people about the way Dark Horse has done some of their collections, so I think I'd pay attention to the art direction and production in general before walking it up to the cash register.

MAY111112 BOUNCER ONE ARMED GUNSLINGER HC (MR) $29.95
I didn't know what this was, but my Dad's favorite movie was Bad Day At Black Rock, so I went to look at Jog's listings and he tells me this is a Alejandro Jodorowsky/Francois Boucq from Humanoids. I can't imagine this not being worth at least a look if not an outright blind buy.

MAY111241 NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 16 $12.99
The best ongoing manga series with a new volume out this week.

APR111002 NOGOODNIKS HC (MR) $24.95
This is another title about which I know absolutely nothing, although the description of this Petits Livres work from Adrian Norvid makes it sound interesting.

JUN111419 IN THE STUDIO HC (SALE ED) $12.99
JUN111421 KIRBY KING OF THE COMICS HC (SALE ED) $12.99
Two of the most talked-about books about comics of recent vintage, offered for a low price. In The Studio is Todd Hignite's book visiting various artists on their home turf; the Kirby book is Mark Evanier's.

JUN111099 PIN-UP ART OF HUMORAMA GN (RES) (MR) $19.99
Alex Chun's books on various gag cartooning efforts are pretty perfectly conceived in terms of going deep into cartooning corners in which very few travel and then representing it in an easy-to-comprehend way for those of us that lack the drive to scramble after this stuff when it was much harder to access.

APR111037 DRAWING POWER COMPENDIUM OF CARTOON ADVERTISING SC (RES) $28.99
I've seen this book and been through it once; I don't have a sense of the quality of the text or the editorial precision involved, but the art is kind of jaw-dropping in terms of presenting images from various great cartoonists I've never seen before.

APR110386 ARCHIE AMERICANA HC VOL 01 THE 40S $24.99
This is a reprint into one volume of both successful 1990s-released volumes reprinting work from the various "Archie" stories of the 1940s, heavy on first appearances and character introductions.

JUN110503 MALINKY ROBOT COLL STORIES & OTHER BITS TP $16.99
A collection of short stories from the visually appealing Sonny Liew.

JUN110635 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #621 $2.99
JUN110670 FF #8 $2.99
These are the two superhero comics I'd consider buying this week. It's funny to be at the point in one's life where when as a kid you remember the eternity between monthly issues and today you look up and there's already an eighth issue of a title you thought was on #2 or #3.

FEB111067 MILTON CANIFF MALE CALL HC $39.99
I'm not sure where this Hermes Press stands in terms of this material (Milton Caniff's sexy strip for servicemen) being collected before now, but everything Caniff is worth a look and this is the very definition of a book I'd pick up and look over in a store.

JAN111193 COMICS JOURNAL #301 (MR) $30.00
Our long national nightmare is over. It's a strong issue, too, perfectly suited to the new format, which I will remind you as a public service is perfectly suited to the back of most toilets. The Tim Kreider essay on Cerebus is a keeper, as is the Crumb interview and the Jim Woodring sketchbook section.

APR111032 ESPERANZA LOVE & ROCKETS BOOK SC (MR) $18.99
The latest in the surprisingly near-perfect softcover reprinting of the Love & Rockets stories, this one focusing on Hopey's career change, Angel becoming friends with Maggie and first Maggie, then Ray D., getting mixed with Vivian the Frogmouth. These read much more powerfully in a few sittings than in their serial form -- it's much easier to track supporting characters like Reno, for one thing -- and the highlights are absolute series highlights. One of the stories when it was first published made me leave an answering machine message talking about a plot development as if they were real people.

*****

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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