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Book News
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the newest issue of Graphic Times. Some truly great titles have released over the past several weeks and hopefully this newsletter will help highlight the best of the new releases, point out some interesting trends, and help sell some books! As always, don’t hesitate to call or email me with any feedback [...]
Read More »Graphic Novels - Collectible and Gift
POPEYE: THE GREAT COMIC BOOK TALES BY BUD SAGENDORF
Craig Yoe - Editor
(Yoe! Books / IDW, $29.99, HC, 9781600107474)
The newest book in the Yoe! Books imprint from IDW is POPEYE: THE GREAT COMIC BOOK TALES BY BUD SAGENDORF, a great collection of some of the best stories from the 1940s and 1950s. The stories are reproduced in full color and accompanied by an illustrated introduction and, as with all titles in the Yoe! Books line, the high end production design adds to the collectible nature of the book. Rated E.
Also New in Graphic Novels - Collectible and Gift:
Graphic Novels - Crime & Mystery
LIAR'S KISS
Eric Skillman & Jhomar Soriano
(Top Shelf Productions, $14.95, HC, 9781603090704)
Be on the lookout for LIAR'S KISS when it comes out next month. Nick Archer is a lazy private detective hired by a local millionaire, Johnny Kincaid, to spy on his second wife, Abbey. Turns out Abbey is indeed having an affair...with Nick, and when Johnny Kincaid turns up dead, it's up to Nick to clear both their names. It's a classic mystery with lots of twists and turns and a surprising and satisfying ending. Jhomar Soriano juxtaposes his art between heavily contrasting black-and-white inkwork and fantastic, detailed ink washes, both giving the book an appropriately noirish tone. You can read an excerpt here. Rated T+.
Graphic Novels - General
LUCILLE
Ludovic Debeurme
(Top Shelf Productions, $29.95, TP, 9781603090735)
Make sure you take a look at LUCILLE, a beautiful and touching graphic novel from Top Shelf. Originally published in France in 2006, Lucille follows the title character, an awkward, anorexic teen and Arthur, an alcoholic fisherman's son with OCD, and what happens when they eventually meet each other. Creator Ludovic Debeurme takes his time with both characters, slowly revealing their personalities, circumstances, and struggles, so that, by the time they meet about halfway through the book, the reader is fully invested in each of them. Both Lucille's struggle with her eating disorder and Arthur's troubled home life are handled with intimacy, frankness and sensitivity, and the book packs a lot of emotional power through both the free form, simple line art and the spare text (atypically, there are no panels or speech balloons in use here). Debeurme is very respected and well-known in France (Lucille won the René Goscinny Prize there), and with this being his English-language debut, there's already quite a bit of buzz surrounding it which should increase when it's released early next month. Take a look at an excerpt here. Rated M.
Also New in Graphic Novels - General:
Graphic Novels - Horror
iZOMBIE, VOL. 1
Chris Roberson & Michael Allred
(Vertigo, $14.99, TP, 9781401229658)
A title most likely under most people's radar is iZOMBIE, a new series by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred. iZombie, Vol. 1: Dead to the World follows Gwen Dylan, an attractive gravedigger who just happens to be a zombie, who's able to function regularly as long as she eats at least one brain a month - otherwise, she turns into a full-fledged, Night of the Living Dead-like flesh-eater. There's a twist, though - every brain she eats gives her the memories of the deceased, and her recent meal was that of an unsolved murder victim. Thrown into the mix is Ellie, a mod ghost stuck in the 60s, Scott, a were-terrier, a mysterious mummy, and a band of hot female vampires running a paintball business. It's a fun, entertaining story that reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in its wit, tone and character interactions. Hey, you Oregon stores should be aware it's set in Eugene, OR! I'm a big fan of Michael Allred's art and his unique gift at capturing the perfect facial expressions of his characters very much enhances Chris Roberson's text. This is definitely worth a try. You can read an excerpt here. Rated M.
Also New in Graphic Novels - Horror:
Graphic Novels - Juvenile
YO GABBA GABBA! COMIC BOOK TIME
Various
(Oni Press, $24.99. HC, 9781934964491)
DJ Lance and his magic boom box pals make their graphic novel debut in YO GABBA GABBA! COMIC BOOK TIME. Full of original comic adventures by animators from the hit show and some big name comic creators (Michael Allred), Yo Gabba Gabba! Comic Book Time offers kids fun, colorful stories starring the Gabba Land Gang - Muno, Toodee, Plex, Brobee, and Foofa. The different artistic styles of the stories keep things fresh while always staying true to the concept of the show. I especially like the art in "Sticking Together" (Michael Allred), "Cowboy Kitty & Dogalong Dan" (Joey Mason), and "Practice" (Joshua Williamson & Vicente Navarette), which you can read in this preview. Rated E.
Also New in Graphic Novels - Juvenile:
Graphic Novels - Science Fiction & Fantasy
SWEET TOOTH, VOL.2: IN CAPTIVITY
Jeff Lemire
(Vertigo, $12.99, TP, 9781401228545)
If you haven't yet stocked SWEET TOOTH, the new, ongoing series by Jeff Lemire (Essex County), you should give it a try. It's a dark tale about Gus, one of a new breed of human/animal hybrids that springs up after a pandemic wipes out most of the human population. Sheltered in the woods of Nebraska for nine years, Gus must set out on his own when his father dies, and soon learns he can trust no one - especially the few remaining humans, convinced a cure lies in these hybrid children, and in Gus, particularly. Yes, it is dark, but Lemire really delves into the emotional make-up of his characters, which makes this compelling reading. Two volumes of the series are currently available, with a third due in June. You can read the first part of the story here. Rated M.
Also New in Graphic Novels - Science Fiction & Fantasy:
Manga
BLUE EXORCIST, VOL. 1
Kazue Kato
(Viz Media, $9.99, TP, 9781421540320)
Be sure to take a look at BLUE EXORCIST, a great new manga series just out from Viz. Twin brothers Rin and Yukio Okumura have been raised at a monastery by Father Fujimoto, a renowned demon exorcist. Hot headed Rin constantly gets into fights and doesn't really have a knack for school or jobs, while Yukio keeps his nose to the grindstone with the goal of one day becoming a doctor. When Rin learns he actually has demon blood running in his veins, he vows to become an exorcist himself, but must first enter True Cross Academy where his first instructor is none other than his twin brother, Yukio. The story starts strong, offers some good twists along the way, and maintains a perfect pace. This should do quite well. Rated T+.
Also New in Manga:
Superheroes
THOR & LOKI: BLOOD BROTHERS
Robert Rodi & Esad Ribic
(Marvel, $24.99, HC, 9780785149682)
The newest superhero movie on the horizon is the big budget film adaptation of Thor, due early next month, and Marvel is ramping up its graphic novel releases, even though it doesn't appear that the film is based on any one particular storyline. One of the more attractive releases is THOR & LOKI: BLOOD BROTHERS. This never-before-told version of Asgardian mythology is uniquely told from Loki's point of view, but it's the fully painted artwork from Esad Ribic that grabs your attention. Also included in this hardcover is a classic Thor story from creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as well as another Loki-centric story by J. Michael Straczynski. Marvel recently released an animated version of this tale and you can watch the trailer here. You can also see the trailer for the feature film here. Rated T.
