ORDER UP!!! My graphic novel choices for the August catalog
There are hundreds of graphic novels listed in each month’s Diamond Catalog. Hundreds! So to help you sift through it all, I’ve picked out a few books that I can’t wait to read.
SftC works in conjunction with Fantom Comics in Washington, DC (and nation-wide, via their online store and mail-order service). The deadline to order August books from Fantom and guarantee they’ll have them is this coming Wednesday at midnight. Other stores will probably have similar cut-off times, so don’t dawdle in ordering these books.
Now, to the list:
This is a book I’m personally excited about because the creator – Nathan Edmondson – has confirmed that the idea was formed while he was at a book signing at Fantom Comics when a professional dancer – and fan of his – talked with him at length. How cool is that?!
The multiple sell-out miniseries from the writer of WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? and the artist of VIKING, DANCER is the story of a retired assassin who must protect his ballerina love from a sniper stalking them both through the back alleys of a wintry Europe.
CNN calls DANCER: “The best example of what’s possible without a man in tights.”
Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi Vol. 1: Force Storm TP ($18.99)
Here begins the tale of the dawn of the Jedi, the Star Wars of 25,000 years ago-before lightsabers, before hyperspace travel, before the Jedi spread throughout the galaxy, when connections to the Force were new.
On the planet Tython, a group of beings-scientists, philosophers, and warriors-strive to maintain peace and to balance the mystifying power known as the Force. But a stranger is coming, one who will disrupt the balance with his arrival and his own connection to the Force. Everything in their system is about to change . . . The doors to the galaxy have been opened! Collects Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi-Force Storm #1-#5.
Fairest Vol. 1: Wide Awake TP ($14.99)
In this first FAIREST TP, collecting issues #1-7, Sleeping Beauty has been awakened again by true love’s kiss. But the thief Ali Baba doesn’t seem a likely candidate for knowing true love from a day-old cruller. So how did this kiss work? Plus: Briar Rose captured by the Snow Queen! Seven good fairy godmothers and one really bad one! And much more!
Saucer Country Vol. 1: Run TP ($14.99)
In this first SAUCER COUNTRY TP, collecting issues #1-6 of the series and a story from STRANGE ADVENTURES #1, meet Arcadia Alvarado, Governor of New Mexico and Presidential hopeful, who says she was abducted by aliens. She’s already dealing with immigration, budget cuts and an alcoholic ex – and now she’s determined to win the election so she can expose the truth about the aliens – and save the world.
Night of 1,000 Wolves TP ($17.99)
In the Dark Ages, the tranquil life of Harrick Benjyon and his family is shattered by unthinkable tragedy. Before they can react, the family find themselves under siege by hordes of wolves with one aim: Death! A race for survival becomes all the more impossible by the arrival of the supernatural… and the dark secrets that lie at the heart of the Benjyon family.
Best American Comics 2012 HC ($25.00)
The Best American Comics showcases the work of both established and up-and-coming contributers from 2012. Guest Editor Françoise Mouly – long-time art editor at The New Yorker and founder of the graphic anthologies RAW – has culled the best pieces from graphic novels, pamphlet comics, newspapers, magazines, minicomics, and the Web to create a stunning installment, complete this year with a selection of pieces devoted to kids and contributions from Charles Burns, Chester Brown, and Joyce Farmer.
Faster Than A Speeding Bullet HC ($14.99)
Graphic novels have exploded off bookstore shelves and into movies, college courses and the New York Times Book Review, and onto the coffee tables of the cognoscenti. Where did all the excitement come from? Stephen Weiner, a comics historian and children’s literature specialist, provides the answers in this groundbreaking book – the first history of graphic novels. The author of 101 Best Graphic Novels tells the whole history of this new medium – from the first modern urban autobiographical graphic novel, Will Eisner’s A Contract with God, to the hip indy comics of the Hernandez Bros.’ Love and Rockets, the dark mysteries of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, and the postmodern superheroics of Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight.
Rocky Horror Picture Show TP ($17.99)
The official adaptation of the cult classic! Collecting the Caliber Comics series, this full-color graphic novel not only reprints all three issues but also has special features such as a profile of creator Richard O’Brien, the lyrics to all the songs, and the fan club version of the audience participation guide. Adapted and illustrated by Kevin VanHook, this comic has been out of print for over 20 years.
After just two seasons, Deadwood has become one of cable’s highest rated series, a symbol of how great television can be when pushed to its limits. Deadwood is television made at the highest level of craft. Deadwood is a vividly illustrated and comprehensive companion volume that brings fans behind the scenes to get the full story of HBO’s Award-winning drama. The book gives readers in-depth interviews with cast, crew, writers, designers, and historians. Original, specially commissioned photography provides a fresh look at the people and places of Deadwood, with new portraits of the lead characters (based on actual persons), detailed depictions of the set (including the Gem Saloon and Jack Langrishe’s theater), and images revealing how the show is made, from costuming and makeup to the mixing of Deadwood mud.
ANGELS: Guardians. Messengers. Warriors. Fallen.
All these angelic aspects and more are explored in A FLIGHT OF ANGELS, a riveting tale in the tradition of The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales. A mysterious angel plummets to Earth and lands deep in a dark forest, where his dying body is found by the mystical denizens of this strange place. As the gathered fauns, fairies, hags and hobgoblins debate what to do with him, each tells a different story of who they imagine this celestial creature to be: a hero, a lover, a protector or a killer. Once the stories have been told, a verdict is rendered – and the outcome will leave you breathless. Conceived and stunningly illustrated by fantasy art legend Rebecca Guay (Magic: The Gathering, Veils), A FLIGHT OF ANGELS is written by an all-star lineup of today’s top fantasy talent, including Bill Willingham (FABLES) and Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) in tales that will grip your heart and make your imagination soar.
Just in time for Halloween, American Freakshow tells the story of the bizarre and cruel life of a carnival freak as he seeks redemption (maybe) and murder (definitely) in a Florida trailer park. Never appearing in comic book form, this is the first original graphic novel written by 30 Days of Night co-creator, Steve Niles.
From the artist of THE LI’L DEPRESSED BOY and AMBER BENSON’S AMONG THE GHOSTS, comes a retail hell story like you’ve never encountered before! A young artist takes a job at a department store in order to make ends meet… little does he know that he may meet his end! In this gothic story for fans of PERSEPOLIS, BLANKETS, and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, can the artist withstand competitive pressure, treachery, and high fashion while still keeping his soul?
An Inspector Calls Original Text Ed ($16.95)
A respectable household is shocked when a strange police inspector visits them shortly after dinner – and proceeds to unravel their prejudices and lies. Through this almost surreal murder-mystery, Priestley interweaves social comment with a gripping story that twists and turns every few pages.
The creator of 2008′s critically acclaimed graphic novel The Lagoon is back with a stunningly designed collection of some of the most poetic and confident short fiction being produced in comics today. The stories in Heads or Tails display a virtuosic breadth of visual styles and color palettes, each in perfect service of the story, and range from experimental one-pagers to short masterpieces.
From the creator of Black Hole, the second part of a new epic masterpiece of graphic horror in brilliant, vivid color. Much has happened since we last saw Doug, the Tintin-like hero from X’ed Out. Confessing his past to an unidentified woman, Doug struggles to recall the mysterious incident that left his life shattered, an incident that may have involved his disturbed and now-absent girlfriend, Sarah, and her menacing ex-boyfriend. Doug warily seeks answers in a nightmarish alternate world that is a distorted mirror of our own, where he is a lowly employee that carts supplies around the Hive. Also available in a Bookplate Edition, limited to 500 copies.
Understanding Monster ($21.95)
Theo Ellsworth’s follow-up to his celebrated debut, Capacity, follows the displaced Izadore, currently in the form of a mouse, on his mindscape quest to regain his true form and full recall his true identity. The Understanding Monster Book One is an exquisitely rendered, often danger-fraught journey into the nature of creativity and inspiration.
Greetings, I’m Nicholas and I’m certainly pleased that I came
upon subcultureforthecultured.com. I had a brief question that I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. What do you do to clear your mind and find your center of focus before you sit down to write? Lately I just can’t get my
head clear so that I’m set to concentrate on my ideas. I love writing once I get into the act, but most of the time I feel as if I end up losing the first 10 to 15 minutes pushing myself to concentrate. Do you have any suggestions or tips?