Comics and More

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops tomorrow... Punisher by Greg Rucka (Volume 1) HC - In case you haven't had the chance to check out these solid comics, the first volume of Greg Rucka's excellent take on The Punisher is now available in a nice hardcover collection. Other Noteworthy Releases Batman Beyond Unlimited #1 Breathe Deeply GN Darkness #100 GTO: The Early Years (Volume 11) Key of Z (Volume 1) TP Markus Fang GN Ralph Wiggum Comics #1 Strawberry Shortcake Digest: Berry Scary Storm BN Strawberry Shortcake Digest: Pineapple & Others GN Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series: Donatello Ultimate Comics: Ultimates by Jonathan Hickman (Volume 1) HC Uncanny X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga (Book 2) HC

Soulless: The Manga (Volume 1) Gail Carriger & Rem I absolutely loved Soulless: The Manga !  I haven't been this excited about a manga in a while, so I'm glad that I picked it up on a whim.  Soulless is actually an OEL manga adapted from prose novels written by Gail Carriger.  But the supernatural elements and the tone make it a great fit for the manga format, and Rem does a stunning job adapting the story with very cinematic sequences and jaw-dropping illustration work.  The story is about Alexia Tarrabotti, a preternatural in a Victorian Era London populated by vampires and werewolves, as well as humans.  Preternaturals are rare, but the gift that Alexia has makes her a formidable opponent, as well as a target, as she has the ability to make a supernatural being completely human for as long as she touches them.  And while that is certainly a cool part of the story, and comes in to play quite a bit, it's really the relation...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops tomorrow... Is That All There Is? HC - This is a collection of all the material from European cartoonist Joost Swarte from 1972 and on, including his material from RAW.  This first English translation of his work also comes with an introduction from none other than Chris Ware. Other Noteworthy Releases Afrika HC Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives (Volume 1) HC Explorer: The Mystery Boxes HC/SC Goliath HC Hector Umbra HC Invincible Ultimate Collection (Volume 7) HC Kolor Klimax: Nordic Comics Now GN Mondo #1 (of 3) My Friend Dahmer GN Quasar Classic (Volume 1) TP RASL #13 Thunderbolts Classics (Volume 2) TP Too Much Coffee Man: Cutie Island TP Wally Wood's EC Stories Artist's Edition HC X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Omnibus HC

Manga Monday will return in two weeks (finally!), and as I'm on vacation next week in Arizona, the Pick of the Week feature will also be a little late again, posting on early Wednesday.  But until then, here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops this coming Wednesday... Glory #23 - This is another Extreme relaunch, hot on the heels of the excellent Prophet #21 .  This one is from Joe Keatinge and Ross Campbell. Other Noteworthy Releases Annihilators TP Astonishing X-Men by Whedon & Cassaday Ultimate Coll. (Bk 1) TP Athos In America HC Avengers Omnibus (Volume 1) HC B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth: The Long Death #1 Captain America by Dan Jurgens (Volume 3) TP DC Universe Presents #6 Fables Deluxe Edition (Volume 4) HC Peter Panzerfaust #1 Road Rage #1 (of 4) The Stand: Night Has Come HC Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man by Bendis (Volume 1) HC

Here are the books that caught my eye in Previews Catalogue , for books shipping to comic shops in March... Uncanny X-Force #23 - Holy crap I have to start reading this comic!  I love Meggan and Captain Britain, and there's Widget on the cover, and Captain Britain Corps stuff - all you Excalibur fans out there, prepare to geek out with me! Savage Dragon Ultimate Collection (Volume 1) HC - Erik Larsen's comic has really had no good reprint program associated with the title, so it's nice to see that people will finally be able to turn to a series of hardcovers to rediscover this gem. Batman: Death by Design HC - An original graphic novel featuring the Dark Knight, written by none other than Chip Kidd!  Avengers Assemble #1 - A new ongoing series from Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley (the original team behind Ultimate Spider-Man ) featuring the Avengers roster from the movie, but in Marvel Universe continuity. Fallen Words GN - A new manga from Yoshihiro Tats...

Sorry this is being posted late, but better late than never.  Here is the book you should be paying attention to in comic shops today... Young Romance: The Best of Simon & Kirby's Romance Comics HC - From Fantagraphics Books, this reprints twenty-one romance comics from the 40's and 50's in color, from two masters of the medium. Other Noteworthy Releases Conan the Barbarian #1 Fantastic Four: Season One HC Garth Ennis' Ninjettes #1 Jinchalo GN Kevin Keller #1 Spider-Man: The Next Chapter (Volume 2) TP Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Volume 1) TP Thief of Thieves #1

Patrick Markfort and I take a look at four debut issues from Image Comics . Reviewed: Part One: Prophet #21 Brandon Graham, Simon Roy & Richard Ballermann Part Two: The Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred #1 (of 6) David Hine & Shaky Kane Part Three: Whispers #1 Joshua Luna Part Four: Fatale #1 Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips For further reading: The Bulletproof Coffin TP David Hine & Shaky Kane Girls (Volume 1): Conception TP The Luna Brothers Sleeper (Volume 1): Out In the Cold TP Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips Prophet/Cable #1-2 Rob Liefeld, Robert Napton & Mark Pajarillo

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday... John Romita Amazing Spider-Man: Artist Edition HC - Collecting seven issues from Romita's run on Amazing Spider-Man, and featuring some of Spidey's greatest villains, this welcome addition to IDW's Artist Edition series is sure to look absolutely stunning. Other Noteworthy Releases American Vampire (Volume 3) HC Archie Archives (Volume 4) HC Incredible Hulk: Fall of the Hulks HC John Carter: A Princess of Mars TP John Carter: World of Mars TP Jurassic Strike Force 5 #1 Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC Magic: The Gathering #1 Winter Soldier #1

Joshua Luna Whispers is the first solo project from Joshua Luna, one half of the Luna Brothers team who have brought us some memorable comics in the form of  Ultra: Seven Days , Girls and The Sword .  As Jonathan Luna's pencils are what we're used to seeing attached to the Luna name in terms of art, it's different seeing Joshua's art style on this title.  But not in a bad way.  Joshua's pencils aren't as sleek and refined as his brother's, but it does have that cinematic storytelling quality that we're used to with their books.  You can really see the writer behind those other books in this title, and Joshua has obviously taken a lot away from working with his brother previously, and as he's done scripting and layouts for books before, you can see the similarities between this and something like Girls .  But this is all Joshua's product, and anybody who has enjoyed The Luna Brother's previous works will like this a...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday... Polly & the Pirates (Volume 2): Mystery of the Dragonfish TP - I'm very happy to see Ted Naifeh's Polly and the Pirates is back in a new adventure!  I really liked the first volume, and while it's been awhile since that first swashbuckling mini-series came out, this is definitely a welcome release, even if Ted Naifeh himself isn't drawing it this time around (art is by Robbi Rodriguez). Other Noteworthy Releases Batman & Robin: Dark Knight, White Night HC Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterrred #1 (of 6) Captain America by Ed Brubaker (Volume 1) HC Creepy Archives (Volume 12) HC Daredevil by Brubaker & Lark Ultimate Collection (Volume 1) TP Daredevil by Mark Waid (Volume 1) HC Durarara (Volume 1) Fantastic Life GN Hawkman by Geoff Johns Omnibus (Volume 1) HC Infestation 2 #1 (of 2) Lil Abner (Volume 4) HC Manara Library (Volume 2) HC Naughty & Nice: The Goo...

Patrick Markfort and I take a look at two releases from small publisher Sparkplug. Reviewed: Part One: The Heavy Hand Chris C. Cilla Part Two: Orchid Edited by Ben Catmull & Dylan Williams For further reading: Sparkplug Homepage: http://sparkplugcomicbooks.com/index.html Dylan Williams Reporter (a tribute blog to the late cartoonist and publisher): http://dylanwilliamsreporter.blogspot.com/

Chris Roberson & Rich Ellis Memorial is a new mini-series published by IDW, from Chris Roberson ( I, Zombie , Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love ) and Rich Ellis, following a girl called Em after she stumbles into a hospital with amnesia, with no record of who she is, the only clue being the letter "M" on a necklace she's wearing.  While we follow Em as she establishes a new life for herself, we also get a glimpse of a dark world of magic called the Everlands, where we are introduced to a mysterious tyrannical ruler in shadows and her henchmen, which includes a living puppet.  Em stumbles upon a key in a curiosity shop and things kind of get hectic from there, as she is attacked immediately upon finding it by people from the Everlands, and discovers something rather interesting about the shop she has found.  This was a nice introduction to this world of magic that Roberson and Ellis have created.  Using a character with amnesia like Em, ...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday... Steve Canyon (Volume 1): 1947-1948 HC - Here's the first volume in a new reprint series of Milton Caniff's adventure strip Steve Canyon , his follow-up to Terry and the Pirates , featuring all of the color Sundays and dailies in deserving handsome hardcover volumes.  This is part of IDW's solid  Library of American Comics line. Other Noteworthy Releases Bill Griffith: Lost and Found: 1970-1994 TP Conan (Volume 11): Road of Kings, Part One TP Danger Girl: Revolver #1 (of 4) Fraggle Rock Classics (Volume 1) TP Lord of the Jungle #1 Marvel Firsts: 1970's (Volume 1) TP Mazeworld GN Steed and Mrs. Peel #1 (of 6) Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye by Hickman HC Wally Wood: Strange Worlds of Science Fiction HC War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath HC

Patrick Markfort and I discuss the comic book releases that we are most looking forward to in 2012 (that have been announced so far). Part One: Part Two: Part Three: Part Four:

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday... Whispers #1 - A new series from Image Comics , the first solo effort from Joshua Luna (half of The Luna Brothers creative team), featuring different art than we're used to seeing attached to his name. Other Noteworthy Releases Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo (Volume 3) HC Batman: Through the Looking Glass HC Before the Incal Classic Collection HC Brooklyn Dreams HC Infestation HC Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal (Volume 1): Creation Myths HC Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1 (of 5) Monster Mess HC Mystic: The Tenth Apprentice TP Scarlet Spider #1 The Smurfs (Volume 10): The Return of the Smurfette GN Spera (Volume 1) HC Spider-Man: Spider-Island HC Steve Ditko Omnibus (Volume 2) HC Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years (Volume 10) HC X-Men by Claremont and Lee Omnibus (Volume 2) HC

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips Fatale is a new noir thriller from Ed Burbaker and Sean Phillips, the creative team behind the acclaimed series  Sleeper and  the Marvel Icons series Criminal and Incognito .  Published through Image Comics , Fatale begins with a prologue that follows the son of a recently-deceased writer who some mysterious men in black are after.  A beautiful woman comes to his rescue before a new chapter begins, featuring this same woman and a policeman looking into a brutal mass murder.  There are supernatural elements at play here, most evident in the ritualistic murder scene, and the flashback page of robed nazis and demons.  The mixture of noir and the supernatural seems fresh here with neat elements introduced, and a vague mystery and faces that I'm really looking forward to seeing flushed out in later chapters.  I'm not usually a huge fan of noir, but this is a really solidly told issue, paced to perfection, with some of t...

Patrick Markfort and I take a look back at the comics we enjoyed most in 2011 in this epic podcast (it's almost an hour and a half long altogether).  We decided to pick our favorites in different categories like "Favorite Graphic Novel," and then rounded up other great books from the year at the end.  Enjoy! Part One: Favorite Comic Book Series Part Two: Favorite Archival Comic Collection Part Three: Favorite Graphic Novel Part Four: Favorite Writer Part Five: Favorite Artist Part Six: Breakout Talent and Favorite Character Part Seven: Honorable Mentions Part One Part Eight: Honorable Mentions Part Two Part Nine: Honorable Mentions Part Three Patrick's Picks Favorite Comic Book Series : FF/Fantastic Four ( Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting, Greg Tocchini, Juan Bobillo, Barry Kitson & Others ) Favorite Archival Comic Collection : Pogo: The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips (Volume 1): 1949-1950 "Through the Wild Blu...

I look forward to doing this all year, the culmination of all of my comics reading, highlighting the best and the brightest the medium had to offer over the past twelve months. These are my favorites of 2011, including manga, superheroes, graphic novels, reprints, etc. I try to be as true to how I feel about a book as possible when ranking them, which is why it may seem odd for some to see a superhero title hardly anyone read rank over an acclaimed graphic novel. If I enjoyed my experience of reading it more, it was placed higher on my list. I did feel odd including a book like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Deluxe Edition , since the comics are fairly recent, and it's not like people couldn't get their hands on it, unlike something like Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse strips, which really needed to be collected.  It felt more like I would be ranking its new packaging more than anything, so I left things like that off of my list (even though I enjoyed it...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops tomorrow... Fatale #1 - It's monster mobsters and deadly dames in this new twelve-issue series from the Criminal, Sleeper team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Other Noteworthy Releases Annotated Sandman (Volume 1) HC Asterix Omnibus (Volume 3) HC Avengers/X-Men: Bloodties HC Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 1): Golden Dawn HC Black Fire HC Eerie Archives (Volume 9) HC Fear Itself HC Fearless (Volume 1) TP Ferals #1 Fluffy Fluffy Cinnamoroll (Volume 1) Inner Sanctum GN The Lone Ranger #1 Peanuts #1 (of 4) Strikeforce Morituri: We Who Are About To Die #1 Wandering Son (Volume 2) HC Young Marvelman Classic (Volume 2) HC

Here are the books that caught my eye in Previews Catalogue , for books shipping to comic shops in February... Folly: The Consequences of Indiscretion SC - This is a collection of material that was originally self-published by the creator, Hans Rickheit, who topped my best-of-the-year list a few years back with The Squirrel Machine . Winter Soldier #1 & #2  - A new ongoing series from Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice, featuring Bucky as well as Black Widow. Harvey Pekar's Cleveland HC - Autobiographical sketches and glimpses of the city he lived in for most of his life, haunt this graphic novel from the late great Harvey Pekar. Fantastic Four: Season One HC - The first in a series of original graphic novels, these are great for new fans, retelling the origins of some of the greatest Marvel heroes. DC Comics Presents #6 - Now that Deadman's story has wrapped up, Dan Didio and Jerry Ordway take the reigns of the anthology series DC Comics Presents to debut The Challeng...