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Top 32 Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga:
April 2022
Happy Chinese New Year, let’s see how wild and roaring this Tiger of a year proves to be - will it be Tiger Tim, Mr Tawky Tawny or Hobbes! Here are my 32 PG Tips and among my highlights let me single out these two vivid and touching historical dramas, one by Aimee de Jongh set during the tragic years of the American dust bowl, the other by Gregory Lockard and Tim Fish (below) unfolding in Weimar Germany amid the rise of Nazism.
Few autobiographical graphic novels from the West approach 1,000 pages in length and depth like Emma Grove’s major work, while Asaf Hanuka captures concise slices of his day-to-day life and reflections.
Family matters and their emotional repercussions are also central to Tyler Feder’s and Adam Souza’s latest…
And shifting to the spiritual plane, Jim Woodring illuminates a tangible dimension of resonating wonders…
While John Hendrix animates the Holy Spirit itself.
Finally, this rich reference work is long overdue, a guide to the under-explored, under-reprinted heritage of Britain’s newspaper strips. I suspect Britain may be second only to the United States in its profuse volume of daily strips, many of which were syndicated and translated around the world. I hope you find some titles here to look forward to reading in a couple of months’ time…
40 Hour Man
by Stephen Beaupre & Steve Lafler
Cat-Head Comics
$19.99
The publisher says:
Is it a career, or a series of really lame jobs? Stephen Beaupre (author) and Steve Lafler (cartoonist) pose this timeless question in 40 Hour Man, a hilarious saga of one working stiff’s three-decade journey into the minimum wage heart of the American Dream. It’s all here - from scrubbing a steakhouse floor with a toothbrush to going bust in the Internet boom. Every bad boss. Every crazy co-worker. All the more shocking because it’s true! Stephen Beaupre is a writer, editor, and unrepentant amateur musician. He is best known to comic aficionados as the former co-publisher of the Cat-Head Comics imprint and editor of Buzzard, the 90’s preeminent comic anthology. Post-comic pursuits include Beyond the Fringe, a long-running humour column featured in Worcester Magazine, and hard time in the Internet trench as writer/editor for popular online destinations such as Angelfire, Tripod, and Monster. He is inordinately fond of pancakes. Graphic novelist Steve Lafler is the creator of BugHouse and 1956 Book One: Sweet Sweet Little Ramona. 248pgs B&W paperback.
6,000 Miles to Freedom
by Stéphane Marchetti & Cyrille Pomès
Graphic Mundi / PSU Press
$26.95
The publisher says:
Two boys. One war-torn country. A world away, freedom. Twelve-year-old Adel and his cousin Shafi try to lead a normal childhood in war-torn Afghanistan. But when Adel’s father dies, everything changes. His uncle, a religious fundamentalist, sends Adel to study at a madrasa run by militants, where he is trained as an insurgent and chosen to carry out a suicide bombing. When his moment of martyrdom arrives, Adel’s detonator fails, and he is forced to flee the country or risk being killed by the Afghan police or the Taliban themselves. Together, Adel and Shafi set out to seek refuge in England, where Shafi’s brother now lives and where a new life awaits. With that hope, the two boys begin the perilous journey of 6,000 miles to freedom, crossing mountains on foot and squeezing into crowded trucks with other refugees. The two become separated only to find each other again in the Calais Jungle encampment, their last, hellish stop. Based on numerous testimonies from refugee youth, this poignant, timely and well-documented story brings to life the traumatic experiences faced by Afghani children fleeing war and poverty, as well as the isolation they often feel as refugees in the West. Stéphane Marchetti is an author, director, and producer of documentaries. His film Rafah, chroniques d’une ville dans la bande de Gaza won the Albert Londres Prize in 2008. 6,000 Miles to Freedom is based on testimony collected in his 2017 documentary, Les enfants de la jungle. Cyrille Pomès published his first comic book, À la lettre près, in 2005. Since then, he has collaborated with historian Jean-Pierre Filiu on Le printemps de Arabes and Le dame de Damas and with Isabelle Merlet on the prize-winning Le fils de l’Ursari, based on the novel by Xavier-Laurent Petit.128pgs colour hardcover.
Alte Zachen: Old Things
by Ziggy Hanoar & Benjamin Phillips
Cicada
£16.99
The publisher says:
This first graphic novel from Cicada follows 11-year-old Benji and his elderly grandmother, Bubbe Rosa, as they traverse Brooklyn and Manhattan, gathering the ingredients for a Friday night dinner. Bubbe’s relationship with the city is complex – nothing is quite as she remembered it and she feels alienated and angry at the world around her. Benji, on the other hand, looks at the world, and his grandmother, with clear-eyed acceptance. As they wander the city, we catch glimpses of Bubbe’s childhood in Germany, her young adulthood in 1950s Brooklyn, and her relationships; first with a baker called Gershon, and later with successful Joe, Benji’s grandfather. Gradually we piece together snippets of Bubbe’s life, gaining an insight to some of the things that have formed her cantankerous personality. The journey culminates on the Lower East Side in a moving reunion between Rosa and Gershon, her first love. As the sun sets, Benji and his Bubbe walk home over the Williamsburg Bridge to make dinner. This is a powerful, affecting and deceptively simple story of Jewish identity, of generational divides, of the surmountability of difference and of a restless city and its inhabitants. Ziggy Hanaor is a publisher and writer. She is the author of Fly Flies and the Pocket Chaotic. This is her first graphic novel. Benjamin Phillips works in various mediums, straddling the disciplines of illustration and fine art. From his studio in Hastings, Benjamin finds inspiration in human interaction, the humour and turmoil of everyday life and the joy of repetition. His clients include New York Times, Penguin Random House, Ebury Press and the British Council. 72pgs colour hardcover.
BioRipple
by Nir Levie
Heavy Metal
$22.99
The publisher says:
A Law-Enforcement teacher hunts down members of a crime organization in an attempt to curb an illegal autonomy inside the city. A Bio-Punk Graphic novel by Nir Levie -Blade Runner meets Brazil. Emily is a law enforcement teacher who suffers from an anxiety disorder. Actual law enforcement isn’t performed by people, with automatons having replaced humans. In Emily’s world, humanity discovered that consciousness occupies multiple dimensions. Technology has allowed them to digitally house minds. This is referred to as “Hopping” which became illegal after it was proved that the minds that hop begin to suffer and go into a heightened state of panic. Every individual is connected to Geodesics - a powerful AI which converses with each person and guides their decisions. Geodesics is present everywhere, lending it near omnipresence, yet it is not conscious in the same way humans are. The Manifold is an anti-Geodesics organization. Their goal is to free people from AI, aiming to create an autonomy within the city which is devoid of Geodesics. The Manifold uses hopping to accomplish its goals. Once a copy of a mind is created, Geodesics is unable to locate the physical body associated with it and is forced to send law enforcement teachers after the hoppers. When Emily is called upon to locate a hopper, she fails to apprehend him due to an unknown force used by The Manifold. Tim sees the whole scene from an apartment window. He is an Architecture teacher. Actual architecture is a profession which no longer exists, being taken over by AI and automatons as well. The story follows Emily and Tim from their points of view as The Manifold plays a key role in shaping their future. Freedom of choice itself hangs in the balance as the forces of the technological world and biological mysteries collide. Nir Levie is an architect and a comic-book artist in Tel Aviv with a passion for telling stories about transformative change. His previous graphic novel, Mycelium Seep, was published by Markosia and received positive reception from critics noting his ability to convey handcrafted surrealist stories. His first graphic novel, Outskirts of Vision, was a finalist in the International Book Awards. 120pgs colour paperback.
Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley, adapted by Fred Fordham
Harper Collins / Vintage Classics
$24.99 / £20.00
The publisher says:
Available in graphic novel form for the first time, “one of the most prophetic dystopian works of the twentieth century” (Wall Street Journal) Aldous Huxley’s classic novel of authoritarianism Brave New World, is adapted and illustrated by Fred Fordham, the artist behind the graphic novel edition of To Kill A Mockingbird. Originally published in 1932, Brave New World is one of the most revered and profound works of twentieth century literature. Touching on themes of control, humanity, technology and influence, Aldous Huxley’s enduring classic is a reflection and a warning of the age in which it was written, yet remains frighteningly relevant today. With its surreal imagery and otherworldly backdrop, Brave New World adapts beautifully to the graphic novel form. Fred Fordham’s singular artistic flair and attention to detail and colour captures this thought-provoking novel as never before, and introduces it to a new generation and countless modern readers in a fresh and compelling way. Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) is the author of the classic novels Brave New World, Island, Eyeless in Gaza and The Genius and the Goddess, as well as such critically acclaimed nonfiction works as The Perennial Philosophy and The Doors of Perception. Born in Surrey, England, and educated at Oxford, he died in Los Angeles, California. 240pgs colour hardcover.
Dancing at the Pity Party
by Tyler Feder
Dial Books
$18.99 / $12.99
The publisher says:
Part poignant cancer memoir and part humorous reflection on a motherless life, this debut graphic novel is extraordinarily comforting and engaging. From before her mother’s first oncology appointment through the stages of her cancer to the funeral, sitting shiva, and afterward, when she must try to make sense of her life as a motherless daughter, Tyler Feder tells her story in this graphic novel that is full of piercing — but also often funny—details. She shares the important post-death firsts, such as celebrating holidays without her mom, the utter despair of cleaning out her mom’s closet, ending old traditions and starting new ones, and the sting of having the “I’ve got to tell Mom about this” instinct and not being able to act on it. This memoir, bracingly candid and sweetly humorous, is for anyone struggling with loss who just wants someone to get it. Tyler Feder is a Chicago-based artist whose work explores Big Feelings, feminism, and pop culture. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Radio/TV/Film and a fancy certificate in Creative Writing for the Media. After college, she studied comedy writing at The Second City Training Center and began posting drawings online, both of which were equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Since then, Tyler has illustrated Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin’s Unladylike, Leah Henderson’s Together We March and many angsty self-portraits. Tyler wrote and illustrated the acclaimed picture book Bodies Are Cool, and she continues to sell prints and the occasional portrait at her long-running Etsy shop, Roaring Softly. Tyler’s favorite color is pink (obviously). 208pgs colour hardcover / paperback.
Days of Sand
by Aimee de Jongh
SelfMadeHero
$22.99
The publisher says:
A moving and unforgettable tale, inspired by real-life stories of courage and perseverance during the Dust Bowl of 1930s America. United States, 1937. In the middle of the Great Depression, 22-year-old photographer John Clark is brought in by the Farm Security Administration to document the calamitous conditions of the Dust Bowl in the central and southern states, in order to bring the farmers’ plight to the public eye. When he starts working through his shooting script, however, he finds his subjects to be unreceptive. What good are a couple of photos against relentless and deadly dust storms? The more he shoots, the more John discovers the awful extent of their struggles, and comes to question his own role and responsibilities in this tragedy sweeping through the centre of the country. Aimée de Jongh is an award-winning comics author and animator from the Netherlands. She studied animation in Rotterdam, Ghent and Paris. After graduating, she was asked to create a daily comic series for a Dutch national newspaper. This marked the start of a successful international career. The Return of the Honey Buzzard, her first graphic novel, won the Prix Saint-Michel for best Dutch graphic novel and was made into a film in 2017. Her following books, Blossoms in Autumn and Taxi!, were translated worldwide and won awards in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Japan. De Jongh also worked as a graphic journalist in the refugee camps in Greece. Her interest in travel, ecology and journalism has resulted in the historical graphic novel Days of Sand, her biggest project to date. When she’s not drawing comics, de Jongh works in animation as a storyboarder and director. 280pgs colour hardcover.
Francis Bacon
by Cristina Portolano
Prestel
$24.95
The publisher says:
Told for the first time in graphic novel form, the story of Francis Bacon’s life is as complex, colourful and highly charged as his paintings. Drawn in shades of mauve, red, yellow and blue that distinguished his palette, these illustrations weave together a troubling but compassionate narrative, one that draws on the tragic events of Bacon’s childhood and youth, as well as reflecting the profoundly passionate yearnings of the artist he became. Separated into thematic and chronological sections, the novel highlights the prevailing influences of Bacon’s life and times: his early autodidacticism and estrangement from his family; his struggles to make his way as a surrealist painter and his destruction of his early work. It traces his gradual success in postwar Europe, his powerful and often violent romantic relationships, his foray into portraiture, and his never-ending search for subject matter and meaning in his work. Alternating between full-page illustrations and smaller, captioned works, Portolano imagines not only the known details of Bacon’s biography, but also his inner life—the dreams, fears and obsessions that were equally formidable underpinnings of his oeuvre. Woven together with historical facts and figures, this graphic novel reconstructs a life as only a cartoonist could—image-led, thoughtfully composed and deeply evocative of its subject matter. Cristina Portolano designs comics and illustrations for books, magazines, websites and other mediums. She has written and/or illustrated numerous books for children and adults, including Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and Post Pink: An Anthology of Feminist Comics. She lives in Bologna, Italy. 128pgs colour hardcover.
Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs
by Tres Dean, Ames Liu, Kyla Smith, Robin Richardson, Safiya Zerrougui & Tammy Wang
Z2 Comics
$24.99
The publisher says:
The Legendary Rock Icon is Honoured In An All-New Book Inspired By His Music, Life, and Words. For the first time in comics format, Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs will be a journey through Freddie’s life; from his childhood in Zanzibar, through his formative years in England, to becoming the rock star, known and loved by millions around the globe. The story is told in his own words, with each chapter giving a glimpse into the many facets of his life. Written by Tres Dean (All Time Low Presents: Young Renegades), the graphic novel will give true insight into the many experiences that helped shape the young Farrokh Bulsara and his compelling existence, both on and off stage—that was the life of Freddie Mercury, Lover of Life, Singer of Songs. Tres Dean is a writer from Richmond, VA currently living in New York. He’s written for GQ, Men’s Health, SyFy and Geek, among others. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s English department, he is the world’s (unofficial) leading scholar on the subject of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. From Vancouver, BC in Canada, and graduating cum laude from the Maryland Institute College Art, Ames (or Amy) is an illustrator who draws their inspiration from their own life, nature, music and other things they find beautiful or humorous. In their spare time, they like to ride the longboards that they design and paint as well as try to teach themselves guitar. 136pgs colour hardcover.
Gender Queer: A Memoir
by Maia Kobabe & Phoebe Kobabe
Oni Press
$24.99 / $19.99
The publisher says:
In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere. This special deluxe hardcover edition of Gender Queer features a brand-new cover, exclusive art and sketches, and a TK from creator Maia Kobabe. 2020 ALA Alex Award Winner, 2020 Stonewall — Israel Fishman Non-fiction Award Honor Book. 240pgs colour hardcover / paperback
Ish
by Adam De Souza
Silver Sprocket
$14.99
The publisher says:
An evocative and contemplative collection of short comics from cartoonist Adam de Souza, ish explores the complicated nature of grief through a series of loosely connected vignettes. Each brief glimpse brings another layer to the nuances of healing―from the deep muck of despair to unexpected joys―all told with care and thoughtfulness that shows through the page. Adam de Souza is a Canadian cartoonist and illustrator. He has been drawing comics for as long as he can remember and self-publishing his work for the past five years. His series A Gleaming was nominated for two Doug Wright Awards in 2021. Adam is currently working with a publisher on an unannounced young adult graphic novel, as well his online comic strip Blind Alley. Outside of comics, he has illustrated a children’s book for Thames & Hudson UK called The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers and has illustrated for publications such as The Globe and Mail and Reader’s Digest. 56pgs colour paperback.
Jeff Lemire: Conversations
edited by Dale Jacobs
University Press of Mississippi
$99.00 / $25.00
The publisher says:
In a 2019 interview with the webzine DC in the 80s, Jeff Lemire (b. 1976) discusses the comics he read as a child growing up in Essex County, Ontario―his early exposure to reprints of Silver Age DC material, how influential Crisis on Infinite Earths and DC’s Who’s Who were on him as a developing comics fan, his first reading of Watchmen and
Lady Murasaki’s Tale of Genji: The Manga Edition
by Sean Michael Wilson & Inko Ai Takita
Tuttle Publishing
$14.99
The publisher says:
Tale of Genji tells the story of Prince Genji, the passionate heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Handsome, romantic and talented in the art of seduction, Prince Genji skillfully navigates the court and all its intrigues—always in search of love and often finding it. His story is the oldest and most famous tale of romance in the annals of Japanese literature and, as a representation of passion and romance, remains beyond compare. In this beautifully illustrated edition, Genji’s story comes alive as readers experience: his birth in the royal court to Kiritsubo, who comes to represent Genji’s ideal of female beauty and grace; his lifelong obsession with Fujitsubo, one of the emperor’s lovers and mother to Genji’s son Ryozen; and his romantic life with Murasaki, Fujitsubo’s beautiful niece and Genji’s favored lover. Taken with him at first, she becomes wary of his motivations but she becomes the true love of Genji’s life. Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote this story some 500 years before Shakespeare put pen to paper. It is acknowledged to be the world’s very first novel, and English-speaking readers can now experience the story in manga style for the first time. Superbly illustrated and retold, this visual take on Japan’s most important classic offers an intimate look at the social mores and intrigues in the Heian-era court of medieval Japan, and Prince Genji’s representation as the ideal male courtier. Sean Michael Wilson is an award-winning writer from Scotland, who currently lives in Japan. He is the author of over 30 books, the editor of the critically acclaimed collection AX:alternative manga (Publishers Weekly’s “Best ten books of 2010” and nominated for a Harvey award). As an author, he has published many manga versions of Japanese classics including The Book of Five Rings, Secrets of the Ninja, The 47 Ronin and Cold Mountain (winner of the China Comic and Animation Competition 2015 “Best Overseas Comic” award). In 2016, his book The Faceless Ghost was nominated for a prestigious Eisner Book Award and received a medal at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Another of his books, Secrets of the Ninja, won a 2017 International Manga Award given by the Japanese government. In February 2021, Wilson was awarded the Scottish Samurai Award from the Order of the Scottish Samurai—a group that celebrates connections between Scotland and Japan—for his contributions as an author. He is the author of Manga Yokai Stories. Inko Ai Takita was born in Kyoto, Japan. She grew up with manga comics, both reading and drawing them. After graduating from Kyoto Zokei University of Art & Design, she moved to England and studied at Central St. Martin’s College of Art & Design. She now lives in the UK where she delivers manga workshops in schools, galleries, museums, and libraries. She has worked as a culture and language ambassador for London University School of Oriental and African Studies. She is the award-winning illustrator of several books, including Manga Yokai Stories, Portrait of Violence and Tam O’Shanter. 192pgs B&W paperback.
Let There Be Light: The Real Story of Her Creation
by Liana Finck
Random House Graphic
$28.99
The publisher says:
In this ambitious and transcendent graphic novel, Liana Finck turns her keen eye to none other than the Old Testament, reimagining the story of Genesis with God as a woman, Abraham as a resident of New York City, and Rebekah as a robot, among many other delightful twists. In Finck’s retelling, the millennia-old stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob and Esau haunt the pages like familiar but partially forgotten nursery rhymes―transmuted by time but still deeply resonant. With her trademark insightfulness, wry humour and supple, moving visual style, Finck accentuates the latent sweetness and timeless wisdom of the original text, infusing it with wit and whimsy while retaining every ounce of its spiritual heft. Let There Be Light is proof that old stories can live forever, whether as ancient scripture or as a series of profound and enchanting cartoons. The Book of Genesis is about some of the most fundamental, eternally pertinent questions that we can ask: What does it mean to be human? What is the purpose of our lives? And how should we treat one another? The stories that attempt to answer these questions are an immediate link with the people who first told them. Unable to fathom the holiness and preciousness of that notion, or put it into words, Finck set out to depict it. The result is a true story of creation, rendered by one of our most innovative creators. Liana Finck is the author of Passing for Human and Excuse Me and a regular contributor to The New Yorker. She is a recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, and a Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists. She has had artist residencies with MacDowell, Yaddo, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Headlands Center for the Arts, and Willapa Bay. 352pgs B&W hardcover.
Liebestrasse
by Gregory Lockard & Tim Fish
Dark Horse
$19.99
The publisher says:
Nominated for Outstanding Comic by the GLAAD Media Awards, Liebestrasse tells the heart-wrenching, poignant tale of forbidden love and survival through the rise of hatred. During the final years of the Weimar Republic, Sam, an American banker, meets Philip, a German art critic, and they fall in love. Their romance is hit with an unspeakable reality as the Nazis come to power and fascism makes them a target. Debut writer Greg Lockard (Where We Live Las Vegas Shooting Benefit Anthology) and artist Tim Fish (Saved by the Bell, Cavalcade of Boys) prove that even through the harshest conditions, love will find a way to thrive. Greg Lockard is a writer and editor of comic books and related media. Liebestrasse is a historical fiction graphic novel that Greg co-created with artist Tim Fish for ComiXology Originals. It was nominated as an “Outstanding Comic Book” for the 2020 GLAAD Media Awards and listed by the New York Times as one of 10 Comic Books to Celebrate Pride. As a freelance comic book editor, his client list includes ComiXology Originals, Offset Comics and Image Comics. He is also currently working as a Development Editor and Narrative Designer for Einhorn’s Epic Productions in fictional podcasts, graphic novels and other related media. Prior to working independently, Greg edited for the Vertigo imprint at DC Comics. He worked on numerous titles including DIAL H, The Unwritten, FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics, Sweet Tooth, iZombie, The Kitchen, Fables, Fairest and American Vampire. During the Spring 2020 semester, Greg led a writing workshop in graphic novel scripting at New York University. 128pgs colour paperback.
One Beautiful Spring Day
by Jim Woodring
Fantagraphics
$49.99 / $75.00
The publisher says:
A mesmerising, mind-bending, wordless 400 page comics odyssey by a contemporary master of the form. Jim Woodring has been chronicling the adventures of his cartoon Everyman, Frank, for almost 30 years. These stories are a singular rarity in the comics form ― both bone-chillingly physical in their depictions of Frank’s travails and profoundly metaphysical at the same time. Not since George Herriman’s Krazy Kat has the comics language been so exquisitely distilled into pure, revelatory aesthetic expression. Designed as a deluxe paperback with vellum jacket, One Beautiful Spring Day combines three previously published volumes ―Congress of the Animals, where Frank embarked upon a life-changing voyage of discovery, Fran, where he learned, then forgot, that things are not always what they seem, and Poochytown in which Frank demonstrated his dizzying capacity for both nobility and ignominy ― along with 100 dazzling new pages conceived and drawn by the author. The result is a seamless, 400-page graphic narrative that forges a new and even more poignantly realised single story that takes readers deep into the hidden meanings of the previous stories and offers the most full, complete, astonishing exposition of Frank and his supercharged world to date. Frank’s curiosity and risk-taking mixed with a dose of, let’s face it, wanton recklessness, takes him on a series of terrifying peregrinations that often leave his soul and body shattered, and the reader in a state of creative exaltation. Suffice to say that if you are a friend to Frank you will find One Beautiful Spring Day to be a thousand-course feast of agonising bliss, soul-stirring mystery and luminous depth. This is undoubtedly one of the great novels of the 21st century, graphic or otherwise. Jim Woodring was born in Los Angeles in 1952. He taught himself to draw in order to express his view of the world. He wrote and drew the first Frank story in 1992 and he has also created a body of autobiographical material (collected in the book Jim) and allegorical puzzle-pictures (Seeing Things). His books include The Frank Book (2011), Fran (2013), Weathercraft (2016), Poochytown (2018) and And Now Sir, Is THIS Your Missing Gonad? (2020). Jim’s work has garnered him numerous awards, including a United States Artist Fellowship (with Bill Frisell) in 2006; an Inkpot Award at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con; and The Stranger‘s Genius Award for Literature in 2010. 408pgs B&W hardcover / signed limited edition.
Paranoiae
by ‘Batawp’, aka Giulio Rincione
Shockdom
£21.00
The publisher says:
Alan is a boy suffering from frequent crises that lead him to a state of depersonalisation. Doctor Bau decides to help him. Thus begins one of the deepest journeys ever made, between anxieties, memories and fears that will lead Alan straight to the heart of his paranoia and to a profound revelation. Giulio Rincione, aka Batawp, is a Palemo cartoonist and illustrator. Paranoiae is considered by the Italian critics a brave graphic novel for its dark and introspective themes. Shockdom is proud to present this 160-page European format graphic novel to English readers as a taste of Italian manga! Other titles are Black Sun by Fabio Sicchio, Letizia Cadonici & Francesco Segata, and Blue by Angela Vianello. 160pgs colour hardcover.
Proteus Vex Vol. 1: Another Dawn
by Michael Carroll, Henry Flint & Jake Lynch
Rebellion / 2000 AD
$19.99
The publisher says:
Another galaxy - a different type of hero! “An alien space opera James Bond.” For fourteen brutal centuries, the Imperium Ascendant and the Obdurate have clashed in an intergalactic war that spanned planets and peoples. Then the war – and the Obdurate – came to a dramatic end. Now, the galaxies are picking up the pieces. In the midst of this sprawling, dazzling system of galaxies, is Proteus Vex, ex-soldier for the Imperium Ascendant turned super-agent. He’s fast, brutal, and he always gets his prey. But when he is sent to find his former superior officer, Vex finds himself caught up in a deadly conspiracy. Hit comics team Michael Carroll (The New Heroes, Dreadnoughts, Judge Dredd), Henry Flint (Judge Dredd, Zombo) and Jake Lynch (Judge Dredd) bring you a mind-expanding, colourful story that will plunge you into a series of strange new worlds. Michael Carroll is the author of over forty books, including the award-winning New Heroes series of Young Adult superhero novels and the #1 Amazon best-selling cult graphic novel Judge Dredd: Every Empire Falls. He currently writes Proteus Vex and Judge Dredd for 2000 AD and Judge Dredd Megazine. Other works include Jennifer Blood for Dynamite Entertainment, Razorjack for Titan Books (co-written with artist John Higgins), and the Rico Dredd trilogy for Abaddon Books, for whom he has also created the acclaimed JUDGES series which explores the genesis of the world of Judge Dredd. Henry Flint, winner of the National Comics Awards for Best Comic Artist 2004, is one of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’s rising superstars. Co-creator of Sancho Panzer, Shakara and the fan-favourite strip Zombo, his incredibly versatile pencils have also graced A.B.C. Warriors, Judge Dredd/Aliens, Deadlock, Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Nemesis the Warlock, The V.C.’s and Venus Bluegenes. He has even written a Tharg’s Alien Invasions strip! He has also worked on several American comics, including Omega Men, Haunted Tank and Fear Itself: Fearsome Four. Away from the comics industry, Henry produced art of the cover of DJ Food’s 2012 album, The Search Engine. Jake Lynch is a Norfolk based artist drawing mainly for 2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine and film. A self-taught artist, he is living proof that they’ll let any idiot in and as a self-confessed Sci-Fi nerd, he is often the first to be asked to leave. 112pgs colour paperback.
Ralph Azham: Black Are The Stars
by Lewis Trondheim
Super Genius
$19.99 / $14.99
The publisher says:
From the award-winning mind of cartoonist Lewis Trondheim comes the expansive and rich anthropomorphic medieval world of Ralph Azham. After failing the test of the Chosen One as a young duck, Ralph had a tough time growing up as the village pariah, often getting into trouble due to an innate extra sense that’s rather unbelievable, embarrassing,and unfortunate. That was only compounded by the constant visit of spirits that only he, Ralph, could see. Cut to today, his village is threatened by a vicious Horde, an apocalyptic flood may take the life of Ralph’s only supporter, his father, and the Wise Men’s Counsel are out for Ralph’s hide after rumors he had his way with one of their daughters. Ultimately Ralph must leave the village and unlock the secrets of his childhood as he journeys to the Kingdom of Astolia, but not before he takes a young ward, Raoul, who bears an uncanny similarity to Ralph. It’s a sprawling story of fathers and their sons, magic, mysticism, with plenty of action, adventure and signature Trondheim madcap humour. The phenomenal Lewis Trondheim is never where you next expect him. As an artist and writer, Trondheim has earned an international following as one of the most inventive, versatile and prolific graphic authors. From autobiography to adventure, from bestselling fantasy and children’s books to visual essays, Trondheim’s unique, seminal imagination consistently dazzles. His work has won numerous awards, including the Angoulême prize for best series with McConey (Fantagraphics) and he also co-created the titanic fantasy epic Dungeon (NBM) with Joann Sfar. He is one of the founding members of the alternative publishing house L’Association, a proving ground for many of the greatest talents in European comics working today. He is also the editorial director of a new imprint called Shampooing, dedicated to comics for all ages. Lewis lives in the South of France with his wife and two children. 152pgs colour hardcover / paperback.
Sanjulian: Master of Fantasy Art
by Manuel Auad
The Book Palace / Big Wow Art
£60.00 / $91.99
The publisher says:
Legendary Spanish painter and illustrator Sanjulian (Manuel Perez Clemente) is renowned the world over for his incredible covers for Famous Monster of Filmland, Vampirella, Conan, Eerie and Creepy as well as book covers, posters, private commissions and much more. Born in Barcelona, he studied at the Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Saint George. He has had multiple shows of his work at the Society of Illustrators in New York City and was guest at the 2008 Emerald City ComicCon. This lavishly illustrated book celebrates the full breadth of Sanjulian’s amazing career with an introduction by Joe Jussko (one master talking to another), hundreds of beautiful full colour paintings and pencil sketches, unpublished illustrations and rarely seen early work along with exclusive photos and artwork from the Master’s own personal archives. An illustrators Deluxe Special limited to 1000 copies worldwide. 312pgs colour hardcover.
Schappi
by Anna Haifisch
Fantagraphics
$16.99
The publisher says:
A collection of absurdist comics short stories navigating etiquette and diplomacy within the vicissitudes of the animal kingdom: from proud ostriches to racist mice, and delicious-looking weasels. In Schappi, Anna Haifisch blurs the boundaries between humans and animals in subtle and absurd ways. In these five collected comics short stories, carnivores and herbivores meet at a disastrous congress of the animals; we get to know a merciless, art-collecting lizard; and are introduced to dancing ostriches and a melancholy, meditating octopus. With singular humor and charm, and a brilliant eye for color, Haifisch tells of the everyday struggle from the prairie to the drawing table, of self-imposed isolation and friendship. At the end of the day, there is hope, even for crying weasels. Haifisch’s wry sense of humor reveals many truths lying underneath her absurdist wit. Printed in five gorgeous Pantone inks, Schappi will shine from a bookshelf like a mad husky’s iris. Anna Haifisch was born in Germany in 1986 and studied illustration at the College of Graphics and Book Art. She is a co-founder of the German comics festival, The Millionaires Club. 92pgs colour paperback.
So Much For Love: How I Survived a Toxic Relationship
by Sophie Lambda
First Second
$24.99 / $16.99
The publisher says:
Part memoir, part self-help book, So Much For Love offers hilarious and empathetic advice on how to survive a relationship with a master manipulator. Sophie had always been cynical about love―until she meets Marcus. His affection and doting praise melt away her defenses. The beginning of their relationship was a whirlwind romance, but over time she finds herself on uneven footing. Marcus lies. He’s violently angry and bewilderingly inconsistent. Yet somehow he always manages to explain away his behavior and to convince Sophie that it’s all in her head. The whiplash of this toxic relationship has Sophie’s head spinning. When she hits rock bottom, she fights her way out with fierce honesty, irreverent humor and the help of Chocolat, a wisecracking, booze-drinking bear. Sophie Lambda is a French illustrator and comic artist. She studied foreign languages, and has made web comics since 2013, and released her first book, Tant Pis Pour L’amour, in French. Her favorite drink is soya cappuccino with extra vanilla and cinnamon. 304pgs colour hardcover.
Ten Days in a Mad-House: Adapted from the Work of Nellie Bly
by Brad Ricca & Courtney Sieh
Gallery 13
$19.99
The publisher says:
Beautifully adapted and rendered through piercing illustrations by acclaimed creators Brad Ricca and Courtney Sieh, Nellie Bly’s complete, true-to-life 19th-century investigation of Blackwell Asylum captures a groundbreaking moment in history and reveals a haunting and timely glimpse at the starting point for conversations on mental health. “I said I could and I would. And I did.” While working for Joseph Pulitzer’s newspaper in 1887, Nellie Bly began an undercover investigation into the local Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell Island. Intent on seeing what life was like on the inside, Bly fooled trained physicians into thinking she was insane — a task too easily achieved — and had herself committed. In her ten days at the asylum, Bly witnessed horrifying conditions: the food was inedible, the women were forced into labour for the staff, the nurses and doctors were cruel or indifferent, and many of the women held there had no mental disorder of any kind. Now adapted into graphic novel form by Brad Ricca and vividly rendered with beautiful and haunting illustrations by Courtney Sieh, Bly’s bold venture is given new life and meaning. Her fearless investigation into the living conditions at the Blackwell Asylum forever changed the field of journalism. A timely reminder to take notice of forgotten populations, Ten Days in a Mad-House warns us what happens when we look away. 160pgs colour hardcover.
The A to Z of British Newspaper Strips
by Paul Hudson
The Book Palace
£55.00 / $85.99
The publisher says:
We are proud to announce the publication of this comprehensive guide to the long and distinguished career of the British Newspaper Strip, listing hundreds of newspaper strips printed in Britain over the last hundred plus years. Written by Paul Hudson, former owner of the much-missed London comic shop Comic Showcase, this title is the product of more than two years of assiduous research and is a wonderful point of reference for a cherished part of British daily life and culture. The book has over 680 entries, of which over 650 are illustrated, and features all your favourites such as Andy Capp, Axa, Bristow, Flook, Fred Bassett, Garth, George and Lynne, Jeff Hawke, Modesty Blaise, Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, Rupert Bear, Tamara Drewe, The Perishers, Varoomshka, plus many, many more! Each strip is credited with dates, creators and descriptions as well as sample illustrations. 320pgs full-colour hardcover.
Paul Gravett says, in his back-cover endorsement:
“Britain may be second only to the USA in the sheer volume and vibrancy of its comic strips, which have entertained readers worldwide. It all goes to show how millions of British adults, who might never consider buying a comic, can become devoted to the daily or weekly strips that come ‘free’ inside their choice of national, regional and local periodicals. After all, each day’s news coverage, politics aside, is largely identical, whereas its strips are unique to each paper and would mirror their readers’ lives and attitudes as well as transport them in a few panels of laughs and thrills. So it’s no surprise that readership surveys often found that the first feature readers turn to is their favourite regular strip. An episode’s life expectancy, however, is typically brief - read today and thrown away (or preferably recycled) tomorrow. It might live on for a few days wrapping fish ’n’ chips or lining the budgie’s cage, but only the most dedicated followers will clip and collect it. And that’s a shame, because for every series that has enjoyed a second life compiled into a comic or a book, there are dozens more that languish unreprinted in that limbo of fading, crumbling newsprint. Paul Hudson’s landmark research and insights finally reveal how extensive and extraordinary this heritage of stories and their storytellers truly is. And how many gems and oddities, past and present, are waiting to be re-presented and re-appreciated by still more readers to come.”
The Eightfold Path
by Steven Barnes, Dr. Charles Johnson & Bryan Christopher Moss
Abrams ComicArts / Megascope
$24.99
The publisher says:
From award-winning authors Charles Johnson and Steven Barnes comes a graphic novel anthology of interconnected Afrofuturistic parables inspired by the teachings of Buddha. Eight strangers looking for enlightenment from an ancient spiritual teacher are trapped in a cave high in the mountains on their way to his temple. One of his acolytes directs them to each tell a story that the group can learn from as they wait out the horrible snowstorm that rages outside the cave’s entrance.One by one the travellers each share a story that, unbeknownst to them, is actually a morality tale representing one of the aspects of final enlightenment as taught in Buddhism. As the wind howls through the night, they tell symbolic stories of horror, dystopia, high adventure, cyberpunk, and urban fantasy. Each story is a spoke on the symbolic Dharma wheel, and each interlocking tale gets the travellers closer to their true destiny—unveiling the future of the entire human race. This remarkable collection borrows heavily from the traditions of pop-culture morality anthology series such as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Night Gallery, Lovecraft Country and the publications of E.C. Comics. Heavily influenced by the science fiction pulps of the 1950s and 1960s, this brilliant collection remixes classic social narratives such as Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and The Arabian Nights, through an edgy, contemporary, yet spiritually centred lens. In The Eightfold Path, our destinies lie in heeding the lessons given in every one of these entrancing tales. Steven Barnes is the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award–winning author of more than 30 novels. Nominated for Nebula and Hugo awards, writer of the Emmy-winning A Stitch in Time episode of The Outer Limits, and winner of the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Award, Barnes is a pioneering Afrofuturist writer, and one of the most honoured voices in the field. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, British Fantasy Award–winning novelist Tananarive Due. Barnes has taught and lectured at UCLA, USC, University of Washington, Mensa, Pasadena JPL, the Smithsonian Museum, the University of North Carolina, and many others. His most recent publication is Twelve Days (Tor, 2017). Dr. Charles Johnson is a professor emeritus at the University of Washington and author of 23 books. He is a novelist, philosopher, essayist, literary scholar, short-story writer, cartoonist, illustrator and an author of children’s literature, screenplays and teleplays. A MacArthur Fellow, Johnson has received a 2002 American Academy of Arts and Letters Award for Literature, a 1990 National Book Award for his novel Middle Passage, a 1985 Writers Guild Award for his PBS teleplay Booker, the 2016 W.E.B. Du Bois Award at the National Black Writers Conference, and many others. The Charles Johnson Society at the American Literature Association was founded in 2003. In November 2016, Pegasus Theater in Chicago debuted its play adaptation of Middle Passage, titled Rutherford’s Travels. Johnson’s most recent publications are The Way of the Writer: Reflections on the Art and Craft of Storytelling (Scribner, 2016) and his fourth short story collection, Night Hawks (Scribner, 2018). He lives in Seattle, Washington. Bryan Christopher Moss was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. At the age of 18, he began working professionally on storyboards and comics while founding and creating a T-shirt company, Strange Things. His commercial clients include Cirque du Soleil, Marvel Comics, Sprite, and a partnership with the Greater Columbus Arts Council. In addition to his freelancing and contractual projects, Moss is an educator. He has collaborated with the likes of Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio State University, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Columbus College of Art and Design. He curated, installed, and even showed his own work in his latest exhibition at King Arts Complex, The Black Panther: Celebrating 50+ Years of Black Superheroes. In 2020, Columbus Alive named Moss as the city’s Best Comic Book Artist. He was also recently named an artist-in-residency at the prestigious Aminah Robinson House in Columbus, Ohio. 240pgs colour hardcover.
The Holy Ghost: A Spirited Comic
by John Hendrix
Abrams ComicArts
$18.99
The publisher says:
From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning artist John Hendrix comes this charming, funny and thought-provoking collection of spiritual comics Does God exist? Is there a heaven? What’s the point of it all? Do we even matter? This collection of thought-provoking, humorous comic strips is a series of conversations between a squirrel, a badger, and a friendly blue ghost who may or may not be one third of the Holy Trinity. Charming, witty, and at times poignant, yet never holier-than-thou, John Hendrix tackles some of life’s greatest questions. Whether you consider yourself faithful or a nonbeliever, these delightfully off-kilter comics deliver laughter, comfort, and philosophical musings with humble, honest spirit—and just the right dose of playful irreverence. John Hendrix is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. His books include The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler, named a Best Book of 2018 by NPR, and Drawing Is Magic: Discovering Yourself in a Sketchbook. His award-winning illustrations have appeared on book jackets and in newspapers and magazines. He is chair of the MFA Illustration and Visual Culture program in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. Hendrix lives in Webster Groves, Missouri. 128pgs colour hardcover.
The House of Dolmann
by Tom Tully & Eric Bradbury
Rebellion / 2000 AD
£14.99 / $19.99
The publisher says:
Genius creator and expert ventriloquist, Eric Dolmann has created a small army of robotic puppets to help the forces of law and order fight back against crime. Whatever the situation, Dolman has a mechanical warrior perfectly suited to get the job done! From the safety of his flying ‘Dolmobile’, he directs Raider, Elasto, Mole, Togo and Giggler into action! Occasionally they will question his judgement and bicker amongst one another – even though they aren’t capable of independent thought! Tom Tully is one the most prolific writers ever to grace British comics. His diverse portfolio of work was produced over four decades. Born in Glasgow, Tully entered the industry in the sixties when he began working for Fleetway. One of his earliest strips, Heros the Spartan, ran in the original Eagle and was illustrated by the great Frank Bellamy. He also wrote Mytek the Mighty (Valiant & Vulcan) and The Steel Claw (Valiant & Vulcan) in the same decade. The seventies saw Tully work on a variety of significant stories including Adam Eterno (Thunder), Johnny Red (Battle), Harlem Heroes (2000 AD), The Leopard from Lime Street (Buster) and Roy of the Rovers (Tiger), the strip he worked on longer than any other writer. Eric Bradbury began his comic career at Knockout, working on such humour strips as Blossom and Our Ernie. He moved onto the adventure western, Lucky Logan, sharing art chores with Mike Western (Bradbury would go on to ink Western’s pencils on The Leopard from Lime Street). High profile work on Mytek the Mighty (Valiant & Vulcan), The House of Dolmann (Valiant), Von Hoffman’s Invasion (Jet!), Death Squad (Battle), Hook Jaw (Action) and Doomlord (Eagle) followed. Bradbury has been described as an ‘unsung hero’ of 2000 AD, having contributed to many popular strips in the long-running sci-fi comic. His credits in the ‘Galaxy’s Greatest comic’ include Rogue Trooper, Tharg the Mighty, Invasion and The Mean Arena. 144pgs B&W paperback.
The Life and Art of Dave Cockrum
by Glen Cadigan
TwoMorrows
$27.95 / $36.95
The publisher says:
From the letters pages of Silver Age comics to his 2021 induction into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, the career of Dave Cockrum started at the bottom and then rose to the top of the comic book industry. Beginning with his childhood obsession with comics and continuing through his years in the Navy, The Life and Art of Dave Cockrum follows the rising star from fandom (where he was one of the “Big Three” fanzine artists) to pro-dom, where he helped revive two struggling comic book franchises: the Legion of Super-Heroes and the X-Men. A prolific costume designer and character creator, his redesigns of the Legion and his introduction of X-Men characters Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Thunderbird (plus his design of Wolverine’s alter ego, Logan) laid the foundation for both titles to become best-sellers. His later work on his own property, The Futurians, as well as childhood favourite Blackhawk and T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents, plus his five years on Soulsearchers and Company, cemented his position as an industry giant. Featuring artwork from fanzines, unused character designs and other rare material, this is the comprehensive biography of the legendary comic book artist, whose influence is still felt on the industry today. Written by Glen Cadigan (The Legion Companion, The Titans Companion Volumes 1 and 2, Best of the Legion Outpost) with an introduction by Alex Ross. 160pgs colour paperback / limited edition hardcover.
The Man Who Shot Lucky Luke
by Matthieu Bonhomme
Cinebook
$15.95
The publisher says:
The Lonesome Cowboy is not having a good day. Out of tobacco, arriving at night and under pouring rain in the small mining settlement of Froggy Town, he soon finds himself in conflict with two of the Bone brothers, somewhat infamous local figures. Unfortunately, Luke’s reputation precedes him, and when the townspeople ask him to investigate a hold-up in place of the sheriff – none other than James Bone – the tension ratchets up another notch… Matthieu Bonhomme has been an artist for Spirou magazine and several children books. He’s worked with some big names such as Lewis Trondheim and Fabien Vehlmann, with whom he created the super Marquis of Anaon, published by Cinebook, but also solo: his first book L’âge de la Raison received the 2003 Alph’Art award in Angoulême, and his series Le Voyage d’Esteban has been met with great success. He is now the author of two different Lucky Luke volumes. 64pgs colour paperback.
The Peanututter Sisters and Other American Stories
by Rumi Hara
Drawn & Quarterly
$24.95
The publisher says:
An immigrant weaves a new, surreal Americana, complete with bubblegum fights and bomb queens. Rarely does a new talent arrive in the medium as unmistakably distinct as Rumi Hara. With immersive art and a clear-eyed storytelling rhythm, her uncategorisable debut, Nori, put her playful cartooning on display. Her new collection, The Peanutbutter Sisters and Other American Stories, delights with equal mischievousness. The Peanutbutter Sisters is a glorious balance of contradictions, at once escapism and realism, science fiction and slice of life. Two students explore the urban landscape while following Newton Creek, the polluted Queens-Brooklyn border. As they do, they plan a traditional Japanese play with contemporary pop culture. Another story features an intergalactic race of all living things set in the year 2099 and is a dazzling treatise on the environment and journalism. Yet sometimes the fantastical collides with the quotidian in the same story. A man struggling with vertigo during quarantine encounters a world of sexual revelry whenever he has a dizzy spell. The Peanut Butter sisters ride a hurricane into New York City and yet aren’t able to hitch a ride back with a whale due to a heavily polluted ocean. Hara’s magical realist tendencies and diverse cast of characters all contort the tropes of the American comics canon. Yet above all else, her innate control of the comics language―her ability to weave the absurd with the real on such a charming and comma
With thanks to Dave Whitwell for details from Previews UK.
