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Top 20 Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga:
December 2024
Two epic classics of manga are finally making their way into English in extra-long volumes. The sensei Shirato Sanpei (1932-2021) is one of the most significant authors of Japanese comics and The Legend of Kamui from the Sixties is his most meaningful masterwork, uncompromisingly empathetic and politically charged…
Equally remarkable from the Seventies is this empathetic portrait of a struggling young boxer, whose fights and fate captivated the public.
Guido Buzzelli’s trilogy of his breakthrough authorial projects concludes with this volume, partly in colour.
Joe Sacco’s cartoon commentaries on The Comics Journal‘s website exposing and critiquing the war in Palestine are compiled in print.
And the great Asian comic historian John A. Lent delivers his in-depth survey of comics from Korea, both North and South, providing much-needed information, imagery and insights. These and other titles from a range of international creatives await your enjoyment below…
Ashita no Joe: Fighting For Tomorrow Vol. 1 (of 8)
by Asao Takamori & Tetsuya Chiba
Vertical Comics
$59.95
The publisher says:
A massive cultural phenomenon, made even bigger by the hit anime based on it. To this day, Ashita no Joe remains one of the most important manga of all time, and now it will finally see the light of day in English for the first time. A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching—Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realises that he’s going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top… Takamori was perhaps the biggest manga author of his day, churning out hit after hit in the 60s and 70s, including Ashita no Joe, Star of the Giants, and Tiger Mask. While all are nominally sports manga, Takamori’s great skill was in bringing other dimensions to his work. Tetsuya Chiba, known primarily for his sports manga, is one of the most influential manga artists of all time and winner of innumerable awards. 580pgs B&W hardcover.
Button Man: Apex Edition
by John Wagner & Arthur Ranson
Rebellion / 2000AD
£80.00 / $95.00
The publisher says:
Written by John Wagner (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence) with art by Arthur Ranson (Anderson: Psi Division, Mazeworld) Button Man is an action-packed thriller, deservedly regarded as one of the greatest strips ever to be published in 2000AD, and a high point in the career of Arthur Ranson, whose photo-realistic artwork astonished readers.This new Apex Edition reprints select pages from the first three stories newly scanned from the original art, printed at the size the pages were drawn, and without the inclusion of the dialogue balloons, to give you a real insight into Arthur Ranson’s meticulous work. Unlike previous Apex editions (which measured 47.5 x 36.5cm / 19 x 14”), this volume is 36.1 x 27.6cm / 14 x 10”, reflecting the smaller size of the original Button Man artwork. There is also a limited edition slipcase version which features a tip-in sheet featuring the cover art for 2000 AD Prog 789, individually signed by Arthur Ranson. 200pgs colour hardcover.
Caravaggio: The Palette and The Sword Vol.1
by Milo Manara
Fantagraphics
$19.99
The publisher says:
Discover the bawdy, swashbuckling life of one of the greatest painters in history through Milo Manara’s passionate and personal tribute to his artistic idol, Michelangelo Merisi, whom the world would come to know as Caravaggio. Caravaggio: The Palette and The Sword Volume 1 is the first half of Milo Manara’s two-volume epic biography of the hot-tempered Italian master painter. It depicts Caravaggio’s early years in Rome as he struggles to capture truth on canvas, only to have his art condemned to be burned by the Church. He then is forced to flee the city when he kills a man in righteous fury over the death of a prostitute. The two volumes of Caravaggio mark the return of Manara to U.S. readers and the debut of Fantagraphics’ new series, The Milo Manara Signature Edition, featuring affordable paperbacks of maestro Manara’s internationally acclaimed work. Previously released in 2017 in hardcover by Dark Horse. Volume 2 will follow in Spring 2025. 64pgs colour paperback.
Comics Art in Korea
by John A. Lent
University Press of Mississippi
$110/00 / $30.00
The publisher says:
In Comics Art in Korea, comics scholar John A. Lent embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the vibrant world of Korean comics, cartoons, comic strips, graphic novels, webcomics, and animation. This meticulously researched work delves deep into the intricate history, cultural significance, and artistic innovations that have shaped the comics landscape in both North and South Korea. Drawing from extensive research, decades of interviews with comics creators and artists, and firsthand study, Lent offers readers a profound understanding of the societal, political, and cultural factors that have played a pivotal role in shaping Korean comics. Korean comics have a storied tradition that stretches back decades. In this insightful book, Lent not only traces the origins of Korean comics but also places them within the broader context of Asian comics, highlighting the interconnectedness of comic art across the continent. From the early days of Korean comics to their contemporary evolution, Lent unravels the forces that have influenced and shaped the industry and sheds light on the ways in which comics have been used as a medium for social commentary, political expression, and cultural identity in Korea. Lavishly illustrated with examples of Korean comics, this book showcases the incredible talent and creativity of Korean comics artists. Lent’s impeccable attention to detail and his ability to contextualise each work within its cultural and historical framework make this book an invaluable resource for both comics enthusiasts and scholars. 288pgs colour hardcover / paperback.
Dr. Werthless: The Man Who Studied Murder (And Nearly Killed the Comics Industry)
by Harold Schechter & Eric Powell
Dark Horse
$29.99
The publisher says:
From the creative team behind the award-winning Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? comes an examination of one of the most polarising figures in pop culture, Dr. Fredric Wertham. Reviled by comic book fans as a witch-hunting zealot who stirred up a panic among the parents of America for his own self-promoting purposes, he was also a renowned psychiatrists who, among other accomplishments, opened a clinic in Harlem for disadvantaged African-American patients and played an important role in the desegregation of the nation’s schools. Believing that murder could be abolished through a proper understanding of the mental and social roots of criminal violence, he took a genuinely humane approach to some of the most notorious homicidal maniacs of his time, while simultaneously exploiting their stories for his own commercial ends. Acclaimed true crime author, Harold Schechter, and multiple Eisner award winning cartoonist, Eric Powell, present a graphic novel that takes an unbiased look at this flawed and enormously complex man—whose obsessive dream of freeing the world from violence nearly murdered the comics industry. 200pgs colour hardcover.
El Fuego
by David Rubin
Oni Press
$34.99
The publisher says:
From visionary storyteller David Rubín (Cosmic Detective, The Hero), El Fuego is a psychological, philosophical, and geographical odyssey through the last remaining days of planet Earth. It is the story of one particular inhabitant, who must decide how much more of himself to give to the greater good before truly finding peace within. A mass-extinction event is imminent as a giant meteorite is hurtling toward the Earth. Renowned architect Alexander Yorba, entrusted to design a citadel on the Moon which would ensure the survival of humanity, is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Thrust into an existential crisis, Alexander begins to question the validity of his successes, having colluded with the world’s elite to spare only the wealthiest members of society, and grapples with what it means to be a decent person in a decaying world. His spiritual and moral journey will take him from the Moon to Madrid, by way of New York, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and Rome, where he will have to confront his past choices with those who were his greatest influences, in hopes of finding his way . . . before the end comes. 256pgs colour hardcover.
Fault Lines
by Robert Cullen
Ablaze
$19.99
The publisher says:
A struggling singer-songwriter in Blackpool becomes the Lovely Assistant in an ominous magical act. A mother in Vancouver recounts her life and death. A widow in Edinburgh is summoned to confront the guilt that’s haunted him since childhood. Fault Lines presents three stories—The Vanishing Act, How To Be A Ghost, and Siren—set in the three cities with their catalysts spanning three decades, all brought to you by Emmy-nominated animation veteran Robert Cullen (Danger Mouse, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends). A French edition, Ligne De Fuite, was published in August 2024. 144pgs colour paperback.
Gilt Frame
by Matt Kindt & Margie Kraft Kindt
Dark Horse
$29.99
The publisher says:
A classic whodunit murder mystery that spans the globe from Paris to Hawaii to Montenegro as we hustle to keep up with the most unlikely murder-solving duo in the history of murder-solvers. Sam, who is in his early twenties, is an orphan, taken in when he was younger by his well-off Aunt Merry who has an eccentric taste for antiques and travel. Together, Sam and Merry have solved some of the most notorious murders in the world. And true to form, their Parisian vacation is cut short when they stumble upon a murder scene so bizarre that only a raging psychopath could have produced it. But to solve the crime, they have to wrestle with jewel thieves, art forgers, gun-runners, a lost puppy, and a master French detective who may just solve the crime before they do. 216pgs colour hardcover.
Helen of Wyndhorn
by Tom King, Bilquis Evely, Matheus Lopes & Clayton Cowles
Dark Horse
$29.99
The publisher says:
A gothic sword and sorcery epic graphic novel that’s Conan the Barbarian meets The Wizard of Oz. From Tom King and Bilquis Evely, the Eisner award-winning, bestselling creative team of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Following the tragic death of her late father C.K. Cole, the esteemed pulp writer and creator of the popular warrior character Othan, Helen Cole is called back to her Grandfather’s enormous and illustrious estate, Wyndhorn House. Scarred by Cole’s untimely passing and lost in a new, strange world, Helen wreaks drunken havoc upon her arrival. However, her chaotic ways begin to soften as she discovers a lifetime of secrets hiding within the myriad rooms and hallways of the expansive manor. For outside its walls, within the woods, dwell the legendary adventures that once were locked away within her father’s stories. Collects the hit series Helen of Wyndhorn #1–#6 and features a sketchbook section and bonus art by Walt Simonson, Greg Smallwood, Clay Mann, Elsa Charretier, Tula Lotay, Massimo Carnivale, Fabio Moon, and Jill Thompson. 176pgs colour hardcover.
Lebanon is Burning and Other Dispatches
by Yazan Al-Saadi & Tracy Chahwan, Ganzeer, Ghadi Ghosn, Omar Khouri, Sirène Moukheiber, Hicham Rahma, and Enas Satir
Graphic Mundi / PSU Press
$21.95
The publisher says:
Much of the present discourse about the pro-democracy Arab uprisings of 2011 paints a bleak picture of their defeat. But the truth is more complicated, and moments of struggle and inspiration still recur despite the overwhelming odds against the movements’ success. This collection of short comics documents the political and social unrest in the Middle East during the 2010s, in such places as Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Palestine, Sudan, and Bahrain. A collaboration between writer and journalist Yazan Al-Saadi and a lineup of stellar cartoonists from the region―Tracy Chahwan, Ganzeer, Ghadi Ghosn, Omar Khouri, Sirène Moukheiber, Hicham Rahma, and Enas Satir―this graphic reportage serves as a witness to an era of counterrevolutionary resurgence in which entrenched powers clashed with the people’s struggle for self-determination. Yazan Al-Saadi is a Kuwait-born Syrian who holds a Canadian passport. He has lived in seven countries across three continents over the course of his life, and since 2012 he has lived and written in Beirut, Lebanon. He has worked as a researcher, a newspaper and online journalist and editor, a creative content and communications officer for a medical international humanitarian organization, and a political analyst and commentator. 160pgs ? hardcover.
The Legend of Kamui Vol.1 (of 10)
by Shirato Sanpei, translated by Richard Rubinger & Noriko Rubinger
Drawn & Quarterly
$39.95
The publisher says:
The iconic series that launched the alt-manga bible GARO becomes available in English for the very first time. At long last, manga titan Shirato Sanpei’s groundbreaking epic makes its way into English. Celebrated as a watershed of both the Japanese counterculture and dramatic, longform storytelling in manga, The Legend of Kamui serves up clashing swords and class struggle to create a timeless political allegory set in feudal Japan. This ten-volume series is a must-have for fans of samurai and ninja manga and anime, and of other giants of postwar manga like Tezuka Osamu, Mizuki Shigeru, Tsuge Yoshiharu, and Lone Wolf and Cub‘s Kojima Goseki. It’s the 17th century in Japan. Child outcast Kamui lives on the fringes of a miserably stratified society. Fuelled by pure grit, rage, and a dash of cunning, his only way out is to take up the mantle of ninja. Follow scrappy peasants, cold-blooded ninja, and disgraced and exalted warriors as they navigate the unforgiving hardships of a violent yet hopeful age. With its vivid and critical attention to social injustice and environmental issues against a backdrop of heart-pounding action and romance, this multilayered gekiga drama not only redefined ninja and samurai fantasy, it also offers astonishing parallels with the modern day. Originally serialised between 1964 and 1971 in the legendary alt-manga magazine GARO, The Legend of Kamui is translated by social historian and decorated academic Richard Rubinger with Noriko Rubinger. Additional translation by Alexa Frank. 600pgs B&W paperback.
Love Sucks
by Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria & Warren Pleece
Fantagraphics
$19.99
The publisher says:
A timeless goth love triangle/coming-of-age story from a trio of acclaimed comics creators. “I’m psyched. I’m totally psyched. I’m not a loser… Who the hell am I kidding?” Life sucks for Dave Miller—he’s broke, girlfriendless, and stuck in a dead-end job. Really dead-end: Dave is the night manager at the Last Stop, LA’s finest vampire-owned and operated, all-night convenience store. Facing an eternity of turning hot dogs and restocking blood broth for his crappy boss and Vampire Master, the future looks about as appealing as the sunrise. It’s bad enough that Dave is clinging to his days as a vegetarian and refusing to feed off humans, leaving him weak as a kitten. But when he finds himself competing with psychotic surfer-vamp Wes for the affections of Rosa, a beautiful mortal flirting with the dark side, unlife gets about as sucky as it possibly can. Originally published in 2008, Fantagraphics is proud to bring this YA classic back into print with a new edition. Veteran comics creators Jessica Abel (Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars), Gabe Soria (Batman ’66), and Warren Pleece (Incognegro) have crafted a timeless goth love triangle/coming-of-age story that garnered awards and accolades when initially published, including the 2009 YALSA Top Ten Graphic Novels for Teens list. 188pgs colour paperback.
Mendel The Mess-Up
by Terry Laban
Holiday House
$22.99 / $14.99
The publisher says:
Cursed from birth, Mendel Schlotz is the unluckiest kid in his village. He’s also the only one who can save it. Ask anyone—twelve-year-old Mendel can’t do anything right. When he tries to herd goats, they get out. When he tries to chop wood, he breaks the ax. It’s embarrassing to be called “Mendel the Mess Up,” but it’s worse to be so clumsy that he can’t even stand to read aloud without destroying the classroom. Nobody expects Mendel to keep out of trouble… least of all himself. But when the Cossacks invade Mendel’s remote Jewish village of Lintvint (famous for Lintvint kvatch, which is made from a very special ingredient), Mendel’s not the only one in trouble. When he slips away from the mountain caves where his fellow villagers are hiding, out of certainty he’ll find a way to make things worse if he’s around them, he discovers an unexpected opportunity to save the day. Mendel’s always been different because everything he does turns into disaster. Now, he’s the only one who can help the people who doubt him. Could Mendel’s bad luck be the key to saving Lintvint? Or will his plan to drive the Cossacks off go as badly as everyone—including him—expects? Sympathetic, funny, and warm, this fast-paced middle-grade graphic novel from a veteran Jewish comics star reminds young readers who feel just a little out of place in their world that sometimes our weaknesses can be our greatest strengths. 208pgs colour hardcover / paperback.
Moebius
by Nicolas Labarre
University Press of Mississippi / Biographix
$99.00 / $20.00
The publisher says:
Jean Giraud (1938–2012) started drawing comics in the late 1950s for a variety of French comics magazines. Under his real name, he found success in 1963 with the western series Blueberry, written by Jean-Michel Charlier and published in Pilote magazine. In the 1970s, he started producing science fiction works under the name of Moebius, which brought him international success, and which included works such as Arzach. He died in 2012, as a global celebrity in the comics world and a major influence across visual media. This first book-length, English-language study of Moebius finally brings international attention to an artist whose influence on the medium was profound and immediate, making him a role model for aspiring comics creators throughout his career. He was widely imitated while at Métal Hurlant in the 1970s, was “prominent among the spiritual fathers of the comic book rebels” in the 1990s, and again an example for the independent artists identified as the “new bande dessinée” in France in the early 2000s. Featuring close readings of key texts, including Blueberry, The Airtight Garage of Jerry Cornelius, and The Long Tomorrow, this volume examines Moebius’s style and aesthetic achievement. Notably, this volume explores the tension between Giraud and Moebius―one name for westerns, the other for science fiction; one name for the domestic market, another as a global brand; one name for the brush, another for the pen; one for the mainstream and the other for the underground. Labarre challenges those dichotomies, especially in the later phases of Moebius’s career, unveiling the complex evolution of this understudied but influential artist. 144pgs B&W hardcover / paperback.
The Pedestrian Vol.1
by Joey Esposito & Sean Von Gorman
Magma Comix
$19.99
The publisher says:
Behold, The Pedestrian! A strange visitor speed-walks into Summer City and silently changes the lives of its residents. But not all is quiet in this sleepy, small town―an ancient conflict linked to the secret history of street signs is brewing! DON’T WALK… RUN! In The Pedestrian, justice always has the right of way. Writer Joey Esposito (Batman: Urban Legends) reunites with Pawn Shop collaborator, artist Sean Von Gorman (Ghost Planet), for an offbeat tale that will stick with you. Walk, don’t run! This is a series you won’t wanna miss. 128pgs colour paperback.
Pocket Full of Rain and Other Stories
by Jason
Fantagraphics
$30.00
The publisher says:
This new and expanded edition of Pocket Full of Rain is a multifaceted anthology of shorts by the brilliant Norwegian cartoonist Jason. Leading off with the eponymous novella-length thriller, A Pocketful of Rain is drawn with realistic human beings instead of Jason’s trademark blank-faced animal characters―a true revelation for longtime fans. This collection showcases three distinct styles: the artist’s earliest “realistic” drawing style (used to unsettling effect in some particularly creepy stories), an intermediate “bighead” cartoony style that still features humans (used for both humour and drama), and the “funny animal” style he’s now best known for. Readers who love Jason’s anthropomorphic style won’t be disappointed, though. Also included is several tales drawn in that fashion, featuring (among other things) Death, a guy waiting for a bus, and croquet-playing nuns; over 40 “daily strip” format gags; a trio of hilarious parodies of other pop media work including Corto Meowtese and an elaborate riff on Basil Wolverton’s Spacehawk done Jason style; and much more. This new and expanded edition also collects all the images from the limited Swedish edition of Pop!, a collection of Jason’s wildly ingenious and graphically pixelated single -page pop culture homages. Modern Art meets pop cult, channeled through Jason’s keen sense of humour and atmosphere. In this gallery, readers see the cartoonist’s takes on Hopper, Magritte, and Kahlo; Moebius, Pratt, and Hergé; musicians like Tom Waits and David Bowie; and many more combinations, tributes, and send-ups. Of special interest are his delightfully ghoulish re-workings of Ernie Bushmiller’s Nancy, blending in works from David Lynch, Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, and, of course, the paintings of Sluggo Picasso. Plus, a key to deciphering all of Jason’s roguish and inspired takes. 184pgs B&W hardcover.
Revolt of the Ugly: Buzzelli Collected Works Vol.3
by Guido Buzzelli, translated by Jamie Richards
Floating World
$34.99
The publisher says:
Hailed in Europe, Guido Buzzelli has been called “the Michaelangelo of monsters,” “the Goya of comics,” and “the patron saint of all Italian cartoonists.” A pioneer active from the 1950s-1980s, today virtually unknown in English, Buzzelli horrifies, fascinates, and provokes with his unique blend of surrealism and dynamism. Displaying a range of influences from Westerns and science fiction to Rennaisance art and futurism, Buzzelli’s stories are a delightful, quasi-postmodern mishmash of high and low, showing an intricate hand and stylish narrative skill. This final volume includes Guido Buzzelli’s full-colour science fiction epic Zasafir, A Star For Ganymede, Resurrection, and the previously unpublished Incomplete Zasafir. The volume features his earliest masterpiece, Revolt of the Ugly. This satirical examination of class war is credited for inventing the independent Italian graphic novel. Introduction by Valerio Stivè. 164pgs B&W paperback.
War of the Worlds
by H.G. Wells & Faber & Faber
$27.99
The publisher says:
A stunning graphic novel retelling of the science fiction classic. In 1894, across space, this earth was being watched by envious eyes, and plans were being drawn up for an attack. What seems to be a meteorite falls to earth, but from the debris, unfolds terrifying alien life. A young man called Leon records his observations and sketches. “Those who have never seen Martian life can scarcely imagine the horror,” he tells us. “Even at this first glimpse, I was overcome with fear and dread. The earth stood still as we watched, almost unable to move…” As war descends, Leon and his scientist wife race against the clock to discover the science behind these martians in the hopes of ending this war of all worlds. Chris Mould has illustrated the gamut from picture books and young fiction, to theatre posters and satirical cartoons. As well as writing his own fiction and illustrating Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man to much critical success, he has teamed up with author Matt Haig for the bestselling A Boy Called Christmas, A Girl Who Saved Christmas, Father Christmas and Me and The Truth Pixie. He lives in Yorkshire with his wife, has two grown-up daughters, and when he’s not drawing and writing, you’ll find him… actually, he’s never not drawing or writing. 176pgs colour hardcover.
War on Gaza
by Joe Sacco
Fantagraphics
$12.99
The publisher says:
A timely satirical broadside on Israel’s genocidal campaign against Gaza by the most acclaimed comics journalist working today. Joe Sacco is well known as an unflinching chronicler of the injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people (Palestine, 1993; Footnotes in Gaza, 2010). He continues this mission with War on Gaza, a series of graphic commentaries on Israel’s rampage that began more than a year ago and continues relentlessly today. Published in installments on The Comics Journal’s website, War on Gaza is a series of comics and single-panel illustrations that lay bare the naked immorality of the “war” itself and its dire and tragic consequences. Employing his trademark combination of honesty, compassion, and dark humor, Sacco’s War on Gaza is an uncompromising critique of Israel’s genocide and the complicity of President Joe Biden and the United States. 32pgs B&W paperback.
Whatever Happened to Frankie King
by Jay Neugeboren & Eli Neugeboren
Graphic Mundi / PSU Press
$21.95
The publisher says:
Frankie King was a precocious student and a promising basketball player at Brooklyn’s James Madison High School in the early 1950s. Sportswriters were comparing Frankie to the greatest college and professional players of all time, and he was recruited as a starting guard at the University of North Carolina. But Frankie dropped out before playing a single game. This graphic novel follows King’s enigmatic life from its auspicious start in the limelight to his very reclusive existence in New York City, where he authored more than forty novels, including a popular series of cozy cat mysteries written under the pseudonym Lydia Adamson. Whatever Happened to Frankie King is the story of a unique and sometimes troubled life as well as a meditation on dreams realised, lost, and abandoned. 130pgs colour paperback.
Wretched: A surreal tale of vice and crime
by Henrik Rehr & Jan Solheim
Black Panel Press
$24.99
The publisher says:
A nightmare, anxiety attack, or bad trip? A woman is seemingly trapped in a feverish dream, attempting to navigate through a distorted world in a stumbling language, struggling to comprehend what’s happening around her: “No one speaks my language here… I’m sweating, even though it’s actually quite cold. I think I have a fever…” “I see their smiles, I hear their friendly voices, but I KNOW what they feel!” Wretched is written by Henrik Rehr, one of the most active Danish series creators of the last 30 years, and illustrated by Jan Solheim, whose superior line work demonstrates why he is one of the country’s most sought-after illustrators. 144pgs colour hardcover.
