FANFARE / PONENT MON
THE DISAPPEARANCE DIARY GN
by Hideo Azuma
In 1989 Hideo Azuma left his family and work and tried (unsuccessfully) to hang
himself using the slope of a mountain. This autobiographical account of his two
disappearances, his slide into alcoholism, and eventual recovery takes these
painful experiences from the darkest reaches of his mind and treats them with an
overriding sense of a cartoonist's humor. (C: 0-1-2)
SC, 6x8, 200pgs, B&W SRP: $19.99
THE TIMES OF BOTCHAN VOLUME 4 GN
by Natsuo Sekikawa & Jiro Taniguchi
The Meiji period (1867 - 1912) saw the important formative years of modern Japan
unfold. Contemporary author, Soseki Natsume, wrote a book entitled "Botchan"
based on his experiences in this fast-changing world. "The times of Botchan" is
a fictional account of Natsume and his circle of poets and writers which is
peppered with event and famous characters of the time. This, the fourth of ten
volumes, flashes back to when Rintaro (Ogai) Mori, Army Medical Officer and
poet, returns to Japan after four years in Europe with a foreign woman following
closely behind. (C: 0-1-2)
SC, 6x8, 144pgs, B&W (4 of 10) SRP: $19.99
OFFERED AGAIN
O/A THE TIMES OF BOTCHAN GN'S
by Natsuo Sekigawa & Jiro Taniguchi
The Meiji era (1868-1912) was probably the most defining period in Japanese
history. It was a time of massive change from the more traditional Tokugawa era
to a positioning of Japan in the modern world. Contemporary writer, Soseki
Natsume, suffered due to all the social and cultural changes, and expressed his
feelings through his character Botchan, a classic in the vein of Mark Twain and
Charles Dickens. The script explores the period through an adult point-of-view,
whilst the art by Taniguchi portrays the material with exquisite and elegant
detail. Presented in traditional Japanese format reading right to left.
VOL 1—SC, 6x9, 152pgs, B&W (1 of 10) SRP: $19.99
VOL 2—SC, 6x9, 144pgs, B&W SRP: $19.99
VOL 3 (JUN063096)—SC, 6x9, 160pgs, B&W SRP: $19.99
FANGORIA COMICS
DEE SNIDER'S STRANGELAND: SEVEN SINS #3
by Jesse Blaze Snider, Stephen Mooney & Jason Jensen
The bloody prequel to Dee Snider’s cult classic film Strangeland continues!
Carleton Hendricks is no more — now there is only Howdy! And the good Captain is
far from done with his campaign of vengeance against the seven individuals who
tried to put an end to his sadistic form of fun.
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (3 of 4) SRP: $3.99
BUMP HACK/SLASH #1
by Kidwell, Seeley & Parvanov
Hack/Slash’s Cassie and Vlad uncover a bizarre series of missing women, and are
drawn to the deep south to investigate. It just so happens the trail leads right
to the home of Bump’s resurrected serial killer Edgar Dill, and his flesh-hungry
Treehuggers! Will Eddie “clean” poor Cassie and use her to fill one of his
Huggers, or will Vlad send the monsters back to Hell?
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (1 of 1) SRP: $3.99
MARK KIDWELL'S RECLUSE #1
by Kidwell & Fotos
Recluse is a story that involves child abuse, and long buried sins against the
innocent. The results of this atrocity are horrifying and uncontrollable, even
by the once-young hands that unleash it. This is a cautionary tale, showing that
hatred and a black desire for vengeance can have long-reaching effects that
sometimes spawn an evil even greater than the one that inspired it.
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (1 of 4) SRP: $3.99
THE FOURTH HORSEMAN #3
by Nodelman, Castillo, & Parvanov
The beautifully rendered prequel to the upcoming animated horror movie by
animator/director/producer Jeffrey Nodelman gallops on! Meet Prophet, the Brown
Rider. The bringer of disease, pestilence and plague. He’s the fastest,
deadliest gun on Earth, and unfortunately for all of humanity, he’s also here to
help bring on the Apocalypse!
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (3 of 4) SRP: $3.99
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
BETSY AND ME GN
by Jack Cole
Having mastered comic books and gag cartoons, in 1958, nearly two decades after
he unveiled Plastic Man to the world, Jack Cole set his sights on the
cartoonist’s pot of gold — a syndicated newspaper strip. He hit the bull’s-eye
with Betsy and Me, a breezy domestic farce focusing on a middle-class urban
couple and their smart-aleck genius son. Betsy and Me was an instant success and
newspapers were lining up to buy it. Then, with only two-and-a-half month’s
worth of strips completed, Cole purchased a .22 caliber pistol and ended his
life. R.C. Harvey’s insightful introduction serves as a biographical sketch, and
sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Cole’s suicide.
SC, 104pgs, B&W SRP: $14.95
BLAB VOLUME 18
edited and designed by Monte Beauchamp
Blab! Volume 18 delivers like nobody’s business, with a decided focus on the
comic arts. Underneath the covers by Ryan Heshka are a slew of all-new comic
stories: Mark Zingarelli reveals the “Chick’s Club Taboo”; Euro-comics sensation
Paco Alcazar tells a Lynchian superhero tale called “Obedience”; Pete Kuper
dishes on the bullies that dogged him as a youth in “Bully for You!”; “Sirens of
Silence” is cover artist Heshka’s wordless depiction of a post-global disaster
existence; Sue Coe presents the true tale of Coney Island’s “Topsy the
Elephant”; underground legend Skip Williamson serves up “Daddy Was a Lady,” a
portrait of legendary drag queen Rae Burton; Steven Guarnaccia returns with the
story behind the man who created Miniature Golf in “Moe Greene’s Hole in One”;
Kramer’s Ergot phenoms Xavier; and Helge prove once and for all that atheists
are a product of cloned humans. Plus, Mark Frauenfelder of boingboing.com fame
contributes the comic strip, “Juicemaker’s Dream.” This volume also features
“Mr. Foney’s Funnies,” a feature on the bubble-gum card set that set the stage
in 1960 for Topps’ million dollar mega-hit, Wacky Packages.
SC, 120pgs, FC SRP: $22.95
STARS OF THE MONTH
BLAB VOLUME 16
edited and designed by Monte Beauchamp
This volume features Geoffrey Grahn's The Man Who Saved the World, which tells
the tale of Vasily Arkhipov, the Russian sub brigade commander who did not
follow orders to begin firing nuclear torpedoes at the U.S., thereby saving the
world from nuclear war. Plus, Laura Levine's Veronica recounts the life of 1940s
movie star, Veronica Lake. Peter and Maria Hoey present Lost Liner Notes, which
examine the lives of jazz musicians like Fats Navarro, Dodo Marmarosa, Serge
Chaloff, Dick Twardzik, Wardell Gray, and Sonny Criss. This volume also features
work by Spain, Peter Kuper, Gary Baseman, and others. (JUL052845)
SC, 10x10, 120pgs, PC SRP: $19.95
BLAB VOLUME 17
edited and designed by Monte Beauchamp
This volume of BLAB! features a full-color tribute to Bazooka Joe, plus Sue Coe
and Judith Brody’s “…And Not a Drop To Drink” is an exploration of the
destruction of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast by angry gods of wind and water
against a backdrop of war. Plus, Greg Clarke’s “The Pungent Gaul” is a
surprisingly harrowing story of a Frenchman who smuggles illegal cheeses from
his homeland into the United States and sells them on the black market. Also,
Drew Friedman’s 4-pager “Old Jewish Comedians”; Peter Kuper’s story of the
various ways he’s almost died; “Fetal Elvis” from Mark Landman; and “Max Vesta,
Matchbook Artist,” master of the matchbook cover. Plus stories by Tim Biskup,
Gary Baseman, Spain, Mats!, and more.
SC, 10x10, 120pgs, FC SRP: $19.95
POPEYE VOLUME 1: I YAM WHAT I YAM HC
by E.C. Segar
Completing the run of Segar’s Thimble Theatre comic strip (dailies and color
Sundays) featuring Popeye. In this first volume, covering 1928-1930, Popeye’s
initial courtship of Olive Oyl takes center stage, while Olive’s brother Castor
Oyl discovers the mysterious Whiffle Hen. Also, the entire cast meets the Sea
Hag for the first time in their pursuit of the “Mystery House” (Popeye’s first
extended daily narrative), and Castor Oyl attempts to turn Popeye into a boxing
champion in a series of hilarious Sunday strips. (JUL063133)
HC, 11x17, 200pgs, PC SRP: $29.95
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POPEYE VOLUME 2: WELL BLOW ME DOWN HC
by E.C. Segar
This second volume of the acclaimed hit series collecting the entirety of E.C.
Segar’s original Popeye (a.k.a. Thimble Theatre) comic strips begins with a
foreword by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, and continues with an
introduction by noted film and cartooning critic Donald Phelps. This second
volume features work from 1930 to 1932, and most notably includes the debut of
Segar’s second greatest character: J. Wellington Wimpy, which stands as a
one-of-a-kind icon some 70 years after his creation — the most likeable lowdown
cad ever to grace the comics page. Popeye Volume 2 includes the stories: “Clint
Gore” (continued from the cliffhanger last volume); “A One-Way Bank,” in which
Popeye opens a bank that allows withdrawals but no deposits; a long war story
featuring King Blozo that begins with “The Great Rough-House War”; and “Skullyville,”
which wraps up the daily strips for this volume.
HC, 11x17, 200pgs, PC SRP: $29.95
ZIPPY 2007: WALK A MILE IN MY MUU MUU
by Bill Griffith
What? Zippy Hijacked by marauding speech balloon appropriators? This shocking
turn of events and more is chronicled in the latest collection of the Zippy the
Pinhead daily comic strips, Zippy: Walk a Mile in My Muu-Muu. In the
aforementioned storyline, all of the strip’s dialogue is usurped by balloons
taken directly from old comics like “Beach Blanket Bingo,” “Rusty Riley,” “UFO
Comics,” “Mutt and Jeff,” and “Steve Roper.” Will Zippy get his voice back? And
will he remember being abducted from a Kansas cow-lot by little gray aliens?
160pgs, PC SRP: $18.95
HANK KETCHAM'S THE COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE 1957-1958 VOLUME 4 HC
by Hank Ketcham
No one captured the mischievousness, rambunctiousness, and anarchy of a kid's
world better than cartoonist Hank Ketcham with Dennis the Menace. The strip
appeals to both parents and children — while parents shake their head ruefully
at how accurately Ketcham caught the essence of children's natural zest for
mayhem, children identify with Dennis and the chaos that he leaves in his wake.
Ketcham’s gags are funny, subtle and touching, and executed with a vivacious
exquisite line. Ketcham’s legendary pen and ink work achieves its full flowering
in this volume, as do the various situations and themes that Ketcham would
return to again and again. This fourth volume of Hank Ketcham's The Complete
Dennis the Menace publishes every single panel strip from 1957 and 1958 in one
handsome and thick hardcover volume. (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the U.K.
(May Purchase from U.K. Vendor)
HC, 5.5x6, 672pgs, B&W SRP: $24.95
HANK KETCHAM'S THE COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE 1955-1958 BOX SET
A swell custom-designed case containing the third and fourth volumes of Hank
Ketcham’s The Complete Dennis the Menace with strips from the years 1955 through
1958. (Sorry, case is not peanut butter or root beer resistant.) (C: 1-0-0)
NOTE: Not available in the U.K. (May Purchase from U.K. Vendor)
HC, 5.5x6, 672pgs, B&W SRP: $39.95
HATE ANNUAL #7
by Peter Bagge
The latest installment in the increasingly eccentric life of Buddy "The Crazy
Guy Who Works at the Dump" Bradley involves a war over scrap metal, of all
things. Plus, Buddy's old pal and business partner Jay takes over the auto junk
yard next door to Buddy's place in an attempt to capitalize on the rising value
of used steel. Watch what happens when these too former collector geeks butt
heads over a filthy, noisy, heavy yet priceless commodity! Also in this issue is
the final chapter (which works as a stand-alone story) of Bagge's "Bat Boy" run
in the Weekly World News, and Lovey once again gets involved with a Man of
Mystery whose "mystery" is of questionable taste! And as always, there are other
odds and ends that round out this one-man anthology.
MATURE THEMES
40pgs, FC SRP: $4.95
MEAT CAKE #16
by Darcy
Meatcake profiles the romantic Rudolph Valentino, the secret language of
flowers, love spells, and spells for mermaid hair. Plus, don't miss the true
tale of the magical ball, and a kitten left by the faeries in a box of nails.
Here are depictions of 16th century folk ballads about the uselessness of
everything, as only Dame Darcy can depict. Plus, sex magic!
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, B&W SRP: $3.95
THE COMICS JOURNAL #286
In The Comics Journal #286, comics critic and historian Paul Gravett interviews
British cartoonist Posy Simmonds. Best known for her weekly strips for The
Guardian (such as "The Silent Three of St. Botolph's") and her reworking of
Madame Bovary and Far from the Madding Crowd (Gemma Bovary and Tamara Drewe,
respectively), the pair also discuss other aspects of her wide-ranging career,
such as her children’s books and her strip "Literary Life." Also in this issue:
a career-spanning interview with Gail Simone, who recently left her long and
well-received run on the super heroine-team book Birds of Prey to tackle the
newly revamped Wonder Woman title. She will also talk about her work on series
such as Villains United, Superman, and Killer Princesses, and her “women in
refrigerators” website. Also in this issue are insightful comics reviews and
columns, and a comics section featuring Otto Soglow’s The Ambassador.
Magazine, 200pgs, PC SRP: $11.95
OFFERED AGAIN
O/A THE COMPLEAT CANNON TP
by Wally Wood
This book reprints the entirety of legendary cartoonist Wally (EC Comics, MAD
magazine, etc.) Wood's classic sex and violence secret-agent strip from the
late-1960s. This oversized collection includes a section of never-before-seen
ephemera in the form of sketches, notes and annotated information about the
strip.
SC, 10x13, 160pgs, B&W SRP: $19.95
CASTLE WAITING VOLUME II #9
by Linda Medley
With the first printing of the first Castle Waiting collection selling out
almost instantaneously, the second volume of the series continues the humorous,
solid storytelling Linda Medley is known for. In this issue Tolly, Jain, and
Simon continue to be shocked at what they do — and don't — find in the Castle's
secret passageways. Meanwhile, Chess struggles to face one of his greatest
lifelong terrors, and Dr. Fell has lunch. A fable for modern times, Castle
Waiting is a fairy tale that's not about rescuing the princess, saving the
kingdom, or fighting the ultimate war between Good and Evil — but about being a
hero in your own home.
24pgs, B&W SRP: $3.95
STARS OF THE MONTH
THE COMPLETE PEANUTS VOLUME 7 1963-1964 HC
by Charles M. Schulz
In this volume of the bestselling Complete Peanuts series, Charles Schulz
introduces one (in fact, three) of the quirkiest characters to the Peanuts
universe, the numerically-monikered 95472 siblings. They didn’t stay around very
long but offered some choice bits of satirical nonsense while they did. As it
happens, this volume is particularly rich in never-before-reprinted strips: over
150 (more than one fifth of the book!) have never seen the light of day since
their original appearance over 40 years ago, so this will be a trove of
undiscovered treasures even for avid Peanuts collectors. Introduced by Bill
Melendez, animator of all the Peanuts TV specials starting all the way back with
A Charlie Brown Christmas! (FEB073454) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Available only in the
United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, and the U.K.
HC, 8.5x7, 344pgs, B&W SRP: $28.95
THE CLASSIC PIN-UPS OF JACK COLE HC
edited by Alex Chun
In the rarefied realm of classic cartoon pin-up art, nobody did it better than
Jack Cole! With his quirky line drawings and sensual watercolors, Cole, under
Hugh Hefner's guiding hand, catapulted to stardom in the 1950s as Playboy's
marquee cartoonist; a position he held until his untimely death at the age of
43. Jack Cole has been justly celebrated as the creator of Plastic Man and an
innovative comic book artist of the 1940s. Most of these drawings have not seen
print in more than 50 years; taken together, they provide a rare glimpse into
the singular artistry of Jack Cole. (NOV032323)
MATURE THEMES
HC, 6x9, 96pgs, B&W SRP: $19.95
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EROS COMIX
FREE SEXXX #4
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in
Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
32pgs, B&W SRP: $4.95
FREE SEXXX 1-3 PACK
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0)
ADULT MATERIAL
24pgs, B&W SRP: $9.99
FANTASY FLIGHT PUBLISHING INC
THE LEGEND OF PERCEVAN VOLUME 1 TP
by Fauche, Léturgie & Luguy
The evil Baron Deadstone has stolen three mystical gemstones that will make him
invincible. Only Percevan, brave knight and servant of the king, can stop him.
But to do so she will have to travel to the frozen lands across the sea and risk
many dangers. Fortunately, he has the assistance of a powerful sorceress! This
volume collects "The Three Stars of Ingaar," "The Tomb of Ice," and "The Sword
of Ganael" and presents these stories in English for the first time! (C: 0-1-2)
HC, 8x11, 192pgs, FC SRP: $17.95
:01 FIRST SECOND
STARS OF THE MONTH
SARDINE IN OUTER SPACE SC'S
by E. Guibert & J. Sfar
The evil Supermuscleman, chief executive dictator of the universe, is determined
to make every kid in the galaxy obey him. Who can outwit him and his wicked
plans? The answer is Sardine, a little girl aboard the spaceship Huckleberry
with her cousin Louie and her pirate uncle, the gruff Captain Yellow Shoulder.
Watch as they travel across the universe and encounter cosmic squids, space
leeches, talking clouds, and many other strange evil beings.
VOL 1 (FEB063055)—SC, 6x9, 128pgs, FC SRP: $12.95
VOL 2 (JUL063155)—SC, 128pgs, FC SRP: $12.95
VOL 3 (FEB073471)—SC, 6x9, 112pgs, FC SRP: $12.95
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SARDINE IN OUTER SPACE VOLUME 4 SC
by E. Guibert & J. Sfar
Monsters under the bed? Sardine can handle it! Torpedoes? A kidnapping? No
problem! This fourth volume of stories about Sardine by Emmanuel Guibert and
Joann Sfar continue the humor, the adventures, and the fun for a growing number
of loyal fans.
SC, 6x9, 112pgs, FC SRP: $13.95
TOWN BOY SC
by Lat
Mat’s move from the quiet kampung where he was born to a rapidly industrializing
town changes his life dramatically, introducing him to bustling streets, modern
music, and his passion for art. Lat’s autobiographical story is thoughtfully
told and exuberantly pictured in pen-and-ink artwork, taking readers into
another world, another culture, and another time.
SC, 9x6, 192pgs, B&W SRP: $16.95
STAR OF THE MONTH
KAMPUNG BOY SC
by Lat
A window into a Muslim world that has now nearly vanished, Kampung Boy tells the
story of a boy’s childhood in Malaysia, as the country slowly transforms from
farms to factories. Malaysian superstar cartoonist Lat’s tale is hilarious and
affectionate, with brilliant, super-expressive artwork. (JUL063151) (C: 0-1-2)
SC, 144pgs, B&W SRP: $16.95
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FENICKX PRODUCTIONS LLC
ARCHAIC #10
by James S. Abrams & Weshoyot Alvitre
ARCHAIC: THE STORM #1 — A psychotic youth named TakTak leads an army of
cybernetic monsters and angelically armored warriors in a ferocious assault upon
the flying mountain-fortress, where the last hope for humanity is being kept. By
the end of this new story-arc, the world of Archaic will be drastically changed.
24pgs, FC SRP: $3.50
FULP FICTION INC
HARRY JOHNSON: TWO-FISTED TWOSOME PACK
by Various
More Powers than Austin! More Flash than Gordon! More Dick than Tracy? Harry
Johnson rises again with a two-issue combo pack at a special price! This
critically acclaimed pop culture spoof has been hailed as Austin Powers meets
Indiana Jones.
MATURE THEMES
Pack (x2), FC SRP: $3.95