www.86thfloor.com     PREVIEWS VOL. XVII #6 June 2007  

Independent Comic Publishers
(Companies beginning with F)

 

 


FANGORIA COMICS

BUMP #3
by Mark Kidwell & Jay Fotos
Slated to be a major motion picture from director/special effects legend Robert Kurtzman (Wes Craven’s Wishmaster)! The horror is cranked up to "13" as the resurrected serial killer Eddie Dill and his growing legion of Treehuggers intensify their hungry assault on Sheriff Lundy and the remaining survivors at the isolated old farmhouse in this terrifying, blood-splattered issue!
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (3 of 4) SRP: $3.99

THE FOURTH HORSEMAN #1
by Nodelman, Castillo, & Parvanov
A 4-issue prequel to the upcoming animated horror movie from Fangoria Films, T4H tells the graphic and terrifying tale of how the Riders of the Apocalypse meet, rise to power, and bring about the end of the world. If only there was one who could stop them! Cover by John Van Fleet.
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (1 of 4) SRP: $3.99

ROBERT KURTZMAN'S BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE RAGE #3
by Kurtzman, Bisson, Thompson, & Jensen
The gore-soaked prequel to From Dusk 'Til Dawn creator Robert Kurtzman’s monsterpiece continues! Dr. V (Andrew Divoff, LOST) finds the Eternal Queen and the hell-born living plant-god called the Krusilak, the very source of the Rage. But he’s also stepped right into her trap, and must now face the threat of becoming a mutated, flesh-eating monster!
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (3 of 4) SRP: $3.99

DEE SNIDER'S STRANGELAND: SEVEN SINS #1
by Snider, Mooney, & Jensen
A bloodier and even more brutal prequel to the Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) cult classic film, Strangeland: Seven Sins is a "Horror Vengeance" title that tells the terrifying tale of how Carleton Hendricks becomes the merciless Captain Howdy, and the sadistic path of revenge he takes against the seven individuals responsible!
MATURE THEMES
32pgs, FC (1 of 4) SRP: $3.99

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

CASTLE WAITING VOLUME II #8
by Linda Medley
In the latest chapter of Linda Medley's witty and beautifully drawn fantasy comic, Jain, Tolly, and Simon explore the Castle's recently-discovered secret passageway, where they find... well, you have to read the issue to find out!
24pgs, B&W SRP: $3.95

OFFERED AGAIN

O/A THE COMICS JOURNAL #169
The Neil Gaiman issue of the magazine that delivers what you want to know about comics — The Comics Journal! Published back in the summer of 1994, this issue (features Gaiman’s thoughts on creators’ rights, work-for-hire, and just how bad the various comics publishers).
MATURE THEMESSRP: $4.95

THE COMPLETE PEANUTS VOLUME 8 1965-1966 HC
by Charles M. Schulz
It's the mid-1960s, one of Schulz’s peak periods of creativity. Snoopy has become the strip’s dominant personality, and this volume marks two milestones for the character: the first of many “dogfights” with the nefarious Red Baron, and the launch of his writing career (“It was a dark and stormy night...”). Two new characters — the first two from outside the strip’s regular little neighborhood — make their bows. Roy (who befriends Charlie Brown and then Linus at summer camp) won’t have a lasting impact, but upon his return from camp he regales a friend of his with tales of the strange kids he met, and she has to go check them out for herself. Her name... Peppermint Patty! (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Available only in the United States, Canada, and U.S. Territories.
HC, 8.5x7, 344pgs, B&W SRP: $28.95

THE COMPLETE PEANUTS 1963-1966 BOXED SET
by Charles M. Schulz
This boxed set collects the current (1965-66) and previous (1963-64) volumes, in a new slipcase designed by the Award-winning graphic novelist, Seth. It’s the perfect gift book item of the season! (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Available only in the United States, Canada, and U.S. Territories.
Slipcase Box Set (x2) SRP: $49.95

JOHNNY RYAN'S XXX SCUMBAG PARTY TP
by Johnny Ryan
Johnny Ryan is the one-man Mad magazine behind the quarterly comic-book series, Angry Youth Comix. Collecting issues #6-10 of Angry Youth Comix, Johnny Ryan’s XXX Scumbag Party features such signature Ryan characters as Boobs Pooter, Loady McGee, Sinus O’Gynus, Baby Johnson, and Blecky Yuckerella. Featured stories include: “Sherlock McRape in ‘Who Hit Nelly in the Belly with Jelly,” “Battle of the Century” (a thinly-veiled satire of two well-known, anachronistic graphic novelists), the epic “O’Pussy,” and even-more-epic “Dry Gulch Follies 2005,” featuring just about every character Ryan ever created in one 25-page comedy masterpiece. Peppering the stories are over 100 hilariously profane gag cartoons peppered throughout the book. (That’s a lot of pepper!)
MATURE THEMES
SC, 7x10, 176pgs, B&W SRP: $18.95

THE KAT WHO WALKED IN BEAUTY: PANORAMIC DAILIES OF 1920 HC
by George Herriman
The Kat Who Walked In Beauty collects many rare and unique dailies from the 1910's and 1920's. This nine-month stretch of dailies, never-before-reprinted, is among the treasures included in this collection. The collection includes many other Herriman gems, including the very first stand-alone Krazy & Ignatz strips from 1911, and the illustrations from Herriman’s Krazy Kat Jazz pantomime/ballet, performed to captivated New York audiences in 1922. This book fills in several gaps in the daily strip history, reproduced at close to their original size.
HC, 11x15, 144pgs, B&W SRP: $29.95

STAR OF THE MONTH

KRAZY & IGNATZ 1939-1940: BRICK STUFFED WITH MOOMBINS
by George Herman; designed by Chris Ware; edited by Bill Blackbeard
George Herriman integrated full, spectacular color into Krazy Kat in June, 1935. The gorgeous evolution continues in this third color volume, which includes the Sunday strips from all of 1939 and 1940. Included is an unpublished Herriman painting from the 1920s. (OCT063407)
SC, 9x12, 120pgs, FC SRP: $19.95

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MEAN GN
by Steven Weissman
It’s hard to recall a time when Steven Weissman’s adorable and idiosyncratic cartoon creations weren’t a part of our lives, hustling about Milltown, perfectly drawn and perfectly awful. The cast seemed to appear fully formed by the end of the 1990s, and ready for their “close up.” Every success story has its humble — or arrogant and mean-spirited — beginnings, and now Fantagraphics Books is tickled pink to present Mean, collecting Weissman’s early, self-published, unpublished, and otherwise rare “Yikes” comics. Enjoy your favorite characters’ awkward, embarrassing first appearances; watch them stumble from their early, crude glory into their mature sadistic and masochistic selves. Li’l Bloody and the Pullapart Boy steal candy, X-Ray Spence answers his fan mail, and Kid Medusa falls in love (twice!). Early critical attention, while overwhelmingly positive, often questioned what Weissman “was on” when he came up with these odd tales of young friendship. Read Mean and guess for yourself.
SC, 6x9, 128pgs, PC SRP: $16.95

THE KID FIRECHIEF GN
by Steven Weissman
Even though he's just a poor orphaned boy, it's a well-known fact that there's no greater firefighter than Olaf Oedwards, a.k.a. "Kid Firechief!" And if you've ever wondered what would happen if the greatest firechief of all-time fought one of the greatest fires of all-time, you'll find the answer here in this charming graphic novel for children of all ages. Weissman's charming and respectful approach mixes an absurdist sense of humor with very human emotion to create a deceptively simple and very charming book.
SC, 5x8, 96pgs, PC SRP: $12.95

STAR OF THE MONTH

THE MERCHANT OF DENNIS THE MENACE TP
by Hank Ketcham
This engaging memoir from Hank Ketcham has Dennis the Menace tell his own colorful story, from when he was about "five-ana-half" and first picked up the "magic pencil." This book not only traces the humorous adventures of Hank Ketcham, it also offers a special insight into the life and times of the half-pint "Menace." Go behind the scenes of Dennis' world with backgrounds for all major characters, (including their genealogies). Plus, enjoy official model sheets, private sketches, and more. (JUN052961)
SC, 9x9, 256pgs, B&W SRP: $19.95

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WHERE'S DENNIS? THE MAGAZINE CARTOON ART OF HANK KETCHAM TP
edited by Alex Chun & Jacob Covey
Although best known as one of the greatest syndicated cartoonists of the 20th Century, Dennis the Menace creator Henry “Hank” Ketcham also spent nearly a decade as a gag cartoonist for major New York magazines like the Colliers and the Saturday Evening Post. In these gag cartoons, which were primarily published between 1942 and 1950, one can already see the endearing troublemaker that would become the protagonist in his long-running strip. (In fact, Ketcham in his Dennis the Menace cartoons, reused some of the gags and images almost verbatim.) Collected for the first time are hundreds of Ketcham’s long forgotten magazine cartoons. Together, they provide a rare glimpse into what would later become one the most beloved comics to grace the comics pages!
SC, 7x5, 200pgs, B&W SRP: $19.95

SQUA TRONT #12
by Various
Squa Tront, the EC magazine, returns with a brand-new 64-page extravaganza! Included are unpublished interviews with Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Kamen. Publisher Lyle Stuart talks about his days as EC's business manager. Writer Larry Siegel reminisces about Harvey Kurtzman, MAD and Humbug. Plus, never-before-seen art by Jack Davis, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kamen, and Wallace Wood! Also, a feature on EC's rarest publication, The Profit! Cover painting by Johnny Craig.
SC, 8x11, 64pgs, B&W SRP: $9.95

STARS OF THE MONTH

THE CHARLES BURNS LIBRARY VOLUME 2: BIG BABY SC
by Charles Burns
From the creator of the 2005 hit graphic novel, Black Hole, comes this new softcover edition of his other masterpiece of modern horror. Big Baby is a particularly impressionable young boy named Tony Delmonte, who lives in a seemingly typical American suburb until he sneaks out of his room one night and becomes entagled in a horrific plot involving summer camp murders and backyard burials. (DEC063563)
SC, 9x12, 96pgs, B&W SRP: $16.95

DRAWING SEXY WOMEN HC
by Frank Thorne
Less a “how-to” book than an examination of the thinking behind erotic illustration, this volume also features Frank Thorne’s reminiscences of his long career as a cartoonist (including his personal encounter with Bettie Page), and a generous selection of illustrations and photos.
MATURE THEMES
SC, 96pgs, B&W SRP: $19.95

ESCAPE FROM SPECIAL GN
by Miss Lask-Gross
Escape From Special is the coming-of-age story of Melissa, who we first meet as a small child and depart from at the end of the book just before she enters high school. Drawn in black and white and washed in moody blues and full spectrum grays, Lasko-Gross’s art, with its detailed backgrounds and expressive, clean-line characters, exquisitely conveys the story’s blend of humor (sometimes of the gross-out variety) and keenly observed insights. Miss Lasko-Gross, who has the sensibility of a love child of Linda Barry and David B. midwifed by Judy Blume, has created a graphic novel that should appeal not only to the growing readers of graphic novels, but to teens grappling with similar unresolved questions. (SEP063298)
SC, 6x9, 136pgs, PC SRP: $16.95

THE GRAVE ROBBER'S DAUGHTER GN
by Richard Sala
In this original graphic novel, when the carnival comes to town, parents in the town of Obidiah’s Glenn began to get sick, followed by the teachers, doctors, and the sheriff’s department. The children of Obidiah’s Glenn become suddenly wild, roaming about at night with crazed looks in their eyes. Sixteen-year-old Paisley Curtain realizes she has to do something to stop what she sees is happening — but there isn’t anyone left in town that seems to be able to help. So she sends a letter to someone she hoped might listen, someone who would know what to do — a friend of her late sister’s from college, a self-styled “girl detective” with a questionable reputation named Judy Drood. Her only hope is that Judy will arrive in time to save her town, and to prevent her from ending up as yet another exhibit in the dark carnival’s Hall of Embalmed Abominations! (OCT063404)
SC, 6x8, 96pgs, B&W SRP: $9.95

HANGING OUT WITH THE DREAM KING SC
by Various
The most intimate look yet into the life and mind of Neil Gaiman! Artists, writers, editors, musicians, and over two-dozen creators share their thoughts on working with Gaiman to present a unique mosaic portrait of the writer whose name has become synonymous with modern fantasy. (AUG042748)
SC SRP: $17.95

THE SANDMAN PAPERS GN
by Various
Besides its mass appeal, The Sandman has long interested students and teachers in myriad disciplines, and they have shared their reactions through analytical essays. This book gathers some of the best of this criticism, most by young scholars and all written in readable, jargon-free language. The book contains twelve wide-ranging essays of criticism, exploration, and appreciation. (JAN063040)
SC, 6x9, 280pgs, B&W SRP: $18.95

NEUROTIC HC
by John Cuneo
Like Emily Dickinson, master illustrator John Cuneo has spent years generating a huge oeuvre of work that has never been published anywhere. Unlike Ms. Dickinson, however, Cuneo’s consists of stacks and stacks of weird, perverse, erotic, hilarious, and disgusting images delineated in his sketchbooks. But make no mistake? nEuROTIC is a sharply designed little full-color hardcover that collects the very best of Cuneo’s humorous erotica. (OCT063411)
MATURE THEMES
HC, 6x8, 96pgs, FC SRP: $19.95

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EROS COMIX

THE COMPLETE IRON DEVIL HC
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
HC, 6x9, 160pgs, PC SRP: $26.95

OFFERED AGAIN

O/A GHITA OF ALIZARR GN
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
SC, 240pgs, B&W SRP: $24.95

HOT MOMS #10
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
24pgs, FC SRP: $4.95

OFFERED AGAIN

O/A MEGAMANGA VOLUME 12: SILKY WHIP EXTREME TP
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
SC, B&W SRP: $16.95

SUBMIT #1
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
24pgs, B&W SRP: $3.95

TIJUANA BIBLES VOLUME 8 TP
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
SC, 128pgs, B&W SRP: $14.95

OFFERED AGAIN

O/A TIJUANA BIBLES TP'S
SEE PREVIEWS ADULT FOR MORE INFORMATION (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, & the U.K.
ADULT MATERIAL
VOL. 5—SRP: $14.95
VOL. 6—SC, 128pgs, B&W SRP: $14.95
VOL. 7—SC, 128pgs, B&W SRP: $14.95

FENICKX PRODUCTIONS LLC

ARCHAIC #8
by James S. Abrams & Brett C. Marting
A blood-soaked riot ensues when a hyper-violent elf and a homicidal maniac clash over an orphaned girl. Meanwhile, a sinister King inspects his captive 200 ton baby while bargaining for the services of technology-obsessed religious zealots.
24pgs, FC SRP: $3.50

:01 FIRST SECOND

ROBOT DREAMS GN
by Sara Varon
When the dog gets lonely, he builds himself a friend from a mail-order robot kit. Soon the two are happily sharing movies, popcorn, and peaceful evenings... until a summer’s day swim leaves the robot rusted and immobile. Robot Dreams chronicles the next year: the dog’s desperate search for new friends and the robot’s dreams of his lost friend, the dog. Written and illustrated by Sara Varon, Robot Dreams tells a moving story of friendship, loneliness, and forgiveness.
SC, 6x8, 208pgs, FC SRP: $16.95

NOTES FOR A WAR STORY GN
by Gipi
When war comes, it doesn’t just change your food, your clothes, and your home. It changes your beliefs, your dreams, and your understanding of the world. Swept up in a war he never thought would happen, Giuliano begins to question what he’s fighting for — if he’s even fighting for anything. Written and illustrated by Italian graphic novelist Gipi, Notes for a War Story is an honest and important graphic novel about the consequences of war. Winner of the "Best Book" prize at Angouleme in 2005.
SC, 6x9, 128pgs, FC SRP: $16.95

STAR OF THE MONTH

GARAGE BAND GN
by Gipi
Award-winning creator Gipi’s gritty, compelling, pencil-and-watercolor artwork captures the essence of teenage life in this graphic novel about four troubled boys and their rock band. When the band’s only amp blows a fuse, the boys decide to steal in order to replace it. Events rapidly spiral out of their control: will this be the end of everything they’ve all worked for? (FEB073470)
SC, 6x9, 128pgs, FC SRP: $16.95

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FLESK PUBLICATIONS

MARK SCHULTZ: VARIOUS DRAWINGS VOLUME 3
by Mark Schultz
This third volume of the ongoing Various Drawings series focuses on Mark Schultz’s most recent works and unpublished art. Showcasing only his best in this annual collection, he demonstrates a continued ability to refine his craft through a variety of formats: private commissions, illustrations, comics material, and rare sketchbook art. New this year is a sixteen-page color section, featuring color roughs for his paintings and tinted experiments. The drawings include new pieces featuring Xenozoic Tales favorites Jack Tenrec and Hannah Dundee, plus a selection of recent comic book covers. Also included are preliminaries for his upcoming Storms at Sea storybook, unpublished brush and ink roughs for book illustration assignments, and more—65 pieces of art rendered variously in pencil, Wolff pencil, and brush and ink. Introduction by Michael Ryan. (C: 0-1-2)
SOFTCOVER—SC, 8x11, 48pgs, PC SRP: $19.95
LIMITED HARDCOVER—HC, 8x11, 48pgs, PC SRP: $29.95

OFFERED AGAIN

O/A MARK SCHULTZ: VARIOUS DRAWINGS VOLUME 1 SC
by Mark Schultz
Mark Schultz has garnered the respect of his peers for his near-perfect approach to the dry brush technique. Xenozoic Tales solidified him as a master of the form. Now great care has been taken to reproduce Mark's originals as faithfully as possible, with the artist's discerning eye approving every aspect of production. Contents include private commissions, a previously unpublished cover for SubHuman, and more.
SC, 8x11, 48pgs, B&W SRP: $19.95

FOX ATOMIC COMICS

THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY GN
by Various
The terrifying world of acclaimed horror writer Thomas Ligotti brought frighteningly to life by a collection of today's most talented writers and illustrators. In this book, three of Ligotti's most terrifying stories are adapted by three distinct writer/artist teams. In "The Last Feast of the Harlequin," writer Stuart Moore and artist Colleen Doran tell of an anthropologist's journey into a surreal winter carnival, where he witnesses an ancient rite of human sacrifice to grotesque worm-like creatures. Ben Templesmith's art accompanies Stuart Moore's adaptation of "Dream of a Mannequin," the story of a patient and psychiatrist bound together in a horrific dream. And in the final story, writer Joe Harris and artist Michael Gaydos team up to adapt a strange urban legend that robs artists of their desire to create art when they're confronted with horrible revelations. Each story is more terrifying than the next, and the talent assembled here brings a new dimension to a legendary horror writer's most chilling work. Cover by Ashley Wood. (C: 0-1-2)
SC, 7x10, 112pgs, FC SRP: $17.99

STAR OF THE MONTH

28 DAYS LATER: THE AFTERMATH GN
by Niles, Almos, Jones, Calero, & Bradstreet
Bridging the gap between the original film and its sequel, 28 Days Later: The Aftermath tells the story of one of the last bands of un-infected humans in London, desperately trying to survive in the midst of the Rage virus. Will their salvation come in the form of a rescue, or an over-zealous American army determined to eliminate anything left alive? Like the breakout Halo graphic novel, this full-length novel is told in four interlocking stories by horror maestro Steve Niles. Each chapter of this tale is illustrated by several of the brightest talents in comics today. (C: 0-1-2)
SC, 7x10, 112pgs, FC SRP: $17.99

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FULL CIRCLE PUBLICATIONS

CONVENTION PREVIEW: FULL CIRKLE II & THICKER THAN BLOOD 2007
by Reed, Bisley, & Ploog
Featuring a preview of two forthcoming titles by artists Mike Ploog and Simon Bisley. Full Cirkle II features 9 pages from the follow on story to the sold-out first Full Cirkle series with art by the great Simon Bisley (Slaine, Judge Dredd, ABC Warriors). Thicker Than Blood features 7 pages from the new 2-part werewolf story with art by comics legend Mike Ploog (Werewolf by Night, Ghost Rider). Don't miss it!
MATURE THEMES
7x10, 20pgs, FC SRP: $2.25