read yourself RAW - Previews: October 2004

OCTOBER 2004
Books | Comics | About Comics | Manga | Merchandise

	BOOKS:
	The Complete Cartoons Of The New Yorker (HC) edited by Robert Mankoff Black Dog & Leventhal $60.00 A decade-by-decade compendium of all the cartoons ever published by The New Yorker magazine, featuring a book with over 2,000 cartoons and two CD-ROMs with all 68,647 cartoons ever published in the magazine fully browsable by date, subject, and artist. Considered a national treasure, the cartoons of The New Yorker are beloved, iconic images that have made us laugh at the social issues of the day and have defined a distinctly American sensibility. Since the magazine's debut in 1925, the cartoons have been a barometer of the human condition and have tweaked the nation's collective funnybone. Pasted to the refrigerator, tacked on the office bulletin board, or taped to a computer monitor... everyone seems to have a favorite.
	Mutts 9: Dog-Eared by Patrick McDonnell Andrews McMeel Publishing $10.95 The latest Mutts collection of the Reuben Award winning cartoonist, Patrick McDonnell, featuring a brilliant assortment of simple, yet complex, Mutts strips depicting the human-pet relationship. "To me, Mutts is exactly what a comic strip should be." Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts "Mutts cheers me up every day. It's not only sweet, simple, and funny - a rare combination - it's also the best drawn comic strip around." Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons "Patrick McDonnell possesses an elegance of line and narrative that both transcends and defines his medium. His artistry is in his Zen-like clarity, his simple direct address, and his unique understanding of the essential animal-human continuum. When one experiences Mutts, one experiences genius." Alice Sebold, author of The Lovely Bones
	Doonesbury: Talk To The Hand by G.B.Trudeau Andrews McMeel Publishing $16.95 Garry Trudeau has been getting under the skin of the body politic with his daily newspaper strip, Doonesbury, since 1970, which now appears in nearly 1400 newspapers. In 1975, he became the first comic strip artist ever to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning and in 1989, he was a finalist for a second Pulitzer. The latest Doonesbury collection includes the California recall debacle, which jerk-pressed Arnold "The Gropenfuhrer" Schwarzenegger to a position of power, despite the unexplained existence of dozens of women claiming to have been sexually assaulted by him. In Iraq, BD is nearly RPG'd into oblivion on the front line in Fallujah, but survives at the cost of a leg - "I'm finally down to my ideal weight". Back in the home land, a war-time president rolls out his answer to all questions ("9/11"), but tries to bury the still incomplete story of his own National Guard duty. "Trudeau ranks as one of the foremost sociopolitical satirists of recent decades" The Los Angeles Times
	Zippy: From Here To Absurdity by Bill Griffith Fantagraphics Books $19.95 A new collection of recent Zippy strips, which are a delightfully bizarre social commentary and appear daily in more than 200 newspapers in the US. Zippy is a walking subconscious who behaves like a Zen master engaged in a gleeful exploration of pop culture. Zippy responds to most situations with seemingly out-of-context phrases and is a metaphor for the fractured, short term information overload that we're all exposed to every day. As Griffith himself said, "Zippy is living in the moment. He's at peace with himself because he's out of step with everyone; he doesn't know it, and he doesn't care… Zippy has no problem with the irrationality of the universe, whereas most of us are desperately trying to make order out of the universe, and our lives. Zippy accepts chaos as what it is, which is the real order of everything." Read the Time.com review of Zippy The Pinhead here.
	Levels Of Insanity by John Callahan Ballantine Books $10.95 Scourge of the right, loathed by politically correct, enemy number one of moral crusaders - Political satirist John Callahan's Levels Of Insanity features a host of hilarious, outrageous and fearless cartoons. "Rude, shocking, depraved, tasteless... Callahan gets all the adjectives that cartoonists crave to hear." Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, Futurama
	Thrilling Tom The Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling Andrews McMeel Publishing $14.95 Cartoonist Ruben Bolling's oddball strip, Tom the Dancing Bug, makes waves on a weekly basis. Recognized the past two years by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) as Best Cartoon, Tom the Dancing Bug is "consistently funny, pointed without being dogmatic, and takes on subjects that no one else does... an oasis of keen intelligence in the comics page," according to the 2003 AAN judges. "Funny, hip, and refreshingly off-center." Washington Post
	Coming Soon: The Next Get Fuzzy Collection by Darby Conley Andrews McMeel Publishing $10.95 New York Times best-selling author and cartoonist Darby Conley has found an uncommon humor and insight in our ornery, unpredictable and often hilarious four legged room-mates. The strip's dry wit and razor-sharp reality earned it the National Cartoonists Society's prestigious Best Newspaper Comic Strip in 2002. Get Fuzzy captures the non-glamorous essence of being a pet owner in a way people who own and operate dogs and cats are sure to love.
	Dilbert: It's Not Funny If I Have To Explain It by Scott Adams Andrews McMeel Publishing $14.95 Office workers, cubicle squatters, and corporate drones everywhere read Dilbert in their morning papers and see their own bosses and coworkers in the frames of the strip, enacting on newsprint the weird rituals and bizarre activities that are conducted each day in the American workplace. The characters' names and hairstyles have been changed to protect their identities, but Dilbert's readers aren't fooled. After all, they spend every day with these idiots and lunatics. Today, Dilbert runs in 2,000 newspapers in 19 languages, reaching 150 million readers in 65 countries. The 24th Dilbert collection, It's Not Funny If I Have to Explain It, features Adams's personal all-time favorite selections, along with his own handwritten commentary about the strips.
	27 Years Of Shoe: World Ends At Ten, Details At Eleven by Jeff MacNelly Andrews McMeel Publishing $16.95 Shoe is one of the most popular comic strips ever created and Jeff MacNelly, the man behind the strip, was both regular guy and genius. Both qualities showed in every Shoe frame. Jeff's Reuben-winning work and the continuation of Shoe in the same spirit after his death make The First 27 Years of Shoe a treasure of wit to be enjoyed by all. Shoe is cartooning at its best. The strip captures issues and ideas that speak to a wide and diverse audience. It conveys volumes through its humor and simple lines. It includes plenty of MacNelly extras pepper the book, including notes from Jeff's teachers, as well as photos and warm remembrances of the creative genius who won three Pulitzer Prizes for his editorial cartooning and two Reubens, cartooning's highest award, for Shoe .
	Foxtrotius Maximus by Bill Amend Andrews McMeel Publishing $14.95 Jason Fox rules... his computer code, at calc and trig, and in whatever fantasy he happens to be headlining at the moment. Just because the rest of the Fox family—from older brother Peter and sister Paige to parents Roger and Andy—haven't quite accepted his Dominion Over All isn't cause for concern. Math geeks, Jason is convinced, will govern the earth, and he will lead the way. This latest FoxTrot treasury represents the ninth anthology of Amend's wildly successful comic strip, based upon the cartoonist's 17 previous books and his daily and Sunday syndicated appearances in more than 1,000 newspapers worldwide. FoxTrot truly is one of America's all-time favorite comics, and combined sales of nearly three million copies show that Amend knows how to capture and keep his audience's humor-loving attention.
	Random Zits by Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman Andrews McMeel Publishing $16.95 Zits follows the life of 15-year-old Jeremy Duncan, a sarcastic, cynical, sensitive, intelligent, typical kid. As Jeremy navigates life with his parents, girlfriend Sara, and buddies Pierce and Hector, he embodies all the characteristics unique to the weirdest, toughest, and most intense time most guys ever face: the teen years. He endures it all, armed with little more than a wry, penetrating sense of humor, a sullen expression, and a guitar named Larry. Random Zits not-so-randomly combines the previous collections Road Trip! and Teenage Tales into one mega-volume.
	Suddenly Silver: Celebrating 25 Years Of For Better Or For Worse by Lynn Johnson Andrews McMeel Publishing $14.95 A one-of-a-kind collection of Harvey Award winning strips and Johnston's musings and comments about her real life and how it's reflected in one of the cartooning world's most loved and followed families. Suddenly Silver is divided into three sections using cartoons from the strip's early, middle, and recent years. This insightful structure enables readers to revisit favorite earlier strips and to watch the development of storylines and the growth of characters over the years. Johnston's thoughts about them, their individual development, and their familial evolution makes Suddenly Silver particularly captivating. As Lynn describes her work, readers get to share in the Pattersons' rendition of real life, through the heartwarming and the humorous, the tragic and the triumphant.
	The Best Of Gahan Wilson: These'll Kill Ya..! by Gahan Wilson Underwood Books $15.00 A wonderfully ghoulish full colour collection of the very best of Gahan Wilson. From Nuts for National Lampoon to his classic cartoons for Playboy, this book is a celebration of Wilson's cheerfully macabre 50 year career.
	Marge's Little Lulu Vol 1 by John Stanley & Irving Tripp Dark Horse $9.95 Beginning with the first appearances in the mid 1930's, Dark Horse are reprinting the complete run of the classic Marge's Little Lulu. All ages fun, as fresh and funny as they were decades ago. "When I looked at other cartoonists work, I would think, Oh, their styles are much better than mine. I was looking at cartoonists who draw in a simpler way - like the reprints of Little Lulu comics which at that time had just been brought out in hard cover. Those Little Lulu comics from the 1950's are incredibly simple, but they work beautifully. I realized I could bring my art down to a simpler level, and it would work just as well." Chester Brown, discussing 'style-envy' in Dangerous Drawings
	Space Wars by Steve Ditko Vanguard Productions $34.95 Before he created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange for Marvel in the 1960's, Steve Ditko honed his craft working on a variety of sci-fi and horror stories. Space Wars is a compilation of his greatest 1950's science fiction short stories, with lots of bug-eyed monsters drawn in his retro style. Great stuff.
	SPX 2004 Anthology: War CBLDF $9.95 The 2003 Eisner Award winning anthology returns! The annual Small Press Expo (SPX) is a weekend convention and tradeshow held in the US showcasing creator-owned comics. Each year an anthology of the best indy-comic creators is published to raise funds for the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund, an organisation created to uphold the 1st Amendment right to free speech and over the years has stopped a number of comic retailers from going to jail. The theme of this year's anthology is war and now doubt these young cartoonist will have something thought-provoking to say about that. Buy the SPX 2004 Anthology - support the CBLDF today and discover the great cartoonists of tomorrow.
	Babel Vol 1 by David B Drawn & Quarterly $9.95 In a follow up to his remarkable 2002 book Epileptic, in Babel a boy's world is shattered by his brother's epileptic seizures and his growing awareness of turmoil in the world at large. Beyond the bewildered silence of grown-ups are images - tabloid crime photos, television reports of starvation in Biafra, the hieratic language of his brothers contorted body - that hold the promise of knowledge. The highlight of Epileptic was the extraordinary artwork of David B which displayed the boldness of primitive art and the lyricism of Windsor McCay with dreams, myth and history merging with memory to weave a poetic story about the sources of strength and vision.
	Bighead by Jeffrey Brown Top Shelf Productions, $12.95 Moving away from his autobiographical material of Clumsy and Unlikely, Jeffrey Brown is back with Bighead, and the unlikely subject matter of an irreverent superhero parody. However, in the hands of Jeffrey Brown we expect something special, and Bighead promises to bring together moral fable, social commentary and classic comic book action. "Witness inept villains clash with an all-to-emotional hero in an epic graphic novel that will leap all clichés in a single bound."
	Mister X Vol 1: Who Is Mister X? by Dean Motter, Paul Rivoche & Los Bros Hernandez iBooks $17.95 This is volume 1 of a 3 volume series reprinting the entire Mr X comics from the 1980's and the first volume will include the Mr X short story by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean which appeared in A1 (?) at that time. Los Bros Hernandez - or more specifically Gilbert on script and Jamie on art - were trying to match a number of stunning promotional posters by Paul Rivoche that advertised the Mr X series in advance of the comic appearing. Sadly their work didn't match the standard they had set for themselves in their Love & Rockets comic, but any Jamie art is always a joy to be hold and it is well worth seeking out this volume if only for #1-4 that Los Bros worked on. We only can hope that they will be paid for their efforts this time.
	The Frank Ritza Papers by David Collier Drawn & Quarterly $9.95 A quirky collection of stories about Collier's family, living life in the army and the search for information on local artist, Frank Ritza. Should you need any further recommendation to try this book, here's what Chris Ware said about David Collier, "...his widely unpredictable range of interests always makes fertile ground for a rich crop of real art. An obsessive observer who makes me fascinated by things I never thought I would be, I feel like a nancy-boy faker when I read Collier."
	Barka & Black Magic in Morocco by Rick Smith Alternative Comics $14.95 A graphic novel detailing cartoonist Rick Smith's travels with his wife, Tania, throughout Morocco, from Tangiers through the Sahara Desert and on to Marrakech and Casablanca. From hassles with transportation and the locals to language barriers and drugged carpet sales, this travelogue is a whirlwind through pre-9/11 Morocco. Rick Smith is best known for the Shuck Unmasked trade paperback from Top Shelf which collected the Ignatz Award nominated 'Shuck Comics' plus 48 pages of new material. His work has been favourably compared to that of Seth and James Kochalka.
	My Faith In Frankie by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew & Marc Hempel DC/Vertigo $6.95 My Faith In Frankie is a black and white digest reprinting the recent 4-issue Vertigo miniseries and tells the story of Frankie Moxon, a girl who discovers that having your own personal deity isn't all it's cracked up to be - particularly when you're trying to get a boyfriend and your god turns out to be jealous! But as Frankie moves precariously into adulthood and her god Jeriven tries to win her back, sinister forces are at work that could spell disaster far beyond a broken heart, and Frankie and Jeriven will both have to do some fast growing-up if they're going to survive. "...Frankie is adorable like a young Audry Hepburn." The Washington Post
	The Dream Art Of Rick Veitch 3: Crypto Zoo by Rick Veitch King Hell Press $17.95 Between 1994 and 1996 Rick Veitch published 21 issues of Rare Bit Fiends, a wildly experimental comic series in which he illustrated his lucid dreams (as hilariously parodied by Dave Sim in Cerebus). Issues 15-20 of that series finally appear in a collected volume, eight years after volume 2. In Crypto Zoo Veitch illustrates a wild and haunted dream series he had recorded 25 years earlier as a 22 year old. Crypto Zoo is a deeply personal, harrowing and ultimately life affirming tale of coming of age in the collective unconscious.
	Odysseys Of Giuseppe Bergman by Milo Manara DC/Humanoids $17.95 Odesseys contains two tales of Manara's heroic traveler, Giuseppe Bergman, that parallels the legendary voyage of Odysseus and will included the brand new story The Odyssey of Giuseppe Bergman. The book will also contain the bonus tale Seeing the Stars Again, in which a dying man asks Bergman to look after a beautiful young woman.
	Son Of The Gun by Alexandro Jodorowsky & Georges Best DC/Humanoids $17.95 A tale of a modern-day gunslinger's path through the darkest places in the human soul! Juan's ascension from an orphan in the slums to the governor's number one bodyguard will cost him his soul, and finding redemption may cost him his life.
	Bright Elegy by Leland Myrick Adept Books $12.95 A Xeric Award Winner - Bright Elegy is a story of mystery, violence and love in which time, memory and reality twist in a triple helix to form the life of the main character, James Sharpe. James runs away to an island in the Pacific Northwest where he encounters Helen and is swept up in a quest to discover the truth about his past life and the death of his girlfriend.
	Siglo: Freedom by various Nautilus Comics $15.99 Siglo: Freedom is an anthology of ten grafictional stories set in different decades and locations around the Philippines. Each story deals with the Filipino experience of freedom throughout the last century.
	The Book Of Ballads (HC) by Charles Vess Tor Books $24.95 Illustrated by top fantasy artist, Charles Vess, The Book Of Ballads is a unique collection of ballads, folktales and magical sagas and includes collaborations with Neil Gaiman, Jeff Smith, Charles de Lint, Jane Yolen and Sharyn McCrumb.
	Medicine Road (HC) by Charles de Lint, illustrated by Charles Vess Subterranean Press $35.00 Medicine Road will be a series of linked short novels by Charles de Lint, profusely illustrated by Charles Vess. Each of the projected three volumes will feature various combinations of the seven red-haired Dillard sisters (from Seven Wild Sisters) as well as new characters introduced as the stories progress. The first book will be set in the Sonoran Desert around Tucson, Arizona, with excursions north.
	The Golden Plates Vol 1 by Michael Allred & Laura Allred AAA Pop Comics $7.99 As the creator of Madman and The Atomics, and as artist on X-Static and X-Force, Michael Allred has made his name working on off-beat superhero parodies. In a dramatic change in subject matter, he begins his adaptation of the entire Book Of Mormon, the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, and which is the 1,000 year record of the people who journeyed from Jerusalem in 600 BC to Central America. Michael Allred has commented that, "There's no other book that is so rich with adventure, action, romance, courage, beauty and spiritual enlightenment... At the very least it's a phenomenal story rich with visual power." The Golden Plates is the first of a 12 volume series.
	Gutsman Comics Vol 1 by Erik Kriek Top Shelf Productions $14.95 The second superhero parody from Top Shelf in a month... the publisher sets a high standard for Gutsman by promising it to be a cross between Love & Rockets and Quentin Tarantino in a wordless, stylish and sexy graphic novel by Dutch creator, Erik Kriek, which playfully uses the imagery of superhero comics to comment of love affairs, despair, temptation and loss. View a preview of Gutsman at Graphic Novel Review.
	The Amazing Adventures Of The Escapist Vol 2 by various Dark Horse $17.95 Contributors include Paul Hornschemeier, Scott Morse, Dean Haspiel and Matt Kindt with a John Cassaday cover.
	Supreme Power Vol 2: Powers & Principalities by Michael Stracznski & Gary Frank Marvel $14.99 Collecting Supreme Power #6-12. The heroes have arrived. You've watched them grow. You've learned their secrets... and now they change the world. When a god like Hyperion discovers that his whole life has actually been an elaborate government made lie, his reaction could mean the end of the earth.
	Arkham Asylum Anniversary Edition HC by Grant Morrison & Dave McKean DC $29.95 DC are celebrating the 15th anniversary of Arkham Asylum with a new hardcover edition. Arkham Asylum was noted for its radical depictions of Batman, Joker and other DC characters and launched the careers of it's creators. New extras included in this edition are Morrison's complete script annotated by Grant himself and original editor Karen Berger, together with many of his original thumbnail breakdowns.
	Other Books Out This Month: DC: Batman: Hush Vol 2 SC by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee & Scott Williams (DC, $12.95) Batman: As The Crow Flies by Winick, Nguyen & Friend (DC, $12.95) Batman: Detective No.27 SC by Michael Uslan & Peter Snejbjerg (DC, $12.95) Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, Leinil Yu & Gerry Alanguilan (DC, $29.95) Superman: Man Of Tomorrow Archives Vol 1 HC by various (DC, $49.95) Superman Archives Vol 1 HC by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster (DC, $19.95) Jimmy Olsen Vol 2 by Jack Kirby (DC, $19.95) Golden Age Sandman Archives Vol 1 HC by Gardner Fox & others (DC, $49.95) Hard Time by Steve Gerber & Brian Hurtt (DC, $9.95) JSA: Savage Times by Geoff Johns, David Goyer & lots of artists (DC, $14.95) DC Comics Rarities Archives Vol 1 HC by various (DC, $75.00) Teen Titans: Family Lost by Geoff Johns and others (DC, $9.95) Teen Titans Go! Digest Vol 1 & 2 by J. Torres & others (DC, $6.95 each) The Spirit Archives Vol 15 HC by Will Eisner (DC, $49.95) The Metabarons Vol 2: Aghnar & Oda by Jodorowsky & Gimenez (DC/Humanoids, $14.95) Devlin Waugh: Swimming In Blood by John Smith & Sean Phillips (DC/2000AD, $19.95) Red Razors by Mark Miller & Steve Yeowell (DC/2000AD, $12.95) Coup D'Etat by Ed Bruebaker, Joe Casey, Jim Lee & others (DC/Wildstorm, $12.95) Tom Strong's Terrific Tales Vol 1 HC by Alan Moore & others (DC/ABC, $24.95) Fables: March Of Wooden Soldiers by Willingham, Buckingham & others (Vertigo, $17.95) Lovecraft SC by Han Rodionoff, Keith Giffen & Enrique Breccia (DC/Vertigo, $17.95) Sandman Mystery Theatre Vol 2 by Matt Wagner & John Watkiss (Vertigo, $19.95) Marvel: Cable/Deadpool Vol 1 by Fabian Nicieza, Mark Brooks & Patrick Zircher (Marvel, $14.99) Essential: Monster Of Frankenstein Vol 1 by Moench, Ploog & others (Marvel, $16.99) Essential: Tomb Of Dracula Vol 3 by Marv Wolfman & Gene Colon (Marvel, $16.99) Excalibur Vol 1: Forging The Sword by Chris Claremont & Aaron Lopresti (Marvel, $9.99) Exiles Vol 8: Your Wings by Tony Bedard & Mizuki Sakakibara (Marvel, $14.99) Hulk: Big Things by Jones, Deodato, Robertson & Braithwaite (Marvel, $17.99) Man-Thing: Whatever Knows Fear by Hans Rodionoff & Kyle Hotz (Marvel, $12.99) Marvel 1602 (HC) by Neil Gaiman & Andy Kubert (Marvel, $24.99) Marvel Masterworks: Uncanny X-Men Vol 4 by Clarmont, Byrne & Pérez (Marvel, $49.99) Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby Vol 1 HC by Jack Kirby & others (Marvel, $29.99) Mary Jane by Sean McKeever & Takeshi Miyazawa (Marvel Age, $5.99) Punisher: Born by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson (Marvel, $13.99) Thor: Son Of Asgard by Akira Yoshida & Greg Tocchini (Marvel Age, $7.99) Wolverine Vol 3: Return Of The Native by Greg Rucka & Darick Robertson (Marvel, $17.99) Wolverine, Best Of Vol 1 HC by Frank Miller, Barry Windsor Smith & others (Marvel, $29.99) X-Men Vol 1: Day Of The Atom by Chuck Austen & Salvador Larroca (Marvel, $8.99) Other: The Liberty Project Vol 1 by Kurt Busiek & James W. Fry (About Comics, $11.95) 1,000 Steps To world Domination by Rob Osbourne (AiT/Planet Lar, $12.95) Planet Of The Capes by Larry Young & Brandon McKinney (AiT/Planet Lar, $12.95) Bill & Ted's Most Excellent Adventure Vol 2 by Evan Dorkin (Amaze Ink/SLG, $13.95) Bear Vol 1: Immortal by Jamie Smart (SLG, $14.95) I Hunt Monsters Vol 1 by Rod Espinosa & Craig Babiar (Antartic Press, $9.99) The Adventures Of The Fly Vol 1 by Various (Archie Comics, $12.95) Twilight X: Storm Vol 1 by Joseph Wright (Antartic Press, $9.99) Ripperman by Joe Martino, Peter Palmiotti & Others (Chanting Monks, $5.95) Roadkills by Hart D. Fisher, Christa Faust & Joseph Monks (Chanting Monks, $5.00) Tales Of The Vampires by various (Dark Horse, $15.95) The Pin Up Art Of Dan Decarlo edited by Alex Chun (Fantagraphics, $18.95) Everyman Vol 1: Be The People by The Bros Goldman & Joe Bucco (FWD Books, $7.00) Grumpy Old Monsters by Anderson, Moesta, Cavero & Mendoza (IDW, $13.99) CSI: Demon House by Max Allen Collins, Gabriel Rodriguez & Ashley Wood (IDW, $19.99) Aleister Arcane by Steve Niles & Breehn Burns (IDW, $17.99) The Art Of Conan Sketchbook by Arthur Suydam (Image, $14.95) The Walking Dead Vol 2 by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard (Image, $12.95) Wonderland by Derek Watson & Kit Wallis (Image, $6.95) The Wicked West by Livingston, Tinnell & Vokes (Image, $9.95) Houdini: The Man From Beyond by Haberlin, Philips, Monsanto & Haberlin (Image, $16.95) Legend Of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving & Bo Hampton (Image, $7.95) Quantum Mechanics by Art Thibert & Rich Biradsall (Image, $6.95) Supernaturalists by Patrick Neighly & Jorge Heufemann (Mad Yak Press , $9.95) Moonstone Monsters Vol1 by DeFalco, Raab, Bennet, Klauba & others (Moonstone, $16.95) Mr Keen: Tracer Of Lost Persons by Justin Gray & Lee Ferguson (Moonstone, $10.95) Boneyard Vol 3 by Richard Moore (NBM, $9.95) Table For One by Bosch Fawstin (Mindspring Comics, $9.95) Love As A Foreign Language Vol 1 by J. Torres & Eric Kim (Oni, $5.95) The Long Haul by Antony Johnston & Eduardo Barrett (Oni, $14.95) The Jack Kirby Reader Vol 2 edited by Greg theakston (Pure Imagination, $25.00) Docteur Mystere Vol 1: Mysteries Of Milan HC by Castelli & Filippucci (SAF, $12.95) The Journeys of Alexender Isaro Vol 1 HC by Paco Roca (SAF, $12.95) Satyr Vol 1 by Mike Indvina (Satyr Play, $9.99) James Bond: Goldfinger by Henry Gammidge & John McLusky (Titan, $16.95) Transformers: Trial By Fire HC by Bubiansky, Delbo & Springer (Titan, $24.95) Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schomberg HC (Vanguard Productions, $34.95) RGK: The Art Of Roy Krenkel (Vanguard Productions, $19.95)

To Top	COMICS:
	Reggie 12 #1 by Brian Ralph Highwater Books $3.50 Brian Ralph's boy robot Reggie 12 appears regularly in the hipster magazine Giant Robot. Now, Reggie 12 is a new bimonthly comic series that invites readers of all ages to partake in self contained crime fighting adventures exciting enough for a ten year old and a wry 40 year old. Double Ignatz Award winner Brian Ralph is one of the most high profile cartoonists of his generation. Ace cartoonist Seth said of Brian's book Cave-In... "Brian takes us places; I wish I'd had this book when I was a kid, so that I could have studied and pondered it, over and over again, to find the secrets it seems to contain."
	Luba #9 by Gilbert Hernandez Fantagraphics $3.50 The hammer wielding Luba and her friends take time out once again for another intriguing issue of familial adventure. It's the end of an era as Luba and Ofelia split! Sergio throws caution to the wind and wants Guadalupe to run away with him! Fritz chooses between Pipo and Sergio. Pipo chooses between Fritz and Igor! Fortunato triumphs over all!
	For Best Results Do Not Open #1 by Matthew Manning & Robert Donnelly Meathaus $3.00 Justice League Adventures writer Matthew Manning teams up with the offbeat Meathaus artist, Robert Donnelly, on this self contained story set in a dystopic future. When an average guy comes into possession of a mysterious box that could be the answer to mankind's wildest dreams, he finds himself on the run from the FBI, the most powerful man on the planet and a self-loathing vampire priest.
	Strip Book #1 & 2 by Eric Braün Montreal Comix International $8.50 each A collection of silent strips featuring a gallery of twisted characters evolving in Eric Braün's typical blend of deadpan humour, social commentary and razor-sharp, cutting-edge graphics. Reminiscent of 1930's cartoons as well as 1960's underground comixs, Braün's bold graphic style becomes a universal language understood by all.
	Uncle Scrooge #335 by Don Rosa & others Gemstone Publishing $6.95 This issue includes a reprinting of Don Rosa's first Disney tale, The Son Of The Sun. Plus a reworking of a Carl Barks script Rodent Revenge by Daan Jippes and Michael T. Gilbert's The Old Fishing Hole.
	Ocean #1 of 6 by Warren Ellis, Chris Sprouse & Karl Story DC/Wildstorm $2.95 Ocean is a fast-paced science-fiction story with brains, attitude and style. Beyond the inner planets lie the gaseous giants, Jupiter being the largest of all. Orbiting Jupiter is the moon Europa, a hard orb floating in frigid space. Lying beneath Europa's half-mile-thick mantle of shear ice is an ocean, the only one in the solar system that's not on Earth. And within those cold waters could rest the key to life on Earth - and quite possibly it's extinction!
	Astro City: A Vistor's Guide by Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Dave Gibbons & Others DC/Wildstorm $5.95 Everything you need to know about Astro City and its many special places and faces is in one handy volume - neighbourhood guides, restaurant recommendations, highlights, local interests, ads for local businesses, and even a guide to the who's-who of the hero elite, illustrated by such fan-favorite artists as George Pérez, Carlos Pacheco, Dave Gibbons, Michael Golden, Jason Pearson and others. Plus, a special treat for all potential visitors: an all-new 8-page story illustrated by Brent Anderson and Ben Oliver!
	The Razor's Edge: Warblade #1 by John Ridley & Simon Bisley DC/Wildstorm $2.95 This new monthly series features story arcs written and illustrated by some of comics' hottest talent, spotlighting WildStorm characters both familiar and new! John Ridley (Three Kings) teams up with international superstar Simon Bisley (Lobo) for a brutal 5-issue story featuring Warblade, from the original incarnation of Jim Lee's W.I.L.D.Cats. After his bloody showdown with the infamous Sarajevo in WILDCats Vol. 2 #7, Warblade takes a harsh journey of realization that turns deadly, since the former super-hero isn't welcome in a land razed by war and run by organized crime.
	The Authority: Revolution #1 by Ed Brubaker. Dustin Nguyen & Richard Friend DC/Wildstorm $2.95 Come the Revolution is the first part of a massive 12-issue arc that will shake the Authority team to its very core. Following the dramatic events of Coup D'Etat, the Authority has settled into its role as governing body of the United States. The other major world powers have adjusted to the regime change and are slowly coming to terms with the meaning it has for the future. But many Americans are unhappy to lose their inalienable rights. Can a second American Revolution be far behind?
	Solo #1 by Tim Sale with Jeph Loeb, Brain Azzarello, Darwyn Cooke & Diana Schutz DC $3.95 A new bi-monthly series featuring stand alone stories of the DC characters with constantly changing creative teams of top comic creators. The first issue will contain all Tim Sale art on three short stories. In future issues we are promised work by Richard Corben, Paul Pope, Howard Chaykin, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke and others.
	Wolverine #20 & 21 by Mark Millar & John Romita Jnr Marvel $2.25 each In a new 6 part story arc Enemy Of The State, Millar and Romita pit Wolverine against the Marvel Universe with guest appearances from the X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four and S.H.I.E.L.D.
	Other First Issues This Month: DC: Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 of 6 by Geoff Johns & Ethan Van Sciver (DC, $2.95) Toe Tags #1 by George Romero, Tommy Castillo & Rodney Ramos (DC, $2.95) Marvel: Sabretooth #1 by Daniel Way & Bart Sears (Marvel, $2.99) Stoker's Dracula #1 of 4 by Roy Thomas & Dick Giordano (Marvel, $3.99) Tomb Of Dracula #1 of 6 by Robert Rodi & Jamie Tolagson (Marvel, $2.99) Other: Tales Of The Wasteland by Dave Dorman (Atomeka, $5.99) 8-9-3 #1 by Jack Hsu & Andrew Gormley (Automation, $3.50) 303 #1 by Garth Ennis & Jacen Burrows (Avatar Press, $3.99) Doc Frankenstein #1 by Wachowski Brothers & Steve Skroce (Burlyman, $3.50) Conan & The Daughters Of Midora by Jimmy Palmiotti & Mark Texeira (Dark Horse, $4.99) Breakdown #1 by Chuck Dixon & Dave Ross (Devil's Due, $2.95) Defex #1 by Marv Wolfman, Caselli & Raj (Devil's Due, $2.95) Dr Blink: Superhero Shrink #1 by John Kovalic & Christopher Jones (Dork Storm, $2.99) Styx Taxi: A Little Twilight Music by Goldman, Genco, Efal & Purvis (FWD Books, $3.00) Flare #1 by Wilson Hill, Gordon Purcell & Terry Pallot (Heroic Publishing, $2.99) Two Of A Kind #1 of 1 by Steve Niles & Nick Stakal (IDW, $7.49) 30 Days & Nights: Bloodsucker Tales by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith (IDW, $3.99) The Lurkers #1 by Steve Niles & Hector Casanova (IDW, $3.99) The Ride: 2 For The Road by Chuck Dixon, Cully Hamner & Doug Gregory (Image, $2.95) Tales Of Talos #1 of 3 by Dezago & Kelly Yeates (Image, $3.50) Battle Of The Planets: Princess by David Wohl & Wilson Tortosa (Image/Top Cow, $2.99) Soft Boiled Tales One-shot by Jason Paulos & Bodine Amerikah (Rat Race Comics, $2.95) Lucifer Fawkes Bloodflow #1 by Russette, Sergeant & White (Rorschach Ent, $3.50) Deady The Terrible Teddy by Voltaire & others (Sirius, $5.95) Cocopiazo #1 by Daniel Warner (SLG, $2.95)

To Top	ABOUT COMICS:
	Neil Gaiman: Hanging Out With The Dream King edited by Joe McCabe Fantagraphics Books $17.95 An intimate look into the life and mind of Neil Gaiman, creator of Sandman, American Gods and Neverwhere, featuring interviews with Neil himself as well as his many collaborators, including Charles Vess, P Craig Russell, Bryan Talbot, Jill Thompson, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenburg. Introduction by Tori Amos.
	A Blazing World: Unofficial Companion To The 2nd League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Jason Nevins Monkey Brain Books $16.95 The follow-up to Heroes & Monsters, this is an invaluable analysis of the second series of The League, which contains interviews and commentary by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, complemented with detailed panel-by-panel annotations. Introduction by Alan Moore.
	The Comics Before 1945 (HC) by Brian Walker Harry N Abrams $50.00 In the 50 years before 1945, the Funnies became an essential element of American life. Comic strip characters were every where. This visually stunning and comprehensive book is the most authoritative history of pre-war American newspaper comics. It includes major trends in the funnies business decade-by decade and presents in depth biographies of 21 of the most influential creators of the era.
	The Comics Journal #263 Fantagraphics Books $9.95 The essential magazine of comics news and criticism. In this issue... - An interview with indy-cartoonist turned DC comics writer, Ed Brubaker. - A series of essays on Dave Sim and Cerebus. - The early cartoon work of Playboy editor, Hugh Hefner. - Plus news, reviews and criticism.
	Following Cerebus #2 Aardvark-Vanaheim/Win-Mill Productions $3.95 Following Cerebus is dedicated to examining one of comics greatest achievements, Cerebus by Dave Sim and Gerhard. Published monthly between 1977 and 2004, the 300 issues of Cerebus represents the longest running independent black-and-white comic ever published. In this issue: - The first of Dave Sim's About Last Issue columns responding to issues raised in #1. - A reprint of Dave Sim's interview with Barry Windsor-Smith from 1973. - A rare six-page Cerebus story, Passage, originally printed 20 years ago. - A new Cerebus cover by Dave Sim and Gerhard.
	The Comics Interpreter Vol 2 #3 $4.95 In this issue: - Interview with Vertigo mainstay, Teddy Kristiansen. - Interview with Fables and Batgirl cover artist, James Jean. - Interview with underground cartoonist, Tak Toyoshima - Plus news, reviews and criticism.
	Other magazines about comics this month: Alter-Ego #41 (Twomorrows, $5.95) Comic Book Digest #1 (Lamp Post Publications, $1.95) Comic Book Market Place #117 (EC Crypt, $6.95) Comic Buyers Guide Dcember 2004 (Krause Publications, $5.99) From The Tomb #14 (Soaring Pengium, $5.95) Jack Kirby Collector #41 (Twomorrows, $9.95) Wizard #157 (Wizard Entertainment, $4.99) The Best Of Spider-Man HC (Wizard Entertainment, $29.99)

To Top	MANGA:
	Blue by Nananan Kiriko Fanfare/Ponet Mon $17.99 Kayako and Masami are two young girls who meet in their third year of the exclusive girl's school set on the coast of the sea of Japan. Kayako is pensive, serious, and loves to contemplate the sea which borders the school. Masami is mysterious, always in trouble and is returning from a recent suspension for obscure reasons. What attracts the two young girls to each other. Will it tear them apart? Mature readers only.
	Other Manga First Issues This Month: Boys Be... #1 by Massahiro Itabashi & Hiroyuki Tamakoshi (TKP) Cross #1 by Sumiko Amakawa (TKP) Daemon Hunters Manga #1 by Seiuchiroh Todono (ADV) Dark Water #1 by Koji Suzuki & Kadokawa Shoten (ADV) Dolls #1 by Yumiko Kawahara (VIZ) From Eroica With Love #1 by Aoike Yasuko (DC/CMX) From Far Away #1 by Kyoko Hikawa (VIZ) Ghost In The Shell #1 by Shirow Masamune (Dark Horse) Here Is Greenwood #1 by Yukie Nasu (VIZ) Hyper Rune #1 by Tamayo Akiyama (TKP) Infinate Ryvius #1 by Hajime, Kuroda & Kuriharashi (Comicsone) Kimera #1 by Kazuma Kodaka (ADV) Land Of The Blindfolded #1 by Tsukuba Sakura & Tsukuba (DC/CMX) Madara #1 by Tajima Sho-u & Otsuka Eiji (DC/CMX) Mythical Detective Loki #1 by Saskura Kinoshita (ADV) Othello #1 by Satomi Ikezawa (Del Ray) Peacemaker #1 by Nanae Chrono (ADV) Planetes Vol 4 #1 by Makoto Yukimura (TKP) Queen Knight #1 by Kim Kang Won (TKP) Revolutionary Girl Utena #1 by Chiho Saiato & Be-Papas (VIZ) Tactics Manga #1 by Sakura Kinoshita & Kazuko Higashiyama (ADV) Taimashin #1 by Hideyuki Kikuchi & Misaki Saito (ADV) W Juliet #1 by Emura (VIZ) Wallflower #1 by Tomoko Hayakawa (Del Ray) Wild Com #1 by Yumi Tamura (VIZ)

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MERCHANDISE:

Ghost World: Enid Hi-Fashion Glamour Doll
designed by Dan Clowes & Nathan Cabrera
Press Pop
$38.00
Still available - This beautiful creature stands 15" tall and comes with removable glasses, teen bondage latex mask, cavewoman club, and her trusty futuristic ray gun. The retro-styled box was completely designed by Dan Clowes with original illustrations and two comic strips on the side panels - Enid In The Year 2525 AD and Enid 1,000,000 BC.