Review - Pirate Penguin vs Ninja Chicken: Troublems with Frenemies

PIRATE PENGUIN VS NINJA CHICKEN BOOK 1
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Ray Friesen
EDITORS: Chris Staros and Brett Warnock
ISBN: 978-1-60309-071-1; hardcover (June 2011)
96pp, Color, $9.95 U.S.

Ages 7 to 13

Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken is a graphic novel series by cartoonist and webcomics creator, Ray Friesen.  Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken (Book 1): Troublems with Frenemies is an all-ages humor graphic novel that was the first in the series and was originally published five-and-a-half years ago.

The stars of the series are Pirate Penguin, a penguin who is a pirate (complete with a hook for a right hand, an eye patch, and a pirate hat), and Ninja Chicken, a chicken who is a ninja (complete with ninja pajamas costume).  They're roommates, bestest of friends and also the worstest of enemies.  Now, see them in action – in stories so small and epics so epic.

See them fight over smoothies.  Watch them scuffle over peer pressure.  Witness their friend Camoflaugey Chameleon cause chaos by impersonating one or the other.  Join arguments over stuff like ice cream or origami.  Then, in “The Biggest Giantest Epicest Pirate Penguin versus Ninja Chicken Story Evar!,” Pirate Penguin rockets off into space, and Ninja Chicken attends a ninja convention in Las Vegas, but can they really be apart for 11 chapters?

Top Shelf sent me a copy of Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken (Book 1): Troublems with Frenemies when it first came out – yes, that long ago.  I lost track of it, but recently found it again, which was fortuitous because the second graphic novel, Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken (Book 2): Escape from Skull-Fragment Island!, was recently published.

I didn't think that I would like this, but I did.  Of course, this is a kids' graphic novel, but there is a reason that it is described as “all-ages.”  Anyone who can read this, regardless of age, will like some or all of it.  The short comics, usually two pages in length, are little gag strips that play on the inherent silliness of traditional humor comic books.  A pun, a philosophical point turned on its pin head, an argument:  Ray Friesen is clever and imaginative in creating humor.

Despite their wacky names, Pirate Penguin and Ninja Chicken are actually good characters.  They are lovable, and the fact that they like each other in some way makes this work.  These two characters are bickering, gently contrarian characters, and their attitudes and personalities make them lovable.  There are also some good supporting characters, like useful third-wheel, Camoflaugey Chameleon, and a character whose profession makes it easier to expand the settings for stories, Astronaut Armadillo.

I think Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken (Book 1): Troublems with Frenemies is a little more than its cover suggests.  I won't describe this as great, but it is surprisingly cute, funny, and enjoyable, and like me, you may be surprised to find yourself liking it.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Graphic Novel Review: HER BARK & HER BITE

HER BARK & HER BITE - OGN
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS/IDW – @topshelfcomix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: James Albon
EDITOR: Chris Staros
ISBN: 978-1-60309-407-8; softcover with French flaps – 5 4/5 x 8 1/3 (April 25, 2017)
72pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.

Ages 16 and up

Her Bark & Her Bite is a comic book from award-winning Scottish illustrator James Albon.  Published by Top Shelf Productions, this 2017, full-color graphic novel is the story of young painter, her charismatic lover, and the ugly dog that comes between them.

Her Bark & Her Bite opens shortly after Rebecca, a budding young painter, arrives in the big city.  She movies in with her cousin who does not like it when Rebecca paints.  Rebecca meets a charismatic young man named Victor Koenig.  Although he is initially standoffish with Rebecca, he eventually embraces her.  The two fall madly in love, and Victor plunges Rebecca into a socialite world filled with glamorous parties where Victor is the center of attention.

Soon, being with Victor pays off, and Rebecca has a studio where she can a paint.  Life among the layabout debutantes and dilettantes means meeting people who allow Rebecca to show off her work at exhibitions and in galleries.  Eventually, however, something comes between Rebecca and Victor and threatens to upend their relationship – a pug named “Princess.”

I often wondered what it would be like if someone who was a cartoonist for The New Yorker (or for a comparable publication) produced a comic book or graphic novel.  I found something like that a few years ago with the illustrated short novel, After the Fall, by Victoria Roberts.  I found something closer with the new short graphic novel, Her Bark & Her Bite.

Her Bark & Her Bite's creator James Albon is certainly on the level of a New Yorker cartoonist, having produced work for newspapers such as The Guardian and the Wall Street Journal.  Albon's artistic educational credentials are certainly impressive.  Her Bark & Her Bite is his graphic novel debut, and is impressive; it certainly makes me think of cartoons found in high-end and high brow periodicals.  I think Charles Addams, had he produced a comic book, would have created something not that far from James Albon's lively graphical storytelling in Her Bark & Her Bite.

I am not sure what color medium Albon uses to produce the art for Her Bark & Her Bite – color markers, color pencils, pastels?  The result is scintillating and quicksilver, as the art is not so much drawn on art board as it is something that seems to dance on the page.  The art crackles with energy and the result is a story that seems like a recollection of a real event rather than something the author contrived.  The characters cannot help but be engaging; they pulse with the verve of life.  The story cannot help but capture the reader's attention; it snaps, crackles, and pops.

I cannot imagine that readers who like to experience the breath and width of alternative comics and the modern graphic novel would not want to read this.  It's bark is flashy, but its bite is substantial.  Her Bark & Her Bite is an exceptional debut.

A
9 out of 10

www.jamesalbon.com
www.topshelfcomix.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SURFSIDE GIRLS, Book One: The Secret of Danger Point

SURFSIDE GIRLS, BOOK ONE: THE SECRET OF DANGER POINT
IDW PUBLISHING/Top Shelf Productions – @IDWPublishing @topshelfcomix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Kim Dwinell
EDITOR: Chris Staros
ISBN: 978-1-60309-411-5; paperback (6” x 9”) with French flaps (July 2017)
236pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $25.99 CAN

Diamond Order Code: APR17-0634

Rating:  Ages Middle-grade (8 to 12 and up)

Surfside Girls, Book One: The Secret of Danger Point is a 2017 full-color graphic novel from cartoonist, animator, and educator, Kim Dwinell.  The first in a new series of graphic novels, The Secret of Danger Point focuses on two middle school girls who find ghosts, strange creatures, and a hometown conspiracy during their summer vacation.

Surfside Girls, Book One opens during the height of summer in the sleepy west coast beach town of Surfside.  We meet 12-year-old Samantha Lynn “Sam” Taylor and her best friend, Jade Lee.  Lately, Jade always seems to be in a fit of giggles whenever she is around boys, and Sam thinks that this is ruining their summer plans to surf and hang-out.

While having fun on the water, Sam discovers a secret underwater cave that surprisingly leads to the cliff-side area known as “Danger Point.”  Sam is even more shocked to discover that Danger Point is occupied by ghosts!  One of the spirits, Mr. Jian Wu, insists that it is Sam's “duty to do what needs to be done.”  What is he talking about?!  Well, Sam needs Jade's help if they are going to get to the bottom of this mystery in time to save their town.

One of the defining moments of my young life was the discovery of the classic Saturday morning animated television series, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969).  It began a life-long love of mystery fiction, as I moved from youthful mystery to adult stories of crime and mystery-solving.  However, part of me has never let go of Scooby-Doo and mysteries with a supernatural bent.

Surfside Girls, Book One: The Secret of Danger Point recalls Scooby-Doo and his pals (known as “Mystery Inc.”), as well as other classic Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon kid-detectives.  Dwinell's heroines, Sam and Jade, are the plucky, resourceful, meddling kids who never take “No!” for answer and also do what they have to do to get around their parents' admonitions.

The Secret of Danger Point, however, is true and pure comic book.  Kim Dwinell's page design and layout is perfect just about every page.  Panel size and type is just right.  Pages 92 and 93, which recount young pirate Robert's life, are good examples of how design and layout can evoke feelings and emotions in the readers, as well as tell them a story.

Sam and Jade are sparkling, likable characters, the kind young readers will want to follow.  Very few of the supporting characters seem extraneous, and everything in and around the town of Surfside is worth discovering – from beaches and secret caves to neighborhoods and the town square.  These are the ingredients of a great summer graphic novel read, and the sunny colors Dwinell uses in her art could chase away the chill during a winter read.

There is a timeless quality to The Secret of Danger Point.  It is set during a summer vacation that feels endless in a place that is perfect for an endless summer vacation, with supernatural mystery-solving thrown into the mix.  I highly recommend The Secret of Danger Point... for all ages.

A
9 out of 10

www.topshelfcomix.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: MOTORCYCLE SAMURAI Book One: A Fiery Demise

THE MOTORCYCLE SAMURAI BOOK ONE: A FIERY DEMISE
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

CARTOONIST: Chris Sheridan
EDITORS: Chris Staros and Leigh Walton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-370-5; paperback with French flaps (August 4, 2015)
168pp, Color, $19.99 U.S.

First published on the digital comics website, Thrillbent, The Motorcycle Samurai is a digital comic from cartoonist and comics creator, Chris Sheridan.  Last year, Top Shelf Productions published the first story arc in the full-color paperback, The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise.  Top Shelf kindly provided your stalwart reviewer with a copy-for-review.

The Motorcycle Samurai is set in an indeterminate post-apocalyptic future.  Riding the desert wastelands on her motorcycle is “The White Bolt.”  She has a coconut-shell like helmet emblazoned with a calavera-like skull covering her head and face, and she has a katana at her side.  As the story opens, the White Bolt has a bounty strapped to her bike's “sissy bar.”  He is Happy Parker, and the White Bolt is taking him back to small town of Trouble to collect a bounty.

Everything in Trouble, however, is... troubled.  Boss Frankie Parker and Pierre Parker (the “Iron King”) have a claim on Happy.  The new sheriff, Roy Keane, wants him to.  There is lots of want when it comes to Happy, but the White Bolt knows that it's all headed to a fiery demise.

When I first saw the cover of The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise, I was inclined to dislike it.  I need to stop judging books by their covers unless they are Henry Cavill or Charlize Theron (but I digress...).  Not far into reading the book, I started to find it to be an enjoyable read.

The Motorcycle Samurai borrows elements of Italian film director Sergio Leone's “Dollars Trilogy” of Western films (starring Clint Eastwood).  Of course, this comic also spiritually summons Japanese film director, Akira Kurosawa's 1961 film, Yojimbo, the movie that influenced the first “Dollars Trilogy” flick, A Fistful of Dollars (1964).

However, many comic book creators use many influences for their pop comics, and The Motorcycle Samurai is a pop confection full of delightful caramels, gum drops, hard candy, jujubes, konpeito, lollipops, marzipan, taffies, etc.  For instance, Sheriff Keane resembles Evel Knievel, and there is a nod to the rocket pack-wearing heroes of the 1930s and 40s.  The entire affair also has the feel of a animated television series destined for Cartoon Network's “Adult Swim” lineup.

I won't call The Motorcycle Samurai a great comic, but its energy makes it a fun read.  You know, a fun comic is often better than a comic book trying to be literature.  The dynamic graphic design, vivid colors, and inventive elements makes The Motorcycle Samurai pure comics, created by a writer-artist who is grabbing at the visual and graphical possibilities of the medium.

Best of all, the White Bolt just looks so cool.  That is saying a lot because The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise is full of cool-looking characters.  Fans looking for flashy digital comics and webcomics will want The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: THE STORY OF MY TITS

THE STORY OF MY TITS
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

CARTOONIST: Jennifer Hayden
EDITORS: Chris Staros and Leigh Walton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-054-4; softcover with French flaps (September 2015)
352pp, B&W, $29.95 U.S.

Mature readers (16+)

The Story of My Tits is a 2015 black and white, original graphic novel from Jennifer Hayden, an author, children's book illustrator, and comix creator.  Published by Top Shelf Productions, The Story of My Tits chronicles Hayden's life from her years as a girl with a flat chest to her battle with breast cancer in her forties.

Born in the early 1960s, Jennifer is an ordinary girl, but over time, she comes to discover that unlike other ordinary girls, her breasts are taking their own sweet time to develop.  Eventually, Jennifer's tits do appear as she discovers boys, sex, and break-ups with boys.

However, the innocence of youth quickly gives way to the chaos of adulthood.  There is college, a long-term relationship with Jim, the young man who later becomes her husband.  There is her mother's brush with breast cancer that eventually leads to a mastectomy, and while her mother suffers a health crisis, her father has a mistress.  Jennifer experiences the ups-and-downs of two families after she marries Jim, but the biggest downer is her own diagnosis of breast cancer.  It comes during the summer of 2004 when she is 43.  It is then that Jennifer has to chart her own difficult course of surgery, recovery, and renewal.

Any description of The Story of My Tits cannot come close to truly describing this monster of a comic book.  I understand why it would be sold as a graphic novel about cancer, because breast cancer is a dark shadow that looms over this story.  It is hard to find people who have not had a brush with cancer in their lives.

My paternal grandfather died of it.  In 2014, a friend who was long misdiagnosed died of pancreatic cancer.  I took my mother to a doctor's appointment a few years ago, not knowing that a biopsy was planned.  When I was told that the doctor was concerned about the possibility of breast cancer, I finally understood what people mean when they say that they feel as if the walls are closing in on them.  It was as if I were in a large room that instantly shrunk to closet-size around me.

The Story of My Tits is a story about life, love, and loss.  It is an epic biography about family and friends, about having jobs and having a career, about saying goodbye to cherished loved ones almost at the same time welcoming new life into the world.  Because Jennifer tells us so much about her life, we buy into her story.  And when we buy into the story, we buy the cancer, too.  Jennifer's confusion about her health and her fear of death become a real thing with which we the readers must grapple.

The Story of My Tits is triumphant and heartbreaking.  It is glorious in its joy and candid in its sadness.  Most of all, it is a fantastic read.  I did not know that tits could be so alluring and attractive, and it would have nothing to do with sex.  Seriously, Jennifer Hayden has offered a story for our times that is timeless in its breath and scope.

A+

www.jenniferhayden.com
goddesscomix.blogspot.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (OGN)

HUNTER S. THOMPSON'S FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

CARTOONIST: Troy Little – @meanwhilestudio
STORY: Hunters S. Thompson (his novel)
EDITORS: Ted Adams and Denton J. Tipton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-375-0; hardcover (October 2015)
176pp, Color, $24.99 U.S.

Mature readers (16+)

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream first saw life as a two-art series for Rolling Stone magazine in 1971.  It was published as a book  (with illustrations by Ralph Steadman)  in 1972 and has gone onto be considered one of the most important American novels ever published.

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a full-color graphic novel adaptation of Thompson's novel.  The graphic novel is the creation of Eisner-nominated comic book creator and writer-artist, Troy Little (Chiaroscuro).  The original novel is influential; its adaptation by Troy Little is a masterwork.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson's alter ego), and Duke's attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they travel to Las Vegas.  This story is based on two actual trips to Las Vegas that Thompson took with his attorney, the Chicano activist, Oscar Zeta Acosta, who becomes Dr. Gonzo in the story.

In Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Duke and Gonzo are initially in Las Vegas to cover “The Mint 400,” an off-road race for motorcycles and dune buggies that apparently offers the richest prize or purse for the winners.  The second Las Vegas assignment is a request by Rolling Stone for Duke to write a 50 thousand word piece about a four-day seminar by the National Conference of District Attorneys.

Along the way, Duke and Gonzo descend into a haze from their drug and alcohol-fueled bender.  Duke searches for the American dream and ruminates on the failure of the 1960s counter-culture movement.  After crashing a drug-enforcement conference, racking-up large room-service bills, and wrecking two hotel rooms, however, both men will discover that it is difficult to leave Las Vegas.

As a former journalism student, I have heard of Hunter S. Thompson, of course.  He was the gold-standard and a legend to fellow students, but to me, he was just another famous White journalist upon whose altar I was supposed to worship.  I have never read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, although I have had vague plans to do so for over two decades.  I had seen him on television several times before he died, and I have read at least one piece written by him.  Perhaps, I have read more, but I don't remember any of it.

I know Thompson best by the most famous parody of him, “Uncle Duke,” the character in Doonesbury, Gary Trudeau's long-running satirical daily newspaper comic strip.  I am familiar with the movie adaptations of Thompson's work, but have not seen those films.  So, when Top Shelf Productions sent me a copy of their graphic novel adaptation, Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I did not know what I was going to do.  I considered ignoring it and not reading it, but Top Shelf has always been cool with recognizing me as someone they want to review their books.

Of course, I should have had more faith in them.  This book is an absolute blast to read.  It is one of the best comic books of 2015, and I consider it a tremendous achievement on writer-artist Troy Little's part.  Readers who admire comic books as more than just escapist entertainment, and thus, are always on the lookout for standout material, should read Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

The graphical storytelling, in particularly the art and illustrations of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas the comic book, focuses on Duke and Gonzo's supernatural consumption of drugs, alcohol, and an amazing array of mind-altering substances.  Little's cartoon recreation of Duke and Gonzo's mother-of-all-Vegas-benders is the most beautiful depiction of debauched substance abuse that I have seen since I first watched director Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream (2000).

The vivid and spectacular colors bring the hallucinations and the claustrophobic cafes, conference rooms, and hotel rooms to life.  Little's drawing style for this graphic novel is similar to the kind of drawing styles used by political cartoonists, which works quite well when the story engages the characters.  The political styling connects Raoul Duke's political and social examinations to the main body of the narrative, which is about Duke and Dr. Gonzo's madness.

I think that if the book has a fault, it is that the political and social ruminations are relegated to exposition in caption boxes.  The art mainly focuses on the insanity of and the savage humor in Duke and Gonzo's interactions with drugs and with other people.  Because I loved the glorious madness of Duke and Gonzo's demented Vegas adventures, I really don't want to find fault with anything, so if you want to believe that this graphic novel is not perfect, there you go...  I was genuinely sad when I got to the last page of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  I guess I'll have to start reading it again.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Comics Review: TIM GINGER

TIM GINGER
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

CARTOONIST: Julian Hanshaw – @hanshawjulian
EDITORS: Chris Staros and Leigh Walton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-350-7; paperback (July 2015)
152pp, Color, $19.99 U.S.

Mature readers (16+)

Julian Hanshaw is an award-winning British cartoonist and comics creator.  Hanshaw makes his American debut with the original graphic novel, Tim Ginger, which is published by Top Shelf Productions.  Mixing color and black and white, Tim Ginger focuses on a widower who finds his quite life interrupted by two people, one of whom is an old friend.

Tim Ginger is a former government test pilot who is retired and is living in New Mexico.  Tim has been a widower since the death of his wife, Susan B. Ginger, a little more than two decades before this story opens (apparently 2015).  He lives a quiet retirement in an Airstream trailer situated in an RV park in New Mexico.

He and his late wife did not have children so he is mostly alone.  Then, two people enter his life.  The first person is Karl Pope, a conspiracy theorist who starts asking uncomfortable questions.  Tim may have the answers, so Pope will not stop asking questions – directly or indirectly.  The second person is an old and dear friend, Anna Maynard.  It is her return that causes Tim some discomfort, as he confronts when to let go and when to hold on.

When Pixar Animation's film, Up, was released, some people expressed surprise and amazement that the studio would make an animated feature about a very old man who is still grieving the loss of his wife and the lonely boy with whom he shares a grand adventure.  By the end of Up, which went on to win two Academy Awards, it is obvious that the movie was about love and renewal and not about age.

Tim Ginger is not a very old man; he is apparently in his mid-60s.  He is lonely and grieving, so he does not seem like a good character for a comic book.  Still, there are always comics creators who ignore preconceptions about what comic books should be, and some actually expand readers' expectations of the stories that comic books can tell.  Julian Hanshaw is one of them.

By the end of Tim Ginger, it is obvious that this story is about living instead of merely being alive, and that age is not the only determinate in living one's life, if it is a determinate at all.  While Hanshaw, on the surface, makes his graphic novel meditative, the story is alive.

Hanshaw takes Tim's internal monologue and interior life and pushes it forward as an active, living, breathing graphical narrative.  Tim Ginger's colors, which mimic the warm desert colors and its ethereal sunsets, makes the quiet life of Tim raucous with possibility.  That's why I found this comic book hard to resist.  It is like the alt-comics version of a thriller; I flipped through the pages, while often going back to re-read passages.

I think what most attracts me to Tim Ginger is that this story is so surprising.  Just glancing at this book, you would not think that Tim Ginger could turn out to be such a fantastic work.  I want to read it again.  Tim Ginger is a spectacular American debut for Julian Hanshaw, the calling card that will make readers anxious for his next work.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: MARCH: Book One

MARCH: BOOK ONE
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

WRITERS: John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
ARTIST: Nate Powell
EDITORS: Chris Staros with Leigh Walton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-300-2; paperback (August 2013)
128pp, Black and White, $14.95 U.S.

Congressman John Lewis is Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District Representative (GA-5, Democrat).  Lewis was also one of the “Big Six” leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement (with the others being Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young).  Before such fame and accomplishments, he was born John Robert Lewis in February 1940 to sharecropper parents, Willie Mae (Carter) and Eddie Lewis.  His early life, from farm boy to activist college student, is the focus of March: Book One.

March: Book One is a comic book written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, drawn by artist Nate Powell, and published by Top Shelf Productions.  This is the first of three graphic novels recounting the life of Congressman John Lewis.  March: Book One is both a riveting history of the United States during the second half of the 20th century and an evocative personal story of a famous man’s life.

Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights includes the key roles he played in the historic 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March.  March will apparently focus on Lewis’ personal story and on the highs and lows of the broader movement for civil rights in the U.S.

March: Book One opens on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama (part of the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March) on March 7, 1965, the date that would become known as “Bloody Sunday.”  The story moves forward to January 20, 2009, and sees Lewis share the story of his past with a mother and her two young sons.  The narrative moves back in time again, to the 1940s, where in first person, Lewis recounts the early events and incidents that shaped his life.

March: Book One’s co-writers John Lewis and Andrew Aydin recount Lewis’ life on a 110-acre cotton, corn, and peanut farm in Pike County, Alabama.  This section of the narrative covers Lewis’ time as a junior chicken farmer and chicken rights activist (of sorts) up to 1954.  Both reminiscence and personal history, it is as if Lewis and Aydin are spinning tales from the world of young John Lewis, yarns of childhood that go beyond the personal and intimate about Lewis and into the small world that his home and community.  So we learn about his family, their wishes, small incidents (like trading chickens for much-needed flour and sugar), their way of life (having to miss school to work the fields), and transformative moments (Lewis’ trip “up north” to Buffalo with his maternal uncle, Otis Carter).

In 1954, momentous events in the larger world outside of Lewis’ life as farm kid and ambitious country boy begin to transpire.  The Supreme Court rules “separate but equal” unconstitutional in Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka.  A young preacher named Martin Luther King, Jr. emerges.  Two adult white men kill a black child named Emmett Till, are acquitted of their crime, and publicly brag about (making them the original George Zimmermans).  On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a city bus.  The Civil Rights Movement is gaining momentum.

Lewis becomes a part of that movement when he becomes a student at American Baptist Theological Seminary.  He attends a workshop on non-violence taught by Jim Lawson.  Lewis later helps to organize sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tennessee.  That begins with test sit-ins in 1959 and launches with the history changing real deal in February 1960, which culminates into an eventual public confrontation with Mayor Ben West of Nashville.

Obviously, John Lewis is a man who has made history.  However, in the humble and gentle way in which Lewis and Aydin tell this story, Lewis is as much a witness to history as he is a participant.  Lewis, the character in March: Book One, is not the hero who changed things.  He is also a participant, one among many; leader and organizer, yes, but also part of a fellowship.  This striking modesty brings the reader into the story, and in the retelling, allows the reader to be a quasi-witness to history.

I don’t think that I have ever seen any work by cartoonist and graphic novelist Nate Powell that was not published in black and white.  Powell’s black and white comics are not about the contrast of black and white – negative and positive space.  His storytelling is a graphical space in which black and white blends and unites to create nuance, subtlety, texture, complexity, ambiguity, and mystery.  For March: Book One, Powell creates a visual storytelling tapestry that is at once grand, earth-shattering history, but also singularly, personally intimate and deeply human.

In March: Book One, Lewis, Aydin, and Powell have created a story that wrestles grand history down to size so that it is not too big for anyone to grasp.  In this small-sized manner of storytelling, we can see the humanity in and importance of all the participants in our story we call history.

A+

For more information about March: Book One and to read a 14-page preview, visit here or http://www.topshelfcomix.com/march

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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The Top Shelf Annual $3 Sale Has Started

THE 2012 TOP SHELF MASSIVE $3 SALE

For the next two weeks -- thru Friday September 28th -- Top Shelf (@topshelfcomix) is having its annual $3 web sale. When you visit the site, you'll find 170 graphic novels and comics on sale -- with over 100 titles marked down to just $3 & $1! Each year we use these funds to help clear the decks on our current amazing releases, and “kick start” a full rollout for next year. So, thank you in advance for your support, as we wouldn’t be here without you!

To go directly to the list of items on sale at the Top Shelf website, just click here: http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

But here are a few sample sale items:

-- Slashed Prices: The Underwater Welder, Lost Dogs, League 2009/1969, and more!

-- Slashed Prices: From Hell, Blankets (HC&SC), Carnet de Voyage, and more!

-- Slashed Prices: Wizzywig, Lovely Horrible Stuff, Any Empire, Clumsy, and

more!

-- Slashed Prices: Chester 5000, SuperF*ckers, Moving Pictures, and more!

-- Slashed Prices: Alec, American Elf, The Ticking, Far Arden, and more!

-- Slashed Prices: Owly, Korgi, Johnny Boo, Dragon Puncher, and more!

-- $3 Titles: Ax, Lucille, Undeleted Scenes, and more!

-- $3 Titles: Gingerbread Girl, The Homeland Directive, Liar’s Kiss, and more!

-- $3 Titles: Incredible Change-Bots, Night Animals, Underwire, and more!

-- $3 Titles: Voice of the Fire, The Playwright, Fingerprints, and more!

-- $3 Titles: BB Wolf, Three Fingers, The Surrogates (V1&V2), and more!

-- $3 Titles: Pirate Penguin, Okie Dokie Donuts, Pinky & Stinky, Yam, and more!

-- $1 Titles: Sulk (Vols 1, 2, & 3), SuperF*ckers #1-#4, and more!

-- $1 Titles: The Surrogates #1-#5, The Sketchbook Diaries #1-#4, and more!

-- $1 Titles: Lower Regions, Feeble Attempts, Conversations #1 & #2, and more!

-- $1 Titles: Comic Diorama, The Man Who Loved Breasts, Doublecross, and more!

-- $1 Titles: Tales of the Great Unspoken, Black Ghost Apple Factory, Dang!, and

more!

-- $1 Titles: Mephisto & The Empty Box, Hey Mister, Yearbook Stores,and more!

**********************

Please note that Top Shelf accepts PayPal (as well as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and Discover -- all secure), and that this sale is good for retailers as well (and comic book shops will get their wholesale discount on top of these sale prices).

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

Top Shelf and Knockabout Announce New Alan Moore Tome, "Unearthing"

From Chris Staros of Top Shelf Productions:

Announcing Alan Moore's UNEARTHING exclusive signed & numbered pre-order

Top Shelf Productions and Knockabout Comics are truly pleased to announce a project several years in the making: a sumptuous new book from Alan Moore, serving as a biography of his close friend and mentor Steve Moore (no relation), a history of London, a mystical journey, and a tribute to human imagination. Called by The New York Times a "poetic and densely allusive text," Unearthing has now been transformed by Alan Moore and photographer Mitch Jenkins into a stunning narrative art-book.

And while UNEARTHING will be offered in the upcoming October Diamond Previews in two incredible editions, to help fund the production of this enormous expensive work of art, the creators have graciously agreed to an exclusive third edition incorporating a letterpress bookplate, hand-signed & numbered by Alan Moore and Mitch Jenkins, limited to 300 copies worldwide. These 300 Signed & Numbered “double-sized hardcover” copies are being pre-sold (starting today), as a Top Shelf website exclusive. By pre-ordering one today, you’ll not only be able to secure one of these rare Signed & Numbered editions, but you will also have done your part to help to get this gorgeous project off the ground.

Pre-order one now.

Here’s what people are already saying about UNEARTHING!

“A tribute to a colleague and mentor and a demonstration that Moore has transcended the boundaries of the graphic novel.” -- The New York Times


"Steve Moore, who lives in the same room he was born in 61 years earlier, is a living metaphor for the history, geography and geology of Shooter's Hill and a conduit to the Greek gods and spiritual manifestations... Is it great art? Yes!" -- N.M.E.


“The men of Unearthing are only marginally of this plane of existence, and what they’ve created is positively out of this world.” -- The AV Club

And here are more details on this monumental project!

One of the world’s foremost authors of the fantastic, Alan Moore, joins internationally esteemed photographer Mitch Jenkins for an unprecedented visual and literary experience.

An intensely poetic and innovative work of biography, Unearthing maps the lifetime of author, orientalist and occultist Steve Moore, while simultaneously investigating the extraordinary history of South London with which that life has been intertwined. Integrating text with haunting and exquisite imagery, Unearthing excavates a territory at the margins of a city, of reality, and of human imagination.

Starting life in Iain Sinclair’s seminal anthology LONDON: City of Disappearances, this dazzling and hypnotic piece has evolved through a series of live performances and acclaimed recordings, culminating in this breathtaking full-color volume.

UNEARTHING by Alan Moore & Mitch Jenkins
Three formats will be produced: a deluxe softcover edition, a special double-sized hardcover edition (limited to 1500 copies), and a special signed & numbered double-sized hardcover edition (limited to 300 copies worldwide).

UNEARTHING Signed & Numbered Edition
-- Web Exclusive (Pre-Order Now)
-- Double-Sized Hardcover Edition w/S&N Bookplate
-- Limited to 300 copies worldwide
-- 184 pages • 11.75” x 16.5” (A3 size!) • $99.00
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-150-3 • For mature readers (18+)
-- Scheduled for December 2012

UNEARTHING Double-Sized Hardcover Edition
-- Limited to 1,500 copies worldwide
-- 184 pages • 11.75” x 16.5” (A3 size!) • $74.95
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-150-3 • For mature readers (18+)
-- Scheduled for December 2012
-- Will be featured in the October Diamond Previews

UNEARTHING Deluxe softcover edition with French flaps
-- 184 pages • 8.5” x 11.75” (A4 size) • $29.95
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-151-0 • For mature readers (18+)
-- Scheduled for December 2012
-- Will be featured in the October Diamond Previews

Thanks in advance for all your support of this amazing project!

Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros

Top Shelf Announces 2011 Lineup

From Chris Staros:

Top Shelf announces 2011 lineup!

Hey friends,
Happy new year to you all! We hope your 2011 is off to a great start. Here at Top Shelf, we have a wonderful year planned -- and after much preparation, we're finally ready to announce our complete 2011 lineup!

It's a wide assortment that includes new books from your favorite Top Shelf authors (including Alan Moore, Jeffrey Brown, Robert Venditti, and Nate Powell), amazing new authors from all over the world (including Ludovic Debeurme, Jessica Fink, Jennifer Hayden, Kagan McLeod, and Eric Skillman), and a huge number of all-ages books to celebrate the official launch of the Top Shelf Kids Club!

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
In fact, we're so proud and excited about these books, we decided to share some of the fun with you as well! That's why we've whipped up a special treat: the 2011 Top Shelf Tribune. So, not only is our complete 2011 line of books available for browsing and pre-order in our web catalog, but all year long we'll be giving away the tongue-in-cheek Tribune at conventions and through your local comic shop! It's packed with news, jokes, charts, facts, teaser images, and more, all about the Top Shelf books & authors coming out this year. And the whole thing is up on our web site as well, for you to enjoy and share with your friends! The 2011 Top Shelf Tribune : Real Books. Fake News.

NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED! WELL, MAYBE IF YOU BEHAVE YOURSELVES...
For years, some of our greatest books have been graphic novels for all ages: Owly, Korgi, Johnny Boo, and more. In 2011, we're taking the plunge and expanding that line in a big way, with the official launch of the TOP SHELF KIDS CLUB! Our Free Comic Book Day book will kick things off in May (featuring Owly, Korgi, Johnny Boo, as well as the all-new Okie Dokie Donuts, Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken, and Upside Down: A Vampire’s Tale ), followed by an amazing EIGHT new releases for kids! You can meet them all on page 3 of the Top Shelf Tribune, or visit them online in the Top Shelf Kids Club section of our web catalog!

Baltimore Comic-Con Panel Schedule

Baltimore Comic-Con 2010 Panel Announcements, Guests, and Portfolio Reviews!

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - August 19, 2010 - You've been clamoring for it, we've been working on it, and now we're ready to announce it -- the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con Panel Schedule!

Room 307 (Saturday)
11:00-12:00 - Spotlight on Terry Moore - Terry Moore is the award-winning creator of "Strangers in Paradise" and "Echo" and has also written such comics as Marvel's "Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane" and "Runaways." This panel shines the spotlight on Moore and his work and is a must-see for all his fans.

12:00-1:00 - IRREDEEMABLE/INCORRUPTIBLE Panel - Mark Waid's Harvey and Eisner nominated, best-selling, multiple sell-out IRREDEEMABLE has taken comic fans by storm since its debut, becoming one of the top-selling independent comics published today. Join Mark Waid as he takes a look back at IRREDEEMABLE's beginnings, the future of the series, and its sister series -- INCORRUPTIBLE. A not-to-be-missed panel for any fan of these books! (PSSSSST: Mark will also talk a little bit about his new BOOM! book with Stan Lee called THE TRAVELER. Don't miss it!)

1:00-2:00 - Spotlight on Thor - With the THOR feature film from Marvel Studios premiering in May, 2011, and his adventures featured across both the Marvel and Ultimate Universes, Thor is one of Marvel's hottest characters. Chroniclers of the Thunder God's adventures from the past, present, and future - Walter Simonson, John Workman, Bryan J.L. Glass, and Jonathan Hickman - join Marvel's Vice President - Executive Editor Tom Brevoort to discuss all things Thor.

2:00-3:00 - Spotlight on Denis Kitchen - Denis Kitchen is a cartoonist and founder of Kitchen Sink Press where he published work by such creators as Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, and Robert Crumb. A book of his art "The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen" was recently published by Dark Horse; a new art book, "Denis Kitchen: Chipboard Sketchbook", is on the way from BOOM!; and a book he co-authored, "Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comic" is nominated for a Harvey Award. Don't miss this opportunity hear about the work of a true comics original.

3:00-4:00 - Spotlight on Michael Allred - Michael Allred is the creator of "Madman" ,"Atomics", "Red Rocket 7," and has worked on such comics as the "Golden Plates," "X-Statix," and "Sandman" and is currently drawing "iZombie" from DC/Vertigo. Allred and "iZombie" scribe, Chris Roberson, take a look at his career in a spotlight you dare not miss!

Room 308 (Saturday)
11:00-12:00 - comiXology and the Future of Digital Comics - comiXology has become the leader in the digital comics revolution while maintaining great services for brick and mortar retailers. This past year has seen an explosion of digital comics, and comiXology has been on the forefront of the movement with a massive comics library, online aids for collectors, podcasts, and apps for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod. On comiXology's one year anniversary, CEO David Steinberger takes a look at the events of this past year and what the future holds for digital comics in this enlightening panel.

12:00-1:00 - Spotlight on Todd McFarlane - From SPAWN to HAUNT, Image Comics founder and partner Todd McFarlane has been the driving force behind the biggest creator-owned titles in the industry. Join McFarlane for exclusive sneak peeks of his upcoming projects and a Q&A session that shouldn't be missed!

1:00-2:00 - Top Cow: We Create... Universes - Join Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik, Top Cow Universe architect and writer Ron Marz, and Artifacts artist Michael Broussard for a frank and lively discussion of upcoming events in the Top Cow Universe spinning out of the world-shattering event series - Artifacts! Questions will be answered, early sneak peeks shown, and perhaps even a hilarious anecdote will be told. Plus every attendee will receive a free gift just for attending.

2:00-3:00 - DC NATION - The DC NATION returns to Baltimore! We're always looking for new recruits, so be sure to come on by as DC Comics' Senior Story Editor, Ian Sattler, and some of the industry's top talent lead the way to give you the inside scoop to all current and future NATION members!

3:00-4:00 - Mondo Marvel - From the Marvel U to the Ultimate U and everything in between, Vice President - Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, and superstar writers Jonathan Hickman (S.H.I.E.L.D., Fantastic Four) and Jeff Parker (Hulk, Thunderbolts) are on hand to talk about all of your favorite heroes and villains as well as make a few surprise announcements!

4:00-5:00 - IDW ON THE MOVE! - Join IDW Senior editor Bob Schreck, Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson, Chris Moreno, and Stuart Sayger in this lively look at the company's current and upcoming releases to be followed by a Q&A session.

Room 301-303 (Saturday)
4:00-5:00 - Artist's Workshop Art Dissection - Klaus Janson and Howard Chaykin open their Artist's Workshop to all convention guests at this time. A few lucky students from their professional seminar will have their work honestly dissected by these two masters. This is a panel no artist should miss!

Room 307 (Sunday)
11:00-12:00 -Creating Comic Art Digitally - Daniel Govar, creator/artist of AZURE along with Matt Zolman, co-creator and artist of Epic, show you the benefit and shortfalls of creating comic art with the use of computer software. From best practices, to resolutions and file formats, they will demonstrate how they create stunning comics using popular software, and answer questions you may have about making comics digitally.

12:00-1:00 - Spotlight on Sergio Aragones - Sergio Aragones has been called the "fastest cartoonist in the world," has drawn thousands of cartoons for "Mad Magazine," created Bat Lash and Groo the Wanderer, and kept us laughing for years. Join the award-winning cartoonist for a look at his work that will leave you smiling!

1:00-2:00 - Comics Rewind: The 1980s - The 1980s were a time of growth for comics with the direct market and new publishers offering creators the opportunity to present their creations as never before. And the results were spectacular. Join Louise Simonson ("Power Pack," "X-Factor"), Walter Simonson ("Thor," "X-Factor"), Timothy Truman ("GrimJack," "Scout"), Matt Wagner ("Mage," "Grendel"), Marv Wolfman ("New Teen Titans," "Crisis on Infinite Earths"), John Workman ("Heavy Metal", "Thor"), and moderator Mark Waid as they take a look back at the comics of the 1980s.

2:00-3:00 - Spotlight on Cuba: My Revolution - Artist Dean Haspiel and colorist Jose Villarrubia discuss their new Vertigo graphic novel collaboration. Dean Haspiel is a native New Yorker who created BILLY DOGMA and STREET CODE and has collaborated on great superhero and semi-autobiographical comic books, helped pioneer personal webcomics with the invention of ACT-I-VATE, and draws for HBO's "Bored To Death." Jose Villarrubia is a renowned artist/colorist/photographer who has worked on such books as Alan Moore's "Voice of the Fire" and "Promethea" among many, many others. He is also the chair of the Illustration Department at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art).

3:00-4:00 - PAUL POPE VS BOB SCHRECK - A CAGED EVENT - Don't miss this satisfaction-guaranteed, fists-a-flying blood match by joining award-winning multi-talented storyteller, Paul Pope, in an examination of his creative process and how he suffers under the heel of his terrifying editor.

Room 308 (Sunday)
11:00-12:00 - Marvel Your Universe - Join Vice President - Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, as he leaves his Marvel ID at the door and enters as a fan! Want to know how things work at the House of Ideas? Got some things to get off your chest about a Marvel character or story? Well here's your chance True Believer! It's the panel for fans BY fans with no spin, no marketing, and just a friendly chat amongst fans!

12:00-1:00 - DC SUNDAY CONVERSATION - All are welcome to join Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler for a relaxed Sunday afternoon discussion. Share your thoughts, or be enthralled, as the group share their stories and love for this medium.

1:00 - Costume Contest - The wildly popular costume contest returns for a second year! The $1,000 grand prize will be awarded to the best over-all costume at the event, including pro and amateur costumes. Other award categories will win DVD prize packages, comic book packages, Orioles baseball tickets, gift certificates to Cards, Comics and Collectibles of Reisterstown, Maryland, and special last minute prizes from top comic book companies. Everyone who enters the contest will win passes to the advance screening of Summit Entertainment's newest film, RED, starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, and Helen Mirren (based on the Wildstorm graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner) which opens nationwide on Friday, October 15th.

Rooms 301-303 (Sunday)
3:00 - Art Auction - Art fans, don't miss this opportunity to see and bid on art from your favorite comic artists! You're sure to find something here you like!

Janson & Chaykin Offer Art Seminar
With over seventy five years of cumulative experience in the comic book industry, Klaus Janson and Howard Chaykin are all-too-well-versed in the ins and outs of making a career in our inkstained - and now, with all that digital stuff, carpal tunneled - business. For the past few years, Klaus and Howard have been conducting an Artist's Workshop for Marvel, offering invaluable insights, gleaned from those decades of experience, on narrative, storytelling, page design, and career management.

They've developed a fluid and comprehensive take on the inside game played by successful cartoonists - and a series of direct and vital techniques intended to drag newer talents out of a hobby and into a profession - without ever losing the joy all of us experience when we ply our craft.

Klaus and Howard have taken their seminar on the road to the renowned Savannah College of Art & Design, to great acclaim from students and faculty alike, and now they're bringing a customized version of the workshop to the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con. On Saturday, August 28th, from 1pm to 4pm, Messrs. Janson and Chaykin will entertain and enlighten with a lively, spirited, and very likely prickly and opinionated dissertation, followed, from 4 PM to 5 PM, by an hour of honest dissection of the work of several lucky attendees. All class registrants will be eligible for the dissection lottery, so bring some of your work if you want to hear from these two very honest men!

To register for this very special class, please call our host store, Cards, Comics, & Collectibles @ 410-526-7410. The cost for this professional seminar is $75. Major credit cards will be accepted for payment. The hour of honest dissection from 4pm-5pm will be exciting programming available to all ticketed attendees of the Baltimore Comic-Con. Register now while space is still available!

Portfolio Reviews
Mark Chiarello, Art Director at DC Comics, will be doing portfolio reviews from 11am to 1pm at the Mark's booth on both Saturday and Sunday. Think you've got the chops to make it as a pro at DC Comics? Come and find out first-hand!

Todd McFarlane Signing
Attending the show on Saturday only this year, Todd McFarlane will be featured in a Spotlight panel session (room 308) from 12pm-1pm. Following his panel, he will be signing in booth 2403 from 1:30pm-3:30pm.

Added Guests:
We are pleased to announce the addition of the following guests to the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con: Danna Bremer (Zuda Comics Crew), Buzz (JSA), Kevin Colden (I Rule The Night), Ian Edginton (Victorian Undead), Steve Ellis (High Moon), John Gallagher (Buzzboy), David Gallaher (High Moon), Dan Govar (Azure), Randy Green (New X-Men), Brad Guigar (Evil Inc.), Matthew Petz (War of the Woods), Chris Staros (Publisher, Top Shelf), and Bobby and Peter Timony (The Night Owls).

Regretfully, Cully Hamner is unable to attend the show this year.

Publishers exhibiting in 2010 include Archaia Comics, Adhouse Books, Boom! Studios, IDW, Image Comics, Top Cow Productions, and Top Shelf Comix.

In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website (http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/baltimorecomics), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/baltimorecomiccon), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/baltimorecomics), and ComicSpace (http://www.comicspace.com/baltimorecomicon) pages.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 28th.

Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries


About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 11th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 5 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

Top Shelf Makes Big Announcements

From Chris Staros:

TOP SHELF ANNOUNCES NEW WEB SITE, SIGNINGS, AND MORE!

Hey Gang,
Tons of news in Top Shelf land this month, not the least of which is that we just launched a brand new web site! We've also got a bunch of killer books available for pre-order in your local comic shop (including new books from Jeffrey Brown, Kathryn & Stuart Immonen, and Rich Koslowski)! Then there's news of future projects, a hilarious video put together by our "Swedish Invasion" cartoonists, a look at the Surrogates Blu-Ray special features, and a video game from none other than James Kochalka. Whew! Let's get started!

TOP SHELF LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE
We'll start with the biggest, shiniest, and most obvious news – our web site got an incredible upgrade! The new TopShelfComix.com should make it easier for find what you're looking for – with more frequent news updates, a powerful new "smart search" box up top, better connections between books, authors, news, and interviews, and overall a much more user-friendly look. Check out the randomly changing background images from the Top Shelf family of artists! And if you've got an iPhone or other mobile browser, try the phone-friendly mobile version of our site, so you can keep up with all the latest happenings – and even order books – on the go!

We're very proud of the new site, and grateful to webmaster supreme Nate Beaty, who made it all happen. Check it out, and let us know what you think! -- And be sure to take advantage of free (media mail) shipping on all domestic orders this week!

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/mobile

PREORDER TOP SHELF'S MAY RELEASES IN THE CURRENT (MARCH) DIAMOND PREVIEWS CATALOG!
The new Diamond Previews catalog has FIVE new titles available for pre-ordering. Now's the time to let your friendly neighborhood retailer know that you want to pre-order them –- that really helps them and us. You can also pre-order direct on our web site! To see covers, descriptions, and sample pages, just click on the links below:

MOVING PICTURES by Kathryn & Stuart Immonen

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/moving-pictures/647
-- A 144-Page Graphic Novel with French Flaps, $14.95 (US)
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-049-0, Diamond: MAR10-1136
-- Set during World War II, a story of the dangerous relationship between curator Ila Gardner and officer Rolf Hauptmann, while the Nazis pillage Europe's great art treasures.

UNDELETED SCENES by Jeffrey Brown

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/undeleted-scenes/712
-- A 352-Page Graphic Novel, $15.00 (US)
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-058-2, Diamond: MAR10-1140
-- A huge compendium collecting a decade's worth of shorter works from indie comics legend Jeffrey Brown.

BB WOLF & THE 3 LP'S by J.D. Arnold & Rich Koslowski

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/bb-wolf-and-the-3-lps/620
-- A 96-Page Hardcover Graphic Novel, $12.95 (US)
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-029-2, Diamond: MAR10-1137
-- A classic story of racism, murder, revenge, and music, all filtered through the clever re-telling of a timeless fairy tale.

THREE FINGERS (new edition) by Rich Koslowski

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/three-fingers/58
-- A 144-Page Graphic Novel, $14.95 (US)
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-31-0, Diamond: MAR10-1138
-- The horrifying untold story behind the cartoon industry and our most celebrated cartoon actors… an award-winning graphic novel from the artist of BB WOLF and THE KING, now re-presented in a new edition!

GREETINGS FROM CARTOONIA by Stripburger
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/greetings-from-cartoonia/713
-- A 220-Page Anthology, $20.00 (US)
-- ISBN 978-961-6553-34-6, Diamond: MAR10-1139
-- A tour of the imaginary land of Cartoonia, as viewed by twelve wonderfully creative European cartoonists.

TOP SHELF WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND PROJECTS TO THE FAMILY!
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/futurereleases
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/2010releases

It's always exciting when we discover new talent, or get a brilliant new proposal from one of our established masters. At the moment we can announce several of BOTH! The upcoming graphic novels we've recently signed include five new kid-friendly series, five new graphic novels by wonderful female creators, a massive award-winner from France, a full-length graphic novel from mini-comics master Will Dinski, the writing debut of Eric Skillman (designer of the beautiful ALEC omnibus, as well as the upcoming PLAYWRIGHT and AX anthology), and eight (!) incredible new graphic novels from our all-time greats.

We'll have more details on each book as they get closer to publication, but for now we'll tease you with the titles, and direct you here to check out the details we have available:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/futurereleases
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/2010releases
(as some will debut this year)

FOR ALL AGES
Five New Graphic Novel Series:
-- MADDY KETTLE by Eric Orchard
-- MONSTER ON THE HILL by Rob Harrell
-- PIRATE PENGUIN VS NINJA CHICKEN by Ray Friesen
-- OKIE DOKIE DONUTS by Chris Eliopoulos
-- DRAGON PUNCHER by James Kochalka

FOR MATURE READERS
New Faces:
-- THE STORY OF MY TITS by Jennifer Hayden
-- UNDERWIRE by Jennifer Hayden
-- CHESTER 5000-XYV by Jess Fink
-- WE CAN FIX IT by Jess Fink
-- AUGUST MOON by Diana Thung
-- FINGERPRINTS by Will Dinski
-- LIAR'S KISS by Eric Skillman & Jhomar Soriano
-- INFINITE KUNG-FU by Kagan McLeod
-- JUNCTION TRUE by Ray Fawkes & Vince Locke

A French Superstar:
-- LUCILLE by Ludovic Debeurme

Encore Performances from our Award Winners:
-- THE UNDERWATER WELDER by Jeff Lemire
-- ANY EMPIRE by Nate Powell
-- SUPER NATURAL by Matt Kindt
-- HEY MISTER: COME HELL OR HIGHWATER PANTS by Pete Sickman-Garner
-- THE HOMELAND DIRECTIVE by Robert Venditti & Mike Huddleston
-- BACCHUS (THE TWO-VOLUME OMNIBUS) by Eddie Campbell
-- KISSYPOO GARDEN by Craig Thompson
-- THE MOON & SERPENT BUMPER BOOK OF MAGIC by Alan Moore & Steve Moore

Hope you're as excited as we are!

THE SWEDISH INVASION HITS YOUTUBE!
Holy lingonberries! The crazy geniuses over in Sweden are so excited about their books coming out in English from Top Shelf that they put together this awesome video to introduce themselves! What can we say, except that this demonstrates perfectly the amazing charm, creativity and offbeat sense of humor that make their books so great. Check out the video below, pre-order their books now at your local shop, those of you in the Chicago and New York areas should make plans to party with the Swedes in April! Leve den svenska invasionen!

YouTube Swedish Invasion Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad-IGJNJRwk

The Swedish Invasion Graphic Novels
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/swedish-invasion


SURROGATES DVD RELEASED WITH AWESOME COMIC-TO-FILM FEATURETTE
The blockbuster film SURROGATES, based on the Top Shelf graphic novel by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele, was recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray, and the Blu-Ray contains a 7-minute featurette delving deep into the original graphic novel. In this preview clip, you'll see interviews with both Rob and Brett, plus some amazing animated graphics that bring Brett's outstanding art to life in "motion comic" form. Both DVD and Blu-Ray are available at amazon.com, but the Blu-Ray is the one you want. Don't miss it!

Preview of the featurette:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/news/508

Surrogates Graphic Novels:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/robertvenditti


JAMES KOCHALKA'S GLORKIAN WARRIOR VIDEO GAME PROJECT AT KICKSTARTER
Acclaimed indy video game designers Pixeljam and award-winning cartoonist James Kochalka are making a video game called Glorkian Warrior. They're trying to raise the necessary funds to complete the project through Kickstarter.com, and have put together a really amazing set of prizes for people who pledge money. Learn more about this exciting project here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pixeljam/james-kochalka-pixeljam-glorkian-warrior

That's all for now! Thanks for reading.
Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros