Graphic Novels Prepub Alert: Evanovich, Koontz & Martin Luther King Jr.
By Martha Cornog Aug 13, 2010Great news from a government-funded study-not our government, though: a recent report from the Canadian Council on Learning has endorsed comics for their value in advancing literacy, especially for boys. The Vancouver Sun wrote up a nice summary. On the other pole of the culture meter, consider Marvel's decision to license its superhero images as edible pizza decorations. Really. Coming to a grocery near you in November!
Alcante (text) & Erik Juszezak (illus.). Pandora's Box. Vol. 4: Greed. Cinebook. Nov. 2010. 48p. ISBN 978-1-84918-047-4. pap. $11.95. F
The seven deadly sins, plus hope, underlie eight timely parables mixing mythology with modern life. Following the Pride, Sloth, and Gluttony stories, Greed centers on financial wizard John Midas. As the richest man on Earth, he loves money second to one: his only daughter, whom he keeps far away from his Scrooge McDuck world. But he's soon to find his business acumen turned against him. Judging from the earlier volumes, this series makes excellent fodder for ethics discussions in and out of classrooms.
Brusha, Joe (text) & Altercomics Studio (illus.). Discovery Channel's Top 10 Deadliest Sharks. Silver Dragon Bks: Zenescope. Nov. 2010. 200p. ISBN 978-0-98275072-8. pap. $9.99. NAT HIST
Zenescope has broken out of its heavy adult-comics mode and established an all-ages line: Silver Dragon Books. Initial titles feature a team-up with the Discovery Channel for Discovery's first-ever graphic novels. Beginning the series, this color documentary about sharks focuses on both danger and biological facts. Other Discovery titles will feature dinosaurs and "most dangerous" animals. The series seeks to capture the storytelling and visual intensity of the TV programs.
Dick, Philip K. & David Mack (text) & Pascal Alixe (illus.). Philip K. Dick's Electric Ant. Marvel. Dec. 2010. 120p. ISBN 978-0-7851-3981-2. $24.99. F
Garson Poole is your average, successful dude. Then, after he loses a hand in an accident, doctors tell him he's a robot, totally preprogrammed, including what he perceives about the world. A classic sci-fi short story that toys with the concept of reality, recently made into a five-issue miniseries. Liquidly colored realistic art.
Evanovich, Janet & Alex Evanovich (text) & Joëlle Jones (illus.). Trouble Maker; A Barnaby and Hooker Graphic Novel. Bk. 2. Dark Horse. Nov. 2010. 112p. ISBN 978-1-59582-573-5. $17.99. F
At San Diego Comic-Con, Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson admitted to receiving orders for 80,000 copies of book one of the story, which came out last month. Count on Evanovich fans to want the ending. Looks like Alexandra "Barney" Barnaby and Sam Hooker have to hide a body again. Oh, and there's a sack of snakes and a ticked-off chicken to contend with.
Flowers, Arthur (text) & Manu Chitraker (illus.). See the Promised Land: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Tara Bks. Dec. 2010. 128p. ISBN 978-93-80340-04-3. pap. $16.95. BIOG
Novelist, educator, and blues singer Flowers teams up with the Patua art tradition from West Bengal for what will surely be a creative take on the life of the Rev. Dr. King.
Iinuma, Yuuki. Itsuwaribito. Vol. 1. VIZ. Dec. 2010. 192p. ISBN 978-1-4215-3756-6. pap. $9.99. F
As a kid, Utsuho always told the truth-until it touched off a major disaster. Then he vowed to always lie and raise hell. Brought up by monks with a group of orphans, he decides to do good. Can he sow mischief and deception to good ends? The cover art suggests an irreverent Naruto.
Koontz, Dean & Keith Champagne (text) & Andy Smith (illus.). Dean Koontz' Nevermore. Dynamite. Jan. 2011. 140p. ISBN 978-1-60690-161-8. $19.99. F
Grieving zillionaire Bobbie Godric seeks a living version of his late wife in an alternate reality, but he stumbles on a race of alien nasties looking to wipe out Earth, unless he can mobilize a federation of alternate Earths to stop them. Created originally for comics, this one should be a biggie.
MacPherson, Dwight L. (text) & Zeke (illus.). Dead Men Tell No Tales: Decimation. Arcana. Dec. 2010. 104p. ISBN 978-1-89754-812-7. $14.95. F
Raiders of the Lost Ark was soooo Old Testament.... Now an unholy trinity of pirates-Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Black Bart Roberts-sets their booty-eyes on the lost Relics of Christ! A museum has them on display, but perhaps not for long. This may be a continuation of the DMTNT volume published in 2008. Rated YA, with appropriately zombie-style art.
Medley, Linda. Castle Waiting. Vol. 2. Fantagraphics. Dec. 2010. 384p. ISBN 978-1-60699-405-4. $29.99. F
Medley's black-and-white art draws on fairy tale standbys to spin a witty, inventive comedy of manners. The giant-sized Volume 1 pulled in Harvey and Eisner nominations, got great reviews nearly everywhere, and made the first YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list. Time called it "a vibrant fantasy world not unlike The Lord of the Rings' Middle-earth but with a focus on the lives of women."
Opera Manga! Arcana. Dec. 2010. 104p. ISBN 978-1-89754-883-7. pap. $19.95. MUSIC
The Vancouver Opera commissions these brief and attractive adaptations, available on the Vancouver Opera website, to correspond to the operas performed. A local Vancouver artist began them for a local Japanese newspaper, and the opera organization took them over. They are now produced in English, in color, by multiple artists. A total of 24 operas since the 2003–04 season are included in the collection.
Ruditis, Paul (text) & Dave Hoover (illus). Charmed: Season 9. Vol. 1. Zenescope. Dec. 2010. 144p. ISBN 978-0-98258-267-1. pap. $12.99. F
The popular WB TV series about three good-witch sisters operating undercover in San Francisco finished in 2006 after eight seasons. The final episode suggested a "serene happy ending": a much-longed-for future of husbands and children for the gals. Hah-they're about to find out that the battle against evil is never fully won. Zenescope founder Joe Brusha has told Publishers Weekly that the firm is looking to increase its appeal to the library market, and the Charmed comics should interest fans of the TV show as well as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics.
Sava, Scott Christian (text) & Tracy Bailey (illus.). Magic Carpet. IDW. Dec. 2010. 110p. ISBN 978-1-60010-563-0. pap. $11.99. F
With three brothers and sisters in their small house, Kevin has no room of his own and yearns for a little space to himself. He gets his wish, all right-space on his very own magic carpet, which sends him off on adventures. Magic, monsters, and a princess follow, of course. All ages, with charming cover art. Sava also wrote The Dreamland Chronicles.
Takako, Shimura. Wandering Son: Book One. Fantagraphics. Dec. 2010. 192p. tr. from Japanese by Matt Thorn. ISBN 978-1-60699-416-0. $19.99 F
A serious yet sweet fifth-grade drama about several boys and girls who want to change their gender. Unlike many manga involving boy/girl reversals, this one does not play gender issues for laughs. Translator Thorn has commented that Wandering Son should please fans of Anne of Green Gables and the never-translated Rose of Versailles. He told Comic Book Resources that the new Fantagraphics manga line is designed to "appeal to the twenty-something Sailor Moon/Pokémon generation that feel they've outgrown the bulk of what is currently available, and that will also appeal to intelligent grown-ups."
Tsuda, Masami. Eensy Weensy Monster. Vol. 1. TOKYOPOP. Nov. 2010. 192p. ISBN 978-1-4278-1651-1. pap. $10.99. F
Nanoha's just your average high school girl crushing on a cute guy, but then a tiny monster appears to complicate matters. Turns out the monster was conjured up by Nanoha's hatred of her archrival from grade school, suddenly back in her life. Very cute shojo art.
Vehlmann, Fabien (text) & Sean Phillips (illus.). 7 Psychopaths. BOOM! Studios. Dec. 2010. 88p. ISBN 978-1-60886-032-6. pap. $9.99. F
Here's the concept: Since assassinating Hitler is logically impossible, the only possible way to succeed would be to use psychopaths as assassins, since they would prove both fearless and illogically unpredictable. This novel addition to a heavily worn concept is the first in a French-British series of seven books by seven creator collaborations, each featuring a team of seven people.
Way, Daniel. Hit-Monkey. Marvel. Dec. 2010. 96p. ISBN 978-0-7851-4859-3. pap. $14.95. F
Last month, ape platoons in Vietnam. This month, a mandrill vigilante on a mission-with a pair of Magnums and a suit and tie. Collects a short-run miniseries, and the art looks top-notch.
Zimmerman, Ron (text) & Chaykin (illus.). The Rawhide Kid: The Sensational Seven. Marvel. Dec. 2010. 104p. ISBN 978-0-7851-4431-1. pap. $19.99. HUMOR
In a follow-up to the amusing Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather (2006), the Kid is back recruiting the Wild West's toughest lawfolk to form a posse for bringing to justice the latest threat to Civilized People. And while the Kid's a bit more persnickety about his wardrobe and less interested in ladies than his hard-bitten compadres, he's such a great shot and all-around hero that nobody cares.
