Blog Archives
3 New Comics for New Readers – July 18, 2012
Wednesday is New Comics Day! Each week, The Comics Observer picks brand new releases worth checking out that should be suitable for someone who has never read comic books, graphic novels or manga before.
These are out today! If you like what you see here, click the links to see previews and learn more about them. Then head to your local comic book store, or check out online retailers like Things From Another World and Amazon. Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook.
For a full list of this week’s new releases, see comiXology and ComicList.com.
The Hammer and the Anvil by Dwight Jon Zimmerman and Wayne Vansant
The Hammer and the Anvil: Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and the End of Slavery in America
Written by Dwight Jon Zimmerman
Illustrated by Wayne Vansant
Published by Hill and Wang
Genre: Non-Fiction, History
Ages: 13+
160 pages
$24.95
The period leading up to the Civil War was one of great change. Congress divided itself between Northerners and Southerners, citizens on the frontier took up arms against one another, and movements for secession and abolition were more urgent than ever.
In The Hammer and the Anvil, the award-winning author Dwight Jon Zimmerman and the renowned artist Wayne Vansant vividly depict the tumultuous time through the lives of two men who defined it: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
With a foreword by the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James M. McPherson, The Hammer and the Anvil reveals that its protagonists each wrestled with the question of slavery from a young age. Douglass, a slave who was spared no brutality, once fought an especially cruel master and eventually escaped north to freedom. Lincoln, who was hired out by his father to do manual labor on neighbors’ farms, found this harsh life intolerable. As a senator, Lincoln sought ways to end the westward spread of slavery, believing that adding free states to the Union would diminish the power of the Southern states and lead to the gradual disappearance of the “peculiar institution.” Douglass was less patient. He had become a skilled orator and an influential editor of Northern abolitionist journals, and called on white Americans to honor their nation’s founding commitment to liberty.
When the Civil War erupted in April 1861, Douglass hoped that the conflict would mean the end of slavery. But Lincoln delayed emancipation, and Douglass despaired—until he met the president face-to-face and recognized that their causes were one and the same. Featuring evocative and dramatic scenes of this seminal time, The Hammer and the Anvil will engage both Civil War buffs and young people new to the study of American history.
Sunset by Christos Gage and Jorge Lucas
Sunset
Written by Christos Gage
Illustrated by Jorge Lucas
Published by Image Comics/Top Cow Productions/Minotaur Press
Genre: Action/Adventure
Ages: 16+
160 pages
$19.99
Imagine a noir badass out of Chandler or Spillane – a two-fisted man of the post-war years venting his righteous wrath on our pansy-ass era of Priuses, Blackberries and organic whole-grain trans-fat-free diets. A man aged but still vital, who’s lost everything he cares about except for two things: revenge… and the chance to die with his guns blazing. Thirty years ago, Vegas legbreaker Nick Bellamy and his crew pulled off the fabled “One Last Heist,” ripping off a mob boss to set them up for life… and they got away with it.
But now the mobster, Gianelli, is out of jail and out for revenge. Nick had a longer run than he ever imagined. He knows his life is at an end. But he’ll be damned if he’s going to die without sending Gianelli to Hell first. He reassembles the survivors of his crew and they set out to take the battle to their enemy, in a Vegas very different from the one they left. Only one thing could throw a curve into Nick’s plan: falling in love.
The Stuff of Legend by Mike Raicht, Brian Smith and Charles Paul Wilson III
The Stuff of Legend: Omnibus One
Written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith
Illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III
Published by Th3rd World Studios
Genre: Fantasy
Ages: 10+
260 pages
$29.99
As Allied forces fight the enemy on Europe’s war-torn beaches, another battle begins in a child’s bedroom in Brooklyn when the nightmarish Boogeyman snatches a boy and takes him to the realm of The Dark. The child’s playthings, led by the toy soldier known as the Colonel, band together to stage a daring rescue. On their perilous mission they will confront the boy’s bitter and forgotten toys, as well as betrayal in their own ranks. The Stuff of Legend is a haunting and ultimately redemptive tale of loyalty, camaraderie, and perseverance.
This hardcover collection brings together the first two volumes of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel The Stuff of Legend (The Dark and The Jungle) in one beautiful, 260-page edition. The book also contains never-before-printed character sketches and artwork by series artist and Russ Manning Award nominee, Charles Paul Wilson III.
3 New Comics for New Readers – July 4, 2012
Wednesday is New Comics Day! Yes, even today on the 4th of July! Each week, The Comics Observer picks brand new releases worth checking out that should be suitable for someone who has never read comic books, graphic novels or manga before.
These are out today! If you like what you see here, click the links to see previews and learn more about them. Then head to your local comic book store, or check out online retailers like Things From Another World and Amazon. Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook.
For a full list of this week’s new releases, see comiXology and ComicList.com.
Battlepug Vol. 1 by Mike Norton
Battlepug Volume 1
Written and illustrated by Mike Norton
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Genre: Humor, Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Ages: 14+
72 pages
$14.99
It’s a pugly job, but someone’s gotta do it!
The epic tale of blood and drool begins here! Join Molly and her dogs Mingo and Colfax, as she recounts the legend of “The Warrior and the Battlepug” — a tale of a fearless barbarian, his trusty and freakishly large pug, and evil baby harp seals. This volume collects the first year of Mike Norton’s Battlepug — the perfect opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the fan-favorite webcomic by Mike Norton, Allen Passalaqua, and Crank!
* Includes extras not seen on the website!
Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me by Harvey Pekar and JT Waldman
Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me
Written by Harvey Pekar
Illustrated by JT Waldman
Published by Hill and Wang
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Ages: 18+
176 pages
$24.95
Harvey Pekar’s mother was a Zionist by way of politics. His father was a Zionist by way of faith. Whether Harvey was going to daily Hebrew classes or attending Zionist picnics, he grew up a staunch supporter of the Jewish state. But soon he found himself questioning the very beliefs and ideals of his parents.
In Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me, the final graphic memoir from the man who defined the genre, Pekar explores what it means to be Jewish and what Israel means to the Jews. Over the course of a single day in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, Pekar and the illustrator JT Waldman wrestle with the mythologies and realities surrounding the Jewish homeland. Pekar interweaves his increasing disillusionment with the modern state of Israel with a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from biblical times to the present, and the result is a personal and historical odyssey of uncommon power. Plainspoken and empathetic, Pekar had no patience for injustice and prejudice in any form, and though he comes to understand the roots of his parents’ unquestioning love for Israel, he arrives at the firm belief that all peoples should be held to the same universal standards of decency, fairness, and democracy.
With an epilogue written by Joyce Brabner, Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me is an essential book for fans of Harvey Pekar and anyone interested in the past and future of the Jewish state. It is bound to create important discussions and debates for years to come.
Wizzywig by Ed Piskor
Wizzywig: Portrait of a Serial Hacker
Written and illustrated by Ed Piskor
Published by Top Shelf Productions
Genre: Historic Fiction
Age: 16+
288 pages
$19.95
They say What You See Is What You Get… but Kevin “Boingthump” Phenicle could always see more than most people. In the world of phone phreaks, hackers, and scammers, he’s a legend. His exploits are hotly debated: could he really get free long-distance calls by whistling into a pay phone? Did his video-game piracy scheme accidentally trigger the first computer virus? And did he really dodge the FBI by using their own wiretapping software against them? Is he even a real person? And if he’s ever caught, what would happen to a geek like him in federal prison?
Inspired by the incredible stories of real-life hackers, Wizzywig is the thrilling tale of a master manipulator — his journey from precocious child scammer to federally-wanted fugitive, and beyond. In a world transformed by social networks, data leaks, and digital uprisings, Ed Piskor’s debut graphic novel reminds us how much power can rest in the hands of an audacious kid with a keyboard.
3 New Comics for New Readers – June 20, 2012
Wednesday is New Comics Day! Each week, The Comics Observer picks brand new releases worth checking out that should be suitable for someone who has never read comic books, graphic novels or manga before.
These are out today! If you like what you see here, click the links to see previews and learn more about them. Then head to your local comic book store, or check out online retailers like Things From Another World and Amazon. Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook.
For a full list of this week’s new releases, see comiXology and ComicList.com.
Earthling! by Mark Fearing
Earthling!
Written and illustrated by Mark Fearing
Published by Chronicle Books
Genre: Science-Fiction
Ages: 8-12
248 pages
$12.99
Every kid worries about making friends at a new school, but when nine-year-old Bud accidentally catches the wrong bus and finds himself launched into deep space, new friends are the least of his problems! At Cosmos Academy, Bud learns that Earthlings are the most feared creatures in the galaxy, and even Earth’s location has been hidden! With the help of his new friend, Gort, Bud goes undercover as a Tenarian exchange student. Unfortunately that means everyone thinks he’s a pro at anti-gravity Zero-Ball (even though he’s really only a pro at watching sports). And with paranoid Principal Lepton threatening to expel any Earthlings (into outer space) and only Gort’s hacked Blip computer to help them determine Earth’s co-ordinates, will Bud ever find his way home?
Marathon by Boaz Yakin and Joe Infurnari
Marathon
Written by Boaz Yakin
Illustrated by Joe Infurnari
Published by First Second Books
Genre: Non-Fiction
Ages: 12+
192 pages
$16.99
The epic tale of the original marathon runner—just in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
It was a turning point in ancient history.
It inspires men to greatness.
It was the foundation of one of the greatest and most prevailing global peace efforts of the 20th century.
It was the greatest feat—and the tragic death—of a man whose legacy will never be forgotten.
In 490BC, an Athenian messenger named Eucles ran 153 miles from Sparta to Athens, and in so doing preserved ancient Greek civilization from subjugation to the Persian Empire.
This is his story.
Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Vetter-Form
Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb
Written and illustrated by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm
Published by Hill and Wang
Genre: Non-Fiction
Ages: 18+
160 pages
$22.00
Trinity, the debut graphic book by the gifted illustrator Jonathan Fetter-Vorm, depicts in vivid detail the dramatic history of the race to build and the decision to drop the first atomic bomb. This sweeping historical narrative traces the spark of invention from the laboratories of nineteenth-century Europe to the massive industrial and scientific efforts of the Manhattan Project. Along the way, Fetter-Vorm takes special care to explain the fundamental science of nuclear reactions. With the clarity and accessibility that only a graphic book can provide, Trinity transports the reader into the core of a nuclear reaction—into the splitting atoms themselves.
The power of the atom was harnessed in a top-secret government compound in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where some of the greatest scientific minds in the world gathered together to work on the bomb. Fetter-Vorm showcases J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and General Leslie Groves, the fathers of the atomic bomb, whose insights unleashed the most devastating explosion known to humankind. These brilliant scientists wrestled daily with both the difficulty of building an atomic weapon and the moral implications of actually succeeding.
When the first bomb finally went off at a test site code-named Trinity, the world was irreversibly thrust into a new and terrifying age. With powerful renderings of the catastrophic events at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Fetter-Vorm unflinchingly chronicles the far-reaching political, environmental, and ethical effects of this new discovery. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, Trinity is a dramatic, informative, and thought-provoking book on one of the most significant and harrowing events in history.
Comics Publishers Come Out in Support of Dangerous Online Piracy Bill
Happy Holidays, everyone. Now stop using the internet. That appears to be the message from a number of comics publishers, however unintentional.
On Thursday, December 22, the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, chaired by Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), released a list of supporters of H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). This bill is an attempt by lawmakers to address intellectual property security concerns on the internet. However, it has been flagged by various organizations and individuals for going too far, giving broad power without due process, limiting free speech and discouraging technical innovation. Graphic Policy has a great summary of the bill’s weaknesses and how it relates to the comic book industry. Some are claiming it could cripple social sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Tumblr, along with thousands of harmless fan-sites and any other sites sharing their IP addresses.
Among the corporations and organizations listed as supporters of SOPA are the following comic book and graphic novel publishers:
- Marvel Entertainment, LLC (Disney-owned corporate name of Marvel Comics)
- Disney Publishing Worldwide, Inc.
- Time Warner (parent company of DC Comics)
- Hachette Book Group (imprints include manga publisher Yen Press and occasional graphic novel publisher Little, Brown and Company)
- HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, Inc.
- Hyperion Books (owned by Disney)
- Macmillan (include First Second Books and Hill and Wang imprints)
- Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
- Random House (includes Pantheon Graphic Novels imprint; distributes for manga publisher Kodansha Comics)
- Scholastic, Inc. (includes graphic novel imprint Graphix)
- The Perseus Books Group (includes one-time graphic novel imprint Running Press)
- W.W. Norton & Company
Also included is the Association of American Publishers, which counts DC Comics, Disney Publishing and more among their members.
As we come out of the holidays, many of these organizations might have to start responding to a vocal outpouring of concern among customers and partners, and in some cases, threats of organized boycotts.
There has been considerable push back already, and from public pressure some organizations have dropped their support of SOPA. The Graphic Artists Guild has retracted their support, stating “We are concerned that the bill may have unintended consequences that may do more harm than good.” They also added that they “have not spent a dime on any lobbyist in Congress for this bill”. The largest domain name registrar GoDaddy faced massive threats of boycotts, and has also reversed their position. Time will tell if more will shift their support.
(via Graphic Policy)
Political figures understand the power of comics
They just had to use the over-played "Bam!," didn't they?
Even though comics can be challenging for some not accustomed to the language and form (as discussed yesterday), it’s still an amazingly powerful and direct form of communication. That’s why schools and libraries have embraced it as an excellent reading and educational tool. Even though the brain is processing a lot of visual information, it’s also still reading words. Apparently political figures are beginning to understand how effective their message can be communicated through comics.
This week, a joint press release announced that US Congressman John Lewis would be publishing an autobiographical graphic novel called March through comics publisher Top Shelf Productions. The Georgia Democrat will co-write with his aide Andrew Aydin, who handles telecommunications, technology and new media policy. The book, scheduled for a 2012 release, will focus on Lewis’ heavy involvement in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, of which he was a key activist. The news is historic in two respects. From the press release: “The publishing agreement is an historic first, both for the U.S. Congress and graphic novel publishing as a whole, marking the first time a sitting Member of Congress has authored a graphic novel. Top Shelf Productions is the first and only graphic novel publisher to be certified by the House Committee on Standards.”
Also, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber announced this week that he is publishing a graphic novel explaining the national health care reform package passed into law last year, according to The Boston Herald column The Pulse. Gruber is an adviser to President Barack Obama and was a major architect of both the national bill, as well as the earlier state health care reform in Massachusetts under former Governor Mitt Romney. The graphic novel, tentatively titled Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It’s Necessary, How It Works, is scheduled for a fall release from the publisher Hill and Wang. They are the same publisher of the groundbreaking graphic novel adaptation of The 9/11 Report by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón, so they get that clear, concise sequential storytelling is able to present complicated information in a more digestible way. That book spawned a whole line of non-fiction graphic novels for the book publisher and others have followed their lead. Gruber’s editor Thomas LeBien told the Boston Herald, “There’s a long tradition of turning to them to take complicated information and render it accessible to the widest audience.”
He’s absolutely right. Comics have been used as government propaganda for decades, usually quite clumsy in their execution. But the more recent wave of political non-fiction comics and graphic novels use a level of craft and skill, often placing information and a compelling narrative over propaganda.
The key to getting these two newly announced graphic novels right is getting the right artist. Neither project has an artist yet. Hopefully they choose wisely.
