Anthologies

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comics

Title	Creator	Publisher	Series	Price
Elfworld #1	Kazimir Strzepek	Family Style		$11.65 ($12.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Compiled by Jeffrey Brown, edited by François Vigneault, designed by Jonas Madden-Connor, and published by Family Style, Elfworld is a sword and sorcery comics anthology that features the artwork of many contemporary indy comics stalwarts, some of whom you might not have suspected of harboring elfin-oriented fantasies. Contained with the Jesse Reklaw cover, this 128-page squarebound anthology presents 19 stories, ranging from brief sorties by Jeffrey Brown, Martin Cendreda, Matt Wiegle and the team of Ron Regé, Jr. & Souther Salazar, to mini-epics by François Vigneault, Kazimir Strzepek, Dave McKenna, Grant Reynolds, Ansis Purins and the teams of Erik Nebel & Jesse Reklaw and Sean Collins & Matt Wiegle. In between we are treated to bite-size fare by Liz Prince, Jason Overby, K. Thor Jensen, Dalton Sharp, and Jason & Jody Turner. Laughs, thrills, action, romance -- it's all here! Check it out and see what you think.
Comic Art #9		Buenaventura Press	Comic Art Magazine	$17.77 ($19.95 list)
Read more and comment...	The best magazine about comics ever published is back with another amazing jam-packed issue. Edited by comics aficionado extraordinaire, Todd Hignite, this 208 page signature-bound squareback is produced and printed to the highest of standards. Each and every article, interview, and feature centers on or is accompanied by excellent, high-resolution reproductions of original art, comics pages, prints, letters, photographs, and more; each a pleasure to behold. This issue spans continents as well as centuries as we are treated to a truly eclectic assemblage of top comics talent. Jerry Moriarity (Raw, Kramers Ergot, SVA) is visited by publisher Alvin Buenaventura; fellow NY hepster, KAZ, is profiled by Ben Schwartz; Tom de Haven goes long on Chester Gould's "Plainclothes Tracy;" Thierry Smolderen explores Lyonel Feininger's "Lost Continent;" the work of definitive Tarzan comics artist, Jesse Marsh, is examined by comics historian, Ron Goulart, and discussed by none other than Gilbert Hernandez and Adrian Tomine; Jeet Heer pens an in-depth piece on New Yoker cartoonist Gluyas Williams and his relationship with E.B. White... and there's plenty more, it's too much to list, but here's a preview). We can't sign-off on this issue, however, without mentioning the three one-page strips by Copacetic favorite, Dan Zettwoch, which features his dad's strips for the church newsletter(!). And then there's the issue's bonus book, which might just be the best thing about the whole issue. It's an 80-page paperback book that comes shrink-wrapped together with the magazine, it's written and illustrated by Ivan Brunetti, it's titled, Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice, it is described as a "classroom in a book," it represents the distillation of Mr. Brunetti's 15-week college course -- and it's yours free with Comic Art #9! Is that a deal, or is that a deal?
Comic Arf	Craig Yoe	Fantagraphics		$17.77 ($19.99 list)
Read more and comment...	It's time for another oversize collection of "the unholy marriage of comics + art" as defined by editor Yoe. The highlight this time around is the opening salvo: 31 of today's top cartoonists each complete an installment of "Draw Your Own Conclusion," a series originally created in the late 1920s by old-school-comics-master, Milt Gross, as a contest wherein readers sent in their version of the last panel, and the winner received $25 (a lot, in those days) and saw their conclusion see print. This time around we're all winners as the responders whose conclusions see print range from R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman and Kaz to Xaime Hernandez, Pete Bagge and Ivan Brunetti to Mike Mignola and Sergio Aragonés to Patrick McDonnell and Bill Griffith to Jules Feiffer and Matt Groening to Mort Walker and Bil Keane... and more! There's also a hefty dose of Gross's full-page full-color Sunday pages from the same period. There's plenty more on hand here including color scans of the original art for a seven-page Bob Powell pre-code horror story.
Syncopated #Volume Three	Nick Bertozzi, Brendan Burford, Gary Gianni, Dave Kiersh and more ...	Self-published		$12.50 ($15.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Syncopated: Volume Three edited by Brendan Burford This attractively produced, squarebound, 104 page, magazine size comics anthology presents a fine batch of all new comics, doodles, sketches and stories (but, mostly, comics) by an interesting bunch of cartoonists. This volume is easily the best so far in the Syncopated series, and is packed with unique pieces, including: editor Burford's excellent meditations on time and place that open and close the book, as well as his text piece, "A Tugboat Graveyard," that is illustrated by Gary Gianni of Prince Valiant fame; a recollection of discovery by Dave Kiersh; a sixteen page real life adventure tale by Nick Bertozzi (The Salon) that relates Ernest Shackleton & Co's voyage aboard the James Caird; Greg Cook's "My Dorchester Neighbors" which vividly evokes the horrors borne by soldiers in Iraq; and many more. Be sure to take a look at this one.
Alan Moore: Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman	Alan Moore	Top Shelf		$14.99 ($14.99 list)
Read more and comment...	“The world’s top comics creators pay tribute to the world’s greatest comics writer in his 50th year.” 352 pages on, by and about the man himself. Highly recommended to serious Alan Moore aficianados: you will find much to enjoy here. For the rest of you, the highlights include: a nice concise (twelve-page) comics style biography (Biographic™) of Moore by Gary Spencer Millidge; “Hungry is the Heart,” a twelve-page comic by Moore and the inimitable Dame Darcy; and a fifteen page remenisence by Swamp Thing artist, Steve Bissette, “Mr. Moore and Me.” And, if reading this volume inspires you to seek out more by Moore, the editors have thoughtfully appended a listing of all the extant volumes that collect his work.
Kramers Ergot #4		Avodah		$39.95 ($24.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	SOLD OUT! (sorry) -- SECOND PRINTING COMING in 2008 Kramers Ergot 4 Over 300 pages! Full color throughout ! Featuring work by: ron rege renee french mat brinkman marc bell anders nilsen john hankewiticz lauren weinstein david lasky tobias schalken stefan gruber ben jones allison cole genevieve castree souther salazar sammy harkham jim drain leif goldberg jeffery brown Click here to preview. In the currently travelling exhibit, Comic Release, we had the world of Gallery Art make its bid to incorporate/co-opt the world of comics art. With Kramers Ergot #4, we have the reverse, and when one compares it to the Comic Release exhibition catalogue, it is clear that KE4 is a far more successful venture. Whether this is due to the innate structural qualities of the respective mediums, or whether it is just a specific instance of superiority it is far too soon to know, but we can take pleasure in the success of KE4 regardless of the eventual outcome of this comparison. The book is oversize (9” x 11”), massive (over 300 pages printed on heavy flat stock) and color throughout (with each artist given free reign to employ the capacity for color in their own way). The material runs the gamut from a comics mini-bio of the Carter family by David Lasky that strongly evokes the early years of newspaper comics, especially Gasoline Alley, to the full-blown freaky stylings of Joe Grillo, some of which are hardly recognizable as comics -- but their inclusion here forces an imagining of how they are, and that’s good. The real revelation in the book is the work of Souther Salazar: With his work in this volume he proves himself to be an honest-to-God artist. This is work to savor, work that renews itself with each viewing, work that confronts and challenges and enriches those who reach out to it. This is a book that is best consumed a bit at a time; dipped into a little bit here, and a little bit there, until, finally, it’s finished. Then, favorites can be savored, doubts and confusions can be confronted, and fresh perspectives can be discovered. It will get plenty of use, as everyone who comes into contact with it will be curious to check it out, and all but the most dogmatic will be able to find something that they can connect with. retail price - $24.95 copacetic price - SOLD OUT! (sorry) 2nd Printing coming in 2008
Hotwire #2	David Sandlin, Ivan Brunetti, Lauren Weinstein, Mary Fleener and more ...	Fantagraphics		$19.55 ($22.99 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Glenn Head It took awhile to get this second volume together, but it just goes to show that you can't rush quality. This second 136 page oversize softcover is packed to the gills with comics work from the wrong side of the tracks. Included this time around are extended pieces by Tim Lane, Mary Fleener, Mack White, series editor, Glenn Head, Carol Swain and Dutch artist Tobias Tak. Also on hand are shorter pieces by the likes of David Sandlin, Jonathon Rosen, Stephane Blanquet, Craig Yoe, Christian Northeast, and Mike Wartella. There are also hot new strips by David Lasky, Rick Altergott, Lauren Weinstein, Matti Hagelberg, Danny Hellman, Bob Sikoryak, Michael Kupperman and Chadwick Whitehead and others. And Hotwire delivers in the humor department as well, with a pile o' gag pages by Ivan Brunetti, Johnny Ryan, Doug Allen, Gary Lieb and Sam Henderson. To learn more check out the official Hotwire site. on the lower right hand corner of which you can click onto a nice set of preview pages and so get an idea of what you're in for.
Popgun, Volume One		Image Comics		$26.95 ($29.99 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Mark Andrew Smith & Joe Keatinge 444 pages of full color comics by 63 -- count 'em, we did -- contributors fill this freewheeling anthology published by the folks at Image. Popgun is aimed at those among the heroic fantasy reading crowd who are looking to stretch out a bit in their interests, but aren't quite ready yet to go too far afield. The art styles range far and wide, while the subject matter stays relatively close to what you'll find on the racks of your local comic book store, and all of it employs fairly normative narrative techniques and should be readily comprehended, so this is a good choice for mainstream comics readers ready to expose themselves to a wide variety of new -- and not so new -- talent dedicated to having fun with comics.
High Horse Omonibus		UNDEFINED		$11.95 ($11.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This 112 page anthology of work from the world of small presses and self-publishing contains a nice concentration of the fine yet scarce work that you ususally have to work hard to hunt down. Includes stories by such indy notables such as Gabrielle Bell, Martin Cendreda, Cole Johnson, Thein Pham, Jesse Reklaw, Joan Reilly, Zack Soto as well as three by Hi-Horse veteran Howard John Arey; and, finally, Copacetic fave Dan Zettwoch takes a bow in a fun four-page outing.
Deitch's Pictorama	Kim Deitch, Gene Deitch, Seth Deitch	Fantagraphics		$17.00 ($18.99 list)
Read more and comment...	It's a family affair as dad (Gene) and his three sons jam to their obsessions in this all-new 200 page book that mixes comics and illustrated fiction and that is a truly unique concoction of story, art and imagination.
Drawn & Quarterly Showcase #5	Anneli Furmark, Amanda Vähämäki, Edward Bak (T.)	Drawn and Quarterly		$17.77 ($19.95 list)
Read more and comment...	by Anneli Furmark, Amanda Vähämäki, and T. Edward Bak We listed this last month, but in our haste neglected to write it up, a gross oversight on our part, as you will see... This volume has a special Scandinavian focus, with two of the three comics works originating in the somber lands of the midnight sun. A melancholy northern mood pervades the entire collection, including its centerpiece, the contribution of the lone North American, T. Edward Bak. The Partisan -- his first fully developed work since Service Industry, the work for which he is best known -- is a complex multi-layered work that (or, at least, so it seems to us) seeks to expiate regret connected to a failed relationship, one in which it was realized too late that the priorities in the relationship weren't what they should have been. Bak's artwork continues to be inventive and varied, employing bold scratchboard as well as pen and ink and delicate watercolors, each chosen to best express the needs of each particular aspect of the tale. Preceding The Partisan, is the collection opener, Inland by Anneli Furmark. This piece is built upon a series of subtle revelations that create a gradual portrait of a set of interlinked relationships. A deliberate, minimal palette color-codes the action which unfolds in an efficient sequence that establishes a complex interplay of personalities with surprisingly little exposition. And, finally, there is the grande finalé, the untitled piece by Amanda Vähämäki. Born in Tampere, Finland in 1981, Vähämäki has a true gift when it comes to color. Her keen observation is matched by her finely tuned execution. It is our considered opinion that never before in the history of comics have the nuances of the widely varying shades in which the sky above appears been better captured than here in this story; all rendered with colored pencils, no less. It is a highly imaginative tale of a pair of adolescents carving out a new, private world for themselves amidst the public, old world around them. And while we can't help but focus our praise on Amanda's amazing color-centric talent, this should in no way be interpreted as any sort of slight against any of her other skills. The characterization on display is quite strong, both in the narrative development and in the physical renderings. There is a nearly seamless visual integration of the characters into their surroundings that functions on a narrative level as well. This piece is simply a pleasure to behold. You will find yourself going back to its pages again and again to bask in their beauty.
MOME #9	Jim Woodring, Tim Hensley, Ray Fenwick, Gabrielle Bell and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Yes, it's another issue packed with swell contemporary comics, as MOME continues to deliver. The unquestioned highlight of this issue is the first new extended comics work by Jim Woodring in several years: Part I (of 2) of the 45 page piece, "The Lute String." (This issue provides the first 25 pages and the next issue will provide the 20-page conclusion.) There's no one like Woodring, and "The Lute String" proves that he still has the magic touch. He's joined here by team-MOME: the relative newcomers Ray Fenwick, Tim Hensley, Al Columbia, Eleanor Davis, Joe Kimball and Tom Kaczynski, along with the stalwart veterans Gabrielle Bell, Kurt Wolfgang, Paul Hornschemeier and Sophie Crumb.
MOME #11: Summer 2008	John Hankiewicz, Paul Hornschemeier, Killoffer, Tom Kaczynski and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Speaking of "a whole new approach to comics," what better fits this description than MOME? To any readers who might have felt a creeping worry that MOME wouldn't be able to keep it up, that there simply wasn't enough high calibre new work being produced to keep MOME floating on its lofty plane, let us be first to say that these fears can be laid to rest with this issue, which is arguably the best yet. It starts off with a new Al Columbia piece that (finally) lives up to the promise of his outsized rep. "5:45 A.M." is a story which shows us that, yes, God is in the details. In a mere eight, actionless panels -- more or less a tableaux nature morte -- Columbia manages to quite successfully share with us his own dark lord. "Einmal Ist Keinmal" by this issue's cover artist, Killoffer, follows. A variation on his singular masterwork, 676 Apparitions of Killoffer, "EIK" will give you plenty to ponder while you pore over its seductive linework. Nate Neal is up next with "The 5 Simple Cosmic Do Dats" wherein he deftly manages the fairly astounding party trick of grafting his own left-leaning post-punk tendencies onto a synthetic hybridization of the aesthetics of Kim Deitch and the narrative techniqes of Dan Clowes to create that wonder of wonders: an entertaining work that is both funny and smart. You might find yourself scratching your head at first while working through this one, but keep going -- or better yet, start over and try again -- this one has more going on in it than first meets the eye. Four panels of "Truth Bear" by Ray Fenwick (who doubles as this issue's [quite engaging] interview subject) follow. Eleanor Davis serves up an irresisitable visual treat , "The 10,000 Rescues," and then we have seven pages of fun with the future of the wonderful world of Art in "The Galactic Funnels," courtesy Dash Shaw, before plunging into John Hankiewicz's personal gift to Copacetic -- a five-page story that combines his own totally unique approach to narrative with a brief episode in the life of the one and only Anita O'Day! (Thank you, John.) Then it's Emile Bravo's turn to wow us with his four-page assembly of signs & meaning which deftly deconstructs the quandary of globalization, "A Question of Human Resources." Newcomer, Conor O'Keefe brings a novel approach to his two pieces, combining an old-old-school Sunday page design sense (we suspect he may have spent some time curled up with Art Out of Time) with a very contemporary sensibility. We look forward to watching his talent develop (and we hope that it continues to do so in the pages of MOME). And then there's the topper: "Million Year Boom," by Tom Kaczynski will knock your socks off. It is probably the first succcessful translation of the Ballardian (as in J.G. Ballard) narrative approach to science fiction yet achieved in comics form. This deeply creepy tale brings us face to face with a world where major corporate leaders so deeply internalize their own marketing messages and stock market hype that they become untethered from consensus reality and move into the ambiguous landscapes of delusion, paranoia and insanity that were so successfully mined by Ballard (and, to be fair, by many others, most notably Philip K Dick; but none so well as Ballard, who is most convincingly evoked here). While the influence of Clowes is certainly evident in Kaczynski's work, he has created a wholly original synthesis here. This issue is rounded out with contributions by MOME regulars Andrice Arp, Paul Hornschemeier and Kurt Wolfgang. Encore! Encore!
Unicorn Mountain #2	Curt Gettman			$12.00 ($15.00 list)
Read more and comment...	As the cover states, this is a compendium of comics, writing and music. This time around Unicorn Mountain is a chunky 206-page squarebound squareformat anthology printed in umber ink on flat white paper of (mostly) Pittsburgh culture that contains an eclectic 21-track CD, all for less than the prie of the average stand-alone CD! Made possible in part by a grant from the seemingly omnipresent Sprout Fund, this issue is a big step up from the first issue. Highlights include "Thousands of Mistakes" by Frank Santoro, "Niran and Theola" by Curt Gettman and Owl Kahol Systems (a pseudonym for a local comics artist), "Like Lace" by JULIACKS, "Rock & You" by Paulette Poullet, a two-page untitled piece by Brian Maruca and Jim Rugg of Street Angel fame, and a fistful of untitled illustrations by Paper Rad. The material on the CD ranges far and wide and includes new tunes by Modey Lemon, Oneida, Ex-Models, Elf Power and Pink Mountaintops. The Karl Hendricks Rock Band's "The Last Uncompromising Hardcore Band" will have you tapping your toes and singing along before you even realize it.
Kramers Ergot #6	Sammy Harkham			$29.75 ($34.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Edited, as always, by Sammy Harkham -- this time around with an assist by co-publisher Alvin Buenaventura -- this now seemingly biennial publication continues to live up to the promise made with the fourth and fifth volumes. The format follows that of the last volume: a flat matte finish (this time sans texture) flexi cover fixed to a sturdy Smythe sewn binding that holds the contents firmly in place. And what contents! Many of those talents that readers have come to associate with Kramers Ergot are here again, and have submitted work that is as engaging as ever. Sammy Harkham, C.F., Paper Rad, Marc Bell, Souther Salazar, Ron Regé, Jr., Matthew Thurber, Dan Zettwoch and Elvis Studio are joined by Vanessa Davis, Tom Gaud, Martin Cendreda, Bald Eagles and a handful of others. Also, KE Alum Gary Panter finds himself under the same covers as former fellow Raw artist, Jerry Moriarty, who is given plenty of space to present his idiosyncratic Hopperesque visions for the first time (we've seen) in many years. In addition, with this issue Kramers Ergot adds a curatorial component to its offerings for the first time, as readers are given a rare look at two great historical figures of the comics world: we get a healthy sampling of a late sketchbook by the Dutch comics artist, Marc Smeets, which is preceded by "an incomplete appreciation" by Chris Ware; and an amazing reproduction of the early and highly influential manga, Norakuro by Suiho Tagawa. All in all, it seems once again to be an essential read for anyone involved in the contemporary comics scene.
Drawn and Quarterly Showcase #4	Gabrielle Bell, Martin Cendreda	Drawn and Quarterly		$11.95 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This just came in and it looks great! We'll be back with more info once we've had the chance to dive in. Here's what you having waiting for you on the Copacetic Rack of new arrivals: Long time Copacetic favorite Dan Zettwoch gets a well-deserved opportunity to flex his creative muscles in a top comics publication, accompanied by the excellent talents of Gabrielle Bell (who's really been on a roll lately) and Martin Cendreda. This issue is also significant in its representing a geographic cross-section of contemporary American comics, allowing the reader a chance to compare and contrast regional distinctions and differences: Bell is a denizen of the east coast, currently hailing from Brooklyn, NY; Zettwoch is a midwest heartlander, boots firmly planted in St. Louis, MO soil; and Cendreda is winging it on the west coast, living it up in LA, CA. Don't miss this one!
Wobblies!: A Graphic History of the Industrial Workers of the World	Paul Buhle, Nicole Schulman			$21.25 ($25.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Featuring the graphic work of Peter Kuper, Harvey Pekar, Seth Tobocman, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Sabrina Jones, Sue Coe, Mike Alewitz and many others, this is a book that no self-respecting leftist comics fan can be without.
How To Love	Actus Tragicus			$27.50 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	When this book first came in we sold out of it before we had a chance to write about it here. Now that it's back in stock we are here to tell that How To Love is another fine anthology of work by the Israeli cartoonists known as Actus Tragicus. This 144 page, full color, horizontally formatted hardcover volume contains six graphic novellas by Batia Koltonk, David Polosky, Mira Friedmann, Itzik Rennert, Yirmi Pinkus and Rutu Modan, who turns in what may be her best work yet. Read more about this book at Read About Comics.
Meathaus: S.O.S.	Brandon Graham, Chris McD			$26.95 ($30.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This one is also a (slightly less) massive 272-page ful color anthology of new comics. The creators are, on balance, a tad more adventurous than those in the Popgun anthology. Intriguingly, the sole point of overlap between the Popgun and Meathaus volumes is that this volume too contains another all-new, all-different Afrodisiac story by the aforementioned Jim Rugg. Also on offer here are works by James Jean, Farel Dalrymple, Tomer & Asaf Hanuka, Jesse Moynihan, Jim Campbell, Dave Kiersh and rising star, Dash Shaw, among a host of others. Check out this big preview on Nerdcore.
Windy City Magazine #2	Austin English			$8.88 ($10.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue features more full color comics in Prismacolor colored pencil by its editor, Austin English, who has also, it seems, managed to convert publisher, Dylan Williams, to the way of the crayon, as his contribution (Williams is an established comics writer/artist as well as publisher) is his first full color work and it is rendered entirely in oil pastel. Other notable contributions to this anthology publication are a historical overview of the works of legendary children's author/illustrator, Lois Lenski -- also by Austin English -- and, the highlight for us, a lengthy illustrated interview (conducted by fellow cartoonist and pal, Jeremy Onsmith) with the one and only John Hankiewicz, who proves himself to be as articulate about his work as he is in control of it. The issue comes to a close with a full color back cover illustration by Copacetic customer, Juliacks. Recommended for fans of MOME who are ready to adventure a bit farther afield, and anyone else interested in the intersection of comics, art and illustration.
Flight #2	Kazu Kibuishi			$22.45 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This massive sequel to last year's well received Flight anthology weighs in at a hopping 432 full color pages! You're definitely getting your money's worth on this one. This hefty tome containing thirty-three pieces of the mind being freed and the heart taking flight is the production of a diverse cross-section of the up and coming generation of cartoonists who are working hard to expand the realm of graphic fantasy -- as well as break out of it altogether. It includes stand out work by Hope Larson, Becky Cloonan, Rad Sechrist and Pittsburgh's own Neil Babra; an interesting early piece (from 2001) by Doug TenNapel; a new four-page cosmic gag-strip by Jeff Smith; and twenty-seven more graphic experiences.
Flight #5	Kazu Kibuishi		Flight	$22.22 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Yes, it's time for another 360 page anthology of full color fantasy inflected comics of an international flavor that leans towords the pacific rim. Contributors this time around include Graham Annable, Matthew Bernier, Scott Campbell, Tony Cliff, Michel Gagné, Reagan Lodge, John Martz & Ryan North, Paul Rivoche, Joey Weiser and over a dozen others including editor Kibuishi, who also handles the cover chores. There's something for everyone here: from baseball games to ninja battles, from polar bears to dragons to robots (and robot dragons), from space travel to couch surfing and plenty more. Here's a great preview.
Unicorn Mountain #1	Curt Gettman			$12.00
Read more and comment...	Made in Pittsburgh! This is the first of a projected series of anthologies featuring local writers, musicians and comics creators. It comes with a full length CD and -- for a limited time -- a special hand printed insert comic by Pittsburgh poster maven, Budai. Learn more at www.unicornmountain.com.
Drawn and Quarterly Showcase #3	Sammy Harkham, Matt Broersma, Matt Broersma, Geneviève Elverum and more ...	Drawn and Quarterly		$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue features a trio of tales by Matt Broersma, Geneviève Elverum, and Sammy Harkham. Each work features a distinct artistic voice and is distinguished by the artist's personal color palette. Geneviève Elverum contributed the cover and opening story. Her work is rendered in a lush but limited palette of deep blues and reds (and one green) set off against large fields of white punctuated by grey and tells us of a struggle to find a place in the scheme of things. Readers familiar with Sammy Harkham's tale, "The Poor Sailor," which originally appeared in the fourth issue of his own anthology Title, Kramers Ergot (and which was later collected by David Eggars in his Non-Required Reading series), will feel right at home in this tale of teenage confusion and angst told with his trademark detachment and rendered in a palette of pale reds. The final piece, Matt Broersma's The Mummy is a multi-layered, self-deconstructing, post-modern pulp tale rendered in black and white and shades of green.
Blurred Vision #4	Matt Madden, Toc Fetch			$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Weighing in at 232 pages, this is the biggest and quite possibly best issue yet of this 8 1/2" x 11" B & W anthology of "new narrative art" from New York City. BV regulars Toc Fetch, Ethan Persoff, Karl Stevens and Kevin Mutch are joined by a host of newcomers including recognized creators such as Matt Madden and K. Thor Jensen.
Bizarro World	Jaime Hernandez, Peter Bagge, Craig Thompson, Dylan Horrocks and more ...	DC		$26.95 ($29.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	DC lets its proprietary guard down for a contained barrage of absurdity; allowing its audience a glimpse at the super-id that lies beneath the super-ego of its stable of heroes. This long awaited sequel to the popular Bizarro Comics is a veritable who's who of the indy comics world. Starting off with a cover by Locas maestro, Jaime Hernandez, the line-up inside includes Rick Altergbott, Peter Bagge, Ariel Bourdeaux, Ivan Brunetti, Eddie Campbell, Dave Cooper (in a ten-page opus featuring Super Girl and Wonder Woman), Leela Corman, Evan Dorkin, Ben Dunn, Sarah Dyer, Phil Elliot, Hunt Emerson, Asaf & Tomer Hanuka, Gilbert Hernandez, Dylan Horrocks, James Kochalka, Michael Kupperman (he's in his element here), Roger Langridge, Tony Millionaire (with a very gothic Batman), Harvey Pekar teams up with Dean Haspiel, Craig Thompson, Pittsburgh's own Don Simpson -- even the French team of Philippe Dupuy & Charles Berberian! And many more. Fab fan fun.
MOME #7: Spring 2007	Al Columbia, Andrice Arp, Kurt Wolfgang, Eleanor Davis and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue finds MOME at a crossroads of sorts as this is the the last time -- at least for now -- that it will feature work by the core of MOME regulars Anders Nilsen -- who also provides this issue's interview -- Jeffrey Brown, Gabrielle Bell and Martin Cendreda all of whom except Brown (who is, evidently, already gone) turn in their farewell pieces this issue. New team-MOME members premiering here are self-publishing stalwarts Eleanor Davis and Tom Kaczynzki who both turn in the first of what promises to be a string of fine pieces, and we can only presume that they will be joined next issue with more voices from the alterna-ground. Also on hand this issue is cover artist, Lewis Trondheim's hybrid/sketchbook/collage comics work, "At Loose Ends, Part 2," continued from last time. Sophie Crumb -- about whom we admit to having been a bit skeptical, at first -- has proven herself a keen observer of humanity in her short pieces for MOME, and her contributions this time around are some of her finest to date. David Heatley and Kurt Wolfgang soldier on with their respective continuing sagas; Andrice Arp and Paul Hornschemeier both shift gears -- Arp with a dream piece and Paul H. with a couple of oddball toyings with words and pictures; finally, "weird" Al Columbia turns in a batch of "Chopped-Up People." You have been warned.
Galago, Volume 01 - From the Shadow of the Northern Lights: An Anthology of Swedish Alternative Comics #1				$17.77 ($19.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Hey you comics fans of all things Scandanavian, here's 200 pages of dark, brooding, self-conscious, introverted tales of foreboding, angst, self-doubt, self-pity and more, all originating from the center of Scandanavia -- Sweden! There's really quite a variety of drawing styles and story-telling schemas on display here, more than you might think; so if this sounds interesting, don't forget to take a look, because our supply is small.
Mome #8 - Summer 2007	Jonathan Bennet, Sophie Crumb and, Eleanor Davis, Ray Fenwick and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.00 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	MOME 8 - Summer 2007 is edited by Eric Reynolds and Gary Groth. This issue pretty much completes the transition to the new "Team MOME." Original members Jonathan Bennet, Sophie Crumb and Paul Hornschemeier are joined here by new comers (some of whom showed up last issue) Eleanor Davis, Ray Fenwick, Tom Kaczynski, Al Columbia, Émile Bravo and Joe Kimball, while Lewis Trondheim wraps up his three-part "At Loose Ends." Davis is the featured artist this issue with her work gracing the cover and providing the lead story, while she is the interview subject as well. Her story, "Stick and String" is a moody meditation on exogamous bonding that shows her work moving a bit in the direction of Sammy Harkham (although, in her interview, she identifies Joann Sfar as her current fave). The Copacetic pick for this issue is Tom Kaczynski's "10,000 Years," a mordant take on contemporary alienation that, while clearly indebted to Clowes, brings an original perspective to the table with its smart synthesis of dialectical materialism and post-industrial consumer culture. And we can't sign off on this issue without mentioning Émile Bravo's "Young Americans," which is certainly one of the cleverest short comics we've read in a while.
Japan as Viewed by 17 Creators	Frédéric Boilet, Jiro Taniguchi, Joann Sfar, Kan Takahama and more ...	Fanfare/Ponent Mon		$22.50 ($25.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Our friends at Fanfare/Ponent Mon -- who brought us that understated masterpiece, The Walking Man -- now bring us a fresh treat. Initiated by the powers that be at the French Institutes and Alliances in Japan, who, along with the French Embassy, bankrolled the visits of nine French comics creators to Japan in order that they be inspired to create eight of the works we have here. The other half -- eight more pieces -- were supplied by Japanese natives (one of whom, the editor, Frédéric Boilet, is a French ex-pat residing in Japan). Together, these sixteen pieces provide a kaliedoscope of views of Japan today; and not just Tokyo. This project was designed with a geographically broad view: the entire country, from the southern tip at Amakusa to the northern metropolis of Sapporo, is on display here. Creators include manga master Jiro Taniguchi (author of the aforementioned masterwork, The Walking Man), Joann Sfar, of The Rabbi's Cat fame, François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, Kan Takahama, Fabrice Neaud, Little Fish, Aurélia Aurita and nine others. This is an excellent anthology of comics work at the same time as it is an engaging cultural survey. Of equal interest to readers of contemporary comics work and students of Japan, this is a sure fire must have for anyone who is both.
The Ganzfeld #3	Peter Blegvad	PictureBox	The Ganzfeld	$11.77 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	The Ganzfeld is a true one-of-a-kind publication and #3 is by far the best issue yet. It shouldn't really be under the comics listing, but as it is truly uncategorizable, this is as good a spot as any. The editors once again bring together a unique group of designers, illustrators, cartoonists, and artists in a coherent, strongly designed format. It features a unique collaboration between Rick Moody and Fred Tomaselli; a new picture story by designer Geoff McFetridge, and even an illustrated essay by Alfred Hitchcock. Lengthy comics and picture stories are contributed by an international group, Renée French, Ron Rege, Jr., Blexbolex, Brian Ralph. The major highlight of the book is Peter Blegvad's contribution: a highly innovative piece that is a stellar work of genius. Really, it's that good. No one compares to Blegvad. He's in a class by himself here. (If you aren't familiar with Peter Blegvad's work, do yourself a favor and check out The Book of Leviathan.) The Ganzfeld #3 also puts the spotlight on history: profiles include the inventor of the Macy's Parade Balloons; a special 40-page section devoted to the art collective The Hairy Who, and articles on Bruegel and deep space photography. Also: humorous picture stories on color theory, where we go when we die, and the lost genre of blank books. And much more, all bound together and accentuated by impeccable graphic design.
The Ganzfeld 5: Japanada	Yuichi Yokoyama, Marc Bell, Julie Doucet, Dan Nadel and more ...	PictureBox	The Ganzfeld	$25.00 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Dan Nadel w/ Marc Bell & Yuki Minami You'll want to strap yourself in before cracking open the latest issue of The Ganzfeld, as the going gets going and doesn't stop until it's solid gone, and things get so far out you might wonder where it is you've gotten to. Well, the answer, if you haven't already guessed, is, of course: Japanada! The artists featured in this issue all hail from either Japan or Canada -- hence the title -- and the end result could be seen as an imaginary island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but we'll assert here that it would be more accurately described as representing a heretofore unexplored province of the mind; more a state of mind than a place on a map. This volume invites you to get away from the restrictive conformity of life in these United States and take a walk on the wild shores of Japanada where anything goes. Here you'll find artistic risk taking the like of which you aren't likely to find between any other two covers. You'll discover new and daring works by (from Japan): Saseo Ono, Shigeru Sugiura, Keiichi Tanaami, King Terry, Eye Yamatsuka, Misaki Kawui, Yuichi Yokoyama; (and from Canada) Julie Doucet, Bobo Boutin & Dominique Pétrin, "the All-Star Schnauzer Band", Tommy Lacroix, Amy Lockhart, Owen Plummer & Andrew Dick, Scott Evans, Mark Connery and Shayne Ehman. Each artist's work is prefaced by a short - or not so short -- essay to help get the reader up to speed and ready to confront the artistic frenzies of Japanada.
Sturgeon White Moss #5	Xavier Robel, Marc Bell, Ivan Brunetti, Ron Regé and more ...			$8.75
Read more and comment...	We finally got around to importing this spirited anthology from London, England. We now have the entire (so far) run of #1 - 6 on hand. There's a wealth of variety on hand in these issues, each of which is limited to a 1000 copy print run, only a fraction of which have managed to make it across the Atlantic. From Marc Bell and Ivan Brunetti to Xavier Robel and Ron Regé, Jr. and many, many others -- quite a few of whom will be new to you -- Sturgeon White Moss is a challenging ongoing forum for new comics work from Europe and North America.
Scheherazade: Comics About Love, Treachery, Mothers and Monsters	Megan Kelso			$16.95 ($19.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Better late -- and slightly flawed -- than never; that's what we say about this new 224 page anthology of contemporary comics by women from Soft Skull Press. As a result of an imaging software mix-up, the half-tones on several of the stories do not appear as they were intended, and while, yes, this does impact the æsthetic experience of the affected pieces, you can still enjoy and appreciate them; and please bear in mind that this problem affected only a minority -- less than a third -- of the pieces presented here. OK, now that we have that out of the way, let's just say that Scheherazade is the best all X chromosome anthology that's come our way in quite awhile, and not one that you should pass by. To the best of our knowledge none of the stories here have been seen before, making for a rare opportunity to really take a good long look at a solid batch of new work. Here's who you'll cross paths with if you venture forth: Andrice Arp, Gabrielle Bell, Ariel Bordeaux, Shary Boyle, Isabel Carvalho, Robyn Chapman, Allison Cole, Leela Corman, Eleanor Davis, Vanessa Davis, Jennifer DayDreamer, Ellen Forney, Garbrielle Gamboa, Megan Kelso, Ellen Lindner, Amy Lockhart, J. Manix, Nikki McClure (cover),Sophie McMillan, Lark Pien, Ariel Schrag, Kelly Seda, Sara Varon, and Lauren Weinstein.
The Comics Journal Library -- Volume 4: Drawing the Line	Jules Feiffer, David Levine, Ralph Steadman.	Fantagraphics	The Comics Journal Library	$17.95 ($22.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This LP sized (12" x 12") edition is composed of profusely illustrated interviews with four masters of fine line cartooning: Jules Feiffer, David Levine, Edward Sorel and Ralph Steadman.
Drawn & Quarterly Showcase #1	Kevin Huizenga, Nicolas Robel	Drawn and Quarterly	Drawn & Quarterly Showcase	$14.95 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This is the first in an ongoing series designed to showcase up and coming talents in the world of comics and graphic story-telling. Published by independent comics stalwart, Drawn & Quarterly Publications, this first issue was originally intended to feature three tales. Anders Nilsen, however, bowed out of this issue as his story ended up being too long (!); so we still have something more to look forward to. As a result the book sports a new, lower price: $14.95 instead of $18.95. Not to worry, however: the work that is presented here is more than enough to put this series on solid footing. The volume opens with a multi-layered contribution authored by a long time stalwart of self-published comics, St. Louis based Kevin Huizenga: A triptych featuring his fictional stand-in, Glenn Ganges (“like the river”) in which the central tale, 28th Street, a loose, offbeat adaptation of the Italian folk tale, “The Feathered Ogre,” is bookended by a pair of tales which, while sharing with 28th Street the identical locales and cast of characters, are more purely realist, with the latter, The Curse, being identified in the sub-title as being “based on a true story.” Despite these intra-textual shifts in generic conventions, each of these stories segues smoothly into the next, with the finished product reading as an organic whole. Huizenga has, over the years that he has been laboring in the comics field -- primarily on that barely arable north forty which is tenanted by the itinerant laborers of the self-publishing, mini-comics community -- developed an extremely dense visual style, filled with a wide variety of idiosyncratic techniques that he employs with great dexterity. More than perhaps any other comics artist of his generation, Huizenga is constantly at work figuring out new elements to expand the visual vocabulary of comics, and in the three tales here he shows no sign of letting up in this developmental drive. In the lead story, he employs free floating images and text within certain panels to represent those moments when thought becomes untethered and a free associating meandering of consciousness occurs as parts of the mind disengage from the matters at hand and drift. The narrative context within which these moments take place provides the thoughtful reader with insights into a connection between doodling and daydreaming in human neural wiring. In the third tale he inserts into word balloons a variety of combinations of text, mathematical formulas, small, simple abstract line drawings, and even cartooned images -- all printed in the single additional color with which all three stories are printed (a light olive drab) rather than the standard black in which all other text is printed -- to convey the songs/sounds made by starlings, which, as the supporting text points out, are gifted mimics, in order to represent to sources of their “language.” Yet, despite all this seriousness of purpose, Huizenga's work retains a playful element. His style is firmly grounded in the classic cartooning school of comics, with obvious precursors being E.C. Segar, Roy Crane and Hergé among countless others. And in The Curse, there is a fairly obvious reference to a specific work by Crumb. Readers who would like to explore Huizenga's work further are strongly encouraged to learn more here. Serving to balance the relentlessly analytical style of the Huizenga triptych is the tale by Canadian-Swiss artist Nicolas Robel that follows, 87 Blvd des Capucines. (We feel compelled to interject the observation that both this tale and the central Huizenga tale, 28th Street, employ a combination of street name and number in the title, suggesting a hard-boiled "just the facts ma'am" type of tale, which in fact turns out in both cases to be entirely belied by the story which follows. Was there any editorial direction on this, or was it pure coincidence? In either event this duplication serves to reinforce the suggestion of a nascent feeling that the hard reality of our lives is but a thin veneer overlaying the hidden mysteries of our actual being.) This tale is essentially an emotional one. Robel employs a visual vocabulary that appears to be made up of equal parts of David Sandlin, Julie Doucet, Debbie Dreschler and Ron Rege (but, of course, may not, in actuality, be) to convey the interior life of a twenty-something women forced to realize that the traumas of her past continue to inhabit her present as she reaches a crucial transition point: moving to a new apartment. Perhaps it's her first, perhaps she's moving in with a boyfriend. It's hard to be sure, and the vagueness on this point seems to be a deliberate attempt to universalize this particular dilemma so that it may serve to represent a broader category of personal development milestones. The art is very dream-like at times and works well in supporting the narrative's task of diagramming a relationship between mind, body and spirit and then situating this trinity into a schematic of the material world. While the artist Nicolas Robel is, presumably, male, the story is nevertheless primarily concerned with capturing the interior life of its female protagonist. This aspect of the story also serves as a counterweight the essentially masculine concerns addressed in Kevin Huizenga's work, providing the anthology with at least a sort of gender balance, if only on the narrative plane. The stories in this volume work together with the common cause of pushing the reader to recognize that life is lived on many different levels simultaneously and continuously. In the due course of our daily lives we are rarely, if ever, aware of this fact. To the degree that it is the function of art to confront us with this ever present yet ever hidden reality, these tales can be judged a success. To the extent, however, that the work can be said to provide readers with intellectual and creative tools to further develop their abilities to form constructive relationships with these multiplicities, Huizenga's work stands alone. All in all, this premier issue of Drawn & Quarterly Showcase, despite the lack of the initially expected work of Anders Nilsen, is a very promising start for what we can only hope will be a long running series.
MOME #13	Gilbert Shelton, Dash Shaw, Laura Park	Fantagraphics	MOME	$13.50 ($14.99 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Gary Goth and Eric Reynolds The marquee highlight this time around is the first part (of three) to an all-new full-length saga -- "Last Gig in Shnagrlig," (no, that's not a typo) by the one and only Gilbert "Freak Brothers" Shelton. Other MOME first timers this time around are David "Duplex Planet" Greenberger, Josh "Happy" Simmons, Laura Park and Pic. They join Dash Shaw, Kurt Wolfgang, TIm Hensley (who contributes a whopping three stories this time out), Nate Neal, T. Ott, Sarah Edward-Corbett, Conor O'Keefe and Derek Van Gieson. Alienation and absurdity abound, thoughtfully rendered with craft and care.
The Comics Journal Special Edition 2005 (#5)	Paul Hornschemeier, Igort, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez and more ...	Fantagraphics		$19.95 ($24.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Well, for our money at least, this volume is hands down the best so far. It has a tripartite structure: A survey of Manga Masters featuring pieces on Osamu Tezuka, Hideshi Hino, Suehiro Maruo, Saseo Ono and Yoshihiro Tsuge; a focus on Vaughn Bodé that features a critical appreciation, a revealing biography and a personal reminiscence -- all amply accompanied by classic and rare Bodé comics, illustrations and rarely (if ever!) seen sketchbook pages; and then there's the giant comics feature: this time around the theme is "seduction" and the contributions by many of today's best comics practitioners are top notch. Among the contributors are Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Igort (whose 4-pager is among the highlights), Mary Fleener, Rick Geary, Bill Griffith, Megan Kelso, Paul Hornschemeier, Marc Bell, Gabrielle Bell (whose submission is her most accomplished work yet published), Carol Lay and many others. This is a great volume to have just lying around: no matter what page you open to you'll find something engaging.
MOME #3	Eric Reynolds, Gary Groth, David B., Andrice Arp and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Well, the undisputed highlight of this issue is an all-new 36-page piece by David B. (Epileptic) titled "The Armed Garden". Yes! Along side of this is a line-up up the ususal MOME suspects: Andrice Arp, Gabrielle Bell, Jonathan Bennett, Jeffrey Brown, Martin Cendreda, David Heatley, Anders Nilsen, and Kurt Wolfgang, who is the interviewee this time around. (Concerned MOME devotees may be assured that both John Pham and Paul Hornschemeier will return in the next issue) R. Kikuo Johnson (Night Fisher) takes a bow in this issue with a series of three-panel strips featuring "Cher Shimura." MOME is fast becoming the official "little literary magazine" of the comics world. If you've read an issue already, you know what we're talking about; if you haven't, this is a good time to find out for yourself. To learn more, visit our MOME page.
MOME #4	Gary Groth, Paul Hornschemeier, Sophie Crumb, R. Kikuo Johnson and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Another great issue of the comics anthology you can't afford to miss is now on our shelves. The highlight of this issue is another wonderful mythical/historical comics novella by David B., "The Veiled Prophet." Also on offer are a great new story by Martin Cendreda, "La Brea Woman" that shows him moving in a new direction. And the gang's all here: John Pham returns to 221 Sycamore Avenue to provide the cover along with the dream landscape of a high school teacher and his family; Sophie Crumb returns with more tales of street urchins on drugs, Jonathan Bennet and Gabrielle Bell take deft turns at depicting urban melancholy; Jeffrey Brown steps out of his comfort zone and turns in an atypical (and metaphorical) tale of existential angst; and David Heatley, Paul Hornschemeier, Anders Nilsen, Kurt Wolfgang and R. Kikuo Johnson each do their thing and do it well, rounding out another issue where everything is good!
Project Superior	R. Kikuo Johnson, Chris Pitzer			$17.95 ($19.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	This is the first great new anthology of the year. It's chock-a-block with meta-super tales by the best and brightest of the new voices in comics. We'll have more to say once we get a chance to give it the once over, but for now, you can read this rave review on 4th Rail.
MOME #6 (Winter 2007)	Anders Nilsen, Paul Hornschemeier, Lewis Trondheim, Tim Hensley and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Eric Reynolds and Gary Groth Yes, we have all the ususal suspects again this time around -- J. Bennett, J. Brown, Sophie Crumb, M. Cenreda, Anders Nilsen, Paul Hornschemeier, David Heatley, Tim Hensley, and some pretty amazing apocryphal neo-romance covers by R. Kikuo Johnson -- but there are a couple new entries from Europe that are quite worth noting: Lewis Trondheim makes his MOME debut with the first part of his new comics diary, Loose Ends; and Vosges Studio co-founder, Émile Bravo provides this issue's standout story, The Brothers Ben Qutuz in "Frustration Land." This ten page pantomime (no text or dialogue) story -- enabling it to be read and understood without it having to be translated -- is a startlingly succinct exegesis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as experienced at street level on the Palestinian side, that will invade your consciousness and refuse to leave; a perfect example of the value of comics as a form of commmunication.
Papercutter #7	Aron Nels Steinke, Andy Hartzell, MK Reed, Jonathan Hill and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Another fine issue of this perky peppy anthology published in Portland, Oregon by Tugboat Press. This time around we have an epic of 8th grade outsiders by MK Reed and Jonathan Hill followed by a one-pager by Aron Nels Steinke and a striking adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Sheperdess and the Chimney Sweep" by Andy Hartzell, who has clearly built on the momentum of his successful Fox Bunny Fox and turned in his finest work to date here. We can't wait for the next issue!
Papercutter #5	Bwana Spoons, Liz Prince, Kazimir Strzepek	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$2.75 ($3.00 list)
Read more and comment...	#5 features a Kazimir Strzepek ("Mourning Star") story about a post-apocalypic world where two rival gangs battle for control of a war torn city along with new work by Liz Prince ("Will Your Still Love Me If I Wet the Bed") and Bwana Spoons ("Pencil Fight").
I Saw You	Austin English, Keith Knight, Kazimir Strzepek, Joey Sayers and more ...	Three Rivers Press		$11.75 ($12.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Yes, it's a comics anthology entirely consisting of comics inspired by "real-life" missed connection ads posted on Craigslist. These short tales range from sad to pathetic to depressing to funny to deranged to impossible-to-describe. An astonishing 98 artists contributed to this anthology, including – but not limited to – Sarah Oleksyk, Jesse Reklaw, Sam Henderson, Peter Bagge, Liz Prince, Shannon Wheeler, Laura Park, Jeffrey Brown, Keith Knight, Elijah Brubaker, Greg Means, Gabrielle Bell, Alec Longstreth and Aaron Renier. If nothing else, this massive array of talent testifies to the universality of Craigslist. This book probably has something important to say about interpersonal relationships in the internet era, if we can only figure out what it is...
Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology	Jeff Yang, Jef Castro, Hellen Jo, Gene Yang and more ...	The New Press		$19.75 ($21.95 list)
Read more and comment...	• edited by Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow and Jerry Ma • 200 pages of original superhero comics by and about Asian-American characters. Published by The New Press, SI was years in the making and presents an amazing array of talent displaying an impressive diversity of artistic approaches and techniques. Here's a review worth reading, from Reappropriate, "a personal & political blog by an angry Asian American woman."
Glömp X	Tommi Musteri, Amanda Vähämäki, Jelle Hugaerts	Huuda Huuda	Glömp	$39.95 OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Straight outta Finland, and now in stock and available for shipping here in the USA. This is a full color 200+ page hardcover collection of comics that were on display in an accompanying exhibition and that were originally produced, to varying degrees, in three dimensions. It comes complete with an audio CD that includes an "exclusive soundtrack" composed by Fricara Pacchu, Amon Düde & The Hoop, Kiiskinen and Nuslux. It's definitely a bit of a cop out to describe Glomp is as "the Finnish Kramers Ergot," but we're going to throw that out there just to help give those who have never heard of it some sort of idea of where to place it in the comics continuum. The best way to get a better idea is to check out this preview page. This is the tenth volume of Glömp, and the last to be edited by Tommi Masturi. The anthology has been presenting adventurous comics for 12 years now, publishing over 1500 pages of work in the process. This time around their goal seems to have been to push comics off the page and into the world of three-dimensions and this book is the 2-D record of that attempt. This volume starts off with a helpful and well thought out introduction by Jelle Hugaerts that traces the history of comics anthologies, situates anthologies within the history of comics, and analyzes what works and what doesn't in making a successful anthology. Here's the contributor list: the amazing Amanda Vähämäki, Anna Sailamaa, Hanneriina Moisseinen, Jan Anderzén, Jarno Ltva-Nikkola, Pauliina Mäkelä, Roope Eronen, Jyrki Heikkinen, Aapo Rapi & Songa Salomäki, Ami Aho, Kaaatri Sipiläinen, Tommi Musturi, Janne Tervamäki, Reijo Kärkkäinen, and Anna Sailamaa.
Kramers Ergot #5	Chris Ware, Kevin Huizenga, Gabrielle Bell	Buenaventura Press	Kramers Ergot	$29.75 ($34.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Well, it's here. And what is the verdict? Success! KE5 is, in every way, a suitable successor to KE4. We feel quite confident in stating that everyone who enjoyed and/or appreciated KE4 will get at least as much out of KE5. Not only that, we'll go a step further and proclaim that many of those readers who were intrigued by KE4, but found it a bit "too out there" for their tastes, have an excellent chance of finding that KE5 -- with its addition of stand-out work by Gabrielle Bell, Kevin Huizenga, Chris Ware, and Dan Zettwoch -- has much to offer them, and represents a broader spectrum of comics than its predecessor. In addition, any fans of autobiographical comics may find that they have finally met their match in David Heatley's massive/micro magnum opus.
Papercutter #9	Hellen Jo, Aron Nels Steinke, Elijah Brubaker	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	TUGBOAT SEZ: "The hauntingly beautiful ninth issue of the acclaimed anthology series dedicated to showcasing the best young, underexposed and emerging comic book artists is here. Aron Nels Steinke (Big Plans) presents the featured story about a young couple living in a haunted house and the strange dreams that plague the owners. Elijah Brubaker (Reich) tries to find hope while in line for the ATM. And Hellen Jo (Jin and Jam) tells the tale of the spookiest back street in San Francisco." Inside front and back covers by stalwart Tugboater, Nate Beaty.
Papercutter #10	Dominic Jay, Jesse Reklaw, Minty Lewis	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	While perhaps not in quite the rarefied Olympian strata as Uptight, Papercutter nonetheless continues to get our vote as the best ongoing, regularly published (here is where it trounces Uptight - five issues of Papercutter have been published in the interregnum between the last two issues of Uptight), anthology comic book title currently on the market. High quality production and simple, spot-on design showcase uniformly excellent work by many of today's top independent comics creators (with a special focus on those in and around Papercutter-publisher, Tugboat Press's stomping grounds, Portland, OR). All for a quite reasonable price. And it's regular publication schedule (Well, they may miss a deadline once in a while, but the key fact is that they have a deadline in the first place, and that they actually care if they miss it; this sets them apart in the relatively lackadaisical world of indy comics publishing. #10 is a family affair of sorts in that it is primarily composed of two stories by the comics couple of Jay and Lewis, who are kept at arms length from one another by the centerfold executed by the one and only Jesse Reklaw.
The Comics Journal Special Edition: Volume Two - Summer 2002	Bill Griffith, R. Crumb, Jaime Hernandez, Chris Ware and more ...	Fantagraphics		$7.47 ($22.95 list)
Read more and comment...	What's so great about this book? Well, just for starters, it was the 2003 Harvey Award Winner for the Best Anthology. It's 180 pages in all. The cover feature spotlight shines on master cartoonist Jim Woodring who turns in the fab cover painting you see here and who is the subject of two essays by Donald Phelps and Kenneth Smith respectively, as well as a new interview. Text-and-art features include an appreciation of the cartoonist W.E. Hill by Zippy creator Bill Griffith (with many examples of Hill's unique tabloid-sized Sunday pages in full color); "All Hail Jack Kent," an appreciation of King Aroo's creator written by indy comincs maven, Tom Devlin, that includes a rare look at the strip itself, in the form of a dozen full page, full color, high resolution scans of Sunday comics full-pagers; Timothy Kreider probes deeper into the cat cartoons of B. Kliban; an essay on French comics artist, Louis Trondheim by British comics critic, Paul Gravett; a bit of comics history by Robert Fiore wherein he explores "how Harvey Kurtzman and Al Capp succumbed to the 1960s;" and "Between Borders," a who's who in Mexican alternative graphic narrative, by Ernesto Priego. And then there's the comics. Hold onto your hats and check out the contributor list: Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Chris Ware, Michael Kupperman, James Sturm, Mary Fleener, P. Craig Russell (w/ Lovern Kindzierski), Penny Van Horn, Spain Rodriguez, Ron Regé, Jr., John Porcellino, Jordan Crane, David Collier, Peter Blegvad, Rick Geary, Rick Altergott, Johnny Ryan, Steven Weissman, Megan Kelso, Gerald Jablonski, Ted Jouflas, Roger Langridge, Tim Hensley, Justin Green, Mark Kalesniko, Carol Lay, Sam Henderson, Ho Che Anderson, Phoebe Gloeckner, Tony Millionaire, Frank Stack, Bill Griffith, Arnold Roth, Mark Martin, Ivan Brunetti, John Kerschbaum, Wilfred Santiago, Sherri Flenniken, Mack White, Carol Tyler, Victor Moscoso, and, yes, even R. Crumb, whose submission is an instant classic! But, most amazing of all is the price, of this, our first Depression Buster Bargain™!
Flight #6	Kazu Kibuishi, JP Ahonen, Graham Annable, Bannister and more ...	Villard		$22.22 ($25.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<•> edited by Kazu Kibuishi <•> The latest in this successful series of full color fantasy comics. Contributors this time around include: JP Ahonen, Graham Annable, Bannister, Phil Craven, Mike Dutton, Michael Gagne, Cory Godbey, Rodolphe Guenoden, Steve Hamaker, Kazu Kibuishi, Andrea Offermann, Dik Pose, Justin Ridge, Rad Sechrist and Kean Soo.
MOME: Fall 2006 #5	Jeffrey Brown, Andrice Arp, Anders Nilsen, Zak Sally and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue welcomes new talents Tim Hensley -- whose ongoing character, Wally Gropius, Teen Millionaire graces the front cover -- Robert Goodin, whose amazing ink brush technique powers a quirky, kinky vision that pops up when you least expect, and artist/publisher, Zak Sally (The Recidivist). Also beginning this issue is "Lucid Night-mare, part 1," an ongoing saga by Sophie Crumb. THey are joined by MOME regulars, Martin Cendreda, Anders Nilsen, Jeffrey Brown (who turns in a intriguing and atypical work this time around), Paul Hornschemeier, Andrice Arp -- who is also this issue's interviewee -- Kurt Wolfgang and Gabrielle Bell.
MOME #1	Gary Groth, Eric Reynolds	Fantagraphics	MOME	$14.95 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	It's here, the leading contender for best new comics anthology of 2005. Filled with swell new comics by the likes of Andrice Arp, Gabrielle Bell, Jeffrey Brown, Sophie Crumb, David Heatly, Paul Hornschemeier, John Pham, Kurt Wolfgang and more. Solid, engaging work by many of the best of the latest generation of comics creators, nicely packaged in a well printed edition that is currently scheduled to continue on a semi-annual basis. Looks like it's off to an excellent start! To learn more, read our detailed review.
MOME #2	John Pham, Paul Hornschemeier, Jeffrey Brown, David Heatley and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$13.50 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	It's finally here, after a regrettable delay: the second issue of the most engaging regularly published comics anthology currently on the market. This issue continues to meet the high standards set by the first issue and includes the entire roster of contributors. Highlight: Jeffrey Brown redeems his shallow submission to the first issue by turning in one of his best pieces to date. Recommended! To learn more about MOME, please visit our MOME 1 page.
MOME: Summer 2009 #15	Nathan Neal, Robert Goodin, Conor O'Keefe, Sara Edward-Corbett and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.99 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue is a mix of oldtimers and newcomers: rugged MOME veterans, Andrice Arp, Paul Hornschemeier, Ray Fenwick, and Tim Hensley deliver a basket full of tales, each in their own inimitable manner, and, in Hensley's case, his last (at least for the time being) as his triptych concludes the long running (since MOME #5) saga of Wally Gropius; medium-term MOMErs, Dash Shaw, Sara Edward-Corbett, Conor O'Keefe, Robert Goodin and Nathan Neal each provide readers with memorable reads, with Neal turning in his strongest narrative yet; and Gilbert Shelton and Pic conclude their tale of rock 'n' roll at the world's edge. And then we have the newcomers: T. Edward Bak debuts here with the first chapter of his work in progress, Steller, as do Noah Van Scriver and noted Spanish cartoonist, Max, whose contribution is a nice, neat 16-page mini-comic that is precisely positioned (and presumably removable – although it's readable while in place) after the last page. All in all, another fine issue.
MOME #14	Emile Bravo, Gilbert Shelton, John Vermilyea, Ben Jones and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$13.50 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Another fine issue from the recently reenergized MOME. This issue's standout feature is Lilli Carré's, full-color, 32-page piece (graphic novella?), "The Carnival," that is a dream-like meditation on the desires that flow just below the surface of the quotidian, desires that are constantly struggling to break through, and yet seem always to be mysteriously held back by... what exactly? "The Carnival" doesn't pretend to give you the answers, but it will help put you in a place where you might find some on your own. The highlight for us here at Copacetic is an all-new Cold Heat tale by Frank Santoro, Ben Jones and John Vermilyea (who also turns in a solo piece here that has to be one of the most pithy portrayals of the American Way ever penned). And there's plenty more including the continuation of Gilbert Shelton's multi-part saga which reveals -- among other things -- that he, along with fellow underground comix grandmaster, R. Crumb, is a lifelong Carl Barks fan. Emile Bravo provides a deeply sarcastic satire of American Politics; Ray Fenwick, Laura Park, Dash Shaw, Sara Edward-Corbett, Olivier Schrauwen, Josh Simmons and Conor O'Keefe are all on hand, and are joined by newcomers (to American Comics) Hernán Migoya & Juaco Vizuente; and the entire issue is punctuated by a series of one-pages by Derek Van Gieson.
From Wonderland With Love: Danish Comics in the Third Millenium	Steffen Maarup	Fantagraphics		$25.00 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This is a flexi-bound collection of 178 pages of comics from Denmark: black and white, duotone and full color. There's an amazing variety of work on display here, from three-panel pen and ink dailies to full color graphic novellas. Satire, sarcasm, cuddly cuteness, potentially discomfiting explorations of the unconscious, and much more are packed in side-by-side and executed in a dazzling variety of styles. Take a look at this 14-page PDF preview and see what you think.
Kramers Ergot #6	Sammy Harkham, C.F., Paper Rad, Marc Bell and more ...	Buenaventura Press	Kramers Ergot	$34.95 ($34.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Edited, as always, by Sammy Harkham -- this time around with an assist by co-publisher Alvin Buenaventura -- this now seemingly biennial publication continues to live up to the promise made with the fourth and fifth volumes. The format follows that of the last volume: a flat matte finish (this time sans texture) flexi cover fixed to a sturdy Smythe sewn binding that holds the contents firmly in place. And what contents! Many of those talents that readers have come to associate with Kramers Ergot are here again, and have submitted work that is as engaging as ever. Sammy Harkham, C.F., Paper Rad, Marc Bell, Souther Salazar, Ron Regé, Jr., Matthew Thurber, Dan Zettwoch and Elvis Studio are joined by Vanessa Davis, Tom Gaud, Martin Cendreda, Bald Eagles and a handful of others. Also, KE Alum Gary Panter finds himself under the same covers as former fellow Raw artist, Jerry Moriarty, who is given plenty of space to present his idiosyncratic Hopperesque visions for the first time (we've seen) in many years. In addition, with this issue Kramers Ergot adds a curatorial component to its offerings for the first time, as readers are given a rare look at two great historical figures of the comics world: we get a healthy sampling of a late sketchbook by the Dutch comics artist, Marc Smeets, which is preceded by "an incomplete appreciation" by Chris Ware; and an amazing reproduction of the early and highly influential manga, Norakuro by Suiho Tagawa. All in all, it seems once again to be an essential read for anyone involved in the contemporary comics scene. Here is a preview of the front cover along with 10 sample pages.
Funny Aminals	Joe Lambert, Bryan Stone, Colleen Frakes, Penina and more ...	Self-published		$6.75 ($8.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Long suffering fans of the funny animal genre of comic books, one of the classic standard bearers of the comics tradition that has fallen by the wayside as of late, have much to rejoice with the release of this magical magazine size comic book that is clearly a labor of love. Full color front and back covers, printed on heavy stock, contain 68 pages of comics and stories by the likes of Joe Lambert, Bryan Stone, Colleen Frakes, Penina and more, all entirely devoted to animal fun, and includes a lengthy essay on the history of the genre by none other than Mr. Steve "Swamp Thing" Bissette! Learn more about the Funny Aminal gang, here. Recommended (and, on special)!
Abstract Comics	Andrei Molotiu	Fantagraphics		$29.99 ($39.99 list)
Read more and comment...	Andrei Molotiu, college professor, art historian, and all-star poster to the TCJ message board, has pulled together a wide ranging assortment of works under the banner of "abstract comics." Molotiu well understands the vagaries that will attach themselves to an overly broad designation such as this and has penned a cogent introduction to give readers as idea of his thoughts about what areas this label could assist in classifying. Importantly, he is well aware that this primary purpose of this collection is to get the conversation started. And this it has already accomplished, as the numerous posts to the Abstract Comics Blog firmly attest. Artists represented in this volume range from celebrated masters such as R. Crumb, Gary Panter and Patrick McDonnell, to accomplished practitioners of the comics arts such as James Kochalka, Lewis Trondheim, J.R. Williams and John Hankiewicz, to marginally known art comics figures like Richard Hahn, Jason T. Miles, Blaise Larmee and Warren Craghead III, but the majority of contributors are obscure figures working on the margins that few readers of these pages will be familiar with – at least in the context of producing comics – such as editor Molotiu himself, who turned in eight pages of free floating abstractions, and Copacetic's own Bill Boichel whose entry is a 24-page mini-comic that has been reformatted as a two-page spread. Yet lack of renown should not be conflated with lack of artistic vision as some of the most engaging works on display here are by the least recognized artists. In recognition of the fact that the purchase of this volume represents a bit of a risk for most comics readers due to the largely unfamiliar terrain, we have decided to shoulder some of that risk by offering an introductory special price of 25% below retail, which works out to a savings of $10.00 that you can either pocket... or spend on more comics!
Papercutter #11	Nate Beaty, Rosalie Eisenberg, Dustin Harbin, Jon Sukarangsan and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Papercutter #11 The latest issue of our favorite regularly published comics anthology debuted at SPX, and it's another issue that no indy comics fan will want to miss. The bulk of the issue – 26 pages and one front cover worth, to be exact – are devoted to "Lululand," a slice of life vignette of the life of Lulu a wondering and wandering washer of dishes and dreamer of dreams trying to figure it out that is imagined by writer Amy Adoyzie and diligently delineated by Jon Sukarangsan. Backing this up is "Duperman," a snappy one-pager by your friend and mine, Dustin Harbin, and "Letter Home," a story of schoolwork vs. artwork by someone who should know, the Portland, OR artist and educator, Lisa Rosalie Eisenberg, who takes us through to the back cover. Inside covers by Nate Beaty. Edited by Greg Means
MOME #16	Sara Edward-Corbett, Ben Jones, Jon Vermilyea, T. Edward Bak and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited by Eric Reynolds and Gary Groth <<•>> The obvious highlight of this issue for us here at The CCC is the new Cold Heat story by the team of Frank Santoro, Ben Jones & Jon Vermilyea. In addition, we have on hand: the furiously productive Dash Shaw, who translates an episode of "Blind Date" into comics form; the second chapter of T. Edward Bak's "Wild Man - The Strange Journey - and Fantastic Accounts - of the Naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, from Bavaria to Bolshaya Zemlya (and Beyond)"; new work from Renée French (who is also responsible for this issue's front and back covers); an all-new “Funny Bunny” strip by the rarely seen (in comics, anyway) Archer Prewitt; “The Moolah Tree”, a new Fuzz & Pluck graphic novel from Ted Stearn, begins it's serialization here; the MOME debut of Nicholas Mahler – "What Is Art?" (translated by Kim Thompson); and new stories from Lilli Carré, Conor O'Keefe, Laura Park, Nate Neal, and Sara Edward-Corbett, with incidental drawings by Kaela Graham. Get a PDF preview, HERE.
Supermen	Greg Sandowski, Jonathan Lethem, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner and more ...	Fantagraphics		$22.22 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	>> edited and designed by Greg Sadowski >> introduction by Jonathan Lethem >> Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up and see the wonders of the ages! This is where it all began: the protoplasmic early days of the superhero comic book -- wild & heady, zany & crazy, fantastic & non-sensical, rough around the edges; all this and more. Reading these stories is like witnessing history in the making, it is being present at the birth. Sure, we've all read those original Superman and Batman stories along with other DC classics, as well as a those old Captain America, Submariner, Human Torch tales, and maybe a few other Golden Age Marvels (well, Timelys, actually), but these are usually presented in a self-promoting fashion by their corporate owners which mitigates and obscures the historical context in which these works need to be read to fully appreciate their novelty. The work here spans the years 1936 to 1941, with the bulk of it originating in 1939 and 1940. It is divided by publisher and includes the Comics Magazine Company, Chesler, Centaur, Fox, MLJ, Fiction House, Columbia, Your Guide/Rhoda and Novelty Press, Some of the earliest work by the brightest stars of the Golden Age are collected here: Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Lou Fine, Jack Cole, Basil Wolverton, Bill Everett, Ogden Whitney, Dick Briefer, Fred Guardineer, and, yes, Fletcher Hanks. It appears that this volume has been put together employing high quality scans of the original comic books which were then digitally restored and and enhanced and then crisply printed on flat (non-glossy) bright paper stock, and the results are excellent, A minor quibble is that, for our money, we would have preferred an off-white paper that more closely matches the newsprint upon which these comics were originally printed, but this is negligible when stacked next to all that is right with the production. While it should go without saying that no self-respecting comics scholar can pass this up, we hasten to add that anyone who misses the plain old fun that we associate with the term comic book, who wants a jolt of that good ol' four-color energy from back in the day, need look no further than this fine volume.
Closed Caption Comics #8	Lane Milburn, Mollie O'Connell, Ryan Cecil Smith, Conor Stechschulte and more ...	Closed Caption Comics	Closed Caption Comics	$6.00 ($8.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	by the Closed Caption Posse We usually pick this up every year in the fall, at SPX, but CCC is way ahead of schedule this year and the Copacetic shelves have already been graced with this hand-embossed-cover-sporting 80-Page Giant packed with brand new comics the likes of which you won't be finding anywhere else. The gang's all here, including – among others – Lane Milburn, Mollie O'Connell, Ryan Cecil Smith, Conor Stechschulte, Molly Goldstrom, and cover artist Erin Womak. The comics from Closed Caption Comics that we pick up every year at SPX have pretty much all been hits here at Copacetic, most of all this, the flagship title. While we believe that it's fair to say that CCC is working with some of the tropes established by Fort Thunder, there is quite a bit of original work here, and anyone interested in deeply personal, artistically informed comics work should be checking this out.
The Drama #7				$5.35 ($5.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	First introduced to Copacetic Customers as part of our 2005 SPX haul, The Drama is a quarterly arts magazine with a major focus on comics, that is one of the best values out there. The artists featured will be familiar to readers of Kramers Ergot, The Ganzfeld and MOME, who will be on largely familiar territory here -- but not completely: The Drama has its own vision and it is decidedly informed by the independent gallery milieu, and as it is based in Richmond, Virginia, it offers a unique regional perspective as well. This 104 page issue -- the biggest yet -- offers a 72 page full color magazine section followed by "This It," a 32-page duo-tone comics (mostly) & columns section. The cover feature is a heavily illustrated interview with the Swiss artists known as Elvis Studio, conducted by Alvin Buenaventura. In addition, Julie Doucet is featured in her own profusely illustrated interview with Dan "Ganzfeld" Nadel. The comics section features the work of Mark Bell, Mark Burrier,Tom Gauld, Brian Ralph, and many others; plus, David Heatly illustrates the dreams of Erika Clowes!
The Drama #8				$5.35 ($5.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Another swell issue of the art and comics magazine that leaves the competition in the dust when it comes to the combination of contents, production and price. To learn more visit their online preview of this issue.
MOME #17	Paul Hornschemeier, Dash Shaw, Tom Kaczynski, T. Edward Bak and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds There's no question that the highlight of this issue is the thirty page conclusion to Paul Hornschemeier's Life with Mr. Dangerous, which began its serialization in MOME all the way back in the first issue! Next up in the list is the first ever (to our knowledge, anyway) collaboration between the mighty Dash Shaw and Tom Kaczynski, the aptly titled, "Resolution." Also on hand are the second parts of both T. Edward Bak's "Wild Man" and Ted Stearn's new Fuzz and Pluck adventure, "The Moolah Tree," as well as the first two parts of Oliver Schrauwen's latest, "Congo Chromo." Laura Park, Sara Edward-Corbet, Rick Froberg, Kurt Wolfgang, Derek Van Gieson, Renée French, Josh Simmons and Michael Jada round out the issue. MOME continues to deliver on its promise.
The Act-I-Vate Primer	Nick Bertozzi, Michael Fife, Roger Langridge			$22.22 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Scott Dunbier and Dean Haspiel <<•>> forward by Warren Ellis <<•>> This horizontally formatted (think laptop screen) hardcover volume sporting a nifty Nick Bertozzi cover illo contains sixteen original stories produced under the aegis of the popular eponymous comix website. Stand-outs for us were the leadoff tale by Michael Fiffe, "Cactus," "Persimmon Cup" by Nick Bertozzi, and "The Boy Who Came to Stay" by the one and only Roger Langridge. There's a nice variety of styles on display here and you can check many of them out at the aforementioned website, so go ahead and take a look.... So, what'd you think?
Newave! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s	Mary Fleener, Wayno	Fantagraphics		$22.22 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> by everyone and your uncle <<•>> 888 pages!!! No holds are barred here in this anything goes blast of the first wave of self-published mini-comics. Scatology and sexuality, perversion and punk rock, fantasy and fabulation, and general kicking out the jams were the order of the day back when the cathartic capacities of small scale self publishing were first embraced by a generation of comics creators. While the majority of the work on display here is by artists and writers that are not widely known today, there are some gems scattered throughout the book, including the rookie outings of Mary Fleener and Pittsburgh's Wayno, to name but two.
Hotwire #3	Glenn Head, Tim Lane, R. Sikoryak, Daid Sandlin and more ...	Fantagraphics	Hotwire	$19.99 ($22.99 list)
Read more and comment...	Hotwire 3 edited by Glenn Head If ever the third time is the charm, this is it. Hotwire, the king-size comic book anthology of all new work marches forward in its unique, self-established tradition of wacky hi-jinx pieces designed to frazzle and freak. Highlights include a career high for Rick Altergott, an amazing new piece by Tim Lane, a rare full color Mack White work, a classic Mary Fleener tale, and the first new "masterpiece comic" by R. Sikoryak since his 2009 anthology of the same name – this one engaging Dennis the Menace to fill the shoes of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark – new pieces by Michael Kupperman, Max Andersson, Johnny Ryan, and editor Glenn Head, as well as a brand spankin' new David Sandlin story, "Infernal Combustion," that continues in the vein of his fabulous Swamp Preacher one-shot comic book of a couple years back.
Project: Romantic	Ash Wood, Hope Larson, Jim Rugg, Nick Craine and more ...	AdHouse Books		$25.00 ($40.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This is the final installment of the "Project Trilogy" which provides the up-and-coming generation of cartoonists to work with traditional comics themes. Inititated by Project: Telstar, which dealt with science fiction themes with a focus on robots, and continued by Project: Superior, which had super heroics as its unifying theme, this time around, as the title suggests, the same generation of cartoonists is given a chance to tackle the romance comics genre. As with the first two anthologies, the works assembled here bear little semblance to their generic progentiors in the mainstream comics of yore, a guided tour of which we are given in the introductory essay by Bill Boichel (which is currently available online as a downloadable .pdf). "True" romance seems mostly a thing of the past in the stories that follow, which here primarily focus on -- at best -- snatching a moment of happiness with a fellow being. Many of the pieces center on unrequited love, heartbreak, romantic disaster, murder, mayhem and confusion. Sometimes it's played for laughs and sometimes for tears. Exceptions include Aaron Renier's "Reflectors and Rutabegas," which comes closest to being a traditional romance, and McGovern & Leandri's Dr. Id story, which employs a 1960s-Dr.-Strange-as-sex-therapist narrative that is certainly traditional in its form, if not in its content. As with all AdHouse Books, the production values are excellent and the quality of the artwork is uniformly high. Stand-outs for us include the contributions of Paul Rivoche, Hope Larson, Roger Petersen and Junko Mizuno, but doubtless every reader of this anthology will find their own favorites. And there's no way we can avoid singling out Robert Goodin's contribution: if there were an award for excellence in the service of perversion, this one would have the comics category all wrapped up. PLEASE NOTE: This is the limited edition hardcover edition that we are offering here. Limited to 500 individually numbered copies, it features front and back covers, as well as endpapers that consist of four apocryphal romance comic book covers featuring Afrodisiac, all by Pittsburgh's own megatalent, Jim Rugg! We are offering this at half off it's original price – need we say it? – while supplies last! (LIMIT: ONE PER CUSTOMER)
Drawn & Quarterly # volume 5	Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Michel Rabagliati , Philippe Dupuy, Charles Berberian and more ...	Drawn and Quarterly		$25.47 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This year’s oversize (11" x 13") annual of North American (with the accent on Canadian), European and Asian comics is here. Beautifully produced as always, this issue features covers and end papers and a graphic novella by DuPuy and Berberian, a short work by long ignored Japanese master, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, “Kept,” a Michel Rabagliati short featuring Paul, and more. The highlight for us is ”The Crypt of Bronte” by that master of all styles, R. Sikoryak. Of special interest for jaded know-it-alls is the massive 75 page retrospective on the unknown (at least to us) Canadian artist, Albert Chartier. This retrospective presents a truly rare opportunity to simultaneously discover and then plunge right into a whole new bit of artistic terrain. Reader’s of Seth’s It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken will relate.
MOME: Spring 2010 #18	Eric Reynolds, Nate Neal, Frank Santoro, Ben Jones and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue's editorial claims that, with the publication of MOME 18, MOME has now published over 2000 pages of comics, and that this "may be a record for an English-language alternative comics anthology." Who knew? To start off the celebration we have Nate Neal's cover feature, the multi-layered and multi-levelled, "Neurotic Nexus of Creation." This one should leave you with much to ponder, especially regarding its innovative formal qualities, but as well as for its worldview. Of special interest to Copacetic customers is the latest message from the Cold Heat universe, brought to you by the combined powers of Ben Jones, Frank Santoro and John Vermilyea. This feature is a vigorously rendered and sumptously colored tale of drugs, rock 'n' roll, sex, and gruesome horror. Also in this issue we have: an all-new Tim Lane tale, "The Passenger"; a surprise new Pip and Norton adventure from Dave Cooper and Gavin McInnes; "Burrow World," wherein Joe Daly does Mat Brinkman; three short pieces by Nicolas Mahler; the third installment of Fuz & Pluck in "The Moolah Tree"; the second installments of both T. Edward Bak's WIldman – "A Barvarian Botanist in St. Petersburg," and Michael Jada & Derek Van Gieson's "Devil Doll"; a four-pager by Lilli Carré that had us thinking of old Rick Geary; the pastoral "Autumn" by Conor O'Keefe; more René French; and the Chris Ware homage, "The Jerk Machine," by Jon Adams. MOME!
Papercutter #4	Sarah Oleksyk, Vanessa Davis, John Porcellino	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	#4 is probably our favorite issue here at Copacetic. The lead story by Sarah Oleksyk ("Roadside," "Ivy"), of a pair of lovestruck misfits who meet at an all-night copy shop is a small, quiet classic that is also the subject of the wraparound cover (and it was selected by Lynda Barry for inclusion in the 2008 America's Best Comics anthology, so there). Vanessa Davis ("Spaniel Rage") and John Porcellino ("King-Cat") complete the issue with tales of friendship, club-hopping, and snowstorms. If you want to give Papercutter a try and aren't sure which issue to choose, we say start with this one. THIS ONE IS NOW OUT OF PRINT. However, the lead story by Sarah Oleksyk was collected in the 2008 edition of Best American Comics, a 200+ page deluxe hardcover volume edited by Lynda Barry, which, it so happens, is currently ON SALE here at Copacetic for only $8.88!
Andromeda #3	Andy Scott, Jess Lavecchia, Nate McDonough	Self-published	Andromeda	$2.00 ($2.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Edited by Andy Scott, Andromeda is a made-in-Pittsburgh monthly anthology of comics. And, while it might not yet be operating at quite the level of Diamond Comics (see below), these guys are nothing if not ambitious, and so far they have published the first three issues on schedule and the fourth is promised shortly, so Regular contributors include Nate "Grixly" McDonough and Jess Lavecchia, as well as editor Andy Scott himself, and there are plenty of others who have made their way into individual issues. In order to keep up with their monthly schedule, Andromeda is hungry for fresh contributions and is always on the lookout for new talent and is accepting unsolicited submissions, so any cartoonists reading this interested in having their work appear in the pages of Andromeda should get in touch with Mr. Scott at littletired@gmail.com.
Kramers Ergot #7	Dan Zettwoch, Frank Santoro, Chris Ware, Kevin Huizenga and more ...	Buenaventura Press	Kramers Ergot	$125.00 ($125.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	It's here! All we can say right now is, "WOW!" Sammy Harkham, Alvin Buenaventura and their cohorts have raised the bar once again with what must be considered as one of the most singular books in the history of comics. This volume of Kramers rolls back the hands of time by publishing a book that reproduces that magnificent size of the original Sunday comics of 100 years ago that we have been reacquainted with through the efforts of Sunday Press and their mind-boggling Little Nemo collections. Team Kramers has connected the dots and realized: "If they did it then, there's no reason why we can't do it now!" This volume presents all new work created specifically to be reproduced in the full-up, full-color, big-daddy, 16" x 21" format that will recapture the wonderful amazement of the glory days at the dawn of the comics era. The equally amazing renaissance that comics is currently undergoing will likely come to be symbolized in some fashion by this very volume. Kramers Ergot 7 is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular works of comics ever published. Measuring a staggering 16" x 21", and containing all new, never before seen work that was commissioned specifically for this giant-size format, we will see today's top comic creators pulling out the stops for this rare chance to produce comics work on this scale. Here's a l of contributors: Rick Altergott, Gabrielle Bell, Jonathan Bennett, Blanquet, Blex Bolex, Conrad Botes, Shary Boyle, Mat Brinkman, John Brodowski, Ivan Brunetti, C.F., Chris Cilla, Jacob Ciocci, Dan Clowes, Martin Cendreda, Joe Daly, Kim Deitch, Matt Furie, Tom Gauld, Leif Goldberg, Matt Groening, John Hankiewicz, Sammy Harkham, Eric Haven, David Heatley, Tim Hensley, Jaime Hernandez, Walt Holcombe, Kevin Huizenga, J. Bradley Johnson, Ben Jones & Pshaw, Ben Katchor, Ted May, Geoff McFetridge, Jesse McManus, James McShane, Jerry Moriarty, Anders Nilsen, John Pham, Aapo Rapi, Ron Rege Jr., Xavier Robel, Helge Reumann, Ruppert & Mulot, Johnny Ryan, Richard Sala, Souther Salazar, Frank Santoro, Seth, Shoboshobo, Josh Simmons, Anna Sommer, Will Sweeney, Matthew Thurber, Adrian Tomine, C. Tyler, Chris Ware, and Dan Zettwoch. WOW! (This is no longer available from the publisher and we are almost out of our stock. As a result, we are no longer offering any discount. Sorry.)
Papercutter #2	Becca Taylor, Liz Prince, Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$2.75 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Tugboat Press has this to say about the second issue of their flagship anthology title: "The second issue of the exciting new anthology series dedicated to showcasing the best young, underexposed and emerging comic book artist working today. This issue features a powerhouse story from Becca Taylor (The Wonderful Year) about an ambitious actress who stars in a controversial movie and the real life woman she portrays. Also Paul Tobin & Colleen Coover (Banana Sunday) present the tale of a mysterious cat burglar who steals more than just money and jewels. And Liz Prince (Will You Still Love Me if I Wet the Bed?) goes undercover into the secret world of indie rock ghosts. With additional art by Nate Beaty. Cover by Becca Taylor." We here at Copacetic especially dug Colleen Coover's art this time around, which manages to be both cute and sexy.
Papercutter #6	Laura Park, Julia Wertz, Ken Dahl, Alec Longstreth and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Tugboat Press has this to say: "The special sixth issue of the acclaimed anthology series dedicated to showcasing the best young, underexposed and emerging comic book artists. Alec Longstreth (Phase 7) steps in as guest editor and tells the featured story about an intense summer spent working in Vermont for an upstart theater troupe. Ken Dahl (Monsters) presents a harrowing tale of a lonely man's quest for the legacy of modern America. And webcomic superstars Julia Wertz (The Fart Party) and Laura Park (Do Not Disturb My Waking Dream) team up for a lovely story about a group of kids who find a dirty magazine in the woods. Additional art by Nate Beaty."
The Anthology Project	Joy Ang, Nick Thornborrow	The Anthology Project	The Anthology Project	$22.22 ($24.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This is a very attractive, 238 page, full color, hardcover anthology of comics that is designed to appeal to fans of the popular Flight comics anthology edited by Kazu Kibuishi (creator of Amulet; see above) and that is part of the new generation of comics artists and cartoonists who create their work largely using computers. We encourage you to check out the generous apportionment of previews (and plenty more besides) at the elegantly designed website that accompanies this work. Contributing creators include Darren Rawlings, Matt Rhodes, Christine Choi, Jeff Thompson, Chris Ryzebol and Ed Kwong, along with editors Ang and Thornborrow.
Trickster: Native American Tales	Matt Dembicki, Pat Lewis	Fulcrum		$20.00 ($22.99 list)
Read more and comment...	This square, full color volume contains over two hundred pages of comics and is the first graphic anthology devoted to American Indian "trickster tales." Over twenty tales in all are adapted into comics form in this "inspired collaboration between native writers and accomplished artists" working to "bring the trickster back into popular culture." This book generated plenty of positive responses (read more at the book's blog, here) and immediately sold out its initial printing and we have only now been able to get outr hands on it. Tales of raccoons and ravens, coyotes and crayfish, wolves, owls, minks and more are given form by a host of comics talents including Pittsburgh's own Pat Lewis. Anyone looking to experience the original American culture in comics form need look no further, Trickster delivers.
The Tango Collection	Bernard Caleo			$24.75 ($26.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Bernard Caleo; foreword by Dylan Horrocks <<• >> Get ready for a healthy serving of comics work from down under. The Tango Collection contains the work of over 50 comics creators from Australia and New Zealand in its 240 black and white 8" x 10" pages. There really is quite a variety of styles and approaches to comics on display here that will amply reward the curious. Feel the funky vibes by checking out this Google™ Preview.
MOME #10: Winter/Spring 2008	Paul Hornschemeier, John Hankiewicz, Dash Shaw, Jim Woodring and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$13.50 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Yes, it's another fine issue in the ongoing, regularly published comics anthology that consistently publishes some of the most original, challenging and engaiging comics on the market. This time around the obvious highlight is the conclusion of Jim Woodring's The Lute String, which began last issue, a tale that is wonderful in conception as well as masterful in execution and amply demonstrates that Woodring's genius, but there's plenty more to get excited about: The uniquely weird story by up-and-comer Dash Shaw that starts off this issue is his most inventive work yet and will both charm and confuse you; Robert Goodin returns with a swell comics -- as well as comic -- adaptation of a classic Indian fable; also returning is Tom Kaczynski, who is this issue's interview subject as well. And, still with us are a core cadre of MOME regulars: Sophie Crumb, Paul Hornschemeier, Kurt Wolfgang, as well as Tim Hensley, Jeremy Eaton, Émile Bravo and Ray Fenwick (whom everyone is jealous of for his ingenious exploitation of old canvas covered used books). And, finally, we can't leave you without lettnig you know that the one and only John Hankiewicz makes his MOME debut in this issue. For those of you who are already familiar with his work, this notice of his inclusion will provide you with that much more impetus to purchase this issue; but it is those MOME readers among you who are unfamiliar with Hankiewicz: make sure to pay close attention to his contribution, "Success Comes to Westmont, IL" -- if you find yourself intrigued, but you're not sure why, you may want to take a look at his excellent collection, Asthma, published a little while back by Sparkplug Comics, it's a rare gem.
Papercutter #14	Brian Maruca, Jim Rugg, Dave Roche, Nate Beaty and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited by Greg Means <<•>> Yes, it's another fine issue of Papercutter. This time arond, Nate Beaty, the official Papercutter endpaper artist (he's done the endpapers of every issue, you can go check, we'll wait...) gets to stretch his legs in the 21-page, semi-epic "Winslow," written by Dave Roche. Then there's a 10-page gem by reclusive fan favorite Farel Dalrymple, "Live With Our Clerics," and, the icing on the cake - a crazy one-pager by Pittsburgh's own Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca, "Eagle, Run." Yet another great issue of Papercutter, which continues to be the best regularly published anthology comic book in North America.
World War 3 Illustrated #40	Seth Tobocman, Fly, Jess Wehrle, Sandy Jimenez and more ...	Self-published	World War 3	$4.44 ($5.00 list)
Read more and comment...	One of the grand daddies of self publishing, WW3 is still going strong. This, the fortieth issue, subtitled, "What We Want," is cover to cover comics: all 128 pages! Editor Seth Tobocman is joined by Jess Wehrle, Eric Laursen, Fly, Sandy Jimenez, Susan Simensky Bietila, and many others, all working towards creating a vision for "building a new and better society" by presenting this 'list of possible demands" in comics form. This is a thought provoking inspiring collection that should have you asking yourself, "What can I do?"
The Best American Comics 2010	Neil Gaiman, R. Crumb, David Mazzucchelli, Carol Tyler and more ...	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$20.00 ($23.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Neil Gaiman This time around, editor Gaiman provides a selection that is heavy on excerpts of graphic novels rather than self-contained works. His picks include, as one would expect, the most celebrated works of last year: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis and David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp.; but there are some surprises, as well. In fact, the book starts out with the biggest surprise of all: and actual Marvel Comic! But wait – hold on, it's not what you think. It's an excerpt from the seventh issue of the Omega the Unknown limited series that was later collected in book form. Written by Jonathan Lethem, this excerpt starts off with the sequence that was drawn by none other than Gary Panter. One can readily see how irresistible this choice was: how could you not include what may very well be the only Marvel comic ever drawn by Gary Panter? Other excerpted works include: the completely necessary Acme Novelty #19; the off-the-radar-for-many, Citizen Rex by Gilbert and Mario Hernandez; Lilli Carré's The Lagoon (Carré was also selected for this year's Best Non-Required Reading); Josh Neufeld's docu-comic, A.D: New Orleans after the Deluge; Carol Tyler's ongoing masterpiece, You'll Never Know; Derf's Punk Rock and Trailer Parks, which we've been trying to convince people to read since it came out; and several others. Every reader of this volume is sure to pursue the purchase – or at least perusal – of at least one of these works in its entirety, and there are bound to be a few who will want them all. In addition to these excerpts from these graphic novels, there are plenty of short pieces by the like of Ben Katchor, James Kochalka, Peter Kuper, Jesse Reklaw and Gabrielle Bell. Worthy of singling out, is the excellent 14-page "Trinity," by the sorely under-appreciated Michael Cho (who also executed this volume's cover), that originally appeared in the relatively obscure Taddle Creek, and so ran the risk of being missed by most, and so is perhaps Gaiman's single best call. And, finally, we can't go without mentioning that we are happy that a selection from Copacetic favorite, Capacity, by Theo Ellsworth, is also on hand in this volume, and, not only that, but Ellsworth was commissioned to produce original endpapers for this volume as well, providing a visual treat to its opening and closing. This series continues to be a great way to introduce the uninitiated to the wide world of comics, and makes an excellent gift.
Emberly Galaxy: A Tribute to Ed Emberly	Joe Kuth, Dan Zettwoch, Chris Cornwell, Dan Moynihan and more ...	Self-published		$10.00 ($12.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Joe Kuth Years in the making, this 60-page, horizontally formatted volume contains short pieces by a diverse group of independent comics artists including: Rina Ayuyang, Jeffrey Brown, Chris Cornwell, Warren Craghead, Sam Henderson, Alex Holden, Dan Moynihan, and Dan Zettwoch, as well as editor Kuth himself and a number of others. All pay tribute to the so-imitable Ed Emberly, whose simple how-to-draw books demonstrated how to make the world come alive with a few simple lines.
Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s	John Benson, Greg Sadowski, Jack Cole, Basil Wolverton and more ...	Fantagraphics		$26.95 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by John Benson and Greg Sadowski Just in time for Halloween, here's a trio of classic horror comics that provide a great window on the great thrill that comics once provided... and still can! First up we have Fantagraphics' Four Color Fear: 320 pages of fulsome full color comics, all scanned from the pre-code originals and printed on flat white paper (except for the cover reproductions, which are, appropriately, reproduced on bright white glossy stock to best mimic their original appearance). This is the horrific follow-up volume to last year's wild and woolly Supermen, that presented a revealing display of the earliest superhero comic books that showed the form before its tropes and conventions were still in flux, before they fully gelled (and later hardened). Aficionados take note: this is not one to miss – in fact, we sold out of our initial shipment almost immediately. Not to worry: new copies are on the way! So, while you wait for our restock, take a moment and read the editor's introduction and check out the table of contents; and then... feast your eyes on this tumultuous 26-page preview that contains four complete stories!
The Horror! The Horror! – Comic Books the Government Didn't Want You to Read!	Jim Trombetta, Basil Wolverton	Abrams ComicArts		$26.95 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	<< • >> Selected, edited and with commentary by Jim Trombetta; with an Introduction by R.L. Stine << • >> Next, we have the Abrams ComicArts entry. This cleverly named tome presents readers with a smorgasbord of brain searing graphics and more. The Horror! is a nicely put together 300+ page full color flexi-bound collection that comes complete with a running commentary by editor Trombetta to provide a "you are there" context. It is heavy on covers and single page examples and much lighter on actual stories than Four Color Fear, but the covers, pages and stories that are here are generally well selected, and taken together do provide an excellent survey of the period (sans EC, of course – except for a few covers; presumably because EC stories are already under separate reprint agreements). Perhaps the biggest surprise are the excellent stories by "artist unknown." Let's hope that some well-informed comics sleuths can deduce the correct creators. The reproduction here is nice as well: good quality, full color scans printed on flat white stock. And the icing on the cake is the bonus DVD slipped inside the back cover which contains the 30-minute TV show that originally aired on October 9, 1955, Confidential FIle, about the "evils" of comic books! Taken all together, it makes for a great introduction to the comics and cultural climate of the early 1950s in the US of A.
An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories	Ivan Brunetti	Yale University Press		$20.00 ($28.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Ivan Brunetti Published by Yale University Press, this awesome anthology is a worthy successor to McSweeney's 13 as the must have comics collection of the foreseeable future. Editor, Brunetti goes all out to offer us a (OK, well, his) canonical assemblage with the 400 pages of comics here on display, where it is the form itself that is always at the heart of the work represented. The work we find here -- while, of course, being comics -- is also, at some level, telling us something about comics, and this latter value-added feature can be attributed in no small part to Brunetti's editorial approach in assembling this work, which he clearly views as an organic whole. Each artist represented in this collection has a distinct and original approach to the medium that embodies their personal interaction with the comics form as well as -- and this is where this anthology is unique -- with each other piece in the book. This book is organized around the principal of association. The pieces are grouped in clusters that are related in a wide variety of ways, from the form and content of the work to the geographic region and ethnicity of the creators. Brunetti tips his hand right at the outset by starting with the raw, unbridled, free-associative works of Marc Bell, Sam Henderson, Mark Newgarden, Kaz, Tony Millionaire and Bill Griffith (who all, with the exception of Bell, have NYC connections as well). This approach yields many surprising and unexpected connections as well as much that that proceeds in due course.
The Best American Comics 2009	Dash Shaw, Koren Shadmi, David Sandlin, Ron Regé and more ...	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$20.00 ($22.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Charles Burns Well, Crumb is a tough act to follow, but we'll give it a shot with this star-studded anthology filled with the best and the brightest from the last twelve months of comics, as judged by Charles Burns. In a book like this, we feel that the contributor list says it best: Doug Allen, Peter Bagge, Gabrielle Bell, Matt Broersma, Daniel Clowes, Al Columbia, Robert Dennis Crumb, Sammy Harkham, Tim Hensley, Gilbert Hernandez, Kevin Huizenga, Ben Katchor, Kaz, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Michael Kupperman, Jason Lutes, Tony Millionaire, Jerry Moriarty, Anders Nilsen, Gary Panter, Laura Park, Mimi Pond, Ron Regé, David Sandlin, Koren Shadmi, Dash Shaw, Art Spiegelman, Ted Stearn, Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki, Adrian Tomine, Chris Ware, Dan Zettwoch. 'Nuff said. Well, actually, we can't help but add that while the material contained in this anthology is absolutely fabulous, the quality of its reproduction is, mysteriously, not up to the same standard as the three previous volumes in this series, which were excellent in that department. This shouldn't stop anyone from picking up this fine volume, but it is worrisome. Let's hope that this was a one time aberration and that next year we'll find the fine folks at Houghton Mifflin have figured out what went wrong and put things in the production department back on track.
The Toon Treasury of Classic Children's Comics	Walt Kelly, Bob Bolling, John Stanley, Harvey Kurtzman and more ...	Abrams ComicArts		$35.00 ($40.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Art Spiegelman and Francois Mouly If the amazing kids' comics from the halycon days of yore are your thing, then you've hit the jackopot with this one! Well over 300 pages of classics, all scanned from the original comics themselves, and printed at approximately 120% of the originals. These scans have been digitally cleaned up a bit, so there's no newsprint background tones, just the flat white paper that they're printed on. While this might upset some purists, it was probably a good call as this book is clearly going to be marketed as a gift for children as well as for older fans, and lay people will have difficulty appreciating the nuances of newsprint; and they did a more than decent job of balancing the tones. The book is, somewhat arbitrarily, divided into five sections: Hey, Kids; Funny Animals; Fantasyland; Storytime; and Weird and Wacky. The book successfully draws across the spectrum of children's comics from the twenty years following the close of the second world war – the golden age of kids' comics that fed the baby boomers' imaginations before television took over. While certainly no one is going to agree with every choice, the editors – along with the board of advisors – picked a good crop of comics that is certain to contain favorites of every fan as well as win the hearts of every reader and, more importantly, is sure to capture the imagination of the next generation. Includes work by all-time greats Carl Barks, Basil Wolverton, Harvey Kurtzman, John Stanley, Bob Bolling, Walt Kelly, and many, many more (even Dr. Seuss, who started out in comics). Get a sneak peek, here (just click on the image of the open book at the top right, under "Sample Toon Treasury").
Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume Two	David Mazzuchelli, Leif Goldberg, Brian Chippendale, Elinore Norflus and more ...	Yale University Press		$20.00 ($28.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Ivan Brunetti It's too early to say for certain, but this follow-up to Brunetti's already classic 2006 anthology, also published by Yale University Press, might just be even better than its precursor. One thing's for certain: Brunetti has held onto -- and further refined -- his editorial vision of arranging the work contained in this volume in an organic sequence, deftly managing to map out the similarities between artists so that each piece flows smoothly into into the other, creating an amazing sense of an innate connectivity between all areas of comics here on display. This book is a powerful ally in the struggle to bring the light of comics to those poor souls still dwelling in the darkness. It's the perfect choice to turn on a friend or relative to the joy, beauty and pleasures of our favorite medium. Hold onto your hats, here's the contributor list: Daniel Clowes, Saul Steinberg, Sammy Harkham, Chris Ware, R. Sikoryak, Michael Kupperman, Drew Friedman, Mark Beyer, Mack White, Jayr Pulga, Renee French, Kim Deitch, Richard Sala, J. Bradley Johnson, Archer Prewit, Anonymous (utility sketchbook), HJ Tuthill, Milt Gross, Bill Holman, Harvey Kurtzman, R.Crumb, Basil Wolverton, Art Spiegelman, Jess, John Hankiewicz, Tim Hensley, Bill Griffith, Richard McGuire, Gilbert Hernandez, Jim Woodring, David Collier, Eugene Teal, Charles Burns, Karl Wirsum, Gary Panter, Paper Rad, Fletcher Hanks, CF, Charles Forbell, Ron Rege, Jr., Winsor McCay, Matthew Thurber, Souther Salazar, Kevin Scalzo, Megan Kelso, James McShane, Laura Park, Vanessa Davis, Onsmith, Joe Matt, Jeffrey Brown, Martin Cendreda, Dave Kiersh, John Porcellino, Carrie Golus/Patrick Welch, Jessica Abel, Cole Johnson, Lynda Barry, Debbie Drechsler, Diane Noomin, Aline Kominsky-Crum, Ariel Bordeaux, Chester Brown, Anders Nilsen, Joe Sacco, Phoebe Gloeckner, Elinore Norflus, Brian Chippendale, Leif Goldberg, David Mazzuchelli, Jerry Moriarty, Ben Katchor, Frank Santoro, Dan Zettwoch, Kevin Huizenga, Harvey Pekar/R.Crumb, Carol Tyler, Maurice Vellekoop, Seth, Adrian Tomine, Jaime Hernandez & David Heatley. It's simply amazing. Comics Power! PLEASE NOTE: We feel compelled to mention that this volume includes several pieces that contain quite explicit sexual content; and while this content represents only a miniscule fraction of the total, it nevertheless renders this volume fit for ADULTS ONLY.
McSweeney's #13	Mark Beyer, Ivan Brunetti, Kaz, Art Spiegelman and more ...	McSweeney's	McSweeney's	$20.00 ($24.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Finally, it's here: the most anticipated release of 2004 (so far). Striving for objet d'art status, McSweeney's 13 comes as close as any comics release to attaining it. Starting with a dust jacket that folds out into a two sided comics poster: the outer side featuring a dense full color, 360º narrative by editor and comics fiend, Chris Ware; the inner side featuring a vaguely ceremonial (think Mayan) worshipping of the idols of comics by Gary Panter. But there's more: tucked into the folds of this dust-jacket-cum-suitable-for-framing-wall-art are two mini-comics commissioned especially for this issue; one -- in full color -- by Ron Rege, Jr., and the other in B & W (as it should be) by long time mini-master, John Porcellino. And that's just the dust jacket! Moving on to the front and back binding plates (the hard covers beneath the dust jacket), we have a hundred or so images culled from a 1936 guide to cartooning separated by a lavishly embossed spine. The end papers are by Ivan Brunetti, and feature a wallpaper of minimalistic renditions of his personal comics and cartoon hall of fame. And, finally, there is the contents of the book itself. The subject of much speculation as to whether it would be reprints or newly commissioned work, the answer is... Both! About half and half, depending on how you look at it. Here's how it breaks down: Some of the work has appeared in non-comics periodicals, but is collected herein for the first time. Under this category are Mark Beyer, Ivan Brunetti, Kaz, Art Spiegelman (although his pieces are being reprinted everywhere at this point) and some of the pieces by Chris Ware. Straight out reprints are the inclusions by Charles Burns (although the frontispiece is new), Chester Brown, Debbie Drechsler, Jaime and Gilberto Hernandez, Mark Newgarden, Archer Prewitt, Joe Sacco, Richard Sala (newly colored, however), Seth, and Adrian Tomine. New to us -- and therefore, we imagine, new to you as well -- are the works by Lynda Barry, Jeffrey Brown, Dan Clowes, David Collier, R. Crumb, Kim Deitch, Julie Doucet, David Heatley, Ben Katchor, Joe Matt, Richard McGuire, Gary Panter, some of the Chris Ware, and of course the aforementioned dust-jacket and minis. In addition to all this contemporary work, there are selections of classic and archival work sprinkled throughout: First and foremost among these is a 15-page spread on "the inventor of comics," Rodolphe Töpfler, and his first appearance in America, introduced by Chris Ware; an 80% reproduction of an original 1922 Mutt and Jeff daily strip by Bud Fisher that takes four pages to display (which gives you an idea of how big they drew comics back then!); and a nine page spread on George Herriman, introduced by Tim Samuelson and featuring Herriman's last Krazy Kat dailies, also reproduced from the originals. And, as if this weren't enough, there are two appreciations by Chris Ware, one of the abstract-expressionist-turned-representational-painter-with-a-personal-affinity-for-comics-iconography, Philip Guston, and the other of Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz. In addition there is a critical appreciation of comics from John Updike, and nostalgiac/elegiac remembrances of comics related experiences by Glen David Gold, Malachi Cohen, and Chip Kidd. The volume opens with a preface from Ira Glass, followed by an introduction by Chris Ware, who, when all is said and done, is clearly more than simply the editor of this work. This is a great piece, especially when you consider it's primary purpose: preaching to the unconverted, those countless, teeming millions out there in America and beyond who don't locate the foundation of their identity in comics. With this volume, McSweeney's begins a new ambitious distribution arrangement with Publisher's Group West in the USA and Penguin Books in the UK; thereby bringing their publications before a great many more potential readers. They couldn't have chosen a better volume to initiate this venture. Let's wish them luck.
MOME #20	Eric Reynolds, Josh Simmons, Dash Shaw, Jeffrey Tinder and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Highlights this time around include Dash Shaw's comics adaptation of an episode of "Blind Date," which provides an opportunity for some reflection on the respective formal qualities of the mediums of television and comics; the second installment of Josh Simmons's way-crazy "The White Rhinoceros":"Time and Space" by Jeffrey Tinder; "Green House" by Aidan Koch; and "Magpie Inevitability" by Nate Neal. Also on hand are works by Sara Edward-Corbett, T. Edward Bak, Conor O'Keefe, Michael Jada & Derek Can Gieson, Steven Weissman, Sergio Ponchione, Nicholas Mahler, Ted Stearn and Adam Grano. Happy twentieth issue, MOME!
MOME #19: Summer 2010	Edward Bak, Robert Goodin, Conor O'Keefe, Tim Lane and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$12.75 ($14.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Whew! This issue of MOME is a frantic roller coaster ride of graphilocity that left our mind reeling. The journey begins with this issue's bifurcated cover, which sets the stage for the lead story: the first part of Josh SImmons new serial, The White Rhinoceros. We are then treated to "The Imaginist," Olivier Schrauwen's most fully realized work to date. Next up is Gilbert Hernandez with a new tale of the one and only Roy! Then hold onto your hats for the precipitous plunge that is the tale of "Evelyn Dalton-Hoyt." Within this work's 21 tumultuous pages, author/artist, D.J. Bryant has penned a demonically deft deconstruction of "Driven to Destruction," a 1970s Steve Ditko story originally published in Haunted #4 published by Charlton Comics, that infers (with a little help from Ditko's sideline of bondage comics) a torturous sexual repression at the heart of Ditko's seventies sensibility. So as not to give anyone the wrong idea, let us be clear and state that "ED-H" is a story that is fully capable of standing on its own merits, that can (and will) be wholly appreciated without any knowledge of the work of Steve Ditko; the Ditko angle is, however, vertigo inducing to all long time fans of his work. Then we have Tim Lane's "Hitchhiker," a tale full of Lane's trademarked dark and foreboding pen and ink work, but one that takes an unexpected turn. We then take a pastoral pass through the pastel colorings of Conor O'Keefe in "Vote Lily at the Dog Show" before being put through the twisted sensibility of Robert Goodin in "The Spiritual Crisis of Carl Jung." MOME 19 then closes with the latest chapter in T. Edward Bak's Wild Man. Whew, indeed.
Art In Time: Unknown Comic Book Adventures, 1940 - 1980	Sharon Rudahl, John Thompson, Willy Mendes, Pat Boyette and more ...	Abrams ComicArts		$35.00 ($40.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited by Dan Nadel <<•>> The long awaited follow up volume to Nadel's pioneering 2006 anthology of rarely seen and under appreciated comics, Art Out of Time, has at last arrived! This time around we have a tighter focus. While much of the work contained in Art of Time originally appeared in newspapers and broadsheets, all the work contained in this volume originally appeared in comic book form between 1942 and 1980. Extending and expanding his mission to bring art world curatorial standards to comics, Nadel has provided an informative introduction to the book as a whole, along with separate one-page explanations of the underlying reasoning behind each of the thematically groupings into which the work is divided: "Demand and Supply," "Where They Were Drawing From," "It's All In the Routine," and "Expansive Palettes." The artists included here range from the golden age superhero work of H.G. Peter and Mort Meskin, through the post-WW II "atomic age" genre work of Bill Everett, Matt Fox, Jesse Marsh and Pete Morisi, and also including early work focused on hardboiled detective, Sam Hill, by the one and only Harry Lucey, who is best know for his 1960s work on Archie Comics. Another artist whose work included here ranges far from their iconic work is John Stanley, who is best known for his multi-decade run Little Lulu. Nadel has dug up a couple of obscure horror tales from 1962 that should be quite a surprise to most Stanley collectors. Also from the 1960s we have Sam Glanzman's Kona and Pat Boyette's career high, the 25 page, "Children of Doom" from 1967. Heading into the underground era we have fairly obscure yet nonetheless era-defining work from Willy Mendes and John Thompson. And, finally, on the cusp of the undergrounds and the alternative revolution that supplanted them is Sharon Rudahl's 34 page epic, The Adventures of Crystal Night, is presented here in its entirety. Essential, we say.
AX: Alternative Manga - Vol. One	Kazuichi Hanawa, Takashi Nemoto, Imiri Sakabashira, Yoshihiro Tatsumi and more ...	Top Shelf		$18.88 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited by Sean Michael Wilson <<•>> This much anticipated anthology of manga from off the beaten path premiered at SPX and is now on our shelves. It weighs in at a substantial 400 pages and contains the work of 33 artists, including the recognized figures, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Imiri Sakabashira, Takashi Nemoto and Kazuichi Hanawa, who have had books published in North America by Drawn & Quarterly, PictureBox and Ponent Mon. More important, perhaps, is the first time looks at lesser known and unknown lights of Japan's alternative manga scene, and they are on ample display here. The material in AX runs the gamut from the crudely drawn and obscenely scatalogical work of Takashi Nemoto, who makes Johnny Ryan look tame by comparison, to the cutesy cuddly Shinya Komatsu, to the super-polished works of both Keizo Miyanashi (think Paul Gulacy) and Takato Yamamoto (think Suehiro Maruo), to the jaggedly angular Otoyo Mitsuhashi and a world of variety inbetween. Sexual relations are a common thread in many, but by no means all, of the works in AX, and are plainly on disply in more than one tale, making this a definite ADULTS ONLY item.
Ghost Comics	Corinne Mucha, John Porcellino, Jeffrey Brown, Warren Craghead III and more ...	Bare Bones Press		$8.88 ($10.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited (and published) by Ed Choy Moorman <<•>> Ed Choy Moorman has managed to pull together a really interesting cross section of artists who have turned in some excellent – and, as best we can tell, previously unpublished – work in this anthology devoted to all things ghostly and benefitting RS Eden. Highlights for us were the contribuitons by John Hankiewicz and Warren Craghead III, whose works we found truly haunting. Corinne Mucha's "Dorm-Ant Spirits" was plenty of fun, and a nice follow up to her "Growing Up Haunted" from Papercutter 8. Also on hand are Jeffrey Brown, John Porcellino, Lucy Knisley, Will Dinski, Aidan Koch... and quite a few more, including one of Editor Moorman's own. Recommended!
Michael Chabon presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1	Howard Chaykin, Michael Chabon, Glen David Gould, Bill Sienkiewicz and more ...	Dark Horse		$9.95 ($17.95 list)
Read more and comment...	This collects the entirety of the first two issues of the comic book of the same name. The page size of this volume is a bit smaller than the comic books. However, this edition sports new front and back covers by Mr. Chris Ware, more than making up for it. 160 pages; full color throughout.
Study Group 12 #4	Theo Ellsworth, Jim Rugg, Dan Zettwoch, Edward Bak and more ...	Study Group	Study Group 12	$20.00 ($20.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Zack Soto After, what? five years? we have another issue of Study Group 12. This one is the grandest yet. 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" , with 72 pages printed in navy blue, eight extra pages with an additional layer of magenta, and then all wrapped up in a hand silk-screened cover in aqua and pink. This package holds quite a lot of talent. Creators included in this issue are Theo Ellsworth, Jim Rugg, Dan Zettwoch, T Edward Bak, Richard Hahn, John Vermilyea, Michael DeForge, Vanessa Davis, Farel Dalrymple, Aidan Koch, and plenty more. The front cover is by editor, Zack Soto; back cover by Mr. DeForge, and endpapers by the esteemed Steven Weissman. This is a hand-numbered edition of 500 copies.
Closed Caption Comics #9	Ryan Cecil Smith, Molly O'Connell, Lane Milburn, Noel Freibert and more ...	Self-published	Closed Caption Comics	$20.00 ($20.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Here's the latest anthology from the loose-knit collective of comics crafters that coalesced a few years back in and around the arts community centered on MICA. CCC9 is by far the most substantial volume yet and comes to us in a squarebound 6" x 9" tradeback format and weighs in at close to 200 pages! All the usual suspects are on hand: Ryan Cecil Smith, Molly O'Connell, Lane Milburn, Noel Freibert, Conor Stechschulte, Molly Goldstrom and Erin Womack; and, there are as well the works of new-to-us contributors of Andrew Neyer, Chris Day, Pete Razon Zach Hazard Vaupen. This is a vital group producing work that is not only well worth paying attention to, but, for the most part, also quite enjoyable as well. CCC9 is limited to a mere 500 copies, so you might want to consider prioritizing this one.
Actus presents Dead Herring Comics	Art Spiegelman	Actus Tragicus		$22.22 ($24.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Those of you who have been sitting on the fence about Actus can finally get off it as they have finally hit the nail on the head with this one. It's a 120 page oversize (9" x 12") softcover in the tradition of Raw and the D & Q Annuals, with a pinch of the old Mad Magazine Super Specials thrown in in the form of six detachable posters. It's mostly full color, but there are several B & W pieces as well. Worthy of special note is the six pages of full color "In the Shadow of No Towers" strips by Art Spiegelman, and the first english language interview we've ever seen with Japanese manga master, Suehiro Maruo. The rest of the issue is filled with contributions from the regular Actus gang, most if not all of whom are based in Israel and Europe; and it really isn't hype when we say that this issue represents their best work so far. Definitely worth a look.
Kus: The Baltic Comics Magazine #7	Matthew Thurber, John Porcellino	Biedriba Grafiskie Stasti	Kus	$8.00 ($8.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Ever wondered what comics might look like if they had the backing of a national government along with a few private foundations? Well, wonder no more! Kus receives support from the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation as well as a rotating group of foundations, and it shows. These anthologies are fabulously produced in full color on nice, heavy, off white newsprint. They look and feel great, and they're modestly priced, even though they've had to travel here to Copacetic all the way from the Baltic state of Latvia. Most of the work in these issues is by European artists that we are not familiar with, but there are also a few familiar faces, such as John Porcellino, who gets a chance to strut his stuff in full color in #7, as does Matthew Thurber. Check this out when you get the chance. Oh yeah: despite the fact that these are published in Latvia, all the comics are in English, the language of global commerce. (96 pages; 6" x 9")
Kus: The Baltic Comics Magazine #8		Biedriba Grafiskie Stasti	Kus	$8.00 ($8.00 list)
Read more and comment...	(112 pages; 6" x 9")
Sidewalk Bump	Dave Kiersh, John Porcellino, Dan Moynihan			$5.00 OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	This new anthology edited by the creator of Mreow Comics classics such as Why I Like Bugs and The Moon Catching is entirely devoted to stories about skateboarding!!! This hand-made mini featuring a full-color cover on textured stock ans B&W interior is a true small press edition and is limited supply. Contributors include John Porcellino, Dave Kiersh, Leslie Kleinberg and, of course, Moynihan himself. Get it before it's gone!
Mineshaft #21	R. Crumb, Mary Fleener, Ed Piskor	Self-published	Mineshaft	$6.25 ($6.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	A counter-culture zine of comics and more that is still going strong. This issue features a front cover and five sketchbook pages by R. Crumb, a swell 4-page comics-bio of that beatnikita, Diane di Prima by Harvey Pekar and Mary Fleener, a selection of fine pen and ink drawings along with commentary by their creator, William Crook, Jr., Bill Griffith's 3-panel revelation of "How I Got My Start in the Comics Business!!" a back cover and more by Cristoph Mueller, and a "Sunday" page by Jay Lynch and Pittsburgh's own Ed Piskor describing an afternoon with the one and only Chester Gould. Plus plenty more!
Mineshaft #25	R. Crumb	Self-published	Mineshaft	$7.00 ($7.00 list)
Read more and comment...
Mineshaft #24	R. Crumb, Mary Fleener	Self-published	Mineshaft	$6.95 ($6.95 list)
Read more and comment...
Diamond Comics #2	Jason Leivian	Floating World Comics	Diamond Comics	$3.00 ($3.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Edited by Jason Levian and published by the fine folks at Floating World Comics – also located in Pittsburgh's west coast sister-city, Portland, OR – Diamond Comics has nothing whatsoever to do with the comics distribution behemoth of the same name (except, perhaps, a satiric jab), but is, rather, an excellent tabloid newspaper comics publication that provides a refreshingly bracing outlet/showcase for comics work that is focused on visual impact. #5 is the first ALL full-color issue, yet it remains priced at the super-value price of $3.00 that held through the first four issues (all of which have full-color covers and centerfolds). Artists featured in the latest issue include Benjamin Marra, Panayuitus Terzis, Michael DeForge and plenty more. Previous issues feature such contributors as Al Columbia (whose amazing full color centerspread for #4 is worth the price of admission), Dame Darcy, Jason Overby, Aidan Koch, Blaise Larmee, Dunja Jankovic, Josh Simmons, Marko Turunen, Nathan Fox, Luke Ramsay and many, many others! This newspaper is funded, at least in part, by a Kick Starter grant, which, presumably, enabled the full color printing. Check these out! BACK IN STOCK
Diamond Comics #3	Jason Leivian	Floating World Comics	Diamond Comics	$3.00 ($3.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Edited by Jason Leivian and published by the fine folks at Floating World Comics – also located in Pittsburgh's west coast sister-city, Portland, OR – Diamond Comics has nothing whatsoever to do with the comics distribution behemoth of the same name (except, perhaps, a satiric jab), but is, rather, an excellent tabloid newspaper comics publication that provides a refreshingly bracing outlet/showcase for comics work that is focused on visual impact. #5 is the first ALL full-color issue, yet it remains priced at the super-value price of $3.00 that held through the first four issues (all of which have full-color covers and centerfolds). Artists featured in the latest issue include Benjamin Marra, Panayuitus Terzis, Michael DeForge and plenty more. Previous issues feature such contributors as Al Columbia (whose amazing full color centerspread for #4 is worth the price of admission), Dame Darcy, Jason Overby, Aidan Koch, Blaise Larmee, Dunja Jankovic, Josh Simmons, Marko Turunen, Nathan Fox, Luke Ramsay and many, many others! This newspaper is funded, at least in part, by a Kick Starter grant, which, presumably, enabled the full color printing. Check these out!
MOME #15	Dash Shaw, Nicolas Mahler, Josh Simmons, T. Edward Bak and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$13.75 ($14.99 list)
Read more and comment...	<<• edited by Eric Reynolds •>> We are sad to announce that this is the penultimate issue of MOME. Highlights this time around must start off with a new Tom Kaczynski tale, "The Cozy Apocalypse." Also notable are a full-color two-pager by Lilli Carré, a nifty-in-a-very-dark-way three-pager by Jon Adams, the highly Hankiewicz-esque cover story by Sara Edward-Corbett, along with new work by Steve Weissman, Kurt Wolfgang, Josh Simmons (2!), T. Edward Bak, Nicolas Mahler, Dash Shaw, Sergio Ponchione, Nate Neal, Nick Thorburn and Michael Jada & Derek Van Gieson. Savor these tales.
Bete Noire	Ludovic Debeurme, Anke Feuchtenberger, Helge Reumann , Suzy Amakane and more ...	Fantagraphics		$9.95 ($9.95 list)
Read more and comment...	<<• edited by Chris Polkki •>> Don't let the fact that some of your favorite comics anthologies are concluding their runs get you down: there's a world of comics out there waiting to be discovered. Take this swell 100-page anthology from 2005, for example. We thought it was long gone, but we stumbled on a source and so are eager to let late-comers in on this swell package of comics from around the world, with a special emphasis on the Japanese avant garde. Bête Noire features what we believe was the first North American publication of Yuichi Yokoyama, as well as works by fellow Japanese manga masters Junko Mizuno, Ichiba Daisuke, Takeshi Nemoto and Suzy Amakane. Also on hand are Helge Reumann of Switzerland, Anke Feuchtenberger of Germany, Ludovic Debeurme, Lucie Durbiano and Caroline Sury of France, as well as artists from Italy, Spain, Finland, along with Kevin Scalzo, Renée French and cover artist David Heatley from the USA. Recommended for readers of Kramers Ergot, MOME and Blood Orange (which Mr. Polkki also edited).
POOD #3	Jim Rugg, Hans Rickheit, Adam McGovern, Paolo Leandri and more ...	Big If	POOD	$4.00 ($4.50 list)
Read more and comment...	And then there's this! sixteen mammoth 16" x 22" newsprint pages in alternating full color and black & white. Each gigantic page offers up a complete work by an individual creator or creative team – 15 in all, along with one page of editorial content. There's some really worthwhile work here. First off two of the top teams in indy comics are on hand here: Jim Rugg & Brian Maruca deliver another cartoon deconstruction of US foreign policy in their latest US APE tale, "Chernobyl," while Adam McGovern & Paola Leandri splice 60's Kirbyisms onto Orphic lyrics to create a poetic comics evocation of the primal muse in "Spirit Media." Hans Rickheit brings us once again into his finely rendered dream world with "Cochlea and Eustachia." And, there's plenty more before the book closes out with two pages of full color splendor with "Zizmo and the Escapists" by Tobias Tak and "World Excursion" by Bishakh Som.
Not My Small Diary #13	Dave Kiersh, Dan Zettwoch	Self-published	Not My Small DIary	$6.00 ($6.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Not My Small Diary is a unique anthology title that has been running strong since its founding in 1996 by Delaine Derry Green, who continues as its editor and publisher. Each issue is composed of two 64-80 page volumes, and features approximately 50 different cartoonists – making for a lot of comics for your money! Beginning with #11, each issue has been dedicated to a specific theme (listed below). These issues feature a truly great variety of comics work, most of it by creators that will be unfamiliar to most readers, but much of it is nonetheless quite worthy. Each issue also features work by seasoned comics pros such as Dan Zettwoch and Dave Kiersh. #13: The Lucky/Unlucky Issue (158 pages)
Not My Small Diary #14	John Porcellino, Julia Wertz, Sarah Oleksyk, Alec Longstreth and more ...	Self-published	Not My Small DIary	$6.00 ($6.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Not My Small Diary is a unique anthology title that has been running strong since its founding in 1996 by Delaine Derry Green, who continues as its editor and publisher. Each issue is composed of two 64-80 page volumes, and features approximately 50 different cartoonists – making for a lot of comics for your money! Beginning with #11, each issue has been dedicated to a specific theme (listed below). These issues feature a truly great variety of comics work, most of it by creators that will be unfamiliar to most readers, but much of it is nonetheless quite worthy. Each issue also features work by seasoned comics pros such as Dave Kiersh, Alec Longstreth, Sarah Oleksyk, Julia Wertz and John Porcellino! #14: The Dating Issue (138 pages)
Not My Small Diary #15	John Porcellino, Dave Kiersh	Self-published	Not My Small DIary	$6.00 ($6.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Not My Small Diary is a unique anthology title that has been running strong since its founding in 1996 by Delaine Derry Green, who continues as its editor and publisher. Each issue is composed of two 64-80 page volumes, and features approximately 50 different cartoonists – making for a lot of comics for your money! Beginning with #11, each issue has been dedicated to a specific theme (listed below). These issues feature a truly great variety of comics work, most of it by creators that will be unfamiliar to most readers, but much of it is nonetheless quite worthy. Each issue also features work by seasoned comics pros such as Dave Kiersh and John Porcellino. #15: Brushes with Celebrity (140 pages)
The Ganzfeld #4	C. F., Paper Rad, David Sandlin, Frank Santoro and more ...	PictureBox	The Ganzfeld	$25.00 ($29.95 list)
Read more and comment...	The Ganzfeld No. 4: Art History? Two years in the making, the latest issue of the Ganzfeld is finally on our shelves! It starts out with a wraparound cover and end papers by the high priestess of Canadian comics, Julie Doucet, and doesn't let up . After the lead off introductions by editor, Dan Nadel and artist extraordinaire, Peter Blegvad, the book is divided up into four sections of approximately equal length. In the first, Art History, you'll discover a lot that you hadn't know that you needed to know but will be glad to learn, including the secret history of the enigmatic cover art for Led Zeppelin's Presence that's always been a nagging question mark lurking in a back alley of your consciousness ever since you first saw it back in 1976. Next up is Drawings, by the recognized hepsters Gary Panter and Mark Newgarden, as well as others whose art you are far less likely to have previously come into contact with; but now will! Artists on Art is an intriguing, highly engaging and fairly unique feature which presents artists on art in art: David Sandlin's 18-page, lushly colored piece on H.C. Westermann is a tour de force of admiration, while Marc Bell's Ph.D.-thesis-in-comics-form provides a fresh, delightful and direct access to the work of Philip Guston that will be much appreciated by many. And then, finally, there's the Comics. This section starts off, semi-miraculously, with a six-page walking tour of Pittsburgh, both real and dreamed -- as a place on the map and as a state of mind -- by peripatetic former resident, Frank Santoro, and continues with fine work by Paper Rad, Leif Goldberg, Ted Stearn, Matthew Thurber, Jim Drain, Mark Newgarden, and a wild and wooly journey to the center of the mind by "C.F." The centerpiece is the amazing 22-page, "Ganmodoki," a piece from the late, surrealist period of Japanese manga legend, Shigeru Sugiura. And there you have it.
Art Out of Time	Dan Nadel			$40.00 ($45.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This is an awesome new book of amazing, little seen and hard to find classic comics. These are high quality reproductions of complete stories here, taken right from the original sources; not single page "examples" folowed by lots of text "explaining" them. No! Author Dan Nadel employs his vast knowledge of the outer reaches of comics to introduce and put in context the pieces this volume contains, and then steps aside and lets the work speak for itself. This is the real deal. Make sure to check this one out! Click here to learn more.
Tin House: The Graphic Issue	Tom Tomorrow, Graham Rawle, Daniel Raeburn, Zak Smith and more ...	Tin House Magazine		$13.45 ($14.95 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Technically the first issue of the eighth volume of this funky yet respected journal of comtemporary arts and literature, this is the first issue (to our knowledge) that is devoted to all things comics. The group responsible for this issue bring a fresh, savvy, and somewhat outsiderish perspective to the wonderful world of comics and that world is a better place for it. We start off with a cover by the one and only Lynda Barry that serves as a preview of what's to come: not only an interview with the estimable Ms. Barry, but an eight page essay-on-art-in-art (Barry's own unique comics/collage hybrid) that is truly a one-of-a-kind piece that is simultaneously a feast for the eyes and mind. This piece alone is -- in our opinion -- worth the price of admission. But, there is much else to recommend this issue besides. Such as: learning that authors Michael Chabon, Jonathan Lethem, Chris Offutt and Luc Sante not only still have the comics they drew as children, but they're willing to have them printed in a nationally distributed magazine, and,when you're ready to handle it, they're hiding here in plain sight. While we're in the fan zone, this is an opportune time to mention long-suffering DC artist Karl Kessel's contribution -- a heartfelt appreciation of Jack Kirby's relatively unheralded creation, The Challengers of the Unknown (the entirety of which, by the way, was just collected by DC in the latest volume of their Showcase Presents series; yes, we have it in stock), which Kirby created for DC immediately before moving to Marvel to create The Fantastic Four with Stan Lee. But there's way more, starting with an amazing selection of excerpts, from: Marjane Satrapi's latest, Chicken with Plums; Martin Lemelman's upcoming graphic memoir, Mendel's Daughter; Zak Smith's insane project illustrating Thomas Pynchon's masterpiece, Gravity's Rainbow; Daniel Raeburn's fascinating historical survey of Mexican comics; and Graham Rawle's upcoming novel, Woman's World that is ENTIRELY composed (the editors say "assembled") out of cut and pasted exerpts from women's magazines -- and this is old school cut-and-paste we're talking about here, these excerpts are physically cut and pasted so you see the original fonts and X-acto cut strips laid side by side, making this a work of collage as well. OK, I guess we've got to stop, but there's really quite a bit more including a new Tom Tomorrow, storyboards for an upcoming Dylan biopic, not to mention the regular fiction and poetry features. Check this issue out, it's a bargain!
S! – Baltic Comics Magazine #5		Biedriba Grafiskie Stasti	S!	$6.00 ($6.00 list)
Read more and comment...	(80 pages; 4 1/2" x 6")
S! – Baltic Comics Magazine #6		Biedriba Grafiskie Stasti	S!	$4.50 ($4.50 list)
Read more and comment...	(60 pages; 4 1/2" x 6")
S! – Baltic Comics Magazine #4		Biedriba Grafiskie Stasti	S!	$6.00 ($6.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Ever wondered what comics might look like if they had the backing of a national government along with a few private foundations? Well, wonder no more! S!, along with its sibling publication Kus, receives support from the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation as well as a rotating group of foundations, and it shows. These anthologies are fabulously produced in full color on nice, heavy, off white newsprint. They look and feel great, and they're modestly priced, even though they've had to travel here to Copacetic all the way from the Baltic state of Latvia. Most of the work in these issues is by European artists that we are not familiar with, but there are also a few familiar faces. Oh yeah: despite the fact that these are published in Latvia, all the comics are in English, the language of global commerce. (80 pages; 4 1/2" x 6")
S! – Baltic Comics Magazine #7: Forest Tales	Michael DeForge, Derek Ballard, Pat Aulisio	Biedriba Grafiskie Stasti	S!	$8.00 ($8.50 list)
Read more and comment...	Yikes! Yet another forest-themed comics anthology! What does it mean?! Straight out of Latvia, this pint-sized powerhouse is 98 pages of full color comics from around the world – but with a very strong accent on the Baltic States. North Americans on hand are Pat Aulisio, Derek Ballard and Michael DeForge, whose 4-page "New Signal" is quite the eye-opener.
Diamond Comics #5	Michael DeForge, Jason Leivian, Benjamin Marra, Panayuitus Terzis and more ...	Floating World Comics	Diamond Comics	$3.00 ($3.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Edited by Jason Leivian and published by the fine folks at Floating World Comics – also located in Pittsburgh's west coast sister-city, Portland, OR – Diamond Comics has nothing whatsoever to do with the comics distribution behemoth of the same name (except, perhaps, a satiric jab), but is, rather, an excellent tabloid newspaper comics publication that provides a refreshingly bracing outlet/showcase for comics work that is focused on visual impact. #5 is the first ALL full-color issue, yet it remains priced at the super-value price of $3.00 that held through the first four issues (all of which have full-color covers and centerfolds). Artists featured in the latest issue include Benjamin Marra, Panayuitus Terzis, Michael DeForge and plenty more. Previous issues feature such contributors as Al Columbia (whose amazing full color centerspread for #4 is worth the price of admission), Dame Darcy, Jason Overby, Aidan Koch, Blaise Larmee, Dunja Jankovic, Josh Simmons, Marko Turunen, Nathan Fox, Luke Ramsay and many, many others! This newspaper is funded, at least in part, by a Kick Starter grant, which, presumably, enabled the full color printing. Check these out! BACK IN STOCK!
Blood Orange #1	Kevin Huizenga	Fantagraphics	Blood Orange	$5.95 ($5.95 list)
Read more and comment...	Here it is, the first issue of the new anthology title from Fantagraphics that we've been patiently awaiting. Edited by Chris Polkki, this issue features work by a host of talent including Rick Altergott, Michael Kupperman, Lauren Weinstein, David Collier, Marc Bell, Ron Rege Jr., John Hankiewicz, Kevin Huizenga and many others. Don't miss this one! BACK IN STOCK!
Blood Orange #3	Ben Jones, Anders Nilsen, Jeffrey Brown	Fantagraphics	Blood Orange	$5.95 ($5.95 list)
Read more and comment...	The highlight of this, the latest installment of Fantagraphics' quarterly anthology title featuring far out and fabulous comics by some of the best of the current crop of adventurous cartoonists, is an eleven page romp by Jeffrey Brown that is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit with anyone who enjoys his work. Also worthy of note is "The Mediocrity Principle," a six page story by Anders Nilsen that is of a piece with his contribution to Kramers Ergot 5 (see below). Other contributors to this issue are: Pakito Bolino, Ben Jones, Favio Zimbres , Alex Baladi, Caroline, Surym Renee Frenchm Olaf Ladousse, Nicolas Mahler , Scott Teplin and Ulf K. BACK IN STOCK!
Bound & Gagged	Andrice Arp, Marc Bell, Chris Cilla, Michael DeForge and more ...	Self-published		$10.00 ($10.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> curated by Tom Neely <<•>> This compendium of 71 single-panel gag cartoons from the world of independent comics is a genuine goldmine of unique comics work. Who's in this comical compendium? Well, hold on to your hats for this partial list: Andrice Arp, Marc Bell, Chris Cilla, Michael DeForge, Kim Deitch, Theo Ellsworth, Robert Goodin, Juliacks, Kaz, Anders Nilsen, Jason Overby, John Porcellino (whose lead-off contribution had us wondering if perhaps he hadn't missed his calling as a New Yorker cartoonist), Jesse Reklaw, Zak Sally, Josh Simmons, Matthew Thurber, Noah Van Sciver, Dylan Williams, Chris Wright and more!!! In full color and black & white. Anyone who misses out on this will be kicking themselves for years to come. Don't let yourself be one of them!
Root Rot	Anne Koyama, Michael DeForge, Dan Zettwoch, Hellen Jo and more ...	Koyama Press		$12.00 ($12.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Here's another forest themed book. This all-new anthology contains 16 two-page spreads by 16 different artists including Dan Zettwoch, Hellen Jo, T. Edward Bak, John Vermilyea and Joseph Lambert – roughly 2/3 comics and 1/3 illustration – along with a wraparound cover by co-editor DeForge. Beautifully printed on heavy, flat white stock. Another fine Koyama Press publication. BACK IN STOCK.
Diamond Comics #6	Lane Milburn, Jonny Negron, Paul Pope, Zack Soto and more ...	Floating World Comics	Diamond Comics	$3.75 ($4.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	<<• edited by Jason Leivian •>> This full color newspaper jammed with comics is from the fine folks at Floating World Comics in Portland, OR. This time around we start off with a wraparound cover by none other than Mr. Paul Pope, who also contributes a page along with, among others, Farel Dalrymple, Sam Hiti, Jonny Negron, Lane Milburn, Dash Shaw, Zack Soto and Pittsburgh's own Jim Rugg! Sadly, this issue is, according to the idicia, the last. Don't let that stop you from enjoying it; just take your time... TEMPORARIY OUT OF STOCK.
Papercutter #15	Drew Weing, Jonas Madden-Conner, Melinda Boyce, MK Reed and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Greg Means Yes, it's time for another issue of our favorite regularly published comic book anthology! Jonas Madden-Conner leads off this issue with a seventeen page excursion into mathematics, history and fable with the curiosity-inducing (and grammatically challenging) title, "The Most Gripping Mind-Exploding Triumphantly Electric of Our Time." This is followed by "My Two Front Teeth," a six page childhood reminiscence by Melinda Boyce. The issue concludes with "My Boyfriend... or My Kitty?" in which a common dilemma is given a neo-classic romance comics treatment. Written by MK Reed, this story features Drew Weing's finest art to date. It looks like he's hit his stride here. Don't miss it!
Papercutter #13	Jonas Madden-Connor, Tim Root, Matt Weigle	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.60 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Well, in continuing our stream of consciousness free association, we will segue from one ambitious Portland, OR comics project to another: namely the little-engine-that-could of comics anthologies, Papercutter – which brings a further association in that it is now, like Grixly, on its thirteenth issue. This issue features: "The Orphan Baiter," a 19-page detailed period piece by Matt Weigle; "Heroes Drink Schmutz," a 10-page look at life through the blurred vision of alcohol, THC and firearms by Tim Root; and finishes up with "Champ/Ulysses," a 3-pager that is a nice formal piece on fighting by Jonas Madden-Connor. Edited by Greg Means
Papercutter #12	Nate Powell, Joey Alison Sayers, Rachel Bormann, Mark Campos and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	The cover story in this, the twelfth issue of our favorite regularly published comic book anthology, is a 16-pager scripted by Rachel Bormann (Cakewalk) with art chores handled by none other than Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole)! It presents an extremely subjective account of attending a Santana concert, titled, "The Uncomfortable Gaze of Carlos Santana." Also in this issue we have, "Pet Cat," a very funny and wickedly wise history of the fictional comic strip "Oh No, Pet Cat" by the one and only Joey Alison Sayers, the funniest transgender cartoonist we know. We always have long looked forward to loading up on laughs with the latest collection of her webcomic, thingpart each year at SPX, and now, with this six-pager, Papercutter readers can share in the laughter. This issue closes out with a funny animal fable by Mark Campos and Dalton Webb.
Papercutter #8	Jeremy Tinder, Elijah Brubaker, Corinne Mucha	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue features a wide range of material. The cover and lead feature are by Corinne Mucha (My Alaskan Summer) who tells the story about a time in her life when she was haunted by a coven of traveling witches. Jeremy Tinder (Black Apple Ghost Factory) cuts loose with a story about a man embarking on the craziest night of his life. Elijah Brubaker (Reich) returns to Papercutter to share a glimpse at the coolest kids in high school. Additional art by Nate Beaty.
Unicorn Mountain, Volume 2	Curt Gettman, Frank Santoro, Juliacks, Paulette Poullet and more ...	Self-published	Unicorn Mountain	$12.00 ($15.00 list)
Read more and comment...	As the cover states, this is a compendium of comics, writing and music. Edited once again by Curt Gettman, this time around Unicorn Mountain is a chunky 206-page squarebound squareformat anthology printed in umber ink on flat white paper of (mostly) Pittsburgh culture that contains an eclectic 21-track CD, all for less than the prie of the average stand-alone CD! Made possible in part by a grant from the seemingly omnipresent Sprout Fund, this issue is a big step up from the first issue. Highlights include "Thousands of Mistakes" by Frank Santoro, "Niran and Theola" by Curt Gettman and Owl Kahol Systems (a pseudonym for a local comics artist), "Like Lace" by JULIACKS, "Rock & You" by Paulette Poullet, a two-page untitled piece by Brian Maruca and Jim Rugg of Street Angel fame, and a fistful of untitled illustrations by Paper Rad. The material on the CD ranges far and wide and includes new tunes by Modey Lemon, Oneida, Ex-Models, Elf Power and Pink Mountaintops. The Karl Hendricks Rock Band's "The Last Uncompromising Hardcore Band" will have you tapping your toes and singing along before you even realize it.
MOME #22	Kurt Wolfgang, Tom Kaczynski, Joe Kimball, Eleanor Davis and more ...	Fantagraphics	MOME	$17.77 ($19.99 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Eric Reynolds Say it isn't true! Sadly, this is the end of the road for the most innovative and challenging regularly published English language comics anthology of the twenty-first century. But they're going out with a bang! MOME 22 is a wallopin' 240-page double issue that is a veritable gathering of MOME alumni (along with some notable last-minute newcomers) featuring 30 artists, including Kurt Wolfgang, Tom Kaczynski, Joe Kimball, Eleanor Davis, Anders Nilsen, Tim Hensley, Paul Hornschemeier, Gabrielle Bell, Zak Sally, Jesse Moynihan, Malachi Ward, James Romberger, Nick Drnaso, Joseph Lambert, Nick Thorburn, Victor Kerlow, Jim Rugg, Chuck Forsman, Sergio Ponchione, Steven Weissman, Sara Edward-Corbett, Laura Park, Josh Simmons, Derek Van Gieson (with collaborator Michael Jada), Tim Lane, Nate Neal, Lilli Carré, T. Edward Bak, Dash Shaw, Ted Stearn and Noah Van Sciver. Whew! Get a heaping helping of PDF preview, here.
Papercutter #16	Greg Means, Liz Prince, Joey Alison Sayers, Alexis Frederick-Frost and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$3.50 ($4.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This issue leads off with "Professor Pearson," by Joey Alison Sayers: an epic of despair in the form of a 20-page comics story about a junior high school teacher who loses his mind (did we neglect to mention that it is, as with all work by Sayers, quite funny?) Also on hand are a two-page by Liz Prince, "Endless Lizcation," and "A Good Catch," a ten-pager depicting a slice of life that is red in tooth and claw by Alexis Frederick-Frost. Papercutter delivers yet again.
A Graphic Cosmogony	Stuart Kolakovic, Mikkel Sommers, Alex Spiro, Paul Gravett and more ...	NoBrow		$38.00 ($38.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited by Alex Spiro; introduction by Paul Gravett <<•>> art by Stuart Kolakovic, Mikkel Sommers, Brecht Vandenbroucke, Luke Best, Rob Hunter, Jon McNaught, Ben Newman, Andrew Rae, Luke Pearson, Jack Teagle, Jon Boam, Jakob Hindrichs, Clayton Junior, Daniel Locke, Isabel Greenberg, Mike Bertino, Nick White, Rui Tenreiro, Sean Hudson, Luc Melanson, Katia Fouquet, Yeji Yun, Matthew Lyons & Liesbeth De Stercke <<•>> The fine folks at the London-based NoBrow Ltd. have produced their first anthology, and it's a doozy! Editor, Alex Spiro has assembled twenty-four artists and, with a nod to The Book of Genesis, asked each of them to "take on seven pages to tell their tales of the creation of everything." As those who are familiar with the NoBrow works on display here at Copacetic already know, their publications are finely crafted and produced in an engaged, hands-on manner, in keeping with the company's stated aim "to place a renewed focus on quality in print." The company maintains a special focus on hand-separated planes of flat color that gives their entire catalogue a wholly unique feel, and now, with A Graphic Cosmogony, they have produced an amazing 176 page hardcover volume – by a large margin the most ambitious assemblage they have yet to produce – that will pop your eyes out and knock your socks off! It's hot off the press and it's here. Check it out.
Gazetta: Comics from Belgrade to Bangkok	Ron Regé, Dylan Horrocks, Amanda Vähämäki	gazetta		$15.00 ($15.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This international anthology of comics from around the world has much to recommend it both in terms of scope and quality. Cover artist Ron Rege, Jr.'s contribution is the first publication of his latest project, Cartoon Utopia. Here he is producing what are, in effect, sermonistic lectures in spritual psychology (or, perhaps, lecturistic sermons on pyschological spirituality) in comics form; whatever one might decide to call them, they are both uniquely fascinating and uplifting, and, really, are worth the price of admission. The Dylan Horrocks, the first new work by him we've read since we don't know when (what? Atlas #3, was it?), is so good that it makes us mad that this is all we get. Dylan's work has been so sporadic over the last decade that we suspect that there are plenty of folks out there who aren't familiar with his work. If you fit this description, then you should change your status with all due speed, and picking this up might just be the ticket. Then there are the two! – count them – contributions by Finland's greatest export, Amanda Vähämäki, rendered in her trademarked delicate yet precise pencils. The remainder of the contributions are all quite worthy, and will have readers asking themselves why they haven't seen work by these creators before and/or where they can find more: Belkis Ayón from Havana; Edmund Baudoin from Paris; Igor Hofbauer from Zagreb; André Lemos from Lisbon; Aleksander Opacic from Belgrade; Maurizio Ribichini from Rome; and Sam Seen from Bangkok. Recommended!
Sundays #4	Lydia Conklin, Damien Jay, Max de Radigués, Mari Ahokoivu and more ...	Self-published	Sundays	$12.75 ($15.00 list)
Read more and comment...	It looked for awhile that we weren't going to be able to lay our hands on any of these, but thanks to trusty Tony Shenton, we snagged a handful before they went the way of the Dodo. Limited to 300 copies, this horizontally formatted anthology of super indy comics was printed and bound at The Center for Cartoon Studies and sports a hand pulled silk screen cover drawn by Damien Jay and pulled by Alex Kim and Joseph Lambert. Here's its contributor list: Mickey Z, Jeff Lok, Ed Piskor, Warren Craghead III, Aaron Cockle, Melissa Mendes, Joseph Lambert, Mark Burrier, Alex Kim, David Libens, Ariyana Suvarnasuddhi, Dane Martin, Julie Delporte, Michael DeForge, Sean Ford, Samuel C. Gaskin, Scott Longo, Jose-Luis Olivares, Mari Ahokoivu, Max de Radigués, Damien Jay, Lydia Conklin. Whew! Grab it before it's gone!
Gay Genius	Anne Murphy, Edie Fake	Sparkplug Comic Books		$17.00 ($20.00 list)
Read more and comment...	Gay Genius is the latest, and possibly last, anthology from from venerable independent comics publisher, Sparkplug Comics, founded and run by Dylan Williams, an independent comics hero if there ever was one, who passed away on September 10, 2011. "A showcase of contemporary radical queer visionaries-to-watch-out-for," Gay Genius is a squarebound softcover that runs 144 pages, most of which are in full color, and features twenty pieces that range from straight forward comics to collage to illustrated prose to unique combinations of these, all in celebration of the title theme. Edited by Anne Murphy; cover by Edie Fake.
Typewriter #6	Nick Bertozzi, Kurt Wolfgang, Dylan Williams, Nicolas Robel and more ...	Self-published		$9.00 ($10.00 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited and published by David Youngblood <<•>> One of the highlights of the 2003 SPX, and one of the best anthologies of the year, this 160 page squarebound volume features a lot of great work by a lot of great people like Souther Salazar, Sammy Harkham, Josh Simmons, Kurt Wolfgang, Farel Dalrymple, Dylan Williams, Marc Bell, Paul Hornschemeier, Nick Bertozzi, and Pittsburgh's own Jim Rugg, among many others! The concept with this issue is that each story must begin with the sentence that the previous story ended with. This is one of the best out there: small press, community building, unique, original and good. Long out of print, but we just discovered that we have a secret stash! 2003 • 160 pages • B & W
Rabid Rabbit #8	David Sandlin			$5.00 ($6.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	This is a nice anthology series out of New York City that we somehow missed out on, until now. We suspect the contributor list is populated in part by current and former students of SVA (as well as at least one instructor, David Sandlin). This is a good thing. The comics here, while generally focused on urban themes, are diverse in their styles and approaches. Each of these issues is devoted to a specific theme, to wit: #4 - Trash; #5 - Alphabet City; #5 - The Future; #7 - Pornography (18+ only, natch'); and #8 -- The Beatles! Issues #4 - #7 are digest size and are 36, 32, 40 & 48 pages respectively; #8 is 8 1/2" square -- and squarebound -- (to resemble a record jacket -- The White Album, in this case) and runs a big 64 pages. Learn more at: http://www.rabidrabbit.org
Rabid Rabbit #7	David Sandlin			$2.75 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	This is a nice anthology series out of New York City that we somehow missed out on, until now. We suspect the contributor list is populated in part by current and former students of SVA (as well as at least one instructor, David Sandlin). This is a good thing. The comics here, while generally focused on urban themes, are diverse in their styles and approaches. Each of these issues is devoted to a specific theme, to wit: #4 - Trash; #5 - Alphabet City; #5 - The Future; #7 - Pornography (18+ only, natch'); and #8 -- The Beatles! Issues #4 - #7 are digest size and are 36, 32, 40 & 48 pages respectively; #8 is 8 1/2" square -- and squarebound -- (to resemble a record jacket -- The White Album, in this case) and runs a big 64 pages. Learn more at: http://www.rabidrabbit.org
Rabid Rabbit #6	David Sandlin			$2.75 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	This is a nice anthology series out of New York City that we somehow missed out on, until now. We suspect the contributor list is populated in part by current and former students of SVA (as well as at least one instructor, David Sandlin). This is a good thing. The comics here, while generally focused on urban themes, are diverse in their styles and approaches. Each of these issues is devoted to a specific theme, to wit: #4 - Trash; #5 - Alphabet City; #5 - The Future; #7 - Pornography (18+ only, natch'); and #8 -- The Beatles! Issues #4 - #7 are digest size and are 36, 32, 40 & 48 pages respectively; #8 is 8 1/2" square -- and squarebound -- (to resemble a record jacket -- The White Album, in this case) and runs a big 64 pages. Learn more at: http://www.rabidrabbit.org
Rabid Rabbit #5	David Sandlin			$2.75 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	This is a nice anthology series out of New York City that we somehow missed out on, until now. We suspect the contributor list is populated in part by current and former students of SVA (as well as at least one instructor, David Sandlin). This is a good thing. The comics here, while generally focused on urban themes, are diverse in their styles and approaches. Each of these issues is devoted to a specific theme, to wit: #4 - Trash; #5 - Alphabet City; #5 - The Future; #7 - Pornography (18+ only, natch'); and #8 -- The Beatles! Issues #4 - #7 are digest size and are 36, 32, 40 & 48 pages respectively; #8 is 8 1/2" square -- and squarebound -- (to resemble a record jacket -- The White Album, in this case) and runs a big 64 pages. Learn more at: http://www.rabidrabbit.org
Rosetta 2: A Comics Anthology	Jason Lutes, R. Sikoryak, Michael Kupperman, Paul Pope and more ...			$14.95 ($19.95 list)
Read more and comment...	For readers of McSweeney's 13 looking to cast a wider net, this great 264-page anthology (with 48 pages in full color) might be the ticket. There are some exceptional new works premiering here, including a beautifully rendered mythological fable by Craig Thompson; a very interesting (think early Spiegelman) Matt Madden that is quite probably his most challenging work to date; a Jason Lutes piece that is his first non-Berlin work in quite awhile (and it's quite good); R. Sikoryak's take on the funny pages (which is very, very funny); two short pieces by Paul Pope; a nifty Jason; and a truly amazing breakthrough piece from Michael Kupperman. In addition to this, there's a great deal of work from Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. All between covers by Peter Kuper and Megan Kelso. Check it out!
Best American Comics 2006	Jesse Reklaw, Joe Sacco, Anders Nilsen, Jaime Hernandez and more ...	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$8.88 ($22.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edted by Harvey Pekar and Anne Elizabeth Moore This volume marks the first time that comics joins the well established "Best American Series." It is a surprisingly well produced book -- surprising in that it's from Houghton Mifflin, a major NY publisher, whose eyes are usually more closely set on the bottom line -- that contains a good cross-section of work published in North America in 2004 and 2005 and functions as a fine follow-up -- as a yearbook does to an encyclopedia (for those of you old enough to know what we're talking about) -- to both McSweeney's #13 -- which is clearly its inspiration -- and the just-released Brunetti-edited Yale anthology. This collection spans the generations, including new work from old-timers Kim Deitch, Gilbert Shelton and Robert Crumb, middle-agers Jaime Hernandez, Lynda Barry and Joe Sacco, and youngins' Anders Nilsen, Rebecca Dart and Jesse Reklaw, whose story, "13 Cats of My Childhood," we singled out for praise in our 2005 SPX report, when it appeared in it's original form as Couch Tag #2, stating at the time, "It is one of the best comics at this year's SPX... and deserving of a much wider audience than it will be able to find in this form." So, suffice it to say that we're quite happy to see it included here in this anthology. By far the longest piece included in this 320 page anthology, practically a graphic novella, "La Rubia Loca," by Justin Hall -- another SPX attending self-publisher -- is an engrossing story about a bunch of hippie slackers stuck on a bus tour through Mexico with a crazy woman. And keep in mind that these are just the highlights, there's plenty more. 2006 • full color • hardcover • 320 pages
Best American Comics 2008	Lynda Barry	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$8.88 ($22.00 list)
Read more and comment...	The Best American Comics 2008 edited by Lynda Barry is now on sale for only $8.88! This is a 324 page, nicely produced, hardcover volume that is chock-a-block with great comics. Starting with the amazing embossed wraparound dustjacket by Eleanor Davis, the book is cover to cover comics that are worth reading. It leads off with a ten-page introduction by editor Barry, rendered in her new What It Is collage-comics style. It then proceeds -- in alphabetical order, no less -- with a well-rounded survey of the state of American comics. Missing from previous volumes in this series was any focus on Ms. Barry's peers in the independent newsweekly world. That has been smartly rectified this time out with a nice selection of work by fellow pioneer of independent comics syndication, Matt Groening (Life In Hell), along with Alison Bechdel (Dykes To Watch Out For), Derf (The City) and Kaz (Underworld). And that's just the tip of the iceberg. We've got excerpts from some of the year's best graphic novels -- Salon by Nick Bertozzi, The Saga of the Bloody Benders by Rick Geary, Berlin: Book Two by Jason Lutes, Percy Gloom by Cathy Malkasian and American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, among others. Then we've got a one after another super solid short and medium length comics works that show a truly remarkable range. We have instant classics by established masters like Jaime Hernandez's "Gold Diggers of 1969" from Love and Rockets and Chris Ware's "Thanksgiving Series" from The New Yorker. Then we have what is probably this collection's signal strength: new work by new(er) talent: Graham Annable and Sarah Oleksyk, both from Papercutter; T. Edward Bak and Evan Larson, both from Project: Romantic; Eleanor Davis and Martin Cendreda, both from MOME; Eric Haven and Michael Kupperman from their own comics, Tales To Demolish and Tales Designed To Thrizzle, respectively; and then self-published works by Lilli Carré, Shawn Cheng and Sara Edward-Corbett, Joseph Lambert, and John Mejias. And there's more! This one is a winner. Recommended!
Best American Comics 2006	Anne Elizabeth Moore, Harvey Pekar	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$19.80 ($22.00 list)
Read more and comment...	This surprisingly -- given that it's from Houghton Mifflin, a major NY publisher, whose eyes are usually more closely set on the bottom line -- well produced book contains a good cross-section of work published in North America in 2004 and 2005 and functions as a fine follow-up to both McSweeney's #13 -- which is clearly its inspiration -- and the just-released Brunetti edited anthology reviewed above. This collection spans the generations, including new work from old-timers Kim Deitch, Gilbert Shelton and Robert Crumb, middle-agers Jaime Hernandez, Lynda Barry and Joe Sacco, and youngins' Anders Nilsen, Rebecca Dart and Jesse Reklaw, whose story, "13 Cats of My Childhood," we singled out for praise in our 2005 SPX report, when it appeared in it's original form as Couch Tag #2, stating at the time, "It is one of the best comics at this year's SPX... and deserving of a much wider audience than it will be able to find in this form." So, suffice it to say that we're quite happy to see it included here in this anthology. By far the longest piece included in this 320 page anthology, practically a graphic novella , "La Rubia Loca," by Justin Hall -- another SPX attending self-publisher -- is an engrossing story about a bunch of hippie slackers stuck on a bus tour through Mexico with a crazy woman. And keep in mind that these are just the highlights, there's plenty more.
The Best American Comics 2007	Jeffrey Brown, John Porcellino, Gabrielle Bell, Adrian Tomine and more ...	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$19.75 ($22.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Chris Ware From Lynda Barry to Dan Zettwoch and everything inbetween, this volume provides us with a a fabulous selection of excellent comics in an attractive well produced package at an affordable price. While -- as Chris Ware makes eminently clear in his excellent introduction -- it is certainly hard to make any sort of definitive argument that these are "the best" American comics of 2007, we are quite confident that no Copacetic customer will be disappointed with the 340 pages of comics herein assembled. It is true that some may find that they already own much of what appears here, but few if any will have read it all and most will discover exciting new work and be introduced to talented comics creators. Among the amazing contributors you will find, Alison Bechdel, Gabrielle Bell, Jeffrey Brown, Ivan Brunetti, Charles Burns, C.F., Robert, Aline and Sophie Crumb, Kim Deitch, Sammy Harkham, Gilbert Hernandez, Kevin Huizenga, Anders Nilsen, Gary Panter, Paper Rad, John Porcellino, Ron Regé Jr., Seth, Art Spiegelman, Adrian Tomnie, Carol Tyler and more (whew!)
Unicorn Mountain 3 – The Black Forest: A Collection of Art, Comics and Folk Tales from Western Pennsylvania and Beyond	Rina Ayuyang, Chris Cornwell, Theo Ellsworth, Juliacks and more ...	Unicorn Mountain	Unicorn Mountain	$25.00 ($29.99 list)
Read more and comment...	This is the long awaited third volume from Unicorn Mountain, published right here in Pittsburgh, PA. While lacking the musical component of the first two volumes (in other words: no CD this time around), the comics and illustration work, taken as a whole, is head and shoulders above the first two. Also worthy of note is the fact that this 228 page volume that includes the work of more than 25 local, national and international creators contains full color work for the first time – including an all-new, six-page story by Theo Ellsworth (his first in full color?). Limited to a mere 500 copies! SPECIAL OFFER: For a limited time, anyone purchasing this will receive a copy of Unicorn Mountain #1 at no extra cost! Please be aware that we only have a small quantity of Unicorn Mountain #1 available for this offer; once this supply has been exhausted, the offer ends.
The Best American Comics 2011	Alison Bechdel	Houghton Mifflin	Best American	$22.75 ($25.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Alison Bechdel This year's volume gets off to a good start with Bechdel's own illustrated introduction wherein, in addition to introducing the work that follows she meanders autobiographically and waxes philosophical in and about comics. It must mean something that this year's volume is the first in which there was a substantial amount of work that we here at Copacetic were not previously familiar with. It seems that we can no longer keep up with all the deserving work out there. As it doesn't feel like we're reading any less, the only conclusion to draw is that there's even more good work out there than we can keep up with. A good sign, indeed! The contributor list includes the essential work by those key artists whose work over the past year it is the first and foremost responsibility annual "best of" collection to present: Jaime Hernandez, Chris Ware, Joe Sacco, three of the best cartoonists of our times, did some of the best work of their career over the past year, and it is duly represented by excerpts here. Dash Shaw's Bodyworld also receives a massive excerpt here (second in length only to Sacco's), and there are about a half dozen additional excerpts, most notably from Kevin Huizenga, Jeff Smith and Ken Dahl. Then there are the short pieces, from all over, many of which – for the first time, as we noted – were new to us. Included under this category are David Lasky and Mairead Case's "Soixante Neuf," Michael DeForge's "Queen," (how did we miss this one?), cover artist Jillian Tamaki's "Domestic Men of Mystery," Eric Orner's "Weekends Abroad" and Angie Wang's sumptuous "Flower Mecha." Other great short pieces that we had already read and were glad to see here, include stories by Gabrielle Bell, John Pham, Joey Alison Sayers (from Papercutter, our favorite comic book anthology series), Noah Van Sciver, the webcomics sensation Kate Beaton and Paul Pope. And we can't leave without mentioning the six-page "Anatomy of a Pratfall" by Peter and Maria Hoey from their self-published comic book series, Coin-Op. This is a strongly Joost Swarte-inflected piece that would have been at home in Raw Magazine back in the day; it also reminds us, in its complexity, of some of Michel Gondry's more adventurous music videos. We weren't hep to Coin-Op before reading this year's Best American. Now we are; that's the idea.
Someday Funnies	Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, C.C. Beck, Wallace Wood and more ...	Abrams ComicArts		$45.00 ($55.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Michel Choquette Well, here's something you don't see everyday: a comics anthology that has been completed but unable to find a publisher for nearly forty years, finally being published! As readers of The Comics Journal #299 – the cover feature of which was an in-depth article on the history of this volume – already know, this volume had reached a legendary/mythical status. Robert Greenfield's introduction squarely situates the work contained in this volume as a document of "The Sixties," While comics critic/historian Jeet Heer's foreword provides ample context and background for the comics work the book contains as well as a chronology of its epic 40-year journey from inception to publication. We've barely dipped out toes in this majorly oversize – 11" x 17" – 216 page, full color hardcover volume containing 120 comic strips by 169 creators, so we're not going to say much about the contents at this time, but we will provide you with some of the contributors, and let you do the math: Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, C.C. Beck, Wallace Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Arnold Roth, Don Martin, Gahan Wilson, Bobby London, Trina Robbins, Vaughn Bodé, Steve Englehart, Archie Goodwin, Denny O'Neil, Ralph Reese, Alan Weiss, Herb Trimpe, Frank Zappa, Harlan Ellison, William S. Burroughs, Roy Thomas, Barry Smith (before he added Windsor) Guido Crepax, Ralph Steadman, Leo & Diane Dillon, Walter & Louise Simonson, Justin Green, Bill Griffith, Red Grooms, Russ Heath, Jay Kinney, Denis Kitchen, (a very young) Art Spiegelman, (also very young) Stan Mack, Ever Meulen, Joost Swarte, Tom Wolfe, Federico Fellini, and many, many more! Also included is a "92-drawing take on Choquette's travels by Michael Fog" that parallels and brackets the comics the volumes contains. Surprisingly (at least to us), the intent to create an interweaving bracketing tale was a component of the original volume's conception, and blank spaces were deliberately left in many of the pages at Choquette's instruction.
Nursery Rhyme Comics	Gahan Wilson, Roz Chast, Tony Millionaire, Lilli Carre and more ...	(:01) First Second		$17.77 ($19.95 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Chris Duffy This 115 page, full-size, full color collection of 50 "timeless rhymes" includes all the favorites and then some. What makes this one different? What makes it stand out from the crowd? What makes it mind-bogglingly amazing? The list of artists who created the 50 works that fill this volumedoes, that's what. It is practically a "who's who" of contemporary cartoonists that stretches around the block. We're only going to give you a baker's dozen here, just to whet your appetite: Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez (each contributing their own comics nursery rhyme), Theo Ellsworth, James Sturm, Jordan Crane, Eleanor Davis, Patrick McDonnell, Kate Beaton, Craig Thompson, Lilli Carré, Tony Millionaire, Roz Chast, Gahan Wilson... we think you get the idea. This is pretty much a guaranteed gift success story if a comics fan is involved in any capacity: whether you're giving or getting, this one has it all. And it is practically a Platonic ideal as a gift designed to sprout a love of comics in a new reader.
Government Issue Comics	Richard L Graham, Will Eisner, Milton Caniff, Al Capp and more ...	Abrams ComicArts		$17.77 ($29.99 list)
Read more and comment...	edited, compiled and annotated by Richard L Graham Government Issue Comics provides readers with a 300 page overview of over sixty years of government sponsored comics. The numerous and various branches of the US government managed, unsurprisingly, to recruit some of the top comics talent of its time, and in these pages you will find work by Will Eisner, Milton Caniff, Al Capp, Joe Kubert and Kurt Schaffenberger – and Charles Schulz, Walt Kelly, Chic Young and George McManus (and Al Wiseman!), along with a host of anonymous unknowns, all working on behalf of educating their fellow citizens on a (very) wide array of issues. Richard Graham, an associate professor and media services librarian at the University of Nebraska has put together a broad survey of this massive but under-appreciated aspect of comics history. It is organized into four categories: military; economics and employment; civil defense, safety and health; and landscapes and lifestyles. Each of these sections begins with an introductory essay by Graham that puts the comics in context. Readers with Q-Code readers will, in theory, be able to access a large online archive of these comics by scanning the digital access code at the end of the book (or, go here and download PDF files of some of the complete comics and start reading now; just scroll down...). Yes, history can be fun! And now for less, as it is now on sale!
Study Group Magazine #1	Zack Soto, Malachi Ward, Aidan Koch, Michael DeForge and more ...	Study Group	Study Group Magazine	$10.00 ($12.00 list)
Read more and comment...	edited by Zack Soto Anyone on the prowl for a new comics anthology to sink their teeth into since the demise of MOME is sure to be pleased by the promising first issue of Study Group Magazine currently beckoning from the Copacetic central display table. Rising from the fertile loam of the Portland, OR comics scene, it is edited and published by Zack Soto and features some delectable work from some of the freshest talents chosen from among the current crop of comics creators, including Malachi Ward, Aidan Koch, Michael DeForge, Chris Cilla and cover artist, Eleanor Davis, who is also the subject of an interview and who provides a nice transition for MOME readers, as her story was one of the highlights of MOME's last issue. Study Group Magazine's format is a tall vertical format (8 1/2" x 12") printed in deep sepia against a light purple and deep yellow duo-tone color scheme that reminds us somewhat of the NoBrow aesthetic. A highlight of this issue is an excellent, in-depth, heavily illustrated – with character studies, thumbnails, layouts, and finished pages – 17 page interview cum essay with Craig Thompson conducted and assembled by Milo George that focuses on his approaches to making comics in general and the creation of Habibi in specific, as well as providing valuable insight into his career and development as an artist. In addition, there is an appreciation of European comics wunderkind Brecht Evens by Greice Schneider that provides some food for thought. Did we mention that it is a numbered addition of 1000 copies? that DeForge's contribution is an instant cartoon classic that will burrow deep within your subconscious mind and take up residence? All in all an auspicious debut.
Papercutter #3	Graham Annable, Lilli Carre, Elijah Brubaker	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$2.75 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	The highlight of this issue has to be the cover feature, Graham Annable's twisted tale. It is the only work we can think of that comes close to clothing the corpus of the classic EC tradition in the garb of contemporary comics sensibilities. It delivers a compelling theme with an extreme economy that is simply only possible in comics. It's pretty much an instant classic (apparently, Lynda Barry agrees, as she selected this tale for inclusion the 2008 America's Best Comics Anthology). And that's just the highlight! We also have on hand Elijah J. Brubaker (Reich), whose contribution tells the story of a pair of artists who wander a rainy city looking for beauty, inspiration... and doughnuts. And then there's the one and only Lilli Carré (Tales of Woodsman Pete), who presents a short piece about a man born with a mandolin for a head.
Papercutter #1	Aaron Renier, JP Coovert, Nate Beaty, Sean Aaberg and more ...	Tugboat Press	Papercutter	$2.75 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	The first issue of our favorite ongoing, regularly published, standard comic book format comics anthology features a compelling love story from Aaron Renier (Spiral Bound) set in the streets of Brooklyn and the halls of New York's famed Natural History Museum. Also Sean Aaberg (The Adventures of Pipu) introduces us to SALT, a punk kid with a nose for adventure, and JP Coovert (Driving South) runs his car into a tree. With additional art by Nate Beaty. Cover art by Aaron Renier.
Kramers Ergot #8	Dash Shaw, Takeshi Murata, Robert Beatty, Sammy Harkham and more ...	PictureBox	Kramers Ergot	$29.75 ($32.95 list)
Read more and comment...	<<•>> edited by Sammy Harkham <<•>> Starting out way back in 2000 as a plain ol' self-published, black and white comic book, Sammy Harkham's Kramers Ergot has been through some serious changes over the years. In 2003, when Sammy went for broke (literally) and switched to a massive full-color book format with the fourth issue, Kramers was transformed from a simple comic book to a synecdoche/catch phrase for the exploding art comics scene. The subsequent two issues followed suit and were published by art house publisher, Gingko Press. Then, with the seventh issue the stakes were raised again with the gigantic, full-blown, original-old-school Sunday page size – a whoppin'' 16" x 21" – full color, hardcover published by Buenaventura Press that knocked people's socks off the world over; not least folks here in Pittsburgh, where we hosted the Kramers Tour at The BrilloBox to much acclaim. Now, with the eighth issue, Kramers is being published by our pals at PictureBox and has entered yet another phase. This time out – perhaps in keeping with its maturation – Kramers takes the form of an unassuming standard size hardcover sporting a tan cloth cover of deceptively straightforward design by Robert Beatty; one which nonetheless provides both visual and tactile pleasure to the reader and hints at what is to come, which is another all-star anthology featuring some of today's top cartoonists working in an environment where they feel comfortable taking risks. An essay by Ian Svenonius, "Notes on Camp, Part 2" sets the tone with a hyperbolic sequel to Susan Sontag's famous essay, in which Svevonius traces a lineage for pop, camp and comics that centers on Warhol and goes back through to the Roman Empire. Then we are treated to a brand new Jimbo adventure by Gary Panter followed by new stories by C.F., Kevin Huizenga (who redraws the story "The Half Men" from the classic ACG series of the 1950s & '60s, Mysteries of Unexplained Worlds), Gabrielle Bell, Johnny Ryan, Time Hensley, Leon Sadler, Chris Cilla, Anya Davidson, Ben Jones and Sammy Harkham, himself. The clear standout of Kramers Ergot 8 is the collaboration between Dash Shaw and Frank Santoro, "Childhood Predators." This sixteen page story is a masterpiece of layout which was consciously composed as a series of eight two-page spreads by someone who really knows what they're doing. Santoro displays his mastery of the medium by employing a host of techniques and methods to deliver a highly textured, subtly nuanced, and deeply felt look at an emotionally complex and politically fraught scenario that will amply reward repeated readings. In addition to the comics, there are a pair of art portfolios featuring Robert Beatty's "retro-future" airbrush art, as well as a series of freakishly photorealistic digital artworks by Takeshi Murata, all of which are reproduced on bright glossy stock, in contrast to the flat off-white stock of the comics work. The 40-page dose of Oh, Wicked Wanda! comics that closes out this issue is also printed on glossy stock to mimic its original appearance in the pages of Penthouse Magazine back in the 1970s. Oh, Wicked Wanda was created by the British artist and writer duo of Ron Embleton and Frederic Mullalley as Penthouse's answer to Kurtzman and Elder's Little Annie Fannie, which ran in Playboy Magazine. As with everything Penthouse, it is the same as Playboy, only more so; and in this case, the humor is decidedly British (as was Penthouse) with its international settings and casual conflation of kinky sex with Nazis. We'd be curious to learn why the largest hunk of this issue of Kramers was devoted to these comics, so we hope Harkham will go on record as to his rationale and motivation here. Regardless of what they may be, Kramers remains in the vanguard of contemporary comics and is indispensable reading for anyone who likes their comics challenging.
Diamond Comics #1	Jason Leivian	Floating World Comics	Diamond Comics	$3.00 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Edited by Jason Levian and published by the fine folks at Floating World Comics – also located in Pittsburgh's west coast sister-city, Portland, OR – Diamond Comics has nothing whatsoever to do with the comics distribution behemoth of the same name (except, perhaps, a satiric jab), but is, rather, an excellent tabloid newspaper comics publication that provides a refreshingly bracing outlet/showcase for comics work that is focused on visual impact. #5 is the first ALL full-color issue, yet it remains priced at the super-value price of $3.00 that held through the first four issues (all of which have full-color covers and centerfolds). Artists featured in the latest issue include Benjamin Marra, Panayuitus Terzis, Michael DeForge and plenty more. Previous issues feature such contributors as Al Columbia (whose amazing full color centerspread for #4 is worth the price of admission), Dame Darcy, Jason Overby, Aidan Koch, Blaise Larmee, Dunja Jankovic, Josh Simmons, Marko Turunen, Nathan Fox, Luke Ramsay and many, many others! This newspaper is funded, at least in part, by a Kick Starter grant, which, presumably, enabled the full color printing. Check these out!
Diamond Comics #4	Al Columbia, Jason Leivian	Floating World Comics	Diamond Comics	$3.00 ($3.00 list) OUT OF STOCK!
Read more and comment...	Edited by Jason Leivian and published by the fine folks at Floating World Comics – also located in Pittsburgh's west coast sister-city, Portland, OR – Diamond Comics has nothing whatsoever to do with the comics distribution behemoth of the same name (except, perhaps, a satiric jab), but is, rather, an excellent tabloid newspaper comics publication that provides a refreshingly bracing outlet/showcase for comics work that is focused on visual impact. #5 is the first ALL full-color issue, yet it remains priced at the super-value price of $3.00 that held through the first four issues (all of which have full-color covers and centerfolds). Artists featured in the latest issue include Benjamin Marra, Panayuitus Terzis, Michael DeForge and plenty more. Previous issues feature such contributors as Al Columbia (whose amazing full color centerspread for #4 is worth the price of admission), Dame Darcy, Jason Overby, Aidan Koch, Blaise Larmee, Dunja Jankovic, Josh Simmons, Marko Turunen, Nathan Fox, Luke Ramsay and many, many others! This newspaper is funded, at least in part, by a Kick Starter grant, which, presumably, enabled the full color printing. Check these out!

books

Title	Author	Publisher	Price
McSweeney's 15	Steven Millhauser, Roddy Doyle	McSweeney's	$20.00 ($24.00 list)
Read more and comment...	official hype - "Issue 15 is also known as The "Icelandic Issue". Printed in Iceland, half of the stories are written by actual Icelandic writers. And the kicker? It also comes with a Icelandic tabloid mini-mag filled with words you won't understand and images that speak for themselves. Included in this issue are new stories from Roddy Doyle, Steven Millhauser and many exceptional newcomers. Hardcover, bound in fine cloth. This issue makes us want to sit by a fireplace on a snowy day."
McSweeney's 21	Roddy Doyle, Stephen Elliott, Peter Orner, Joyce Carol Oates and more ...	McSweeney's	$14.40 ($16.00 list)

Mon - Thu	11 - 5
Fri & Sat	11 - 7
Sun	12 - 4