By Kevin Huizenga
32 pages, two-color
Published by Fantagraphics Books and Coconino Press
Out of all the books in the “Ignatz” line, I have to admit that the one I’ve been really looking forward to is Kevin Huizenga’s Ganges. While I’m still planning on sampling the rest of the line before too long, I’ve got to say that the rest of the Ignatz line has a lot to live up to now in my mind that Ganges is here.
By David Petersen
24 pages, color
Published by Archaia Studios Press
There’s something that’s just sort of cool about the idea of mice wearing cloaks and holding swords. It’s funny, because I’ve never read the best-selling Redwall novels but for some reason, the idea is just golden. Needless to say, when I saw the cover of David Petersen’s Mouse Guard I absolutely couldn’t resist.
By Scott Chantler
72 pages, black and white
Published by Oni Press
I’m always a little embarrassed about some of my gaps of knowledge when it comes to history. Every time I think I’ve got a pretty good grasp of all the important events that I should know about, someone will mention one that I realize I really know nothing about. When Scott Chantler’s Northwest Passage was announced, I found myself more than a bit relieved. Other than the fact that the passage exists, I really knew nothing about its discovery. Fortunately, Chantler’s managed to both educate and entertain me at the same time; what more can I ask for?
By Raina Telgemeier
Adapted from the book by Ann M. Martin
192 pages, black and white
Published by Graphix/Scholastic Books
I have a confession to make, and it’s a doozy. When Scholastic first published Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club books, I used to sneak into my little sister’s room and read them when she wasn’t looking. I was distinctly not the demographic they were looking for, but I didn’t care. Martin’s books were fun, telling the story of four best friends who formed their own baby-sitting business and learned how to deal with clients, school, and each other. Flash forward twenty years, and Scholastic is now publishing the first in what will hopefully be a series of Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. Trust me when I say that I couldn’t be more excited, especially now that I’ve seen just what a fantastic job Raina Telgemeier did with the adaptation.
Continue reading “Baby-Sitters Club Vol. 1: Kristy’s Great Idea”
Written by Warren Ellis
Pencilled by Stuart Immonen
Inked by Wade von Grawbadger
32 pages, color
Published by Marvel Comics
Every now and then, I buy something on little more than a whim. Something about it just catches my eye, and the next thing I know I’m pulling out my wallet and wondering if I’ll be excited or disappointed when I get home. In the case of Nextwave #1, soon after I got home I was calling the comic book store back up to make sure they knew exactly what they had on their hands.
By Josh Howard
32 pages, color
Published by Devil’s Due Publishing
I prefer to read two issues of a comic book before I review it. It helps me get a better feel for the book; if it can maintain what was set up in the first issue, as well as to see exactly where it’s going. It’s a strategy that often pays off; in the case of a book like Black Harvest, what I saw between the first and second issues was different indeed.
By Renée French
216 pages, black and white
Published by Top Shelf Productions
“Edison Steelhead was born on the kitchen floor.” It’s the sort of opening you hear for legends, and of epic stories. It’s how Renée French begins the narration of The Ticking, her new graphic novel that like its opening words may make you believe it’s going in one direction, even as it quietly slides into something entirely different.
Written by Tsugumi Ohba
Art by Takeshi Obata
200 pages, black and white
Published by Viz
There are always series that you hear about, ones spoken with a sort of reverence. “Oh, you’ve got to read this,” is a familiar opening phrase. Sometimes you’ll even get the, “If you don’t like this, I’ll give you your money back,” gambit. After a while, it’s easy to get skeptical about such claims. Tastes don’t always intersect, after all, and even your most trusted friends can still lead you astray. In the case of Death Note, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that all of those praising it (before the series was even officially released) were wrong… because it was actually better than they’d claimed.
By Jill Thompson
144 pages, black and white
Published by Vertigo/DC Comics
When Jill Thompson wrote and drew Death: At Death’s Door, it was a charming little sidestep off of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: Season of Mists, showcasing several of the other Endless as all of the dead came back to life. Now Thompson’s written and drawn a second Sandman-connected digest—and the difference between the two could not be more obvious.
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Ryan Kelly
32 pages, black and white
Published by Oni Press
Glancing at the cover to Local #1, you might get the wrong impression. I suppose you could think, based on the title of the comic and the map with Portland, Oregon highlighted that this is something that will really only appeal or speak to people who are, well, locals. Just in case you got that impression, let me assure you that it’s not the case at all. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that Local is the kind of book that everyone will relate to.
