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Books and Trade Paperbacks

The Pet Avengers Hardcover Collection

“Once upon a time, in a world of super heroes and villains, there lived a team of animals that saved the universe…and no one knew it. These creatures asked not for fortune or fame, merely to help the humans that pet them. But a new threat to the world has arisen, which only they know of, that could change everything…and kill one of them. Join Chris Eliopoulos, Ig Guara, and Chris Sotomayor for an epic tale of adventure, courage…and sacrifice.” This new hardcover collection (available now from Marvel) brings together issues 1 through 4 of Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers Unleashed, as well as Tails of the Pet Avengers: The Dogs of Summer. Check out the review at Amazon.com.

image c. Marvel Comics

A Young Lady’s Transformation…

High school is hard enough to get through, but trying to do it while slowly turning into a werewolf makes things nearly impossible! That’s the situation a teenage girl named Alice finds herself in when she and her brother are bitten by what they thought was a pack of  large rabid dogs. Werewolves: An Illustrated Journal of Transformation is a new softcover graphic novel, available now from Chronicle Books. It was written by Paul Jessup, with full-color illustrations by Allyson Haller. The book is Alice’s personal journal of her and her brother’s experience as they not only transform, but have to adopt new lifestyles: Learning to eat raw meat, avoiding the werewolf hunters who are after them every night, and finding their place among the pack that caused their transformation in the first place. You can find out more at Amazon.com.

Two VERY different Disney/Pixar books

The things we find amaze even us here at In-Fur-Nation sometimes. Disneystrology is a new hard-cover book by Lisa Finander, available now from Quirk Books. According to Amazon.com it “combines astrology, numerology, and the magic of movies to help readers understand their own personalities. Noted astrologer Lisa Finander has identified 366 unique Disney character types everyone from Snow White to Wall-E and paired these characters to corresponding birth dates. Readers born on November 9, for example, are typically exuberant, friendly, and youthful traits best exemplified by Pinocchio. By contrast, readers born on February 22 are often powerful, principled, and determined the perfect words to describe King Mufasa of The Lion King. Readers will also discover character profiles, compatible birthdays, tips for dealing with others, and much, much more! Illustrated with hundreds of stills from more than 90 years of classic animation, Disneystrology is an entertaining tribute to the most delightful characters in movie history.” We do not make this stuff up folks. Meanwhile there’s also The Pixar Treasures by Tim Hauser, described in a review as “a scrapbook of instinct and inspiration, experiences readers can touch, and visions that exist only in the imagination. It begins with a group of animators who were inspired by Walt Disney films. In the late 1970s and early ’80s, John Lasseter, Brad Bird, and Joe Ranft were hired into an apprenticeship program at Walt Disney Productions. The last of Disney’s golden age artists, including animators Eric Larson, Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, and Ollie Johnston mentored the young dreamers, and as Pixar later developed, their work would draw heavily from this direct connection with Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men.” The tale continues with Pixar’s foray into computer animation, and the resulting success of Toy Story. With chapters on A Bug’s Life; Monsters, Inc.; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; Cars; Ratatouille; and WALL*E, Hauser’s narrative covers the struggles, growth, and successes of an incredible animation studio. And it gives readers a sneak peak at the newest Disney*Pixar film, Up. Filled with unique removable keepsakes, The Pixar Treasures is an essential collector’s item for every Pixar fan.” Latest film at the time of publication, obviously. It’s available, also in hardcover, from Disney Editions.

Friends from the Strangest of Places

James Burks has written and illustrated a new full-color graphic novel for young readers called Gabby & Gator. It’s available now, in hardcover, from Yen Press. “Gabby is a shy vegetarian whose hobbies include recycling, gardening, and playing the tuba. Gator is, well, an alligator whose pastimes include blogging and snacking on house-pets. Both feel lonely and misunderstood, she for having “uncool” interests, he for capitulating to his hunting instincts. When a bully steals Gabby’s hat and mocks her, Gator intercedes on her behalf, thus initiating a sweet, if improbable, friendship.” There’s a good, detailed review of Gabby & Gator at the School Library Journal.

image c. 2010 James Burks

Stu Bear in the 25th Century

Viper Comics has a notably unusual sort of graphic novel that’s available now. Here’s how they describe Stu Bear in the 25th Century: “A freak avalanche turns Stu Bear’s annual hibernation into a 500 year frozen sleep.  Rediscovered and thawed, Stu finds evolved, hairless, intelligent bears, descendants of Stu’s brother, the new dominant species; living in floating cities above the Earth.  But as a seemingly incurable plague threatens to destroy all life, Stu finds he’s the only one who can save the day.” The story was created by Jeff Bushell, who previously wrote the screenplay for the feature film Beverly Hills Chihuahua. The full-color art was created by Beware of the Art Studios. The Viper Comics web site includes a link to a YouTube video preview of this softcover book.

New, Upcoming Graphic Novel

The furry artist known as Touch My Badger is working on a new anthropomorphic story.  Here’s how she describes it on the web site:  “Peachy-Keen is a new graphic novel, set in sunny California in 1955. Clover and Logainne are about to graduate high school and can’t be more excited to get on with their lives. When Clover misspeaks and gives the impression that she is asking Logainne to the year-end dance, word spreads like wildfire that Clover and Logainne are… more than just friends. Quite the scandal rocks the 1955 graduating class, and Clover and Logainne are in hot water. Will the girls be able to graduate with their friendship and permanent record in tact? Will Clover and Logainne’s friendship ever be the same again?” As you can see from the picture, Clover is a deer and Logainne is a sea otter — not a commonly-seen species in furry stories. No word yet on a planned publication date, but stay tooned here for more details — as we get them, we’ll pass them along!

Image c. 2010 Touch My Badger

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

Celebrated humorist and essayist David Sedaris has a new hardcover short story collection out entitled Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. In essence, it’s a collection of new Aesop’s fables, but told with Sedaris’ unique wit. Here’s the description from Amazon.com: “Featuring David Sedaris’s unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life. In “The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck,” three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In “Hello Kitty,” a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In “The Squirrel and the Chipmunk,” a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members. With original illustrations by Ian Falconer, author of the bestselling Olivia series of children’s books, these stories are David Sedaris at his most observant, poignant, and surprising.” It’s also available as an audio book read by the author and others.

Monkeys at the Mountains of Madness?

Chet Phillips is an artist and writer who has created something that combines aspects of steam-punk, pulp adventure novels, and H.P. Lovecraft… with monkeys. Here’s how he describes it: “The Society of Sinister Simians explores the mysterious world of an evil collection of vicious and power hungry primates that held sway over the land centuries ago. Thanks to the efforts of the ill-fated Sourcrust archeological dig of 1887, details of this foul organization have finally come to light. In this book you will learn of The Society’s immortal leader, his powerful and brutal cadre of ministers and advisors as well as a variety of assassins, spies, soldiers and frightful supernatural figures.” The Society of Sinister Simians is available as a 122-page full-color paperback book, and also as a trading card set with a poster puzzle on the reverse side. A signed, limited edition hand-bound hardback edition is currently out of print (as of this writing), but you can visit Mr. Phillips’ web site to find out when it might be reprinted. There’s also examples of Chet’s numerous other funny-animal art projects.

image c. 2010 Chet Phillips

New from Jeff Smith

Fans of Jeff Smith’s award-winning Bone series are looking forward to Bone: Tall Tales, a brand-new full-color collection coming from (where else) Cartoon Books. Smiley Bone sits down at a campfire to tell a group of young bone scouts (and his rat creature friend) the story of Big Johnson Bone, the greatest Bone adventurer ever and the founder of Boneville. The stories originally published in the Stupid Stupid Rat Creatures mini-series are here, as well as new stories written by Tom Sniegoski. This new book is available now in hardcover and softcover editions. Check it out at Amazon.com.