Grandville is a new full-color steampunk anthropomorphic graphic novel, written and illustrated by Bryan Talbot (The Tale of One Bad Rat, Alice in Sunderland). Created in England, it’s being released in North America by Dark Horse Press (in hardcover) this coming October. Here’s the story: After 200 years of French rule (having lost the war to Napoleon), the Socialist Republic of Britain is now a backwards, backwater land “connected by railway bridge, steam-powered dirigible, and mutual suspicion to France”. When a British diplomat (an otter) is murdered, and the deed made to look like a suicide, fearless detective LeBrock of Scotland Yard (a badger, of course) steps in to solve the case. But doing so will bring him muzzle-to-muzzle with a ruthless murder squad. The brave badger’s quest for answers will take him far and wide through this world of steam-driven hansom cabs, automatons, and flying machines. Want to see a preview? Visit Bryan Talbot’s Grandville site.
Books and Trade Paperbacks
The Life and Times of Walt Kelly
Here’s a sneak peak: Hermes press will soon be releasing a brand-new hardcover book, The Life and Times of Walt Kelly (edited by Thomas Andrae and Carsten Laqua). From the official press release: “This first comprehensive monograph of Pogo creator Walt Kelly details all of his work from its beginning with Walt Disney through his long creative work on his signature character, Pogo. This full-color art book is profusely illustrated with original artwork and never-before-seen documentary materials.” The book is scheduled to begin shipping in October.
Keeping Up with the Turtles
Mirage Studios has two new black & white trade paperbacks of interest to the many fans of TMNT. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Collected Book Volume 1 celebrates the 25th anniversary of Mirage by reprinting the first 11 issues of this ground-breaking comic along with four micro-series by the creators of the Turtles, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Meanwhile, Future Tense (by Dean Clarrain, Chris Allen, and Jon D’Agostino) collects the Archie Comics TMNT Adventures issues #42 through #66, featuring the “Future Shark” and “Dreamland” story arcs. All the stories feature the “future Turtles”, and act as a lead-in to the upcoming Future War mini-series.
Creatures of Habit
Joe Ledbetter is not a name well-known in Furry Fandom, but his graphic art style, influenced in equal parts by both classic animation and (perhaps) M.C. Escher is highly sought-after among collectors of artistic illustration. And now Last Gasp has collected Joe’s works from 2003 through 2008 in a new hardcover portfolio book, Creatures of Habit. The curious (you should be) can check out more about the book (and Joe) at Joe Ledbetter’s web site.
It’s a Blast from the Past! Run Away!!
About Comics brings us the first graphic-novel complilation of the original black & white Weasel Patrol comics by Ken Macklin and Lela Dowling. Premiering as a back-up comic in the science fiction comic Fusion (itself very popular with furry fans) back in the 1980’s, The Weasel Patrol follows the insane adventures of “Willie, Leroy, and the other genetically altered weasels who work as an amazingly incompetent yet surprisingly effective force against the criminal elements among us”. Eventually the weasels graduated to their own (short-lived) comic title, before they finally rode off forever into the universe. Now all of their original adventures (long and short tales, as it were) are collected here in one soft-cover book. Never forget: Protect! Serve! Run away!
Art is Magic
The internationally famous fantasy artist known as Ciruelo has released a new hardcover illustrated storybook called Faries and Dragons — Art is Magic. It’s available from DAC Editions. Weaving together Native American legends and European fantasy traditions, the book tells the tale of two young children — one fond of dragons, the other fond of faeries — who meet plenty of both as they travel far to help a sorceress thwart a forthcoming catastrophe. A review of the book from Amazon.com can be found here.
The Disney Sketchbook
The Disney Sketchbook 1928 – 2008 is a new 144-page hardcover book from Disney Editions, where current and retired Disney animators are given a chance to both show and reflect upon some of the artwork that has inspired them over the years as they worked on the latest animated film projects. This is from Amazon.com: “The Disney Sketchbook 1928-2008 is a glorious, collectible coffee-table book showcasing the rich visual development art by Disney animators over the more than eighty-year history of the Walt Disney Animation Studios (originally Disney Feature Animation). The sketchbook appears as if Disney’s animation artists have passed it among each other through the years, from the early beginnings of the Studios’ work, through the present day. Frequently, current artists have drawn their concepts alongside earlier characters that have influenced their work. In brief but potent text, the current Disney animators will reflect on the inspiration of the artists who have preceded them, going back to the “first generation” of animators who created the Silly Symphonies and early cartoons, to the first Golden Age of Disney animation (Snow White to The Black Cauldron) to the present second Golden Age (The Little Mermaid onwards).” The book will be available in August.
It’s called “Mink”
The first novel by Robyn Rolison-Hanna, entitled Mink, is out now in paperback from Arctic Wolf Publishing. This is from the web site (www.zetothemink.com): “Count Zeto Pantaleone Ulderico is a pampered and coddled mink noble whose spoiled and privilege life comes to a screeching halt when he and his cousin, Muccino, are trapped and taken by Guiseppe Tucci to his mink farm. Plagued with night blindness and no ability to track or scent, Zeto can no longer depend on his name or position. With the aid of the beautiful mink named Ardrianna and a cast of fellow cellmates, they attempt an escape in hopes of obtaining freedom before they become articles of fashion in Milan’s haute couture. Set in Italy’s Apennine Mountains, Mink is a stirring tale of adventure, courage and the quest for survival. It follows this very special mink on his journey through harrowing trials posed by adversaries and predators. It is about pathways and bridges that must be crossed against incredible odds.” The book is illustrated by Olga Dunayeva, and more of her work can be seen at the web site also. Mink can be ordered on line through Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
Burning Wild
Another hot animal-themed erotic romance novel… Burning Wild by Christine Feehan (out now in paperback, from Jove) tells the story of Jake Bannacotti. One of the world’s richest and most ruthless men, Jake also has the ability to shape-shift into a leopard. He is feared by all who know him… until the day when he rescues a young woman named Emma from a firey car crash. Taking her to his secluded ranch to heal, he soon finds himself falling prey to passions that his instincts as a hunter have not prepared him for…
