Got this right from publisher, thanks to Barnes & Noble: “Return to Jim Henson’s world of Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs with an all new story set in beloved Fraggle Rock! When the water supply of Fraggle Rock mysteriously runs dry, the Fraggles will have to journey deep in the caves of Fraggle Rock to find the fabled Everspring where adventure awaits and no Fraggle has ever gone before! Written by New York Times bestselling comic writer Kate Leth (Adventure Time: Seeing Red), this brand new Fraggle Rock graphic novel collects Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring #1-#4.” With art by Jake Myler, it’s available in hardcover from Archaia later this month.
Book
The Rabbit Gets Bigger
It’s no news to anyone by now that Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai is not only one of the most celebrated anthropomorphic comics ever, but one of the most celebrated comics, period! Well now Dark Horse Press have announced that the ronin rabbit’s adventures will soon be presented as they deserve: Bigger, and in full color! No, not a Usagi animated film (yet), but use this to tide you over: The Usagi Yojimbo Gallery Edition, Volume 1. This large format hardcover (12 by 17 inches) features the Usagi origin story Samurai as well as the very first Usagi comic, plus never-before-seen artwork and a new introduction by Stan Sakai. Check it out over at Barnes & Noble.
Save the Star Mice
Cutter Hays is an author and illustrator best known for the Mouse Knight fantasy adventure series. Well now he’s taken a turn in a more science fiction direction with his new illustrated novel, Quilah Laoshu. Three human souls find themselves torn from Earth and whisked away to an alien world… and tasked with saving the native sentient rodent species from certain destruction. The electronic version of the book is available now for download, and you can keep up with new artwork for the dead-tree version at the Quilah Laoshu web site.
One Little Bear in a Great Big World
Flurry the Bear is the plushie star of a series of illustrated fantasy books by J.S. Skye. Created by no less than Christopher Kringle himself , Flurry is a white teddy bear who has trouble fitting in. Given a special assignment by the master of the North Pole, Flurry heads off into the wider world. But never one to take the easy (or even safe) way out, he soon finds himself on a series of amazing adventures… over a series of novels and other media. Visit the official Flurry web site to find out more. The illustrations are profuse!
Gotta Stomp Them All?
What if Pokemon were not cute little fighting monsters but giant, city-stomping kaiju monsters? That’s the idea that inspired freelance artist Mike Vasquez to create Popzilla, a new collection of monster-themed art. That’s where it started anyway, but then it expanded to include any number of well-known pop-culture icons re-imagined as kaiju. Over at Kickstarter the art book has already been successfully funded, but go anyway to find out more about the project. Or, you could just visit Mike’s web site (entitled Mike Goes Geek, perhaps appropriately) and follow his blog. Several sketches are there too.
Men with the Souls (and Often Bodies) of Dragons
Author April Reid has made a name for herself in the world of decidedly adult fantasy novels, often featuring heated, taboo-breaking romance with shape-shifting creatures. Such is the story of one of her first books, The Dragon’s Choice (available now from Amber Quills Press). A young woman is doomed to be sacrificed to The Dragon King, but her fate may be averted by her forbidden love affair with her guard… who may just have a few magic secrets of his own. Visit Ms. Reid’s official web site to see more of the magical stories she has created.
Sounds of the Forest, Getting in Tune
Three entertainment veterans have teamed up to create a new music-oriented funny animal book series for kids called The Musicritters. The first full-color book is called The New House. “Ten year old Lizzie’s world was turning upside down. Dad’s new job was taking Lizzie, her mother, and her brother Jamie far from the only home and friends that she had ever known. Little did Lizzie realize that some of the most unusual, fun and lovable new friends a kid could ever have were waiting to be discovered at her new house, right in her own backyard. Lizzie was about to meet the MusiCritters!” Namely, creatures that combine animals with musical instruments! Writer Steve Sperry is known for his songwriting work on TV shows like Fame. Illustrator Willie Ito has spent years developing characters and animation for Disney, Hanna Barbera, and Warner Brothers cartoons. And colorist Iraj Paran has worked at Hanna Barbera too — he designed their world-famous logo. The book is available at Amazon, but it’s also available as a .pdf download at several sites, including OkayBooks.org.
A Feline Detective. In Space.
Leon is the creation of author Pati Nagle, first appearing in her science fiction novel Pet Noir from Book View Cafe (check it out over at Amazon). Now Kymera Press have adapted Pet Noir as a full-color comic book series with art by by Anna G, Laurie Foster, and Liezl Buenaventura. “Feline investigator Leon has opposable thumbs, the ability to talk, and is possibly the most dangerous cat in the galaxy. Indentured to the Security department of Gamma Station until he’s worked off the cost of his ‘creation’, Leon alternates between harassing his human partner and roommate Devin and fighting sleazy criminals, yet he still finds time to flirt with the lovely Leila, an exotic Burmese. Will he win her heart, and more importantly, will he win his freedom?” The first issue is available now.
Furries Growing Up Together
The artist known as Keto has a new illustrated story project called Point Nowhere, telling the story of two “country boys”, a bear and a canine. “In 1960’s Georgia, two farm boys, Dale and Feargus, meet at childhood and form a deep bond they don’t quite understand. They face the struggle of their emotions, upbringings, and relationships both together and separately. They learn how to overcome these struggles by finding the courage to be vulnerable and imperfect. But learning these lessons doesn’t come quickly; it can take a lifetime.” Keto’s Patreon page has more information about the project, a request for crowd-funding assistance to see it through, and a preview video as well. [And with that, we’ll see you after San Diego Comic Con!]








