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Hardcover Books

Small Dog, Big Dreams

Mauricio Abril is an artist with an interesting background: For years he practiced molecular biology (his major at university), but discovered it just did not fit his soul the way he thought it would. So he took a whole new set of courses in “entertainment design”, and that fit much better — and so he has been working the past few years as a concept artist in the fields of animation, video games, theme park design, and illustration. Recently (with the help of Kickstarter) he completed his first illustrated book for children, called Small Dogs. On his web site he says: “It follows the story of Seth, a Chihuahua who mistakenly believes that he’s just overdue for a growth spurt to be as big as other dogs. It’s only when he discovers what it really means to be a small dog when he decides to prove to everyone, and especially himself, that small dogs are just as important as any other dog.” Yap Yap!

image c. 2016 by Mauricio Abril

image c. 2016 by Mauricio Abril

Poetry and Purring

A Cat Named Haiku is an ongoing full-color comic series written by Mark Poulton, illustrated by Dexter Weeks, and publish by Arcana Studio. Well now they’ve released the first hardcover collection called A Cat Named Haiku: Totally Pawesome Edition. Here’s what they say: “A Cat Named Haiku tells the story of a mischievous little cat, as he learns valuable lessons on love and friendship told completely in haiku. Collecting A Cat Named Haiku volumes 1 and 2, select haikus from the Furrever Friends Anthology, and the all-new Cthulhu Loves Kittens story.” You heard it here. In case you don’t remember: A “haiku” is a Japanese form of poetry that is always 17 syllables long. Read all about it.

image c. 2016 Arcana Studio

image c. 2016 Arcana Studio

Look Out! Duck!

Bobby London was a member of the infamous Air Pirates collective — a group of underground cartoonists who got together in the late 1960’s to spoof American suburbia and conformity… choosing Disney animation and comics as a symbolic target for their satire. (The Walt Disney Company rewarded them with a lawsuit for their efforts.) Mr. London’s contribution to the project was Dirty Duck, the adventures of a *ahem* foul-mouthed anthropomorphic duck and his put-upon funny animal butler, Weevil. Most of there adventures seemed to involve lots of naked human women… Perhaps why the comic eventually found its way onto the pages of Playboy for many years. Now, IDW/Top Shelf have gathered together more than 300 pages of original full-color Dirty Duck comics into a new hardcover collection. Take a look at their web page to find out more.

image c. 2016 comixjoint.com

image c. 2016 comixjoint.com

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Walt’s Dragon(s)

Disney animator Tom Bancroft (The Lion King, Brother Bear) has helped to bring out a new book that fans of fire-breathing winged reptiles should definitely notice: It’s called The Art of Disney’s Dragons. “Imagine if one sketchbook had been passed down through the decades from one Disney artist to the next, with each one making a contribution before leaving it in the talented hands of another. That idea was the inspiration for The Art of Disney’s Dragons. The drawings contained within this volume represent the entire range of dragon-themed development art from animators, live-action studio artists, and Imagineers. Inside find playful pencil studies of Mushu; color concepts on Figment (who was green before he became purple!); bold pencil layouts on Maleficent, and the latest character explorations of Elliot from the new Spring/Summer 2016 live-action film Pete’s Dragon. Tom Bancroft, often recognized in Disney circles as being lead animator on Mushu the dragon in Mulan, writes the book’s introductory essay.” It’s available now in hardcover from Disney Editions, and there’s a sneak peak over at Stitch Kingdom.

image c. 2016 D23.com

image c. 2016 D23.com

Disney Animals — Like You Haven’t Seen Before

Stumbled across this: It’s a new Disney coloring book, decidedly “with a difference”, called Art of Coloring: Disney Animals. It’s part of the Art of Coloring series, designed to “inspire creativity and relaxation”, where familiar images are split up into many small segments designed to be filled up quickly with small dabs of color. In this case, images of Disney animal characters from several decades. “Relax, and let the creativity flow through you. Whether a skilled artist or an everyday dabbler of drawings and doodles, fans of all ages will enjoy these stunning pen-and-ink illustrations of beautiful landscapes, elaborate patterns, and memorable characters from Disney’s hit animated feature films themed to cute and cuddly animals.” It’s published in hardcover by the Disney Book Group, and it’s available now over at Barnes & Noble.

image c. 2016 Disney Book Group

image c. 2016 Disney Book Group

Living in the Fridge?

And once again, a young lady who finds herself in over her head — in the kitchen! This time it’s Malice in Ovenland, published by Rosarium, written and illustrated in full color by Micheline Hess. “Lily Brown is a bright, curious, energetic young girl from Queens, New York. When her mom forces her to stay home for the summer and do chores, Lily fumes. Little did she know that the greasy oven in the kitchen was going to give her more excitement and adventure than she could possibly handle.”  Apparently that involves a visit to a land of giant lizards and other fantastic creatures. Now Rosarium have released the Malice in Overland graphic novel, collecting the first four issues of the comic in hardcover. Check out the new trailer on YouTube.

image c. 2016 Rosarium Publishing

image c. 2016 Rosarium Publishing

Update on: Nelbert

A little while ago we made mention of Nelbert the Introvert, the first children’s book written and illustrated by Disney Animation lead character designer Shiyoon Kim (Zootopia, Big Hero 6). A recent article on Cartoon Brew said that the book is now available at Mr. Kim’s web site. In fact Mr. Kim actually went so far as to direct an animated ” teaser trailer” for the book. Inspired by the likes of Disney animator/illustrator Bill Peet, Nelbert tells the story of a shy dragon who likes to play chess. Mr. Kim created a set of custom “brushes” in Photoshop to use in the creation of his book. They’re also available for sale on his web site.

image c. 2016 by Shiyoon Kim

image c. 2016 by Shiyoon Kim

Modern Art Mouse

Uncivilized Books have a new imprint for younger readers called Odod Books. Their first release is a hardcover graphic novel by Kickly called Musnet: The Mouse of Monet. Here’s what they say about it: “A young boy mouse travels the country side looking for work and happens upon the Monet’s garden. He takes on a job and becomes inspired to learn to paint. Will he paint in the classical ways, or in the new style of the impressionist? Which way will his brush sway? Musnet is drawn and painted in a beautiful, lush and inky style popularized by Paul Pope and French comics masters such Blutch and Christophe Blain.” Really. A review in The Guardian goes further into the plot: “This new series revolves around a painting mouse found in Monet’s famous gardens in Giverny: The nameless, orphan mouse is befriended by Mya and her mouse family, who live inside the artist’s house. Introduced to painting after he begins working for Remy, an old squirrel painter, he is enchanted by Monet’s work.” It’s available now at Amazon.

image c. 2016 Odod Books

image c. 2016 Odod Books

Know What I Mean, Mr. Verne?

Papercutz have adapted Jules Verne’s story The Children of Captain Grant into a new graphic novel published through their Super Genius Comics imprint. In this case, an anthropomorphic adaptation (featuring male animals with Very Large Chins…) illustrated by Alexis Nesme. “It begins with a message-actually three water-damaged messages-found in a bottle removed from the belly of a shark. Written in three different languages the messages reveal that the long-missing Captain Grant was shipwrecked and is being held hostage. The only clue from the messages that might be of any help, will lead Lord Glenarvan and Captain Grant’s children on an adventure literally around the world!” It’s available now at their web site in hardcover and trade paperback versions.

image c. 2016 Super Genius Comics

image c. 2016 Super Genius Comics