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Hardcover Books

The Isle of 100,000 Graves

The European artist known only as Jason is known for is stark graphic style and his rather eccentric stories, often told without dialogue — works like Werewolves of Montpellier and Meow, Baby! Now, Jason has returned with a new hardcover, full-color graphic novel for Fantagraphics Books, and he’s enlisted the services of award-winning French writer Fabien Vehlmann. The Isle of 100,000 Graves comes to stores this April. In it, we meet a little girl searching for her father, who encounters blood-thirsty pirates… and an island where young executioners go to learn their deadly art! Of course there’s an entry for the book at Amazon.

 

image c. 2011 Fantagraphics Books

WE3 Return. Run!

WE3 was a well-known and well-received 3-issue comic book miniseries written by Grant Morrison (Animal Man) and illustrated by Frank Quitely (New X-Men). This full-color comic was first published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint in 2004, and was first gathered together as a trade paperback graphic novel in 2005. Now, the graphic novel version returns, again published by Vertigo. This time it’s a brand-new hardcover edition, featuring new story pages by the creators. It’s scheduled for release this coming June 15th. The story of WE3 follows three stray animals — a dog, a cat, and a rabbit — who are captured by a secret military organization and transformed into cybernetic weapon-animals. Now they have limited speech, they are covered in body-armor, and they are armed to the teeth with deadly weapons. When they learn they are to be decommissioned, they make a break for freedom — pursued not only by the military, but by other cybernetic animals. Interestingly, the WE3 entry on Wikipedia mentions that in 2006 WE3 was optioned for development as a CGI film by New Line Cinema. Then came the word (in late 2008) that New Line was no longer involved in the project, but that John Stevenson (co-director of Kung Fu Panda) was now attached to the film as director.

Binky the Space Cat

We missed this the first time around (it arrived in 2009), but now it’s offered again by Kids Can Press. The Binky Adventures are a series of full-color graphic novels written and illustrated by Ashley Spires. We’ll let Ashley describe Binky the Space Cat, the first book in the series — she does it far better than we could. “Binky is a space cat – at least in his own mind. He’s really a house cat who has never left the family ‘space station’. Unlike other house cats, Binky has a mission: To blast off into outer space (outside), explore unknown places (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs). Binky must undergo rigorous training so he can repel the alien attacks that threaten his humans. As he builds his spaceship, he must be extremely careful with his blueprints – the enemy is always watching. Soon Binky is ready to voyage into outer space. His humans go out there every day and he’s sure they need a certified space cat to protect them. But just as he’s about to blast off with his co-pilot, Ted (a stuffed mousie), Binky realizes that he’s left something very important behind — and it’s not the zero-gravity kitty litter.” Check it out at Amazon.com.

To Read the Mind of Pegasus

Fantasy author Robin McKinley (well-known for Dragonhaven) has a new book on the shelves, simply called Pegasus. The idea is simple: For a thousand years, humans and pegasi have lived in a magical alliance. Unfortunately, neither can speak the other’s language, and so they must rely upon a special guild of wizards to communicate. But things are different for Princess Sylviianel and her winged-horse friend Ebon: They can read one another’s minds. That fact alone, they find, makes them some powerful enemies… who consider them to be very dangerous. This hardcover fantasy novel is available now from Putnam Juvenile. Here’s a description from Amazon.

And with that, let us wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday Season. Bright blessings.

The Art of Camilla d’Errico

Camilla d’Errico is a fine artist and painter, widely known for her pictures of anime-style young women posing with animals. Her work has been seen in publications like Hi-Fructose, Kid Robot, and Juxtapoz. You can view more of her art, often referred to as “pop surrealism”, at her web site. Now Dark Horse Comics are set to release Femina & Fauna: The Art of Camilla d’Errico, this coming March. It’s advertised as “the largest and most comprehensive book of Camilla’s art ever published”. Well at very least it’s more than 100 pages of art in a large-format hardcover book. You can order it now at Amazon too.

image c. 2010 Camilla d'Errico

The Stink of Love

It looks as if picnic-stealing bears aren’t the only toons giving you a guide to life lately. Now Insight Editions have brought us The Stink of Love: Pepé Le Pew’s Guide to L’Amour. It’s available in hardcover, written by Pepé Le Pew himself with the help of Sally Deems-Mogyordy. Here’s the description from Amazon.com: “Learn from the master of l’amour! In The Stink of Love, Monsieur Pepé Le Pew tells readers how to charm a belle femme with helpful chapters on Grooming, The Chase, and Couplehood. Let Pepé tell how to put one’s best paw forward on the path to love, how to anticipate a potential mate’s needs and desires, how to woo and romance, and — most importantly — how to hold on to her! As Pepé says, ‘There is very little difference between men and women, but vivre le difference!’ Mais oui, love is a many splendor’d thing! As the world turns to shades of pink and red, cynics can warm their hearts and laugh out loud to Pepé’s cheerful self-delusion. Deems-Mogyordy’s writing is pitch-perfect Pepé Le Pew, completely in character. As Pepé might say, ‘Cherchez la femme!'”

BOOM Go the Ducks

Boom! Studios have two new Disney-Duck-related items on the shelves at your local comic book store right now. Darkwing Duck Volume 1: The Duck Knight Returns brings together the first Darkwing Duck story arc in a single full-color trade paperback, written by Ian Brill and illustrated by James Silvani. The people of St. Canard have grown worried when their loyal protector, “the terror that flaps in the night”, hasn’t been seen in more than a year… and evil is on the rise again. Is it time for the Duck Knight to rise again too? Meanwhile, readers looking for more of Don Rosa’s The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck should look for the new hardcover, The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion. It features “the pre-chapters, the post-chapters, and the in-between chapters” of Don Rosa’s sought-after work. You can find out more about both of these at Boom! Studio’s web site.

Live Like Yogi Bear

Just in time for the much-anticipated (?) Yogi Bear live-action/CGI movie, Insight Editions is releasing Yogi’s first book in hardcover on December 1st. Life is a Pic-a-Nic: Tips and Tricks for the Smarter Than Average Bear was written by Yogi with the assistance of Earl Kress. Here’s the publisher’s description: “For Yogi Bear, the glass is always half full and every day is a gift ripe with opportunities, new friends, and tasty treats. The Tao of Yogi is one of love and tolerance: love thy neighbor, harbor no ill will, and share your gifts, and life will reward you with goodies. Live by these rules and you can’t go wrong. Happiness is Yogi’s message, his reason for being, and Life is a Pic-a-Nic is his manifesto.” You heard it here folks.

c. 2010 Insight Editions

When the Beast Became Furry

Dedicated Marvel Comics readers (and at this point,  historians!) might remember that there was a time before Dr. Hank McCoy, known to his fellow X-Men as “The Beast”, was blue… and furry. Once he became both of those (but not yet lion-faced… long story), he left the X-Men to seek membership in the Avengers… and now, Marvel has collected those first Avengers issues featuring our newly blue and furry friend in a new hardcover book Avengers: The Coming of the Beast. It brings together Avengers issues 137 – 140 and 145 – 146 from the 1960’s, scripted by Steve Englehart and Tony Isabella, with original full-color art by George Tuska, Don Heck, and Keith Pollard. Two variant covers are available, with art by John Romita and Gil Kane.

image c. Marvel Comics