Top Shelf will have a ton of creators including the Immonens, Jeff Lemire, Andy Runton and more — and they re debuting one of the most eagerly awaited comics of the year — the AX manga anthology. We’ve seen an advance copy, and this will blow your puny mind.

This year at San Diego, Top Shelf is featuring more creators than ever before — an incredible total of 14 (in one booth!).

We will have: Sean Michael Wilson (AX: ALTERNATIVE MANGA), Kathryn & Stuart Immonen (MOVING PICTURES), JD Arnold & Rich Koslowski (BB WOLF & THE THREE LPS), Jeff Lemire (ESSEX COUNTY), Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele (THE SURROGATES), Andy Runton (OWLY), James Kochalka (JOHNNY BOO, DRAGON PUNCHER, SUPERF*CKERS), Jeffrey Brown (UNDELETED SCENES), Nate Powell (SWALLOW ME WHOLE), Matt Kindt (SUPER SPY), and Kevin Cannon (FAR ARDEN).

Kathryn & Stuart Immonen are especially big “gets,” as their time is very precious at the show (what with obligations to Marvel and other publishers), but they are excited to be signing with us for three days (Friday 11-1, Saturday 12-2, Sunday 11-1). Ditto for Jeff Lemire & Matt Kindt, who both have huge projects at Vertigo (and Matt at Dark Horse too) but will spend most of the show with us.

Hot new books at the show:
–AX: A COLLECTION OF ALTERNATIVE MANGA edited by Sean Michael Wilson (who is flying in from Japan to debut it!)
–THE PLAYWRIGHT by Eddie Campbell and Daren White (good LORD this book is beautiful.)
–BB WOLF AND THE 3 LPS by JD Arnold and Rich Koslowski (both present to sign!)
–FINGERPRINTS by Will Dinski
–JOHNNY BOO (BOOK 4): THE MEAN LITTLE BOY by James Kochalka (present to sign!)
–DRAGON PUNCHER (BOOK 1) by James Kochalka (present to sign!)

And we will have two panels, as well!
–The first is “MANGA FOR GROWN-UPS: GARO, AX, gekiga, and the alternative manga revolution” (Thursday, July 22, 12:30-1:30), featuring Sean Michael Wilson and friends discussing the amazing history of adult-oriented “alternative” manga in Japan and its recent arrival into the English-speaking world, including the debut of our AX anthology.
–And the day after, don’t miss “TOP SHELF 2010: Sweden, Japan, and so much more” (Friday, July 23, 5:30-6:30) as we celebrate our most international year ever and announce a whole pile of new projects!