The following is a selection of new titles due to be published in September 2010. This list is not comprehensive, as there are over 275 graphic novel titles scheduled for this month.

If you would like to browse them at your leisure, click here. Instead, I have selected titles which caught my interest. These are not necessarily titles I will purchase, but which I will definitely look at once they arrive at my local comics shop or bookstore.

Please be advised that publication dates are not set in stone. Also, your local comics shop might receive copies before your local neighborhood website or library. Links connected to publishers will link to the publisher’s website, sometimes to the exact title. Links for the ISBN-13 (also known as the Bookland EAN) will take you to the title as featured on BarnesAndNoble.com . I consider my tastes to be rather eclectic. If you feel I’ve neglected or slighted a title, publisher, or creator, please feel free to mention it in the comments below.

Monthly lists such as this will be posted at the end of the previous month. I will also be posting specific subject lists (comic strips, comics history and surveys, superheroes…) for each season, but these will not have a set schedule.

Disclaimer: I am employed by Barnes & Noble. This and any other posts by me have no official connection to B&N. Neither I or Heidi MacDonald receive any remuneration from linking to barnesandnoble.com . As always, feel free to send us your PR. Even better, send us some free books!

• $ 29.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
• Format: Hardcover, 200pp
• ISBN-13: 9780785140283
• ISBN: 078514028X

• $ 19.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Titan Books Limited
• Format: Paperback, 344pp
• ISBN-13: 9781848564329
• ISBN: 1848564325

Paul Dini, Alex Ross (Illustrator)

• $ 29.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Format: Paperback, 400pp
• ISBN-13: 9781401202552
• ISBN: 1401202551

Joe Simon, Jack Kirby (Illustrator), Steve Saffel (Editor)

• $ 49.95
• Pub. Date: October 2010
• Publisher: Titan Books Limited
• Format: Hardcover, 480pp
• ISBN-13: 9781848563650
• ISBN: 1848563655

N. C. Christopher Couch, Jerry Robinson (Illustrator), Pete Hamill (Introduction by), Dennis O’Neil (Foreword by)

• $ 35.00
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Abrams, Harry N., Inc.
• Format: Hardcover, 224 pp
• ISBN-13: 9780810977648
• ISBN: 0810977648

John Benson (Editor), Greg Sadowski (Editor)

• $ 29.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
• Format: Paperback, 320pp
• ISBN-13: 9781606993439
• ISBN: 1606993437

Alan Moore, Ian Gibson

• $ 17.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Rebellion/Abaddon Books
• Format: Paperback, 208pp
• ISBN-13: 9781906735937
• ISBN: 190673593X

• $ 16.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Incorporated
• Format: Hardcover, 208pp
• Age Range: 12 and up
• ISBN-13: 9780756667405
• ISBN: 0756667402

Susan Brewer

• $ 39.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
• Format: Hardcover, 240pp
• ISBN-13: 9781844680726
• ISBN: 184468072X

Dick Briefer

• $ 21.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Idea & Design Works, LLC
• Format: Hardcover, 148pp
• ISBN-13: 9781600107221
• ISBN: 1600107222

Mike Mignola, Dave Stewart (Artist)

• $ 17.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
• Format: Hardcover, 104pp
• ISBN-13: 9781595825018
• ISBN: 1595825010

Neal Adams

• $ 39.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Format: Hardcover, 192pp
• ISBN-13: 9781401221720
• ISBN: 1401221726

Al Williamson

• $ 19.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Flesk Publications
• Format: Paperback, 64 pp
• ISBN-13: 9781933865294
• ISBN: 1933865296

O. T. Nelson, Chrissy Delk (Illustrator), Dan Jolley (Adapted by)

• $ 8.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe
• Format: Library Binding
• ISBN-13: 9780761349037
• ISBN: 0761349030

Willow Dawson

• $ 16.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Kids Can Press, Limited
• Format: Hardcover, 112pp
• Age Range: 8 to 12
• ISBN-13: 9781554534388
• ISBN: 1554534380

Ignacio Noe

• $ 13.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: N B M Publishing Company
• Format: Paperback, 64pp
• ISBN-13: 9781561635870
• ISBN: 1561635871
• Edition Description: Not Appropriate For Children

Edgar Allan Poe

• $ 28.50
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: The Creative Company
• Format: Hardcover, 32pp
• Age Range: 9 to 12
• ISBN-13: 9781583419250
• ISBN: 158341925X

Diana Gabaldon, Hoang Nguyen (Illustrator)

• $ 25.00
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Format: Hardcover, 224pp
• Series: Outlander Series
• ISBN-13: 9780345505385
• ISBN: 0345505387

Frederick Luis Aldama, Derek Parker Royal (Foreword by)

• $ 55.00
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Format: Hardcover, 278pp
• ISBN-13: 9780292722811
• ISBN: 0292722818

Sid Jacobson, Ernie Colon

• $ 30.00
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Hill and Wang
• Format: Hardcover, 160 pp
• ISBN-13: 9780809026845
• ISBN: 0809026848

Zoë B. Alley (Retold by), R. W. Alley (Retold by)

• $ 19.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Format: Hardcover, 40 pp
• Age Range: 4 to 8
• ISBN-13: 9781596434714
• ISBN: 1596434716

John DeCosta (Artist), Bill Spangler

• $ 15.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Bluewater Productions
• Format: Paperback, 96pp
• ISBN-13: 9781450700146
• ISBN: 1450700144

Joyce Farmer

• $ 26.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
• Format: Hardcover, 208pp
• ISBN-13: 9781606993811
• ISBN: 160699381X

Scott Wegener, Brian Clevinger (Artist)

• $ 17.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Red 5 Comics
• Format: Paperback, 140pp
• Age Range: Young Adult
• ISBN-13: 9780980930283
• ISBN: 0980930286

Roger Langridge, Amy Mebberson (Illustrator)

• $ 9.99
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Boom! Studios
• Format: Paperback, 112pp
• Age Range: 8 to 12
• ISBN-13: 9781608865871
• ISBN: 1608865878

Jay P. Fosgitt

• $ 9.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Ape Entertainment
• Format: Paperback, 100pp
• Age Range: Young Adult
• ISBN-13: 9781936340019
• ISBN: 1936340011

Cliff Sterrett

• $ 75.00
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Idea & Design Works, LLC
• Format: Hardcover, 176pp
• ISBN-13: 9781600107115
• ISBN: 1600107117

Jason Flowers (Artist), Jay Busbee

• $ 14.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Arcana Studio Incorporated
• Format: Paperback, 96pp
• Age Range: Young Adult
• ISBN-13: 9781897548066
• ISBN: 1897548060

Audrey Niffenegger

• $ 19.95
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Abrams, Harry N., Inc.
• Format: Hardcover, 208pp
• ISBN-13: 9780810996175
• ISBN: 0810996170

Seymour Chwast (Adapted by), Dante Alighieri (Based On Work by)

• $ 20.00
• Pub. Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Format: Hardcover, 128pp
• ISBN-13: 9781608190843
• ISBN: 1608190846

Leone Frollo (Illustrator), Massimo Farepuzzo (Adapted by)

• $ 9.50
• Pub. Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Pacific Comics Club
• Format: Paperback, 96pp
• ISBN-13: 9780615394459
• ISBN: 0615394450

Earlier this week the Borders bookstore chain announced its earnings for the quarter ending July 31 and the results were weak, as expected. Sales fell 11.5%, to $526.1 million, with a $51.6 million loss.

The deep declines in total sales and comp sales at Borders compared to a sales decline of 2.6% at Barnes & Noble’s retail stores in the quarter with comps down 0.9%. In its official release, Borders had little to say about its financial performance, choosing instead to focus on the various initiatives it says will better position it to perform in the digital marketplace and for the holiday season. The company did not breakout results between its Walden specialty group and superstores. During the quarter, Borders opened one store and closed two, but previous closings in its Walden unit resulted in the company operating 679 stores at the end of the quarter compared to 886 outlets one year ago. In its conference call, Borders executives said the sales decline at its stores was due to a poor performance by its core trade book category, while bargain books and cafe segments rose.

Sales were up at Borders.com, however, mostly from actual book sales.

Today PW’s Jim Milliot interviews Borders CEO Mike Edwards and interim CFO Glen Tomasczewski on changes they hope to make in order to survive. With digital books taking over the future model, the stores are redefining their product mix:

Edwards said that since there is little chance that sales of print books will increase through its bricks-and-mortar stores, the retailer “needs to redeploy the space” that it has dedicated to trade books. While transforming the stores will take time, Tomasczewski said that the Borders that customers walk into this fall will be much different than the store of fall 2009. The retailer’s Area e digital section will be in all stores by the end of October, more bargain books will be available and the layout is being remade to make it easier to find books, Tomasczewski said. The makeover will include adding approximately 900 new signs per story to help customers navigate their way in the stores. And as reported yesterday, Borders is adding more children’s educational toys and games, adult games and puzzles and more stationery. In addition, Borders will add more open space to create a more relaxed atmosphere, Tomasczewski said.

The average Borders shopper is a woman, which defines the chain as “a family- and community-based destination,” said Edwards.

Borders’ teetering state has been a huge drain on the graphic novel industry this year. It was, arguably, Borders’ aggressive investment in manga, led by then buyer Kurt Hassler, that set the stage for a lot of the expansion of the graphic novel market in the last decade. While publishers have already been preparing for a Border-less world, a huge round of book returns from the chain earlier this year sent many comics publishers into maintenance mode for all of 2010. GIN general, graphic novel sales were one of the few bright spots in bookstore sales over the last decade, with steady growth while other categories remained flat. However, the dwindling of the bookstore environment itself is forcing big changes to every publisher.

But, see also.

The Bloody Chamber cover by Jen Munford

The Tortilla Curtain cover by Gonzalo

Moon Palace cover by Grez

Bridget Jones’s Diary Front cover by Tara McPherson

The Communist Manifesto cover by Killoffer

The Canterbury Tales cover by Ted Stearn

Great Expectations cover by Richard Sala

While this sounds like an interesting project — a new series of updated continuity standalones theoretically aimed at new readers — it has been somewhat back burnered since the initial announcement back in December ‘09, with no additions to the line announced. The Superman book is due in October, while the Batman book isn’t on the schedule for 2010 — not a big surprise, given Johns’ busy, busy calendar.

However at San Diego, a vigilant blogger noted — and Johanna promoted — that JMS was talking about his book and seemed to hint at some kinds of multiple formats. According to Newsarama’s account:

Last question concerns the format of Earth One, which JMS reports will come out as a hardcover, then individual issues, then be collected again. Fan: “That’s extremely confusing.” “To both of us,” JMS said with a chuckle.

And CBR’s:

The last question went to Straczynski. The fan asked whether the writer plans on continuing the “Earth One” stories. The writer revealed that the hardcover release will be followed up with single issues, which will later be collected.

It’s very unclear from either of these reports just what is going on with the format or continuation — are the periodicals new stories? Or just a periodical reprint? Or what? So we asked DC! And they responded with a statement from co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee:

“Our plans regarding the EARTH ONE line of original graphic novels have not changed – they will serve as new, unique and compelling reinterpretations of our key characters in original graphic novel form, by some of the biggest names and brightest stars in the industry.”

…which didn’t really answer the periodical question at all. But does seem to indicate support for the original graphic novels.
So…developing. Sort of.

This year’s edition is guest edited by Neil Gaiman, who tweeted this cover.

ABRAMS will once again have a strong presence at San Diego Comic-Con 2010, just two years after launching the Abrams ComicArts imprint. Critically acclaimed books such as Matt Groening’s The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis, The Topps Company’s Wacky Packages New New New, Todd Hignite’s The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death, and Dan Nadel’s Art in Time: Unknown Comic Book Adventures, 1940–1980 have helped make this year at Abrams ComicArts a resounding success. 
  
Still to come this fall on the Abrams ComicArts list are: Archie Marries… by Michael Uslan; Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics by N. C. Christopher Couch; The Night Bookmobile, an original graphic novel by Audrey Niffenegger; The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn’t Want You to Read! by Jim Trombetta; Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear; and Krazy Kat & the Art of George Herriman: A Celebration edited by Craig Yoe.

Other fall ABRAMS books of interest include: Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Writers and Artists Who Made the National Lampoon Insanely Great by Rick Meyerowitz; Faeries: Deluxe Collectors Edition by Brian Froud and Alan Lee; Star Trek: The Original Series 365 by Paula M. Block with Terry J. Erdmann; The Making of Avatar by Jody Duncan and Lisa Fitzpatrick; Kidrobot’s I Am Plastic, Too: The Next Generation of Designer Toys by Paul Budnitz; and Star Wars: Visions with a foreword by George Lucas. All of these upcoming books will be represented at the Abrams ComicArts booth (#1216). Abrams ComicArts will hold several in-booth signings and has organized panels for this year’s show. Check the schedule below for dates and times. 
 
The Abrams ComicArts booth will also have exciting GIVEAWAYS including: posters of The Art of Jaime Hernandez, Faeries, The Night Bookmobile, and Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater; DVDs of The Horror! The Horror!; reading group guides of The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics; and playing cards of Jerry Robinson’s concept sketch for the Joker. For Comic-Con Kids’ Day on Sunday, July 25, there will be several fun giveaways from the ABRAMS children’s imprint Amulet including: Diary of a Wimpy Kid water bottles, bookmarks, and tattoos; and galleys for Barry Deutsch’s upcoming graphic novel Hereville and Michael Buckley’s N.E.R.D.S. Book Two: M is for Mama’s Boy. In addition, Jason Shiga will be signing copies of his bestselling graphic novel Meanwhile.
#         #         #
Abrams ComicArts Signings
Booth #1216
Thursday, July 22
1–2:00 pm              Ethen Beavers                                        N.E.R.D.S. Book Two: M Is for Mama’s Boy
2–3:00 pm              Chip Kidd                                                 Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal

Friday, July 23
11–12:00 noon       Brian and Wendy Froud                         The Heart of Faerie Oracle

3–4:00 pm              Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite       The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death

Saturday, July 24
10–11:00 am          Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite       The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death
2:30–3:30 pm         Lela Lee   – Angry Little Girls,                 Angry Little Girls in Love
4–5:00 pm              Brian and Wendy Froud                         The Heart of Faerie Oracle
Sunday, July 25
2–3:00 pm              Jason Shiga                                             Meanwhile
#         #         #
 
Abrams ComicArts Panels
Friday, July 23
1:30–2:30 pm          Spotlight on Jerry Robinson   Room 9
One of the true legends of comics, Comic-Con special guest Jerry Robinson is a writer, artist, historian, curator, and creator rights activist. Jerry discusses his seventy years in comics––from his contributions to the Batman mythos to the creation of the Joker and development of Robin, Alfred, Penguin, Scarecrow, and Two-Face. Jerry is interviewed by Michael Uslan, the executive producer of the Batman movies, comics historian, and author of upcoming Archie Marries… (Abrams ComicArts). In their discussion, Robinson and Uslan will take the audience from behind the scenes of the Golden Age of comics to the filming of The Dark Knight and Jerry’s latest book projects including the upcoming Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics (Abrams ComicArts).

4–5:00 pm               Krazy Kat’s 100th Anniversary Celebration!                         Room 4
An exclusive multimedia show of unpublished strips, drawings, and paintings presented by Craig Yoe, author of Krazy + Ignatz in Tiger Tea (IDW) and the upcoming Krazy Kat & the Art of George Herriman: A Celebration (Abrams ComicArts). The panel will explore a century of Krazy-ness, with Greg Goldstein (IDW), R. C. Harvey (The Art of the Funnies), Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts), Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics), and Peter Maresca, (editor/publisher, Sunday Press Books). Plus a thrilling bonus: a never-before-seen home movie of Krazy’s creator, George Herriman.
 
Saturday, July 24
11:30–12:30 pm      Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal  Room 9
Author/designer Chip Kidd (Mythology, Bat-Manga, Rough Justice), author/producer Michael Uslan (Archie Marries…), and Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts) celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Big Red Cheese in this panel and slideshow discussion celebrating Kidd’s upcoming fall release from Abrams ComicArts, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal.

Taking up practically the whole left-side of the middle section of the 1400 aisle, Impact Books, the leader in how-to write and draw comics, graphic novels and fantasy art; Krause Publications, the authority in pop culture and collectibles publishing; and Comics Buyer’s Guide, the world’s longest-running magazine about comics, have teamed up, the Brave and the Bold-style, for this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego to make the experience of attending Comic-Con even more rewarding.

All 130,000 attendees are encouraged to make booths 1415 and 1419 their destination location, bypassing all other booths to get to this section. Once there, they’ll discover a plethora of merchandise, giveaways and contests that will fill hours of entertainment that otherwise might have been spent waiting in line for star-studded celebrity panels.

The Impact Books section offers a wide selection of books, in many categories, including how-to, graphic arts, writing, humor, film, collectibles, and much more, all priced at 50% off! Books by Orson Scott Card, John Howe, Peter David, Bob Hobbs, and many, many others are all on sale. During the Con, Tom Nguyen, Brian and Kristy Miller, Ryan Mecum, and Harry Hamernik are on the bill to sign copies of their books and Tony Pacitti will be giving away advance copies of his book, My Life as A Wookie! Speaking of giveaways, attendees should check the board for daily book giveaways at pre-assigned times throughout the show. Also, while they last, free awesome Bryan Hitch posters announcing his new book, Bryan Hitch’s Ultimate Comics Studio, are available!

In the Krause Publications section, we’ll have promotional Ozzy fans, so everyone can ride the “crazy train” and sing the praises of our new book, The Wit and Wisdom of Ozzy Osbourne. Plus, we’ll be promoting our newest film book, Horror Movie Freak, which comes with a free DVD of Night of the Living Dead and will be available first exclusively at Comic-Con!

We’ll be busy at the Comics Buyer’s Guide section, too, promoting our newest comics price guide, Comics Shop, the only full-color price guide on the market. Attendees can play CBG Trivia for a chance to win a signed poster featuring art by Mark Sparacio. Plus, there will be a giveaway of 1000 Comics You Must Read, CBG issues for a buck, and, the ever-ubiquitous, much more.

And for those who think they have what it takes, Impact’s own editorial director Pam Wissman will be checking out art portfolios in Area D, on Saturday, July 24, from 2:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Book bloggers tend not to go nuclear when they don’t like something. Blogger Tom picked HIGH SOFT LISP, a collection of comics by the great Gilbert Hernandez to read, and sadly he didn’t like it, but he didn’t froth at the mouth, either. We’ll take the liberty of quoting the entirety of his rather short remarks:

I picked HIGH SOFT LISP up to read because of the cover and the title. The woman on the front attracts the eye, but the color scheme plays with the mind on some sort of psychological level. The blurb on the back also was intriguing.

It’s by far, the most bizarre book I’ve read this year. If you like under ground or alternative comics, you might enjoy it. Teenage boys might get a kick out of it, too because there are moments in this TPB that verge on soft-core porn. Other than that, I’d just stay away. Your life will not be enriched if you do read it and it won’t be any less lively if you don’t.

Okay, so Jeet Heer these are not. But sometimes the books win over. Here’s blogger Nikki’s take on Seth’s IT’S A GOOD LIFE IF YOU DON’T WEAKEN, about a cartoonist’s fictional search for a mystery cartoonist:

The simplicity of the images mirrors Seth’s longing for a simpler time and the color scheme winks at the bleak tone of the story. It didn’t bother me that there wasn’t a great deal of substance or that the story lacked a strong, clear resolution. That just added to the sense of realism and the honesty. It’s not a riveting story, nor is it life shaking, but it wasn’t intended to be. Its value is in its minimalism and its plainness. It has an unobtrusive quality that I find endearing.

And Alyce liked THE BURMA CHRONICLES, Guy DeLisle’s non-fiction account of life in a politically volatile country:

One thing I loved about Burma Chronicles was that the art has clean lines and is easy on the eyes. You don’t have to work hard at all to figure out what is going on in the drawings….I loved the cultural and political details in this book, but also appreciated that it was written in memoir form, so the story is not one of dry politics, but rather the daily life of a foreigner living in Burma. His reflections on his time there are written with wit and humor, and chocked full of information. Usually I can read a graphic novel or graphic memoir in about an hour, but I’m happy to say that Burma Chronicles took me at least twice that long because of the detailed content (and I was happy to prolong the reading experience). I liked that there was a substantial amount of information in the book, and that it held me attention completely.

Nicola, a Bookaholic, Conservative, Catholic, Aspie, who reads a lot. took on FOILED by Jane Yolen and Mike Cavallaro, a YA fantasy romance, which older male comics bloggers didn’t like. Nicola had a more positive response:

I loved Foiled! The story within the book is completed and finalized by there are many hanging threads and an obvious ending to let the reader know there will be another book, perhaps even a series. Aliera is a great main character, one that is easy to relate to. She is somewhat shy (though I’d really just say she’s quiet). She stays out of everyone’s way but thinks a lot. She’s got some great comeback’s and oneliners in her thoughts. But push her too far and she’ll let loose like nobodies business and tell you exactly what she thinks. Aliera is not to be messed around with. She may be broody a good part of the time but she is also bold and brave and the one that can be counted on in an emergency. A delightful book, which more than met my expectations. Certainly looking forward to the next one! Recommended!

While we wouldn’t suggest that the book bloggers’ reactions are any more valid than the experts, it is a nice peek into what actual “readers”, as opposed to pundits, critics or fans, think about some of the new graphic novels.

Why, yes! Or at least a collection of “Fluorescent Black,” their story that has been running in HEAVY METAL for the last three years. Fox writes “We are really proud of how it turned out and it features a TON of new content including guest pinups, additional narrative pages and more.”

An 8-page preview can be seen here.

And the PR:

Heavy Metal Magazine will publish and distribute the graphic novel Fluorescent Black in July of 2010. A hardbound limited edition will be sold at San Diego and New York Comic Con. The novel is nearly 200 pages long and was written by MF Wilson, illustrated by Nathan Fox and colored by Jeromy Cox. Fluorescent Black is one of the most popular stories featured in the adult illustrated magazine and has a massive cult following. “We are very excited to be publishing Fluorescent Black. This book is like nothing else out there! It’s crazy, original and totally punk,” says Kevin Eastman, Editor-in-Chief of Heavy Metal Magazine.

The novel takes the reader into the hard-hitting dark future of South East Asia where gene-tech has divided the human race into two races. A particularily unique element of the story is the way in which a utopian and dystopian future exist in near proximity; it seems to draw inspiration from a lot of the border disputes going on in politics today. The story plays with other hot-button themes like public healthcare, gene patenting, eugenics, the dangers of bio-artistry, and the limits of body modification. Known for it provocative ideas and scientific accuracy, Fluorescent Black has been praised by biotechnology web rings and counter-culture magazines as a seminal “bio-punk” novel, a relatively new genre which has been slowly working it’s way into the literary and cinematic marketplace. MF says, “I wanted to write this story for all the things it is guilty of; it’s hard-core, violent, sexual and frightening. It’s venereal horror, bio-punk and psychadelic science fiction all rolled into one.” It seems to be the perfect material for an illustrator like Nathan Fox who has built a fan base out of his featured work in rock-and-roll magazines and adult comic books, and who is known for his kinetic freehand and raucus style. Every panel is a work of art, with hidden (sometimes blush-worthy) details that only become apparent on a second or third read. “I wanted this book to be wild and colorful; it had to be a living, moving thing.” The collaboration between these artists has produced a one-of-a-kind novel that is well worth the pricetag. It is available through heavymetal.com, amazon.com and will be on comic book shelves everywhere later this year. For more information, visit freethegene.com

the last volume/a>
of the influential anthology of fantasy comics featuring many animators and illustrators. Editor Kazu Kibuishi had a bit more

The FLIGHT 7 preview is now online. I think it’s a very strong volume, with some of the most beautiful artwork we’ve ever had in the pages of Flight. The book arrives in stores mid-July and we will be attending Comic-Con to sell and sign copies of all Flight volumes. We’ll also have Copper, Amulet 1 & 2, Raina Telgemeier’s Smile and Jake Parker’s Missile Mouse. Our booth is #2235, and we will be sharing the space with our friends at Gallery Nucleus once again. This will likely be the last Comic-Con where we will have a large booth presence for Flight, so be sure to drop by and say hello. Next year, I’ll only be at the show for a day or two and probably take Juni to the San Diego Zoo and Sea World.

Above, a page of “Premium Cargo” by Kostas Kiriakakis, just one of many lovely pages in the preview.

FLIGHT 7 will be published by Random House’s Villard imprint.

June 22: LGBTQ in Comics edition
June 22: Giant Variety Funpack edition
June 22: Live-Action Blue Beetle edition
June 22: Women and Gender in Comics edition

As much as we like angst and ire as blogging fodder, (see previous statement) it is dispiriting that the blunders of company spokesmen continue to generate tons of blog posts while the reissue of STUCK RUBBER BABY, a multi-leveled work of enduring worth by a pioneering cartoonist that covers the gay experience from a unique viewpoint, gets only two links.

We all know DC sometimes has the sensitivity of a charging rhino, but the fact is they also put out some of the greatest comics of all times, and many of these — like STUCK RUBBER BABY — have a lot to say about the concerns of people of a multiplicity of genders, races. religions and nationalities. Books like Cairo, SENTENCES, Incognegro, the upcoming CUBA: MY REVOLUTION and so on.

If everyone who expressed alarm and concern over DC’s attitudes instead went and bought a work published by DC of greater insight and interest, maybe they would be a little more inclined to publish more such material. Come on people, let’s put that outrage to good use.

RAT CATCHER by Andy Diggle and Victor Ibañez
NOCHE ROJA by Writer: Simon Oliver and Jason Latour (above — nice!))
Also, a new OGN, AARON AND AHMED by Jay Cantor and James Romberger. Nothing else new we spotted, although we’re bummed that the third volume of the deluxe collected PREACHER won’t be out for another year. We had already cleared a place on the shelf for it!

Below, the whole list:

THE CHILL TP

Writer: Jason Starr
Artist: Mick Bertilorenzi
An original Vertigo Crime graphic novel
$12.99 US, 192 pages

HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOL. 5: MANAGEMENT TP
Writers: Matthew Sturges, Bill Willingham, Alisa Kwitney, Dave Justus and Paul Levitz
Artists: Luca Rossi, Sergio Aragones, Farel Dalrymple, John Bolton and Sam Kieth
Collects: HOUSE OF MYSTERY #21-25
$14.99 US, 128 pages

HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: ORIGINAL SINS TP NEW EDITION
Writers: Jamie Delano and Rick Veitch
Artists: John Ridgway, Tom Mandrake, Rick Veitch, Brett Ewins, Alfredo Alcala and Jim McCarthy
Collects: JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER #1-9 and SWAMP THING #76-77
$19.99 US, 304 pages

iZOMBIE: DEAD TO THE WORLD TP
Writer: Chris Roberson
Artist: Michael Allred
Collects: iZOMBIE #1-6 and material from the HOUSE OF MYSTERY HALLOWEEN ANNUAL #1
$14.99 US, 144 pages

JACK OF FABLES VOL. 8: THE FULMINATE BLADE TP
Writers: Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Artists: Tony Akins and Andrew Pepoy
Collects: JACK OF FABLES #41-45
$14.99 US, 128 pages

MADAME XANADU VOL. 3: HOUSE OF BROKEN CARDS TP
Writer: Matt Wagner
Artists: Amy Reeder, Joëlle Jones and Richard Friend
Collects: MADAME XANADU #16-21
$17.99 US, 200 pages

PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL TP
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Steve Leialoha
An original novel
$14.99 US, 400 pages

RAT CATCHER HC
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Victor Ibañez
An original Vertigo Crime graphic novel
$19.99 US, 192 pages

THE SANDMAN VOL. 4: SEASON OF MIST TP NEW EDITION
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artists: Kelley Jones, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Matt Wagner, Dick Giordano, George Pratt and P. Craig Russell
Collects: THE SANDMAN #21-28
$19.99 US, 192 pages

SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING VOL. 4 HC
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Stan Woch, Stephen Bissette, John Totleben, Rick Veitch, Ron Randall and Alfredo Alcala
Collects: SWAMP THING #43-50
$24.99 US, 224 pages

The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores in February:

AIR VOL. 4: A HISTORY OF THE FUTURE TP
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: M.K. Perker
Collects: AIR #18-24
$14.99 US, 168 pages

DAYTRIPPER HC
Writers: Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon
Artists: Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá
Collects: DAYTRIPPER #1-10
$29.99 US, 256 pages

DMZ VOL. 9: M.I.A. TP
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Riccardo Burchielli
Collects: DMZ #50-54
$14.99 US, 128 pages

HELLBLAZER: PANDEMONIUM TP
Writer: Jamie Delano
Artist: Jock
An original graphic novel
$17.99 US, 128 pages

NOCHE ROJA HC
Writer: Simon Oliver
Artist: Jason Latour
An original Vertigo Crime graphic novel
$19.99 US, 208 pages

JOE THE BARBARIAN DELUXE EDITION HC
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Sean Murphy
Collects: JOE THE BARBARIAN #1-8
$29.99 US, 224 pages

PREACHER BOOK THREE HC
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artists: Steve Dillon, Steve Pugh and Carlos Ezquerra
Collects: PREACHER #27-33, PREACHER: SAINT OF KILLERS #1-4 and PREACHER SPECIAL: CASSIDY – BLOOD AND WHISKEY #1.
$39.99 US, 352 pages

SCALPED VOL. 7: REZ BLUES TP
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: R.M. Guera, Davide Furno and Danijel Zezelj
Collects: SCALPED #35-42
$17.99 US, 192 pages

The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores in March:

THE BRONX KILL TP
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: James Romberger
An original Vertigo Crime graphic novel
$12.99 US, 184 pages

DELIRIUM’S PARTY: A LITTLE ENDLESS STORYBOOK HC
Writer/Artist: Jill Thompson
An original graphic novel
$14.99 US, 64 pages

DEMO VOL. 2 TP
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Becky Cloonan
Collects: DEMO VOL. 2 #1-6
$17.99 US, 160 pages

THE UNWRITTEN VOL. 3: DEAD MAN’S KNOCK TP
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Peter Gross
Collects: THE UNWRITTEN #13-18
$14.99 US, 144 pages

The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores in April:

AARON AND AHMED HC
Writer: Jay Cantor
Artist: James Romberger
An original graphic novel
$24.99 US, 144 pages

AREA TEN TP
Writer: Christos N. Gage
Artist: Chris Samnee
An original Vertigo Crime graphic novel
$12.99 US, 184 pages

FABLES VOL. 15: ROSE RED TP
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha
Collects: FABLES #94-100
$17.99 US, 256 pages

OTHER LIVES TP
Writer/Artist: Peter Bagge
An original graphic novel
$17.99 US, 136 pages

THE SANDMAN VOL. 5: A GAME OF YOU TP NEW EDITION
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artists: Shawn McManus, Colleen Doran, Bryan Talbot, George Pratt, Stan Woch and Dick Giordano
Collects: THE SANDMAN #32-37
$19.99 US, 192 pages

TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOL. 9: THE CURE TP NEW PRINTING
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artists: Darick Robertson and Rodney Ramos
Collects: TRANSMETROPOLITAN #49-54
$14.99 US, 144 pages

Y: THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION VOL. 5 HC
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artists: Pia Guerra, Goran Sudzuka and Jose Marzan Jr.
Collects: Y: THE LAST MAN #49-60
$29.99 US, 320 pages

June

• Beasts of Burden, by Evan
  Dorkin and Jill Thompson, Dark Horse 
• If ‘n Oof,by Brian Chippendale, Picturebox 
• Moving Pictures,by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen, Top
  Shelf
• The Wild Kingdom,by Kevin Huizenga, Drawn &
  Quarterly

July

• AX vol. 1: A Collection of Alternative Manga, by various, Top Shelf
• Batwoman: Elegy, by Greg
  Rucka and J.H. Williams III, DC 
• Black Jack vol. 12, by Osamu
  Tezuka, Viz
• Dragon Puncher, by James
  Kochalka, Top Shelf
• Peepo Choo vol. 1, by Felipe Smith, Vertical
• Revolver, by Matt Kindt, Vertigo
• Scituate Heart, by Ron Rege
  Jr., Drawn & Quarterly
• Scott Pilgrim vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour, by Bryan
  Lee O’Malley, Oni Press 
• The Playwright, by Daren White and Eddie Campbell, Top Shelf 
• Werewolves of Montpellier, by Jason, Fantagraphics

August

• Set to Sea, by Drew Weing,
  Fantagraphics
• Sullivan’s Sluggers, by Mark Andrew Smith and James Stokoe, Image
• The Unwritten vol. 2: Inside Man, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross, Vertigo

September

• A Drunken Dream and Other Stories, by Moto
  Hagio, Fantagraphics 
• Fingerprints, by Will Dinski, Top Shelf
• The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec:
  Pterror Over Paris / The Eiffel Tower Demon, by Jacques Tardi,
  Fantagraphics
• The Night Bookmobile, by Audrey
  Niffenegger, Abrams ComicsArts

October

• Ayako, by Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
• Dawn Land, by Will Davis and Joseph Bruchac, First Second
• Palookaville #20, by Seth,
  Drawn & Quarterly
• The Hidden, by Richard Sala,
  Fantagraphics
• The Little Prince Graphic Novel, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery and Joann
  Sfar, Houghton Mifflin
• X’ed Out, by Charles Burns, Pantheon  

November

• Eden, by Pablo
  Holmberg, Drawn & Quarterly
• Grandville Mon Amour, by Bryan
  Talbot, Dark Horse
• How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less, by Sarah Glidden
• The Littlest Pirate King, by Pierre Mac Orlan and David B., Fantagraphics
• The Strange Tale of Panorama Island, by Suehiro Maruo, Last
  Gasp 

December:

• 7 Psychopaths, by Fabien
  Vehlmann and Sean Phillips, Boom

…but the whole list deserves support.

* When to get in line for that Hall H panel (or any other room’s panels)
• TUESDAY
* Parking – picking the best location for the lowest prices!
• DON’T BRING HELL CAR
* Best time to score sweetest swag
6:01, WEDNESDAY, RIGHT BY THE WARNER BROS BOOTH
* Knowing when and where to get the best deals from the hundreds of vendors in the exhibition hall
THERE ARE VENDORS?
* Creating a workable schedule (with backup plans) that helps you see as much as possible
GOOGLE CALENDAR WITH DROP AND DRAG.
* Finding the best eats in the city (without going broke)
RALPH’S
* Get into the best exclusive after hours events
DATE GERARD BUTLER
* Taking care of yourself (manage stress, exhaustion, and potential late-onset agoraphobia)
JESUS, WHAT KIND OF AN EVENT IS THIS, ANYWAY?
* Asking interesting and fun Q&A panel questions (how not to kill a panel)
ASK GERARD BUTLER IF HE WILL DATE YOU. IF YOU HAVE A PULSE, HE PROBABLY WILL.
* Meeting your favorite stars without having to bribe hotel staff or convention security
A BRIBE IS MOST EFFECTIVE SINCE YOU’RE ALREADY A STALKER
* Scoring that elusive exclusive
YOU MEAN WI-FI, RIGHT?

Oh we kid, but this sounds like it could be useful. Maybe it will encourage people to eat, shower and not ask panel-killing questions. It is a little sad that the book doesn’t actually mention comics, but what were you expecting?