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Well, DC has had a spectacular Fall so far, launching the New 52 comic books. But what of their strong graphic novel line? What’s new (and old) on bookshelves this season?
Quite a bit! Absolute editions, omnibuses, deluxe editions, licensed products, and the usual titles.
Click on the titles to be taken to the DC Comics website. Caveat lector: DC, which has a very good website, does not list EANs for all of their titles.
Absolute Editions
DC usually offers at least one new Absolute edition in the Fall, for those who buy awesome graphic novels for their loved ones (Mom, my wish list is here). This season, they’ve issued new printings of backlist titles (how amazing is that… they stay in print for years!) as well as offering some new titles.
Absolute All Star Superman (new printing)
Absolute Sandman, Volume 5
Written by NEIL GAIMAN, P. CRAIG RUSSELL and MATT WAGNER
Art by YOSHITAKA AMANO, TEDDY KRISTIANSEN, P. Craig Russell, Milo Manara, Bill Sienkiewicz, Miguelanxo Prado, Barron Storey, Glenn Fabry, and Frank Quitely and others
Cover by DAVE MCKEAN
Absolute Identity Crisis
Written by BRAD MELTZER
Art and cover by RAGS MORALES and MICHAEL BAIR
Omnibus/Archives
These are big thick regular sized hardcover volumes which either wouldn’t work with the art enlarged, or there aren’t enough buyers for a more expensive Absolute edition, or a single volume works better. DC still has an archives line, but these are usually reserved for older material from before the Crisis Age.
The Steve Ditko Omnibus, Volume 1
Written by STEVE DITKO, MICHAEL FLEISHER, PAUL LEVITZ and others
Art by STEVE DITKO, WALLACE WOOD and others
Cover by STEVE DITKO
Steve Ditko Omnibus, Volume 2
Written by STEVE DITKO, LEN WEIN, PAUL LEVITZ, MARK MILLAR and others
Art by STEVE DITKO and others
Cover by STEVE DITKO
Sugar and Spike Archives, Volume 1
Written by SHELDON MAYER
Art and cover by SHELDON MAYER
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Volume 1
Written by JACK KIRBY
Art and cover by JACK KIRBY and VINCE COLLETTA
[This is the paperback edition of the hardcover, published in May 2007. $10 cheaper.]
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Omnibus
Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth Omnibus, Volume 1
Written by JACK KIRBY
Art by JACK KIRBY, MIKE ROYER and D. BRUCE BERRY
Cover by JACK KIRBY and MIKE ROYER
[Previously published as two archive volumes for $100, this edition costs $50.]
Spy vs. Spy by Prohias Omnibus
Written by ANTONIO PROHIAS
Art and cover by ANTONIO PROHIAS
The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Curse Deluxe Edition
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by KEITH GIFFEN, LARRY MAHLSTEDT and others
Cover by KEITH GIFFEN
Deluxe Editions
Hardcovers with something extra? Better paper? I’m not exactly sure. But DC uses this for their top tier titles. I’m thinking it’s where titles go before there are enough issues for an omnibus. Ten years later, these titles will probably become Absolute Editions.
100 Bullets Book One
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by EDUARDO RISSO
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Joe the Barbarian Deluxe Edition
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by SEAN MURPHY
Licensed Titles
DC has a very active licensing division. Almost every Holiday season, there are at least one or two gift books being offered by other publishers. Usually, these titles have a long shelf life as well (although the new edition of the DC Encyclopedia had it’s legs cut out from beneath). They also have a strong presence in the children’s market, with many easy-to-read tie-ins and the occasional Johnny DC title. Aw yeah, Super Pets!
The Batman Files
by Matthew Manning
[Click the title above, there’s a Google preview available!]
Other Titles
DC collects just about everything into a collection, since the library, school, and bookstore markets are quite strong. Surprisingly, one does not see many DC graphic novels in the remainder market. Perhaps that is because DC expects the titles to eventually sell out, even if it takes a few years to do so via the Direct Market.
A.D.D.: Adolescent Demo Division
Written by DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF
Art and cover by GORAN SUDZUKA and JOSE MARZAN JR.
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland
Written by BRIAN BOLLAND
Art and cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
DC Comics: The New 52
by Too Many Cooks
Marzi
Written by MARZENA SOWA
Art and cover by SYLVAIN SAVOIA
A Flight of Angels
Written by HOLLY BLACK, BILL WILLINGHAM, ALISA KWITNEY, LOUISE HAWES and T.D. MITCHELL
Conceived and illustrated by REBECCA GUAY
Legends of the Dark Knight: Marshall Rogers
Written by STEVE ENGLEHART and others
Art by MARSHALL ROGERS, TERRY AUSTIN and others
Cover by MARSHALL ROGERS
Showcase Presents: The Spectre, Volume 1
Written by GARDNER FOX, MICHAEL FLEISHER and others;
Art by MURPHY ANDERSON, NEAL ADAMS, JIM APARO and others;
Cover by APARO
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“Deluxe Editions” are oversized…not Absolute-sized but the same dimensions as Marvel’s oversized books.
League of Extraordinary gentlemen is published be Vertigo now? Last I saw Top Shelf was putting it out.
Top Shelf has the new stuff. DC still has the old stuff (that they originally published).
Deluxe editions are oversized, that’s true. But they vary in content. Usually when the trades were published before, you’ll get a deluxe edition that contain two trade paperbacks, so between 10 to 14 issues, which was the case for Y the Last Man and Fables. My guess is that it’s the same for 100 Bullets.
But if it is the first time that the material is collected, like for example Batman inc., it contains only one trade paperback, so between 5 to 7 issues. The paperback will be released later in nine or twelve months. Will they release in two or three years deluxe DELUXE editions? Who knows?