As a kid, Dover Books was just about my favorite publisher, bringing out fine reprints of sheet music, fairy tales, art and all sorts of other goodies (yeah that’s the kind of kid I was.) And they’re still around and now bringing back long OOP graphic novels in a new line. Publishers Weekly had all the details a few weeks ago but th eline will basically bring back some books that have fallen through th ecracks in the last 20-30 years, many with new foreward and new materials. Dover editor Drew Ford is the mastermind behind the plan, and the line is now available for preorder on Amazon, with the first six books due in April and another six in the fall. Here’s the line-up and some commentary:
A SAILOR’S STORY by Sam Glanzman (April)
Semi-autobiographical adventures of life aboard a WWII destroyer — includes new Foreword by Max Brooks, author of World War Z, new Introduction by Larry Hama, and new Afterword by Chuck Dixon.
Believe it or not this was originally published by Marvel in 1987 as part of their then revolutionary OGN line. It’s a fine war story and Glanzman is still alive and drawing at age 90.
Civil War Adventure: Book One (May 2015)
Written by Chuck Dixon, illustrated Gary Kwapisz
Graphic drama of the War Between the States by writer of Batman and Green Arrow and the illustrator of The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian.
This is a more recent book from a historical publisher.
Mercy (June 2015) Written by J. M. DeMatteis, illustrated by Paul Johnson
Mind-bending masterpiece by Eisner Award–winning writer known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, andJustice League of America — includes new Introduction by the writer and bonus “How It Was Made” material
Originally published by Vertigo, I believe this started out as part of the creator Own Disney Comics graphic novel line. (!)
Blackjack: Second Bite of the Cobra (July 2015) Written by Alex Simmons, illustrated by Joe Bennett
Hard-hitting tale of vengeance by illustrator of Batman: Orpheus Rising — first time collected in a single volume. Includes new Foreword by Joe Illidge, new Afterword by David Colley, and new cover by Scott Hanna
Always good to see more books by Simmons in print!
The BOZZ Chronicles (August 2015) Written by David Michelinie, illustrated by Bret Blevins
Cult classic by the writer of Iron Man & penciler of The New Mutants with new Foreword and pin-up by Brandon Graham and new Introduction by the creators — includes entire six-issue run
Another one from the vaults of Epic Comics…and there are some pretty good things in those vaults.
The Puma Blues(September 2015) Written by Stephen Murphy, illustrated by Michael Zulli
Features new Foreword by Dave Sim, new Afterword by Stephen R. Bissette, and new Introduction by the authors: “Intelligent and urgent mythology.” — Neil Gaiman
Talk about a lost classic. This books was originally part of Aardvark Vanaheim’s short lived creator owned line, and features incredible art by Zulli and a strange, powerful post apocalyptic story by Murphy.
ASYLUM
by William Seabrook, with cover and intro by award-winning graphic novelist Joe Ollmann, is also available for pre-order:
This dramatic memoir recaptures the author’s experiences during an eight-month stay at a Westchester mental hospital in the early 1930s. Written by a renowned journalist who was voluntarily committed for acute alcoholism, it offers an honest, self-critical look at addiction and treatment in the days before Alcoholics Anonymous and other modern programs.
I never even heard of this book, but I’m in.
This is a very cool diverse line, and I’ve corresponded with Ford a bit and let’s just say there are some real surprises on the way.
Ford passed along word of some other Dover reprint books that might be of interest:
NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES by Fritz Leiber
THE NIGHT LAND by William Hope Hodgson (This one is a creepy old fantasy masterpiece!)
DARKNESS & DAWN by George Allan England
AFTER LONDON by Richard Jefferies
TEN NIGHTS DREAMING, the book by acclaimed author Natsume Soseki that is said to have been the starting point for fantasy in Modern Japanese literature, is now available again with a new English translation.
Finally here’s a peek at the all-now story by Glanzman for A Sailor’s Tale:
Though I’m making my own custom bind of it because i want it in hardcover, I’m delighted to see Puma Blues on this list. It’s a great, neglected book.
Overall, this is a very strong solicitation list. Not a clunker in the bunch by my lights.
Other titles they might consider: Tales From the Heart, Aztec Ace, a collection of Trina Robbins’ adaptation of Sax Rohmer’s DOPE, serialized in Eclipse Magazine and concluded in the anthology comic, and the offbeat Charlton Western backup series by Denny O’Neil and Dick Giordano, Wander!
Hi Diana,
Thank you so much for your kind words of support. Just so you know, this new Puma Blues collection will be complete, including the hard to find Puma Blues mini-comic…not to mention there will finally be an ending (which, of course, will be brand new, as it is being worked on by Stephen Murphy and Michael Zulli as we speak). Lastly, this new edition will be wrapped in a hard cover with a dust jacket. Hope ya like it! :)
Good stuff. Owned most of them. Would love to see Renegade comics old Wordsmith series collected.
Not only was “A Sailor’s Story” an original NON-FICTION graphic album from Marvel, it was pubished in HARDCOVER.
As I recall, there were two volumes, and follow-up stories (his last work) in the last Joe Kubert anthology from DC Comics.
Tales From The Heart is problematic… I hear Cindy Goff has no interest in reprinting the title.
As for Dover, they have reprinted comics in the past, most public domain items, like Winsor McCay, Annie, and Ward. They have also started a line of comics classics.
Suggested titiles:
Moonshadow. (Has anyone collected the final chapter published by Vertigo?)
DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel series (seven stories, with a stellar list of contributors!)
Rudy, by William Overgard (collected into a single volume, but I’d love to see a complete strip collection!)
Second on that Aztec Ace reprint idea.
I thought the Compleat Moonshadow collection included that final chapter.
Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company
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