This week’s highlights, with commentary from the NFNT gang:
All New X-Men Volume 1: Yesterday’s X-Men (Marvel, 9780785168201)
Michael: All New X-Men is a stand out in Marvel’s fantastic line up. The 5 original X-Men (Cyclops, Angel, Jean Grey, Beast and Iceman) are brought to the present day by the current Beast to help convince the current Cyclops to change his mind. Given that these characters were conceived of when comics were much more light hearted and simple, bringing them to the present day which is complex and somewhat more grim is traumatizing for them and drives most of the plot. The art and writing are fantastic. A must read.
Bad Machinery: the Case of the Team Spirit (Oni, 9781620100844)
Robin: I know Snow thinks I’m a bit cracked in the head, but BAD MACHINERY!
I’ve loved John Allison’s webcomic for years, and was increasingly bitter that it wasn’t available for me to order for my library’s collection, so Oni’s pretty new US print editions make me super happy. I’ve had it on order for my library, and am now eagerly awaiting its arrival.
Plus, I greatly enjoyed the British slang dictionary entries (created with tongue very firmly in cheek) at the back of the new editions. I know not everyone watches the sheer volume of BBC and ITV that I do, so the slang flying thick and fast can get befuddling for new readers. Thus, the dictionary is appreciated, although I wonder how useful it ultimately will be for new readers.
Snow: Yeah, I just didn’t get Bad Machinery. Oh, well, not every book is for everyone!
Sheli: I think Bad Machinery has some of the sharpest cartooning around. I actually haven’t read the story yet (but will!), that never detracts from how much I admire its style. Soooo slick. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Jennifer W: I’ve had Bad Machinery in my “to read” folder for a while, but I just started reading it…um…right now and while I find it oddly confusing, it’s also very addictive and I think I may be in love.
Blood Lad Omnibus Volume 2 (Yen Press, 9780316228985)
Jenny: I was surprised at how how decent the first volume of Blood Lad turned out to be and look forward to giggling over the second one soon. A teen descendant of Dracula has never left the demon world and yet is an otaku for manga, video games, and all things Japan. It’s funny and silly and pokes fun at some of the conventions it follows even as it sets up some potentially semi-serious elements.
Day of Judgment (DC Comics, 9781401237950)
Michael: I’ve heard good things about Day of Judgment, but I’ve never actually managed to read it. I’m thrilled that DC is finally collecting it and I can’t wait to pick up a copy.
Matthew: Day of Judgment is an enjoyable DC Comics story. I’m just surprised to see them doing a reprint since it centers around events that are no longer in continuity and which TPTB would rather pretend never happened in the first place. (I.E. Hal Jordan going crazy, killing the rest of the Green Lantern Corps, becoming The Specter….)
Digimon: Digital Monsters – the Official First Season Volume 2
Digimon: Digital Monsters – the Official Second Season (New Video Group)
Michael: Digimon is still one of the best anime ever even 14 years later. It’s a great way to introduce kids to anime. Plus, if they want more when they’re done there’s a whole franchise to go onto.
Genshiken Second Season Volume 2 (Kodansha, 9781612622422)
Matthew: Genshiken is one of my favorite Manga of all time. Nice to see the sequel series finally getting an American release. Now if only they’d bring the original one back into print…
Jenny: More Genshiken = yay!
InuYasha the Movie – the Complete Collection (Viz)
Michael: I really like movies 2, 3 and 4 of InuYasha. Seeing them was what got me into watching the main InuYasha anime, in fact. They’re not the best anime movies ever, but if you’re a fan of the show it’s a good investment.
Love and Capes Volume 4: What to Expect (IDW, 9781613775868)
Johnny Boo Book 5: Johnny Boo Does Something! (Top Shelf, 9781603090841)
The Olympians: Poseidon: Earth Shaker (First Second, 9781596437388)
Snow: I’ve got series love this week, with the new volumes of Love and Capes, Johnny Boo, and Olympians. All great series!
Jenny: O’Connor’s mythology series is highly entertaining and educational and I’ve been eagerly waiting for Poseidon to come out.
The Unwritten Volume 7: the Wound (DC Comics/Vertigo, 9781401238063)
Jenny: I’ve only read up through volume 4 of Unwritten, but so far I’m enjoying the blend of literary philosophy and magic and action-adventure. Plus, Yuko Shimizu’s covers are lovely. I need to catch up!
Witchblade/Red Sonja (Dynamite, 9781606903889)
Matthew: I read the first issue of the Witchblade/Red Sonja series. I did not get the second issue. Make of that what you will.
AND NOW FOR THE COMPLETE LIST
The following list of new releases is compiled from Diamond Comic Distributors’ complete weekly shipping list and Anime News Network’s Releases encyclopedia
Graphic Novels
Abrams
- BLACK PATHS HC GN
Arcana
- GENE SIMMONS COMICS ANTHOLOGY SC VOL 01
Archaia
- HAWKEN GENESIS HC
Classic Comics Press
- LEONARD STARR’S MARY PERKINS ON STAGE TP VOL 01 NEW ED
Dark Horse
- ANGELIC LAYER TP BOOK 02
- ART OF BIOSHOCK INFINITE HC
- FEMINA AND FAUNA ART OF CAMILLA D ERRICO HC
- HUSBANDS HC
- NEXUS OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
DC Comics
- AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 05
- BATWING TP VOL 02 IN THE SHADOW OF ANCIENTS
- DAY OF JUDGMENT TP
- SHOWCASE PRESENTS SGT ROCK TP VOL 04
- SUPERMAN VS ZOD TP
- UNWRITTEN TP VOL 07 THE WOUND
Dynamite
- WITCHBLADE RED SONJA TP
First Second
- OLYMPIANS GN VOL 05 POSEIDON EARTH SHAKER
IDW
- LIBRARY OF AMERICAN COMICS ESSENTIALS HC VOL 02 GUMPS SAGA MARY GOLD
- LOVE AND CAPES TP VOL 04 WHAT TO EXPECT
- STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION: HIVE TP
- TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE TP VOL 03
Image
- 68 TP VOL 02 SCARS
- BOMB QUEEN DLX ED HC VOL 01
- GUARDING THE GLOBE TP VOL 02
- IT GIRL & ATOMICS ROUND ONE DARK STREETS SNAP CITY TP
- SPAWN ORIGINS HC VOL 08
Kodansha
- GENSHIKEN SECOND SEASON GN VOL 02
Legendary Comics
- TOWER CHRONICLES GN VOL 04 GEISTHAWK
Marvel
- ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 01 YESTERDAYS X-MEN NOW
- ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 11 WEAPONIZED
- AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP
- DOOM 2099 COMPLETE COLLECTION BY WARREN ELLIS TP
- KICK-ASS 2 TP
- MARVEL UNIVERSE VS AVENGERS TP
- MIGHTY THOR BY MATT FRACTION TP VOL 03
- MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE HUMAN TORCH TP VOL 01
- SPIDER-MAN LIZARD TP NO TURNING BACK
- WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 03 AVX
NBM
- IMMODERATION CHAD WARD GOTH TRILOGY
Oni Press
- BAD MACHINERY GN: THE CASE OF THE TEAM SPIRIT
Rebellion/2000 AD
- JUDGE DREDD DAY OF CHAOS FOURTH FACTION GN
- JUDGE DREDD ORIGINS TP
Renegade Arts Entertainment
- CHANNEL EVIL TP
Seven Stories Press
- GRAPHIC CANON TP VOL 02
Top Shelf
- JOHNNY BOO HC VOL 05 DOES SOMETHING
Yen Press
- BLOOD LAD OMNIBUS GN VOL 02
- DARK HUNTERS INFINITY TP VOL 01
- DURARARA SAIKA TP VOL 01
- HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 21 MASSACRE ARC PT 3
- JACK FROST TP VOL 07
- SOUL EATER TP VOL 13
- WITCH & WIZARD MANGA GN VOL 03
Zenescope
- GRIMM FAIRY TALES SLEEPY HOLLOW TP
Anime
Funimation
- Shakugan no Shana – Season 3 Part 1
- Shakugan no Shana – Season 3 Part 2
New Video Group
- Digimon: Digital Monsters – the Official First Season Volume 2
- Digimon: Digital Monsters – the Official Second Season
Sentai
- Amagami SS+ – Complete Collection
- Phi-Brain: Puzzle of God – Season 1 Collection 1
Viz
- InuYasha the Movie – the Complete Collection
Keep in mind that titles are not always available from book vendors on the same dates as they are released in comic book stores, so not all of these will be available everywhere at the same time. Check with your vendors, just to be sure!
