Off the Shelf: New Graphic Novels for December 2011

We’ve had a number of interesting additions to the adult comics collection over the past month or two.  These comics range from fantasy to western to martial arts hybrids.  Take a look at what new items have come in and see if there’s anything to your liking.

Joe the Barbarian - Grant Morrison
Joe enters a fantasy world in his own mind when he forgets to take his insulin shot and must battle various foes as the savior of his fantasy world.  By acclaimed and imaginative writer Grant Morrison.

Orcs – Stan Nicholls
You will never look at orcs again the same way after reading Nicholls’ unique take on the work horses of nearly every plot hatched by an evil fantasy overlord.

The Death-ray - Daniel Clowes
Teen outcast Andy finds that he can do anything after taking a puff of a cigarette.  Clowes weaves a subversive tale of mayhem in this new work.

Manara - Milo Manara
Acclaimed Italian artist Manara gets the superstar treatment in this special edition collection of his past works.  This volume features stories set in the American West with writer Hugo Pratt.

THUNDER Agents – Nick Spencer
Spencer updates an old DC team book where the heroes accept that getting super powers will eventually kill them.  Yet they make the choice anyway.

A Zombies Christmas Carol - Jim McCann
The inevitable zombiefication of the Dickens classic arrives just in time for the holidays.

Infinite Kung Fu - Kagan McCloud
McCloud creates a dynamite, irreverent take on martial arts books with this genre busting comic that defies easy explanation.

      

Incoming: New Graphic Novels for grown ups – spooky edition

With October upon us, it’s a great time to take a look at what new, spooky graphic novels we have for adults.  Whether it be crime, horror, or suspense – there are a lot of intense, moody and interesting graphic novels that have recently arrived.

Petrograd - Philip Gelatt
British spy, Cleary, is assigned the task of planning and carrying out the death of Grigoi Rasputin, the cleric with influential ties to the Russian Royal family. Set in the time before the Russian Revolution, this is an fascinating fictional exploration of an interesting historical period. 

The Unknown - Mark Waid
Famed detective Catherine Allingham, is given 6 months to live, so she sets out to uncover the biggest mystery of all, what happens to us when we die?

Victorian Undead - Ian Edginton
What happens when Sherlock Holmes uncovers zombies and vampires?  Find out here.

Twilight Experiment - Justin Gray
When an experiment to create humans with superpowers fails, earth’s last best hope is the legacy provided by their children.

Books to Graphic Novels: Seeing is Believing

Did your favorite series leave you wanting more?  Not quite ready to give up the fantasy world that dragged you along for seven novels?  There might be more in store for the characters you love in a place you might not expect:  browse our graphic novels, and you might be pleasantly surprised.         

The Dresden Files – Welcome to the Jungle is a graphic novel written expressly by series author Jim Butcher for the comic format.  A grisly murder at the Chicago zoo leaves the wizard investigator Harry Dresden with only 24 hours to solve it before one of the loveable great apes is put down for the deed.  The book adds one more story to the Dresden universe, and offers a compelling full-color vision of Butcher’s magical Chicago that the television show just couldn’t quite capture.  Ardian Syaf has also illustrated a GN for the first book in the series, “Storm Front”, and plans to ink the rest.       

Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” Graphic Novels – With production on “The Gunslinger” movie in limbo, it looks like there might not be much opportunity to see Roland and his ka-tet in action any time soon.  But wait—you guessed it—there’s a graphic novel adaptation, and a quality one at that.  Starting with “The Gunslinger Born”, the series follows young Roland across the events preceding his journey to the Dark Tower and provides a rich, full-color history to the popular novels.    

Bram Stoker’s “Death Ship” – Horror writer Gary Gerani takes up the dark story of the doomed ship Demeter as it takes the infamous Dracula from Transylvania to England.  Originally a short and incomplete tale within Stoker’s suspenseful novel, the beautiful black & white images tell the story of the Demeter’s crew and the heroic captain as they discover the evils of the creature they unwittingly agreed to transport.  Fans of the original Dracula, vampires, or macabre stories will find “Death Ship” a satisfying expansion on the legendary monster.          

The inside scoop: Axe Cop Volume 1

Axe Cop #1

Written by Malachai Nicolle

Drawn by Ethan Nicolle

Axe Cop is a web comic about a super cop who fights crime (duh) and has an axe.  It’s drawn by professional comics artist Ethan Nicolle, but all the stories are written by Ethan’s 5 year old brother Malachai.  If just that was enough to make you cackle with anticipated glee, this is the book for you. 

Ethan’s art is hilarious, but he wisely lets Malachai’s stories take center stage.   It’s Malachai’s hyperactive “and then… and then… and then…” style of storytelling; random sidekick names (Flute Cop? Sockarang?); and arbitrary superhero rules that will get you laughing out loud in the break room or on the bus.  Also, this book contains several of the “Ask Axe Cop” advice columns, where Axe Cop answers reader questions about romance and crime fighting and staying motivated at work.  Watch for the next volume, Bad Guy Earth to come out later this year.

Incoming! – New graphic novels for February

Check out these recent additions to our graphic novel section.  Place your holds by selecting the links below and enjoy.

Vietnamerica: a Family’s Journey by GB Tran
The graphic memoirs depicts Tran’s family as they flee from Vietnam during the Fall of Siagon and settle in America.

Simon’s Cat by Simon Tofield
Tofield brings his YouTube sensation to graphic novel form in this funny series about his cat.

Elmer by Gerry Alanquilan
In a world where chicken suddenly become intelligent and articulate, it isn’t long before they start agitating for equal rights.  This is their story.

How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden
The title pretty much says it all in this new travel comic.

Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects by Mige Mignola
Mignola takes a break from Hellboy to offer several bizarre tales in his signature art style.

Bram Stoker’s Death Ship by Gary Gerani
What happened on the ship that carried Dracula to the Americas?  Find out here.

Nola by Chris Gorak
Nola wakes up in a New Orleans hospital following hurricane Katrina with vengeance on her mind.

Green Hornet: Year One by Matt Wagner
With all the Green Hornet attention lately, Wagner takes a look at how the Green Hornet might have gotten started in this new series.

The Guild by Felicia Day
Day’s character from her web series The Guild,  jumps to comics.  Find out how her character got started playing the online game that changed her life here.