From June 17th Shelf Awareness
BEA in L.A.: What’s Hot in Graphic Novels
At BEA a panel of graphic novel gurus–Nick Smith of the Pasadena Public Library in Pasadena, Calif., Jessica Stockton Bagnulo of McNally Robinson Booksellers in New York City, Atom Freeman, owner of Brave New World Comics in Newhall, Calif., and Tom Flinn of ICv2–shared their picks. The 10 titles:The Absolute Sandman by Neil Gaiman (Vertigo). The third volume collecting Gaiman’s Dream King series in a deluxe edition (priced at $99) is available this month, and the fourth volume is coming in November. “It’s a good bet for the holiday market,” Bagnulo said.
Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan by Chip Kidd, Saul Ferris and Geoff Spear (Pantheon). Graphic designer and novelist Chip Kidd spearheads this adaptation of Batman comics originally published in Japan in the 1960s.
Hellboy by Mike Mignola (Dark House Comics). Mignola is “well-versed in folklore and combines it with action,” said Bagnulo, who added that the series has a “richness not found in a lot of comics.” Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters in July.
The Ice Wanderer and Other Stories by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon). The title story in this collection of six tales features adventure writer Jack London as one of the characters.
Iron Wok Jan by Shinji Saijyo (Dr. Master Productions). Combining cooking and manga is “something you would never think of as a possibility,” said Smith, who called this series about the adventures of a chef a “complete sleeper.”
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill (Wildstorm). “If you’ve only seen the movie, ignore it,” Smith said. This series set in 19th-century London is “rich with allusions to literature,” Bagnulo remarked, “and has a real appeal to a book-buying audience.”
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster (VIZ Media). This “very cinematic” thriller “grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go,” said Flynn, who noted that it will appeal to readers of all ages. “It’s a beautifully done book,” Friedman added.Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ Media). This top-selling manga series about a mischief-making ninja-in-training “is in a class by itself,” said Flynn. The latest installment is available July 1.
Scalped by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guéra (Vertigo). “It should be an HBO series,” said Friedman of this crime drama–set on a reservation–that blends organized crime with current Native American culture.
Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino (VIZ Media). First introduced in 2007, this four-volume series, Flynn said, is “one to watch.”–
Shannon McKenna Schmidt
Shannon McKenna Schmidt
We are not buying the Sandman collections but we do have the individual titles. I ordered Bat-Manga but Ice Wanderer is not yet available to order. We own all of the others. I have ordered the last volumes of Iron Wok Jan. Don’t know what universe these people live in. Sleeper is would be a kind way of saying shelf sitter in Sno-Isle.
Becky Buckingham
i can’t help but picture this interview as one of those uncomfortable pieces on “
