Here's everything Top Shelf has planned for 2010 (so far!) listed in order of release (i.e., January releases followed by February, etc.). Do yourself a favor this year and try some things that you're not that familiar with. You won't be disappointed.
-- With bluechips like MARSHAL LAW, LEAGUE III: 1969, BOJEFFRIES, and a new hardcover edition of BLANKETS; our first foray into Manga with AX; ground-breaking works like THE PLAYWRIGHT and MOVING PICTURES; cutting-edge releases like THE HOMELAND DIRECTIVE, SUPERF*CKERS, THE LOST DOSSIERS, UNDELETED SCENES, and INCREDIBLE CHANGE-BOTS TWO; an April Swedish Invasion featuring HEY PRINCES, THE 120 DAYS OF SIMON, and THE TROLL KING; new talent bringing outstanding works into the family such as BB WOLF & THE 3 LP'S, WE CAN FIX IT, CHESTER 5000, FINGER PRINTS, and NIGHT ANIMALS; and new all-ages graphic novels such as DRAGON PUNCHER (BOOK 1), JOHNNY BOO (BOOK 4), and KORGI (BOOK 3) -- it's going to be an amazing year!
And click on the hyperlinks for a quick look at the entire Top Shelf publishing schedule; our mature-reader perennials, and our all-ages perennials.
|
 | |
 "This impressive collection—a high-water mark in the graphic novel’s short history—confirms that no one else in the medium combines emotional truth, literary intelligence, and formal daring with such adroitness and elegance." -- Booklist (starred review)
"Witty and thoughtful ... a great and epic comic documentary novel like no other." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The fact that we are finally able to watch young Alec slowly evolve, page by page, from a cheeky wastrel into a mature artist deeply committed to his work and his family is nothing less than a revelation ... the three decades of mature, complex and emotionally compelling work compiled here represent a major accomplishment in comics storytelling, and in storytelling, period. It's nothing less than a modern epic of the everyday." -- Glen Weldon, NPR
"A profound piece ... Campbell makes it feel like the greatest adventure imaginable." -- Alex Pappademas, GQ
"Eddie Campbell’s Alec stories were among the first of the modern era of autobiographical comics, and they still rate among the best—witty, brilliantly illustrated, self-mocking without ever being mopey or pathetic, and most importantly, forever changing style to suit the needs of the story... Watching Campbell’s storytelling and approach to art progress and evolve as these stories unfold is as close as you can get to watching a real human life change on the page. One of the must-own releases of the year." -- The AV Club
"If autobiography is the lingua franca of the graphic novel form, Campbell is its undisputed Shakespeare." -- Richard Pachter, Miami Herald
"ALEC is magic, and even if I knew how all of it was done I'd be doing you a disservice if I pointed out the wires and mirrors. ... It is written by someone who obviously finds being alive an endless source of novelty and conundrum." -- Alan Moore
"Do you need me to tell you how good Eddie Campbell is? Or that ALEC is probably the best book-length comic about art and wine and midlife crises and families and friends and wine and love and art and saying goodbye and terror there is?" -- Neil Gaiman
For the first time ever, the groundbreaking autobiographical comics of master cartoonist Eddie Campbell (FROM HELL) are collected in a single volume!
Brilliantly observed and profoundly expressed, the ALEC stories present a version of Eddie's own life, filtered through the alter ego of "Alec MacGarry." Over many years, we witness Alec's (and Eddie's) progression "from beer to wine" -- wild nights at the pub, existential despair, the hunt for love, the quest for art, becoming a responsible breadwinner, feeling lost at his own movie premiere, and much more! Eddie's outlandish fantasies and metafictional tricks convert life into art, while staying fully grounded in his own absurdity. At every point, the author's uncanny eye for irony and wry self-awareness make even the smallest occasion into an opportunity for wit and wisdom. Quite simply, ALEC is a masterpiece of visual autobiography.
ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS (A LIFE-SIZE OMNIBUS) collects the previous Alec books THE KING CANUTE CROWD, GRAFFITI KITCHEN, HOW TO BE AN ARTIST, LITTLE ITALY, THE DEAD MUSE, THE DANCE OF LIFEY DEATH, AFTER THE SNOOTER, as well as a generous helping of rare and never-before-seen material, including an all-new 35-page book, THE YEARS HAVE PANTS. -- Softcover Graphic Novel with French Flaps, 640 pages, 7 1/2" x 10"
IN PRINT! (PUBLISHED JANUARY 2010)
  $35.00 (US)
Diamond: JUL091081 - ISBN 978-1-60309-025-4 |
 |
| |
 Also available, a special HARDCOVER edition of ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS.
IN PRINT! (PUBLISHED JANUARY 2010)
$49.95 (US)
Diamond: JUL091082 - ISBN 978-1-60309-047-6 |
|
| |
 While the 2008 Presidential election was viewed by many as a turning point, it is uncertain how the policies of the new government will unfold -- but the message people have sent is clear: after 28 years of right wing dominance in U.S. politics, Americans are unhappy with the results. We find that our country is distressed, economically, ecologically and militarily. WW3 illustrated is asking that artists do more than just criticize things as they are. WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED is responding with 120 pages of answers from a variety of today's sharpest comic book artists; alternatives to existing conditions, proposals for progress and ideas for a better world for all. Featuring the work of: The Yes Men, Sabrina Jones, Seth Tobocman, Jennifer Camper, Fly, Sandy Jimenez, Carlo Quispe, Colin Matthes, Eric Hadley, Erik Ruin, Ethan Heitner, Jordan Flaherty,Paula Hewitt Amram, Katie Fricas, Edwin Vasquez, Michael Hew, Brett Wintle, Rebecca Migdal, Sabin Calvert, Susan Simensky Bietila, Sylvan Migdal and many others. -- A 120-page, perfect bound anthology, 7" x 9". Edited by Seth Tobocman, and distributed by Top Shelf.
SHIPPING IN FEBRUARY!
 $5.00 (US)
Diamond: DEC09-1010 - ISBN 978-1-60309-060-5 |
|
| |
 "James Kochalka draws beautiful music.” -- Nicholas Gurewitch, creator of The Perry Bible Fellowship
"[Kochalka] brings the joy back to comics.” -- Frank Miller, creator of Sin City and 300
"Easily my favorite comic James Kochalka’s ever done.” -- Brandon Boyer, BoingBoing Offworld
"Sure to solve the oncoming energy crisis, Kochalka is an unrelenting force the world will find hard to deplete. ... SuperF*ckers, his unexpectedly adorably profane comic, refuses to leave any stick in the mud in a bad mood." -- Hi-Fructose
"Probably the perfect superhero book, as it appeals as much to people who love superhero books as it does
to people who absolutely hate them." -- J. Caleb Mozzocco, Las Vegas Weekly
Note: be sure to check out the incredibly awesome SuperF*ckers music video!
SuperF*ckers collects all four fan-favorite issues of James Kochalka’s beloved series, plus the all-new Jack Krak one-shot! Foul-mouthed, filthy-minded, and completely oblivious, these young “heroes” do everything BUT fight crime – they’re too busy getting high, hazing the new kids, playing video games, scheming to be team leader, and designing new costumes.
A hilariously rude look at what super-powered teens would really be like, presented with Kochalka’s signature sweetness and charm, SuperF*ckers is an over-the-top super-sitcom with its mind in the gutter and its heart on its sleeve. -- A 144-Page, Full-Color FLEXI-Cover Graphic Novel (8.5" x 8.5")
For mature readers (16+).
SHIPPING IN MARCH!
$14.95 (US)
Diamond: JAN10-1113
- ISBN 978-1-60309-052-0 |
|
| |
 "Kindt’s fluid outlines, thick swatches of color fill-in, sleek figures, and predominant subdued duotone coloring effectively conjure the ambiguous living hell that crushes the characters’ zeal while it forces them to go on until they’re stabbed, knifed, poisoned, or shot. [Super Spy] rivals the power of the most complex and serious spy novels and films." --Booklist (starred review)
"Matt Kindt's work on SUPER SPY blows my mind. The elegance of his art, juxtaposed with his rich character work and complex narrative -- is nothing short of genius. The Spy genre is so well traveled, that sometimes it feels like everything's been done before. But Matt Kindt's SUPER SPY proves that something new is always possible; if you unleash your passion, vision, and talent. Read SUPER SPY! Read 2 SISTERS! Read PISTOLWHIP! Buy Matt's art! I have. And my life is better for it!" -- Jesse Alexander (Producer and writer of Heroes, Lost and Alias)
Couldn't get enough of the critically-acclaimed and Eisner-nominated SUPER SPY? Curious what all the fuss is about? Have we got a book for you! Creator Matt Kindt has pulled out all the stops to make this an unforgettable supplement to (or first taste of) his 2007 opus.
What's inside? Deleted scenes! All-new spy stories! Sketchbook pages! 3-D comics! Full annotations! Diagrams of spy gadgets and keys to unlock hidden secret codes! Props and stories for you to cut out and assemble! It's like a secret spy activity book bursting with ingenuity and pathos!
PLUS: illustrations, photos, and commentary from Matt explaining the real-world spy origins of his stories and techniques! Don't just read this book... USE it! -- A 96-Page Full-Color Softcover Graphic Novel (5 3/4" x 8 1/4")
SHIPPING IN MARCH!
$12.95 (US)
Diamond: JAN10-1114 - ISBN 978-1-60309-043-8 |
|
| |
 THE SWEDISH INVASION!
“The brilliance of Mats Jonsson’s comics is knowing just how funny some of the most pathetic moments of adolescence can be, and not being afraid to share those, no matter how ridiculous it makes him look.” --Jeffrey Brown, author of Clumsy and Funny Misshapen Body
“Hey Princess is an excruciatingly honest autobiographical story, full of unrequited love, jealousy, envy and ambition. The world has not seen anything like this since the heyday of Peepshow by Joe Matt.” --Fredrik Strömberg, author of The Comics Go to Hell and Swedish Comics History
“Reading Hey Princess makes you question if ‘love’ is worth all the aggravation, humiliation and pain. And the answer is yes, because otherwise we wouldn’t have books like these.” --Martin Kellerman, author of Rocky
Hey Princess is a story about moving to the big city and being young, insecure and desperate to feel as hip as everyone else.
Originally published in Sweden, Hey Princess received praise from both critics and readers for its incisive and entertaining account of indie pop-listening young people in the mid-1990s.
Hey Princess takes its place in the proud tradition of self-deprecating, confessional, sex-obsessed and guilt-ridden autobiographical comics, but stakes out a unique identity by virtue of its Nordic setting and biting social criticism. … This seminal book in the thriving Swedish indie comics scene is a graphic novel packaged in the style of a traditional pulp novel. -- A 472-Page Graphic Novel packaged in the style of a traditional pulp novel, 4.25" x 7"
SHIPPING IN APRIL!
$14.95 (US)
Diamond: FEB10-1094 - ISBN 978-1-60309-051-3 |
|
| |
 THE SWEDISH INVASION!
"The 120 Days of Simon is an alternately charming, funny and aggravating four month journal of a self-advertised, couch-surfing freeloader. Highly recommended!" -- Peter Bagge
The 120 Days of Simon began when Swedish cartoonist/rapper Simon Gärdenfors left his home to spend four months on the road. The rules were simple: For 120 days he wasn't allowed to return to his home, or to spend more than two nights at the same place. Otherwise, anything could happen... and it did.
This simple idea grew into an epic adventure across Sweden as Simon slept on strangers' couches, visited an ostrich farm, ate a psychedelic cactus, practiced free love, received death threats, was beaten up by teenagers, got adopted by a motorcycle gang, drank obscene amounts of alcohol, and sacrificed his underpants to the Nordic god Brage. And that's just for starters!
When this graphic novel was released in Sweden, it created a bit of a scandal. Some readers wanted to punch Simon in the face, while others hailed him as a hero. Top Shelf is proud to present this all-too-human journey to an English-speaking audience. … A graphic novel packaged in the style of a traditional pulp novel. -- A 416-Page Graphic Novel packaged in the style of a traditional pulp novel, 4.25" x 7"
SHIPPING IN APRIL!
$14.95 (US)
Diamond: FEB10-1095 - ISBN 978-1-60309-050-6 |
|
| |
|
|
|
