News pg. 20

Rediscover a masterpiece with THE FROM HELL COMPANION, out now!

May 17, 2013 / More →

At long last! After ten years of labor to produce the original From Hell graphic novel, followed by nearly fifteen years of international success and critical adulation, British comic-book geniuses Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell have returned to revisit their masterpiece of Victorian murder and madness.

Behold: The FROM HELL Companion.

The From Hell Companion by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell
The From Hell Companion by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell
The From Hell Companion by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell

288 pages of Alan Moore's original scripts and sketches, suffused with art and commentary by Eddie Campbell. As the critics say, it's "an essential complement to From Hell."

Grab yours today!


Top Shelf! Toronto! TCAF!!

May 10, 2013 / More →

Image for Top Shelf! Toronto! TCAF!!

One of the hemisphere's finest comic shows, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, is upon us -- or maybe we are upon it! The Top Shelf team is geared up for a massive show, with a bevy of cartoonists;

See you in Toronto!


Jess Fink says WE CAN FIX IT today!

May 8, 2013 / More →

Image for Jess Fink says WE CAN FIX IT today!

Time-travelers and fans of kissing rejoice! The funny and fantastic Jess Fink (author of the sweet and sexy Chester 5000) returns to stores everywhere today with the utterly charming We Can Fix It!

WCFI! is a "time travel memoir" about futuristic jumpsuits, sexy self-smooches, and wrestling with regret. It's all the romance and drama and comedy of Chester 5000, applied to a much more personal story and filtered through the sci-fi trappings of time-travel fiction. But don't take our word for it -- click through for praise from Kate Beaton, Ryan North, Joey Comeau, Booklist, and Comics Bulletin!

(NOTE: While Chester 5000 is for adults only due to explicit content, We Can Fix It! is suitable for mature readers 16+.)

And that's not all: Jess will be launching We Can Fix It! in person at TCAF this weekend in Toronto, so come on out and get a signed copy!


Two very special debuts: Monster on the Hill and God Is Disappointed in You!

April 30, 2013 / More →

Dear friends,

It's always a pleasure when we get to bring you something new. This month, we announce TWO special projects that we're especially proud of, bringing new faces -- and a lot of fun -- into the Top Shelf family!

MONSTER ON THE HILL by Rob Harrell

Rob Harrell is a veteran of newspaper comic strips, but his first graphic novel -- MONSTER ON THE HILL -- is something truly amazing. The buzz is already fantastic, with praise rolling in from Neil Gaiman, Jeff Smith, Richard Thompson, and The AV Club's Noel Murray!

GOD IS DISAPPOINTED IN YOU by Mark Russell & Shannon Wheeler

Meanwhile, Portland writer Mark Russell and renowned cartoonist Shannon Wheeler have created a book that must be seen to be believed. GOD IS DISAPPOINTED IN YOU is the "condensed" version of the Bible you never knew you needed -- witty, cynical, and surprisingly lucid -- published as a deluxe Bible-style hardcover with all the trimmings!

PLUS: Matt Kindt fans rejoice -- SUPER SPY returns with a new printing!

You can pre-order all these titles now from your favorite store, for release in July. And as always, click through for beautiful preview pages!


Jeffrey Brown in Chicago! James Kochalka in Portland! What a weekend!

April 25, 2013 / More →

Image for Jeffrey Brown in Chicago! James Kochalka in Portland! What a weekend!

Once again the Top Shelf team hits the road this weekend, setting up to meet YOU at two great conventions thousands of miles apart.

In Portland, Oregon, come out to the Stumptown Comics Festival to meet special guest James Kochalka, returning to Portland for the first time in many years! He'll be discussing comics for kids (like Johnny Boo and the award-winning Dragon Puncher series), sharing secrets of his boundary-pushing animated series SuperF*ckers, and much more. Plus all our latest & greatest books are yours for the buying!

At the same time, those of you near Chicago, Illinois, can meet hometown hero Jeffrey Brown at C2E2, debuting not one but TWO new books! Fans of his bestselling Star Wars comedy Darth Vader and Son rejoice, as we'll have copies of the brand-new sequel Vader's Little Princess courtesy of Chronicle Books. What's more, we'll also have a special advance debut of Jeffrey's next landmark of autobiography, A Matter of Life, a gorgeous full-color hardcover! See you in Chicago!


CLEVELAND and WIZZYWIG nominated for Eisner Awards!

April 16, 2013 / More →

Image for CLEVELAND and WIZZYWIG nominated for Eisner Awards!

A hearty congratulations to Joseph Remnant on his TWO Eisner Award nominations for Harvey Pekar's Cleveland (Best Penciller/Inker and Best Lettering), and to Ed Piskor & Chris Ross on their nomination for Wizzywig (Best Publication Design)! That's a handsome pair of books, indeed.

Click here for the full list of nominees -- congratulations to all! We'll see you at San Diego Comic-Con for the award ceremony in July.


Jeffrey Brown returns to autobiographical comics with A MATTER OF LIFE!

April 3, 2013 / More →

Our relationship with Jeffrey Brown dates back almost as far as the company itself -- from his stunning debut CLUMSY through the full Girlfriend Trilogy (UNLIKELY and AEIOU), the comedy of BIGHEAD and I AM GOING TO BE SMALL, the all-ages adventure of INCREDIBLE CHANGE-BOTS and much more, Jeffrey has continued to grow and develop just as Top Shelf has. This month, it's a great pleasure to announce a new landmark together: his first autobiographical book in full color, venturing into the unexplored worlds of family and faith!

A MATTER OF LIFE by Jeffrey Brown

PRE-ORDER NOW FROM YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER!

A MATTER OF LIFE
by Jeffrey Brown
-- Full-color hardcover graphic novel, 5.25" x 8"
-- 96 pages
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-266-1
-- $14.95 (US)
-- Audience: Mature readers (16+)
-- In the current DIAMOND PREVIEWS (for books shipping in June)

"[A] characteristically heartfelt memoir." -- Booklist

After the acclaimed indie film Save the Date and the bestselling all-ages humor book Darth Vader and Son, graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy, Unlikely) returns to the autobiographical work that first made his reputation -- with an all-new full-color hardcover!

In A Matter of Life, Jeffrey Brown draws upon memories of three generations of Brown men: himself, his minister father, and his preschooler son Oscar. Weaving through time, passing through the quiet suburbs and colorful cities of the midwest, their stories slowly assemble into a kaleidoscopic answer to the big questions: matters of life and death, family and faith, and the search for something beyond oneself.

Read More →


John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell revisit history in Selma

March 29, 2013 / More →

Every year, in partnership with the Faith & Politics Institute, Congressman John Lewis leads a bipartisan group of representatives & senators to Alabama for a "Civil Rights Pilgrimage," visiting key sites in the history of the civil rights movement. This year, during the 50th anniversary of major events in the watershed year of 1963, the delegation surpassed 250 people, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and Vice President Joe Biden.

Also in attendance were the two young men collaborating with John Lewis on his upcoming graphic novel memoir March (Book One): Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell! Above is a photo of the three graphic novelists during the ceremonial crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, commemorating the 1965 march across that bridge, known as "Bloody Sunday," in which protesters were gassed and beaten by state and local police -- an event depicted in the opening pages of March.

Perhaps the most powerful event of the pilgrimage occurred in the state capital of Montgomery, during a reconciliation & remembrance service at First Baptist Church, where Montgomery Police Chief Kevin Murphy officially apologized to Lewis for the police's inaction while Lewis and other Freedom Riders were beaten by a violent mob in 1961. As a gesture of reconciliation, Murphy gave his own badge to Lewis and said, “we are truly grateful to you.”

Stay tuned for more news on Mr. Lewis and March, building up to its release on August 13!


Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell return to FROM HELL for new COMPANION; Jess Fink says WE CAN FIX IT!

February 27, 2013 / More →

In this month's Diamond Previews (for pre-order), we explore the past with two incredible books of the future: Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell reveal the secrets of their creative partnership on the legendary FROM HELL, and Jess Fink brings her erotic whimsy to bear on a hilarious and thoughtful sci-fi memoir.

Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell return to FROM HELL; Jess Fink says WE CAN FIX IT!

Read More →


It's the Top Shelf "IN LOVE WITH COMICS" Sale!

February 13, 2013 / More →

Image for It's the Top Shelf "IN LOVE WITH COMICS" Sale!

Celebrate Valentine's Day this year by curling up with a beautiful graphic novel... digitally!

Whether you're sharing comics with your sweetie, or simply falling in love with a new book, Top Shelf is here for you. We've selected a lovely lineup of thematically appropriate digital comics and put them on sale for a limited time! Jeffrey Brown's intimately observed relationship memoirs, Alan Moore & Jose Villarrubia's celebration of same-sex love through the ages, Liz Prince's young-love comedy, Paul Tobin & Colleen Coover's whimsical romantic mystery, award-winning dramas from Ludovic Debeurme and Alex Robinson, and more!

As if that weren't enough, Jess Fink's delightful Chester 5000 makes its digital debut today! The beloved webcomic-turned-graphic-novel, about the special feelings that blossom between a young lady and her Victorian sex robot, is now available for your digital comics reader. This wordless romp is funny, romantic, and very steamy -- so adults only, please!

This year, try something new for V-Day with Top Shelf digital comics -- and don't hesitate to share the love!

(Sale ends FEBRUARY 17TH, 2013.)


Civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis to launch graphic novel trilogy in August

February 11, 2013 / More →

Image for Civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis to launch graphic novel trilogy in August

Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) is an American icon, a man who has witnessed history in the making and helped make history himself as one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence has taken him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress, from a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington, and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president.

Now, to share his remarkable story with new generations, Lewis is turning to the graphic novel format, in collaboration with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell (winner of the Eisner Award and LA Times Book Prize finalist for Swallow Me Whole, NY Times Bestseller for The Silence of Our Friends). The resulting graphic novel trilogy, entitled March, will be released by Georgia-based publisher Top Shelf Productions, known for the thoughtful and award-winning works of Alan Moore, Craig Thompson, and Jeff Lemire.

March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights (including his key roles in the historic 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March), meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.

The first volume, March (Book One), will appear in stores everywhere on August 13, 2013. Two weeks later, America will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom.

Throughout the year, Lewis and his co-creators will travel across the country to promote the book, including featured keynote appearances at BookExpo America in New York, the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Chicago, and Comic-Con International in San Diego.

March is a historic first, both for the U.S. Congress and for comics publishing as a whole, marking the first time a sitting member of Congress has authored a graphic novel. Top Shelf Productions is the first and only graphic novel publisher to be certified by the House Committee on Standards.

In March, a true American icon joins with one of America’s most acclaimed graphic novelists. Together, they bring to life one of our nation’s most historic moments, a period both shameful and inspiring, and a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations.

March (Book One), a deluxe softcover graphic novel with french flaps and black & white interiors, 6.5" x 9.5", 128 pages, ISBN 978-1-60309-300-2, $14.95 US. August 13, 2013.

For more information and a 14-page preview, visit http://www.topshelfcomix.com/march.

For publicity inquiries, contact Leigh Walton (leigh@topshelfcomix.com, 919-610-2481).

Read More →


Double Barrel gets physical: preorder your Zander & Kevin Cannon hardcovers!

January 30, 2013 / More →

Image for Double Barrel gets physical: preorder your Zander & Kevin Cannon hardcovers!

From the pages of the hit digital magazine DOUBLE BARREL come a magnificent pair of actual, physical books! Pre-order now from your favorite retailer, or grab the exclusive signed & numbered bundles direct from Top Shelf, and get ready for adventure in the spring!

HECK by Zander Cannon
-- A 284-page hardcover graphic novel
-- 8.5" x 5.5" (landscape format)
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-301-9, $19.95 (US)
-- Audience: Mature readers (16+)

It's his own personal Hell. After the funeral of his estranged father, faded hometown hero Hector "Heck" Hammarskjöld finds himself the new owner of the old man's house... and inside it, a portal to the underworld! Award-winning cartoonist Zander Cannon (The Replacement God, Top 10, Smax, The Stuff of Life) presents his long-awaited first graphic novel: a story of memory, friendship, and regret, where the past is dead and buried... but not out of reach.

Also available: a special deluxe package of HECK, for true heroes of the underworld!

HECK (Signed & Numbered) by Zander Cannon
This Heck hardcover comes with a limited-edition bookplate signed by Zander Cannon, plus a few bonuses:
-- "True Tales of Jin" mini-comic
-- "Master of Feng Shui" mini-comic
-- A Double Barrel sticker
-- And Heck postcard cut-out action figures!
Available exclusively from Top Shelf for $29.95 and limited to 150 copies!

+

CRATER XV by Kevin Cannon
-- A 496-page hardcover graphic novel, 5" x 6.5"
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-100-8, $19.95 (US)
-- Audience: Mature readers (16+)

You've never seen a Cold War like this. In CRATER XV, the follow-up to 2009's Eisner-nominated FAR ARDEN, Kevin Cannon weaves together an intoxicating tale of swashbuckling adventure, abandoned moon bases, bloodthirsty walruses, rogue astronauts, two-faced femme fatales, sailboat chases, Siberian pirates, international Arctic politics, and a gaggle of horny orphans. For mystery, thrills, and Arctic chills, set a course for CRATER XV!

Also available: a special deluxe package of CRATER XV for Army Shanks' biggest fans!

CRATER XV (Signed & Numbered) by Kevin Cannon
This CRATER XV hardcover comes with a limited-edition bookplate signed by Kevin Cannon, plus a few bonuses:
-- Exclusive new Army Shanks mini-comic
-- "The Horse Head Killer" mini-comic
-- A Double Barrel sticker
-- And Crater XV postcard cut-out action figures!
Available exclusively from Top Shelf for $29.95 and limited to 150 copies!

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DOUBLE BARREL goes DRM-free!

January 22, 2013 / More →

Image for DOUBLE BARREL goes DRM-free!

We've had an incredible ride so far with Double Barrel, the digital comics series by the mighty Minneapolis duo Kevin Cannon & Zander Cannon (no relation). For seven issues, Double Barrel has been bringing you two Cannons every month, serializing their new graphic novels, Heck by Zander and Crater XV by Kevin (the sequel to Far Arden), together with dozens of pages of bonus stuff in each issue. It's not just two outstanding adventure comics by top-class cartoonists, it's a whole little community and a comics education wrapped up in one package.

After 6 of the projected 12 issues, both Heck and Crater XV had been through some wild plot twists and game-changing reveals, and the Cannon boys took a month off to catch their breath... before heading downhill for the final half. If you're ready to join them, issue #7 is available now!

And one more thing -- they're going DRM-free! Starting now, the versions of Double Barrel sold by Google Books and the Apple iBookstore have no copy restrictions, and we're offering direct downloads of PDF, ePub 3, and CBZ formats for sale direct from www.topshelfcomix.com. And not to worry, all other retailers (Comixology, Comics+ by iVerse, Amazon Kindle) will continue to offer Double Barrel just like always.

The latest issue is always $1.99, while back issues go to half price - just 99 cents each - making it super-easy for new readers to catch up. Hop in and let's roll!


James Kochalka ends the award-winning AMERICAN ELF after 14 years

December 31, 2012 / More →

Image for James Kochalka ends the award-winning AMERICAN ELF after 14 years

With a complicated blend of sadness, excitement, and awe, we are proud to celebrate James Kochalka's stunning achievement in American Elf, the daily diary comic strip that changed lives, inspired careers, and brought a daily dose of human connection and Kochalka magic to countless readers around the world. After over 14 years, James has decided to bring American Elf to a close, and tonight he posted the final strip.

Here's how our new editions of American Elf describe the series:

It's a simple idea -- every day, James draws a comic strip capturing a moment from his life-- but gathered all together, these moments take on rich new meanings. Both silly and profound, American Elf is a portrait of human life lived to the fullest, infused with the trademark passion and magic of Vermont's Cartoonist Laureate.

Click [MORE] to read some of our favorite praise for the series.

Meanwhile, we’re continuing to work with James to roll out the remastered digital editions of American Elf with new covers, for Comixology, Apple iBooks, ComicsPlus by iVerse, etc. - the latest one is American Elf 2005.

Beyond that... we don't know where James is going next, but we can't wait to find out!

Read More →


Kevin O'Neill's original art for LEAGUE 2009: Now available for purchase!

December 10, 2012 / More →

Image for Kevin O'Neill's original art for LEAGUE 2009: Now available for purchase!

Collectors and superfans, get your wallets ready: the inimitable Kevin O'Neill has teamed up with Galerie Champaka in Brussels to offer for sale his original art pages from 2009, this year's epic conclusion to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century trilogy, written by Alan Moore.

The virtual exhibition on the Galerie's web site includes all 72 interior story pages from this "glorious creative tapestry" (The Independent), as well as the book's haunting front cover, and topped off with Kevin's full-color frontispiece.

Head over to the Galerie Champaka web site for more details and purchase information. And stay tuned from the next Moore/O'Neill League adventure, coming to you in February: Nemo: Heart of Ice!