September 25, 2020 / More →
A triumph of graphic memoir, Parenthesis narrates the author's experience with tumor-related epilepsy — losing herself, and finding herself again.
Judith is barely out of her teens when a tumor begins pressing on her brain, ushering in a new world of seizures, memory gaps, and loss of self. Suddenly, the sentence of her normal life has been interrupted by the opening of a parenthesis that may never close.
Based on the real experiences of cartoonist Élodie Durand, Parenthesis is a gripping testament of struggle, fragility, acceptance, and transformation which was deservedly awarded the Revelation Prize of the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
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September 25, 2020 / More →
Great news for fans of James Kochalka's award-winning graphic novels for young readers: He's got TWO brand-new ones that you can buy this very minute!
Glork Patrol (Book One): Glork Patrol on the Bad Planet
by James Kochalka
Exploding from the beloved Glorkian Warrior video game and graphic novels: a hilarious new outer-space adventure, from the creator of the Eisner-Award-winning series Johnny Boo and Dragon Puncher!
Johnny Boo (Book 11): Johnny Boo Finds a Clue?
by James Kochalka
Johnny Boo and Squiggle team up with old friends in a jaw-dropping new adventure--to solve a very silly mystery!
September 25, 2020 / More →
They Called Us Enemy, the New York Times bestselling graphic memoir depicting actor, author, and activist George Takei’s childhood imprisonment within an American internment camp during World War II, continues to garner critical acclaim for co-authors Takei, Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, and artist Harmony Becker.
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September 1, 2020 / More →
Today the Small Press Expo (SPX) announced its nominees for the 2020 Ignatz Awards, and we're proud to announce two great Top Shelf books are honored!
Cosmoknights by Hannah Templer is up for Outstanding Comic. For this ragtag band of space gays, liberation means beating the patriarchy at its own game.
The Lab by Allison Conway is up for Outstanding Story. This “silent” graphic novel follows a nameless subject trapped in a nightmarish test facility, raising unsettling questions of exploitation and oppression.
Congratulations to all the great nominees! Voting is open to the public and runs from now though September 8, so head on over and cast your ballots now!
August 31, 2020 / More →
Over the weekend, the prestigious community reading program One Book, One San Diego announced their selections for the 2020 region-wide read: the bestselling They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott and Harmony Becker is the official selection for adult readers, readers of Spanish, and young adult readers, along with Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind by Cynthia Grady and Amiko Hirao for children.
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August 31, 2020 / More →
George Takei's incredible graphic memoir continues to resonate with readers of all ages!
• Watch George Takei introduce the book and read a powerful scene out loud, especially for young people — complete with animated visuals — in "Story Time with Uncle George"! This ten-minute video can be a perennial resource for teachers, parents, and families, especially while schools are closed due to COVID. A Teacher's Guide is also available.
• The Expanded Hardcover Edition, complete with a 16-page bonus section of behind-the-scenes images and commentary, has just been released! Check your favorite store and look for Harmony Becker's recolored cover art with its hauntingly beautiful sunset sky.
• On Friday, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association held their award ceremony, in which They Called Us Enemy received the Young Adult Literature award. The virtual program, which included an acceptance speech from George Takei, was followed by a live conversation between APALA committee members and authors, including Justin, Steven, and Harmony talking about their creative process with George.
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August 31, 2020 / More →
What If We Were... by Axelle Lenoir
Pre-order this LGBT YA gem today for December release.
Finalist for two Youth Awards from Les Libraires du Québec and the Québec Comics Festival!
"Lenoir's fantastic humor and expressive drawing show us a great time and make us fall in love with her charismatic heroes. We miss them as soon as we close the book." — Les Libraires
"Axelle Lenoir has a remarkable talent for capturing adolescence... her female characters, here as in Camp Spirit, are completely credible, and avoid the usual clichés. They're both fragile and strong, shy and extroverted, made of paradoxes." — Sophie Lit
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July 25, 2020 / More →
At last night’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards ceremony, They Called Us Enemy received the coveted Eisner Award, the highest honor in the comics community as voted upon by professional peers, in the category of “Best Reality-Based Work”. The heartfelt graphic memoir by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker presents Takei’s firsthand account of a childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II.
“What a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers in the comics industry with this Eisner Award for They Called Us Enemy,” say the creators in a joint statement. “We offer our deep thanks to the judges who nominated this book and everyone that voted. We also owe a special thanks to all the readers, librarians, educators, and shopkeepers that have embraced this story and spread the word. Because of you, the story of the wrongful imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II will be more widely known by future generations, and in that education there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.”
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July 24, 2020 / More →
In a normal year, we'd be in San Diego right now, with an gaggle of cartoonists eager to say hello and sign books for you! But of course, this is no ordinary year.
While Comic-Con programming, and even the Eisner Awards, have moved online (see below), we still wanted to offer something special to remember us by... so together with the larger IDW Publishing family, we're commemorating this unprecedented year with a series of exclusive bookplates, signed by some of our wonderful authors and marked "2020: The Year Without A Comic-Con." While supplies last, you can order direct from the IDW web site and get some of the year's hottest releases with a free bookplate enclosed! Eligible Top Shelf books include:
And while supplies last, you can still order the Signed & Numbered Convention Exclusive edition of George Takei's bestselling memoir They Called Us Enemy, the runaway hit of last year's Comic-Con!
US shipping is free for orders over $35, so stock up and join the celebration — safely at home!
July 24, 2020 / More →
The Book Tour by Andi Watson
"Andi Watson's retro line — and the art with which his daring dialogue dramatizes any situation — makes this graphic novel a British delight." — Le Monde
"A little masterpiece of tongue-in-cheek humor." — dBD
"A fascinating maze in which we lose our bearings." — Les Inrocks
"Brilliant." — aVoir aLire
A page-turning, Kafkaesque dark comedy in brilliant retro style, this graphic novel watches one man try to keep it together while everything falls apart.
Upon the publication of his latest novel, G. H. Fretwell, a minor English writer, embarks on a book tour to promote it. Nothing is going according to plan, and his trip gradually turns into a nightmare. But now the police want to ask him some questions about a mysterious disappearance, and it seems that Fretwell's troubles are only just beginning...
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June 23, 2020 / More →
Congratulations are in order for MK Reed, Greg Means, and Matt Wiegle! Their graphic novel Penny Nichols, recently announced as a nominee for two Eisner Awards, has just won the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature!
As summarized in the Oregonian's announcement, "This tongue-in-cheek tale about a very amateur effort to make a slasher flick is a hilarious ode to creativity, the can-do spirit and friendship."
June 17, 2020 / More →
This fall... it's time to join the Glork Patrol! Plus, YOU can help Johnny Boo solve a mystery!
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June 4, 2020 / More →
The judges for the 2020 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have just announced their nominations, and we're honored to report that three are for Top Shelf books!
They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker, is nominated for Best Reality-Based Work.
Penny Nichols, by MK Reed, Greg Means, and Matt Wiegle is nominated in two categories: Best Publication for Teens and also Best Writer.
“We’re so proud to have Penny Nichols and They Called Us Enemy honored with Eisner nominations,” says Top Shelf editor-in-chief Chris Staros. “Penny Nichols is a hilarious celebration of DIY creativity and a love letter to the comics community, so it’s wonderful to see that love being returned. And unfortunately, George Takei’s memories of legalized racism are still painfully relevant today, making They Called Us Enemy a vital book that calls us to build a better future.”
April 8, 2020 / More →
Wishing health and safety to all of y'all out there. While COVID-19 reshapes our world, we're continuing to publish amazing comics, and we hope you'll support your comic shops and booksellers to the extent possible. Why not start with today's new release, A Radical Shift of Gravity?
"This beautiful book is very smart about global catastrophes and very honest about personal ones. For everyone asking ‘How can we raise a family in a world like this?’, A Radical Shift of Gravity offers a powerful answer.” — Jeff Lemire
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