Best of
Comics

2005

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes


Bill Watterson - 2005
    The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. The entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon in The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this New York Times best-selling edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek.

Frank Miller's Complete Sin City Library


Frank Miller - 2005
    bloody by choice or by circumstance. Frank Miller's Sin City is a triumph for its fiercely independent creator, and has been honored with Eisner awards, Harvey awards, and the prestigious National Cartoonists' Award.

Batman: Hush


Jeph Loeb - 2005
    The complete critically acclaimed and best-selling tale is now available in one sensational volume.BATMAN: HUSH is a thrilling mystery of action, intrigue, and deception penned by Jeph Loeb (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN) and illustrated by comics superstar Jim Lee (ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER) in which Batman sets out to discover the identity of a mysterious mastermind using the Joker, Riddler, Ra's al Ghul and the Dark Knight's other enemies - and allies - as pawns in a plan to wreak havoc.This volume collects Batman #609-619 as well as the 6-page segment from Wizard #0 and a 2-page origin story that originally appeared at dccomics.com.

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - Book One


Bill Watterson - 2005
    The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. The entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon in The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this New York Times best-selling edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek.

Invincible: Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1


Robert KirkmanBrian Michael Bendis - 2005
    Get in on the ground floor! This massive hardcover collects the first 13 issues of Robert Kirkman's Eisner-Nominated super-hero, along with all the extras from the first three trade paperback volumes and even more on top of that! Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Volume 1 is a can't-miss for anyone who's wanted to start reading Invincible, but needed an easier way to start from the beginning.Collects issues #1–13.

The Acme Novelty Library


Chris Ware - 2005
    C. Ware returns to the book trade with "The ACME Novelty Library," a hardcover distillation of all his surviving one-page cartoon jokes with which he tuckpointed the holes of his regular comic book periodical over the past decade.Sometimes claimed to be his "best work" by those who really don't know any better, this definitive congestion of stories of the future, the old west, and even of modern life nonetheless tries to stay interesting by including a luminescent map of the heavens, a chart of the general structure of the universe, assorted cut-out activitites, and a complete history of The ACME Novelty Company itself, decorated by rare photographs, early business ventures, not to mention the smallest example of a Comic Strip ever before offered to the general public. All in all, it will likely prove a rather mild disappointment, but at least it catches the light in a nice way and may force a smile here and there before being shelved for the next generation's ultimate disregard and/or disposal.

Digger, Volume One


Ursula Vernon - 2005
    More specifically, it is a story about a particularly no-nonsense wombat who finds herself stuck on the wrong end of a one-way tunnel in a strange land where nonsense seems to be the specialty. Now with the help of a talking statue of a god, an outcast hyena, a shadow-being of undeterminate origin, and an oracular slug she seeks to find out where she is and how to go about getting back to her Warren"--Publisher's web site.

The Walking Dead Omnibus, Volume 1


Robert Kirkman - 2005
    Perfect for long time fans, new readers and anyone needing a heavy object with which to fend off The Walking Dead.

Little Nemo in Slumberland: So Many Splendid Sundays!


Winsor McCay - 2005
    Times“Stunning Volume” - Garry TrudeauBeginning with the first page, a collection of Nemo Adventures, 1905-1910.128 pages, 16 x 21 inchesHere are the dreams of all children, worlds of fantasy, humor, terror, and grand adventure. It was the greatest comic strip of its day, perhaps the greatest of all time, acclaimed the world over for its artistic majesty, unbounded imagination, and ground-breaking techniques that helped define a new art form. But since its debut 100 years ago, it has been all but impossible to view these masterpieces in their original size and colors.LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND...can now be seen as creator Winsor McCay intended: full broadsheet-sized and with glorious colors. The digitally-restored prints presented in incredible detail displaying the superb draftsmanship of the prolific McCay. Enjoy the Sunday morning experience shared by millions a century ago. Again, for the first time.

The Contract With God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue


Will Eisner - 2005
    It marked the birth of the modern graphic novel and the beginning of an era when serious cartoonists could be liberated from their stultifying comic-book format.More than a quarter-century after the initial publication of A Contract With God, and in the last few months of his life, Eisner chose to combine the three fictional works he had set on Dropsie Avenue, the mythical street of his youth in Depression-era New York City.As the dramas unfold in A Contract With God, the first book in this new trilogy, it is at 55 Dropsie Avenue where Frimme Hersh, the pious Jew, first loses his beloved daughter, then breaks his contract with his maker, and ends up as a slumlord; it is on Dropsie Avenue where a street singer, befriended by an aging diva, is so beholden to the bottle that he fails to grasp his chance for stardom; and it is there that a scheming little girl named Rosie poisons a depraved super’s dog before doing in the super as well.In the second book, A Life Force, declared by R. Crumb to be "a masterpiece," Eisner re-creates himself in his protagonist, Jacob Shtarkah, whose existential search reflected Eisner’s own lifelong struggle. Chronicling not only the Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression but also the rise of Nazism and the spread of left-wing politics, Eisner combined the miniaturist sensibility of Henry Roth with the grand social themes of novelists such as Dos Passos and Steinbeck.Finally, in Dropsie Avenue: The Neighborhood, Eisner graphically traces the social trajectory of this mythic avenue over four centuries, creating a sweeping panorama of the city and its waves of new residents—the Dutch, English, Irish, Jews, African Americans, and Puerto Ricans—whose faces changed yet whose lives presented an unending "story of life, death, and resurrection."The Contract With God Trilogy is a mesmerizing, fictional chronicle of a universal American experience and Eisner’' most poignant and enduring literary legacy.

Dungeon Crawlin' Fools


Rich Burlew - 2005
    It lampoons role playing games and the fantasy genre itself in hilarious fashion weekly on the internet, and now even the technophobic can enjoy their antics in convenient book format.Strips #1-120, plus 18 new comics and author commentaries.

The World's Greatest Super-Heroes


Paul Dini - 2005
    These classic works for all ages feature the iconic DC characters in a unique storytelling format that combines aspects of both comics and picture books. Also included are several pages of promotional art, preliminary art and thumbnails, art done for DC Direct product, model-to-finished-painting comparisons, reflections by the book's creators, and much more! This landmark volume also features an introduction by noted book designer and author Chip Kidd, a new painted cover by Alex Ross, and an 8-page foldout of the JLA: LIBERTY And JUSTICE poster featuring every member of the JLA by Ross.

Conan, Vol. 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories


Kurt Busiek - 2005
    Now Conan's earliest adventures are collected in a handsome 192-page collection. Catch all the action and savagery as he wars with the murderous Vanir, meets the Frost Giant's Daughter, and is taken as a slave by the ancient sorcerers of Hyperborea! This top-selling new series faithfully expands on original author Robert E. Howard's literary creation. Collecting issues #0-#6 and fourteen pages from issue #7 of the ongoing series.• "Writer Kurt Busiek treats him with the dignified respect due one of the towering figures in fantasy literature ... it feels like historians unearthed a vibrant, bloody tapestry. These are, once again, the days of high adventure."-Entertainment Weekly

Batman: Under the Hood, Volume 1


Judd WinickRodney Ramos - 2005
    With Black Mask controlling the Gotham underworld, what role will Red Hood have when all is said and done?Collects BATMAN #635-641

The Complete Peanuts, 1955-1958


Charles M. Schulz - 2005
    1955-1956 and 1957-1958 packed in a sturdy custom box designed especially for this set. The perfect gift item.The Complete Peanuts 1955-1956 takes us into the mid-1950s as Linus learns to talk, Snoopy begins to explore his eccentricities (including his hilarious first series of impressions), Lucy's unrequited crush on Schroeder takes final shape, and Charlie Brown becomes…well, even more Charlie Brown-ish! Over half of the strips in this volume have never been printed since their original appearance in newspapers a half-century ago! Even the most dedicated Peanuts collector/fan is sure to find many new treasures.In The Complete Peanuts 1957-1958, Peanuts definitively enters its golden age. Linus, who had just learned to speak in the previous volume, becomes downright eloquent and even begins to fend off Lucy's bullying; even so, his security neurosis becomes more pronounced, including a harrowing two-week "Lost Weekend" sequence of blanketlessness. Charlie Brown cascades further down the hill to loserdom, with spectacularly lost kites, humiliating baseball losses (including one where he becomes "the Goat" and is driven from the field in a chorus of BAAAAHs); at least his newly acquired "pencil pal" affords him some comfort. Pig-Pen, Shermy, Violet, and Patty are also around, as is an increasingly Beethoven-fixated Schroeder. But the rising star is undoubtedly Snoopy. He's at the center of the most graphically dynamic and action-packed episodes (the ones in which he attempts to grab Linus's blanket at a dead run). He even tentatively tries to sleep on the crest of his doghouse roof once or twice, with mixed results. And his imitations continue apace, including penguins, anteaters, sea monsters, vultures and (much to her chagrin) Lucy. No wonder the beagle is the cover star not only of this volume but also of the beautiful collector's slipcase to this set!Charles M. Schulz was born November 25, 1922 in Minneapolis. His destiny was foreshadowed when an uncle gave him, at the age of two days, the nickname Sparky (after the racehorse Spark Plug in the newspaper strip Barney Google).In his senior year in high school, his mother noticed an ad in a local newspaper for a correspondence school, Federal Schools (later called Art Instruction Schools). Schulz passed the talent test, completed the course and began trying, unsuccessfully, to sell gag cartoons to magazines. (His first published drawing was of his dog, Spike, and appeared in a 1937 Ripley's Believe It Or Not! installment.) Between 1948 and 1950, he succeeded in selling 17 cartoons to the Saturday Evening Post—as well as, to the local St. Paul Pioneer Press, a weekly comic feature called Li'l Folks. It was run in the women's section and paid $10 a week. After writing and drawing the feature for two years, Schulz asked for a better location in the paper or for daily exposure, as well as a raise. When he was turned down on all three counts, he quit.He started submitting strips to the newspaper syndicates. In the spring of 1950, he received a letter from the United Feature Syndicate, announcing their interest in his submission, Li'l Folks. Schulz boarded a train in June for New York City; more interested in doing a strip than a panel, he also brought along the first installments of what would become Peanuts—and that was what sold. (The title, which Schulz loathed to his dying day, was imposed by the syndicate). The first Peanuts daily appeared October 2, 1950; the first Sunday, January 6, 1952.Diagnosed with cancer, Schulz retired from Peanuts at the end of 1999. He died on February 13, 2000, the day before Valentine's Day—and the day before his last strip was published—having completed 17,897 daily and Sunday strips, each and every one fully written, drawn, and lettered entirely by his own hand—an unmatched achievement in comics.

The Complete Buddy Bradley Stories from Hate Comics, Vol. 1: Buddy Does Seattle, 1990-1994


Peter Bagge - 2005
    This is the first time these hilarious stories, starring the hapless Buddy Bradley and his cast of loser cohorts, have ever been available under one cover, and never have they been available at such a low price (it would have cost at least three times as much to read all of these classic stories in any previous editions). Bagge's riotous tales of the early 1990s subculture are more hilarious now than ever, find out why he has been praised by R. Crumb, Matt Groening, John Kricfalusi, Publishers Weekly, Entertainment Weekly and many more. Comedy genius.

Frank Miller's Sin City: The Library Edition, Set I


Frank Miller - 2005
    This slipcase holds volumes one through four, with the stories that started it all. It transports you to Sin City and shows you the bloody lives they lead, bloody by choice or by circumstance. It has been honored with Eisner awards, Harvey awards, and the prestigious National Cartoonists' Award.

The Punisher MAX, Vol. 1: In the Beginning


Garth Ennis - 2005
    But first, he's got an offer for Frank that he'd better not refuse. Get ready for blazing bullets, bloodbaths, and bold beginnings! Collects Punisher MAX #1-6.

Cyanide and Happiness


Kris Wilson - 2005
    Just see what their mothers have to say!"Dave is a nice, young man with a bright future ahead of him. I always knew he was a gifted boy who would go on to do great things. I hope he settles down with a nice, young woman and ****s the **** out of her."—Dave's mom"I don't know how to get computer pictures, so I'm glad Kris finally has a book out. I haven't read it yet, but I hope he gives me a quote on the back."—Kris's mom"I hope Robert's book does well so he can finally afford to move out. He plays his hip-hop music too loud."—Rob's momMatt's mom was unavailable for a quote due to being dead.

On the Origin of PCs


Rich Burlew - 2005
    The Order of the Stick: On the Origin of PCs reveals the secret character backgrounds of your favorite band of webcomic adventurers, the Order of the Stick. Spinning out of the popular online comic (and subsequent book collections), On the Origin of PCs presents 72 pages of all-new, never-seen- before-or-since OOTS action and comedy that detail what each of the six members of the Order were doing with their lonely and pathetic lives before they joined forces to become a less lonely (but no less pathetic) team. Presented in nostalgic greyscale that we like to call "Past-O-Vision," On the Origin of PCs is a vital part of your Order of the Stick collection. From new DBD publisher Paizo Publishing

Hellblazer: All His Engines


Mike Carey - 2005
    Suggested For Mature Readers.

Your Whole Family is Made Out of Meat: The Best of Dinosaur Comics, 2003-2005 A.D.


Ryan North - 2005
    The daily comic first appeared on-line at www.qwantz.com and now boasts over 300,000 unique readers each month. Fans "click in" to see the philosophical thoughts, rants and misgivings of T-rex, the neurotic main character played by, well, a house-stopming-0apparently-college-educated Tyrannasaurus Rex. He carries on regular dialog with Utahraptor and Dromiceiomimus while God and the Devil make regular off-screen cameos.

Fell


Warren Ellis - 2005
    Dumped in this collapsing urban trashzone, Richard Fell is starting all over again. In a place where nothing seems to make any sense, Fell clings to the one thing he knows to be true: everybody's hiding something.

Wonder Woman: Eyes of the Gorgon


Greg Rucka - 2005
    After a terrible sacrifice, the Amazing Amazon must prove herself once again to her comrades in the JLA and to the world.Collecting WONDER WOMAN Vol. 2 #206–213

Driving Under the Influence of Children: A Baby Blues Treasury


Rick Kirkman - 2005
    . . . Kirkman and Scott are virtuosi of the world of child-rearing." --Infodad.comUnder the sticky seats, next to the molten milkshakes, unreturned library books, and petrified french fries is where you'll probably find the hidden microphone. Those Baby Blues cartoonists undoubtedly planted it in your minivan, because how else could they come up with the ideas for their comic strip that mirror exactly what's going on in your life?Fans and critics have been alternately checking under their seats and raving about the realism of the parenting experience depicted in Baby Blues for years. That realism is no accident (nor the result of illegal wiretaps). Parents themselves, cocreators Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott have an infinite wellspring of material at their disposal. As writer Jerry Scott explains, "As long as kids keep having runny noses and wiping them on the drapes, we're in business."This colorful treasury, Driving Under the Influence of Children, not only contains over 240 pages of award-winning Baby Blues comic strips, but also contains Baby Blues stickers, including a bumper sticker that should be affixed to nearly every minivan on the road.

Krazy and Ignatz, 1935-1936: A Wild Warmth of Chromatic Gravy


George Herriman - 2005
    The Sunday Krazy Kat strip turns to full spectacular color, with a flood of rare color extras and a revelatory essay by Jeet Heer.

Hellblazer: Rare Cuts


Jamie Delano - 2005
    Created by some of the most popular and critically acclaimed writers and artists in comics, the featured issues include: A Taste of Things to Come, which relates the horrifying events of Newcastle, 1978, that ended with an innocent girl's soul condemned to Hell and Constantine confined to an asylum; Early Warning and How I Learned to Love the Bomb, in which new weapons testing goes awry and looses terrible psychic impulses upon a dying northern town; Dead-Boy's Heart, which tells the tale of Constantine's rough-and-tumble childhood and the beginnings of his unique skills; This Is the Diary of Danny Drake, an object lesson in the perils of narcissism and doing deals with demons; and In Another Part of Hell, which reveals the origin of Constantine's friendship with his best mate Chas. Also included in this trade paperback are a special John Constantine time-line and a map of Constantine's London. Suggested For Mature Readers.Collects Hellblazer #11, #25–26, #35, #56, #84.

House of M #1


Brian Michael Bendis - 2005
    Will Magneto help his daughter or use her powers to his own benefit? Starring the Astonishing X-Men and the New Avengers!!

Ghatotkacha


Lakshmi Seshadri - 2005
    The Pandava brother, Bheema, was lucky to have him as a son, for he saved his life more than once. And if it were not for this brave young rakshasa, the Kauravas may well have been the victors of the famous battle of Mahabharata.

Who Let the Cat Out?: Mutts X


Patrick McDonnell - 2005
    Its subject is the world, all living beings in it, and their relationship with each other. . . . Its touch is incredibly light and gentle, which explains how it alights in your mind and rests there. . . . The way that McDonnell's stories oscillate between gentle comedy and understated pathos is the strip's greatest strength.""-Christopher Brayshaw, Vancouver ReviewAnimal lovers everywhere adore Patrick McDonnell's charming but pointed MUTTS. The strip strikes a delicate balance between lighthearted fun and social commentary-on the human condition as well as the animal world. The deceptively simple comic follows the adventures of Earl the dog and Mooch the cat, an unlikely best-friend team, and Shtinky Puddin', Sourpuss, Guard Dog, and Crabby. Patrick's distinctive cartooning style effectively relays the all-too-real concerns of his characters with entertaining, clever, laugh-out-loud banter.Infodad.com describes MUTTS as ""humane and funny and gentle and caring and heartfelt and-did we mention funny?"" The site goes on to say that the strip ""includes enough hijinks and outstanding art (yes, art!) to please anyone with a taste for animals and amusement.""

Green Lantern: Rebirth


Geoff Johns - 2005
    But Jordan lost control, allowed himself to be corrupted and transformed into the villainous Parallax. Later, Jordan reappeared and made the ultimate sacrifice - a sacrifice that allowed him to become the Spectre, the Wrath of God.After several years of activity on Earth, The Spectre became restless and sought a way to prove himself worthy of that noble reputation. See how a man born without fear and seeking to rebuild his life puts cosmic forces into motion that will have repercussions not only on Earth but across the universe. This volume also features an introduction by best-selling author Brad Meltzer and a new cover by Van Sciver!Collecting: Green Lantern: Rebirth 1-6

Cinema Panopticum


Thomas Ott - 2005
    Ott plunges into the darkness with five new graphic horror novelettes: "The Prophet," "The Wonder Pill," "La Lucha," "The Hotel," and the title story, each executed in his hallucinatory and hyper-detailed scratchboard style and running between 16 to 20 pages. The first story in the book introduces the other four: A little girl visits an amusement park. She looks fascinated, but finds everything too expensive. Finally, behind the rollercoaster she eyeballs a small booth with "CINEMA PANOPTICUM" written on it. Inside there are boxes with screens. Every box contains a movie; the title of each appears on each screen. Each costs only a dime, so the price is right for the little girl. She puts her money in the first box: "The Prophet" begins. In the film, a vagrant foresees the end of the world and tries to warn people, but nobody believes him. They will soon enough. In the second film, "The Wonderpill," a short-sighted man initially goes blind from some pills his doctor gave him, but soon the blindness wears off and he finds they accord quite a view. "La Lucha," the third story, introduces a Mexican wrestler who fights against death himself. In a typical Ott twist, he wins and loses at the same time. The final story, "The Hotel," depicts a traveler who goes to sleep in what seems to be an otherwise empty hotel. His awakening is the stuff of nightmares... Ott's O. Henry-esque plot twists will delight fans of classic horror like The Twilight Zone and Tales From the Crypt, or modern efforts like M. Night Shamalayan's films; his artwork will haunt you long after you've put the book down.

Stray Bullets, Vol. 2: Somewhere Out West


David Lapham - 2005
    Here, two young lovers on the run from the Mob will learn that love is more than just another four-letter word. A once-beautiful, now-broken woman will let the demons of her past pull her down into a thick soup of depravity and death. A betrayed little girl running from everything will decide to help someone and be scarred forever. And a big lug with big dreams will achieve fame and glory and then throw it all away. These are just some of the people whose tales will stick in your gut for the rest of your days.

Walt and Skeezix, Vol. 1: 1921-1922


Frank King - 2005
    Not only does this volume reprint the first two years of the strip in which King’s friendly and nostalgic imagination took shape but each book in the series features an eighty-page color introduction by Jeet Heer of Canada’s National Post. Each introduction will also feature never-before-seen archival photos and ephemera from the personal collection of King’s granddaughter. Walt & Skeezix is not just a collection of a classic comic strip—it is the story of a great American cartoonist. Few cartoon strips have this kind of longevity and quality; Gasoline Alley has been with us since 1919 and is a gentle mirror held up to ordinary American life in the early twentieth century. It started as a mild satire on the post-WWI “craze” for cars, but it wasn’t long before it developed into a quirky family story attracting an audience of more than thirty million readers in four hundred–plus newspapers. Gasoline Alley, an affectionate portrait of modern living, is remembered for being the first strip to set itself in contemporary American history. The characters of Gasoline Alley grow up, go to war, and have grandchildren. The strip always reflects the kind, sweet pace of life.

Red Meat Gold


Max Cannon - 2005
    Cannon's internationally popular strip features a disturbing and sidesplitting cast of characters that includes latex-clad fathers, sadistic milkmen, vomiting robots, malformed neighbors, incontinent interdimensional beings, decomposing clowns, and dozens of other bizarre Red Meat denziens who will keep you laughing until it hurts. Pure Gold!

The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 1


Bill Finger - 2005
    Presenting an exciting new way to experience the rich history of the Dark Knight in an affordable trade paperback collection of every Batman adventure, in color, in chronological order!Batman Chronicles, Volume 1 reprints Batman stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #27-37 and BATMAN #1, featuring the earliest adventures of the Dark Knight by Batman creator Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Gardner Fox, Jerry Robinson and Sheldon Moldoff.

The R. Crumb Handbook


Robert Crumb - 2005
    Crumb Handbook is a brand new take on the life, trials and ideas of one of the most influential cartoonists of the last 40 years. Wry, self-deprecating, and candid, this is an exceptionally revealing and unexpectedly moving visual biography. Crumb is thoughtful and enlightening, with insights into 20th century popular culture that are hilarious, challenging, and acidly satirical. Crumb casts an unblinking eye onto the underbelly of modern life, an urban nightmare of human weakness, lust, terror, and cruelty all seen through the comic lens of satire. Simultaneously, he weaves in the surreal narrative of his personal evolution from his tormented childhood in the 1940s through his coming of age in the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s. With over 80 personal photographs, and 300 images taken from his sketchbooks many of which have never been seen before, comic books, as well as fine art from museums, The R. Crumb Handbook tells it like it is!Described by art critic Robert Hughes as "the Brueghel of the 20th century," Robert Crumb has become the only sixties counter culture artist to break through into the fine art world and today attracts celebrity collectors such as Steve Martin and author Alex Garland.Written with his close friend and fellow cartoonist Peter Poplaski, the new book allows ample room for the "father of underground comics" to express his ideas and opinions on a variety of subjects: fame and celebrity, art and commercialism, sex and drugs, age and death. And what visit to Crumbland would be complete without cameo appearances by Mr. Natural, Fritz the Cat, Devil Girl, and Keep On Truckin'?At over 400 pages, The R. Crumb Handbook is the newest and best compilation ofhis most famous work. The book features over 300 never seen before illustrations from his sketchbooks, 80 personal photos, interviews, and a special CD of 20 songs of R.Crumb's original music. Cartoons? Photos? Music? All in one book? This is a valuable collectible that will be welcomed by all.

BUTTOBI ITTO Vol.20


Motoki Monma - 2005
    Thai translation rights in Thailand by SIAM INTER COMICS"อิตโต้ นักเตะเลือดกังฟู ภาค 2 เล่ม 20"

X-23 Innocence Lost #1


Christopher Yost - 2005
    The full story behind the origin of X-23; who she is, where she came from, and the exact nature of her relationship to Wolverine. You think you know, but you have no idea. Pick up this first issue today!

Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 3


John ByrneRick Parker - 2005
    Writer/artist John Byrne launched the Fantastic Four into realms where few creators before had dared to go. Now, the collection of his classic run continues! Featuring a four-part epic deep within the Negative Zone -- and the death of...Reed Richards?! Plus: Galactus devours the Skrull homeworld, and the Fantastic Four say goodbye to the Baxter Building! Guest-starring the Avengers!

Young Avengers Special #1


Allan Heinberg - 2005
    Who were they and what were their lives like before they met Iron Lad?

Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 4


John Byrne - 2005
    Writer/artist John Byrne launched the Fantastic Four into realms where few creators before had dared to go. Now, the collection of his classic run continues! Featuring the trial of Reed Richards - and introducing the newest member of the Fantastic Four! Plus, Reed and Sue place the fate of their unborn child in the arms of...Doctor Octopus?!

The EC Archives: The Vault of Horror Volume 3


Al FeldsteinJack Kamen - 2005
    Collects The Vault of Horror issues #24-29 in full color.

No Collar, No Service


Paul Gilligan - 2005
    Speak. Engage in witty banter and share ideas with friends who really understand your predicaments. Sounds like the perfect cafe. Especially if you're a dog.Pooch Cafe is the home away from home for Poncho and his canine buddies. No Collar, No Service marks the second collection of the hip hit strip Pooch Cafe, named for the place where Poncho, Boomer, and the rest of their pals regularly gather to discuss life among the humans and to hatch their plans to catapult all the world's cats into space. But you won't find this spot on Main Street. Its actual location is a canine secret compromised just once when they tried to get a pizza delivered.Poncho is as passionate about his love for his master, Chazz, as he is about his distaste for kitties. When Poncho and Chazz move in with Carmen and her medley of cats, Poncho pals up with "Fish," a goldfish who conveniently speaks dog, to learn the lay of the land. Poncho views his master's new life as a threat to the sacred man-dog bond, despite Carmen's efforts to make peace with Poncho using love, tenderness, and cheese. Good thing there's always the gang at the cafe.No Collar, No Service is the saga of a strip that captures the intensity of the human-dog bond in a way that resonates with pet lovers everywhere.

Batman: The Man Who Laughs


Ed Brubaker - 2005
    Written by Ed Brubaker Art by Doug Mahnke, Patrick Zircher, Aaron Sowd and Steve Bird Cover by Mahnke Witness Batman's first encounter with The Joker in this hardcover volume collecting the graphic novel BATMAN: THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, by Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke! This collection also includes DETECTIVE COMICS #784-786, a murder-mystery tale guest-starring Green Lantern Alan Scott!

Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee


Stan Lee - 2005
    This super-hero team had true personalities - they doubted their own abilities, battled problems of money and illness, and even fought among themselves. The monumental popularity of this realistic comic-book style inspired Lee to create similarly themed titles - including Hulk, X-Men, and Avengers with artist Jack Kirby; and Amazing Spider-Man with artist Steve Ditko. By 1965, Lee had successfully established Marvel Comics as a cohesive universe populated by world-famous comic-book characters. Now, this deluxe keepsake edition collects his greatest moments - some never before reprinted: "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge" (Captain America Comics #3): Stan's first story, a two-page text piece "The Red Skull's Deadly Revenge" (Captain America Comics #16): The defining Golden Age Red Skull story "The Raving Madman" (Suspense #29): Stan's satire on Frederick Wertham and the comics witch hunts of the '50s "Your Name Is Frankenstein " (Menace #7): A modern Frankenstein story, featuring many of the elements of the later Marvel books "Where Walks the Ghost" (Amazing Adult Fantasy #11): A short, twist-ending story by Lee and Ditko Plus: "Spider-Man" (Amazing Fantasy #15); "A Visit With the Fantastic Four" (Fantastic Four #11); "How Stan and Steve Create Spider-Man" (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1); "In Mortal Combat with Sub-Mariner" (Daredevil #7); "The Final Chapter" (Amazing Spider-Man #33); "Bedlam in the Baxter Building" (Fantastic Four Annual #3); "And Who Shall Mourn for Him?" (Silver Surfer #5); "Brother, Take My Hand" (Daredevil) #47; "And Now, The Goblin," "In the Grip of the Goblin," and "The Goblin's Last Stand" (from Amazing Spider-Man #96-98); "No Longer Alone" (Captain America #110); "No More the Thunder God," "When Gods Go Mad," and "One God Must Fall" (from Thor #179-181); "While the World Spins Mad" (Marvel Premiere #3); and "The Circle of Life" (Spectacular Spider-Man Super-Special 1995)

Why Do They Kill Me?


Tim Kreider - 2005
    Kliban, about the squalor and ridiculousness of the human condition. But after the takeover by the Bush-Cheney regime and the War on Terror, he focused his bitter humor on more timely issues. His political cartoons have been, in the words of Ted Rall (not known as a sentimental softie), "among the most viscerally anti-Bush work around." As reality has become ever more nightmarish, Kreider's been driven to push the outer limits of humor to parody it. In this collection you will find:The Girls of Hamas calendarThe artist's conception of "Negropolis" (Strom Thurmond's proposal for a lunar colony for the repatriation of African-Americans)John Ashcroft imagining eating Donald Rumsfeld as their bunker crumbles around themU.S. jets bombing the Great Pyramids in the War on HorrorAn analysis of the all-important Shithead VoteAn expose of the link between homosexuality and terrorismAnd an ashen stake driven, just as a precaution, through Ronald Reagan's heartCynical, astute, blackly hilarious, and deeply biased, these cartoons are neither the superficial, obvious jibes that appear in your daily paper's editorial section nor the didactic left-wing rants syndicated in your local alternative weekly; they are the artistic equivalent of hollow-point bullets fired from a high-powered rifle with a laser sight directly into the brain of the Bush administration.

Lucy and Danae: Something Silly This Way Comes


Wiley Miller - 2005
    But since Wiley introduced Lucy, the lovable Pygmy-Clydesdale-with-an-attitude as the companion to Danae, Non Sequitur's cynical anti-heroine, fans have been clamoring for more of the pair. Now readers can enjoy the adventures of Lucy and Danae in the Non Sequitur collection dedicated to their exploits, Lucy and Danae: Something Silly This Way Comes.Lucy's lovable equine goofiness tempers Danae's overdeveloped cynicism as Danae struggles with school, her father, and her sunny little sister, Kate. World-weary beyond her years, Danae sports a skull-in-heart T-shirt and perpetual scowl, while Lucy embodies unbridled optimism with her horsey grin. From their first meeting at summer camp, to Danae's "sneaky yet noble" plot to train Lucy as a guide horse for the blind (they do exist!), to an unplanned expedition to Santa's Workshop (in Maine, not the North Pole), Danae and Lucy turn the cliche of a sentimental girl and her horse upside down and inside out. With Lucy and Danae, Wiley Miller has found a winning combination that readers can't resist.

The Goon Fancy Pants Edition - Volume 1


Eric Powell - 2005
    

New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1


Brian Michael BendisOlivier Coipel - 2005
    Award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis transforms Earth's Mightiest Heroes! But before he can build his New Avengers, he must disassemble the old ones! On the team's darkest day, one of their own tears them apart - seemingly forever! But when Electro triggers a breakout at super-villain prison the Raft, Captain America and Iron Man find themselves fighting alongside a new and very different order as the Avengers are reborn! But will the mysterious Sentry add the power of a million exploding suns to the lineup? First HE needs to figure out who he is! COLLECTING: AVENGERS (1998) 500-503, 500 DIRECTOR'S CUT; AVENGERS FINALE; NEW AVENGERS (2004) 1-10, 1 DIRECTOR'S CUT; NEW AVENGERS MOST WANTED FILESIncludes Avengers Disassembled.

Peter Pan


Régis Loisel - 2005
    This 372-page, full colour hardback will tell the entire story of how Peter, a young boy on the streets of Dickensian London, became Peter Pan.This omnibus edition collects the complete 6 volume bande dessinee series lovingly created by Loisel from 1990 to 2004. This series has never before been seen in the UK, and has never been collected in English.

Foul Play!: The Art and Artists of the Notorious 1950s E.C. Comics!


Grant Geissman - 2005
    Comics, a line of adventure, horror, and science-fiction comics whose influence on American graphic novels is undeniable, even today. Foul Play! is the perfect book for anyone wanting to understand the special place E.C. holds in the comic fan's heart -- or who just wants to read some real good comics!Foul Play! celebrates the fan-favorite creators of E.C. Comics, profiling their artists -- a veritable who's who of mid-20th century popular illustration -- and describing how they came to work with Bill Gaines and how their careers evolved after E.C.. Among the comics art legends profiled are Al Feldstein; Harvey Kurtzman; Johnny Craig; Jack Davis; Graham Ingels; Jack Kamen; Wallace Wood; Joe Orlando; Will Elder; John Severin; George Evans; Al Williamson; Reed Crandall; Bernie Krigstein; and more! Plus, the book includes a special bonus: a lost E.C. Comics story "Wanted for Murder!" originally intended to be published in 1956 but forgotten and unseen until now.When originally published, E.C. Comics titles like Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and Weird Science became best-selling titles, embraced by readers for their macabre wit and stunning illustration. Eventually, E.C. Comics ran afoul of a full Senate Subcommittee investigating (but never proving!) the link between comic books and juvenile delinquency, but not before winning a legion of fans that still treasure E.C.'s output. Foul Play! demonstrates -- in glorious, gory detail -- exactly why these are among the most beloved comics stories ever published.

Little Lulu, Volume 4: Sunday Afternoon


John Stanley - 2005
    Critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the most classic comics ever published, Little Lulu is an all-ages treasure, with stories funny and fresh enough to stand the test of time.

Seeing Things


Jim Woodring - 2005
    These crisply rendered images reflect his life-long obsession with hidden worlds, alternate realities and the inexplicable resonance of the unprecedented and irrational in lucid art.Seeing Things collects the most toothsome of these drawings and arranges them in four sections. "Lazy Robinson" is a series of portraits of forms taken by a cognizant object during the course of a specific and identifiable stream of thought. "Frogs" celebrates the tender proclivities of the most noble of all animals, by placing them in situations that would dismay a horde of saints. "The Visible World" is a roundup of appalling scenes of sub-rational political activity involving catalytic entities with a high ratio of motivation to altruism. And "The Portfolio in Color" appears like a rainbow at the end of all this exalted storminess to send readers out into the world whistling with delight. Many of these images were created for "Mysterio Sympatico," Woodring's multimedia stage collaboration with guitarist Bill Frisell. There is plenty of echoless, glowing furniture to add to that already crowded storeroom which is briefly, but brilliantly, illuminated in the pages of this stately book.

Love & Rockets Vol. 2 #14


Jaime Hernández - 2005
    On the Beto side of the ledger, Mark Herrera returns to his abusive family for a visit, and in the latest installment of "Julio's Day," Julio's grandnephew encounters the long disowned Uncle Juan.

The Incal: The Epic Journey


Alejandro Jodorowsky - 2005
    John Difool, a low class detective in a degenerate world, finds his life turned upside down when he discovers an ancient artifact called "The Incal."--Difool's adventures will bring him into conflict with the galaxy's greatest warrior, The Metabaron, and will pit him against the awesome powers of the Technopriests. Can an ordinary man survive such an epic battle? Suggested For Mature Readers.

Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 6


Brian Michael Bendis - 2005
    Why are both heroes too concerned with their own lives to work together? Plus: Johnny Storm realizes that despite his new flame powers and fame on the horizon, he still doesn't have a high-school diploma. And where does the young New Yorker enroll? Why, none other than a certain Queens high school that also counts one Peter Parker - Spider-Man - as a student.Collecting: Ultimate Spider-Man 60-71

My Dinner With Lulu


John Stanley - 2005
    Critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the most classic comics ever published, Little Lulu is an all-ages treasure, with stories funny and fresh enough to stand the test of time.

Dhruva and Ashtavakra (Amar Chitra Katha)


Anant Pai - 2005
    Dhruva countered the evil intentions of his scheming stepmother with intense devotion. Ashtavakra worked hard and by the age of 12 had absorbed all there was to learn. One was rewarded with a kingdom and a shining place in the celestial world for ever more; the other's brilliance brought his father back to life.

Fantastic Four By Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo Omnibus


Mark Waid - 2005
    Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo deliver some of the most daring and humorous adventures the Fantastic Four have ever seen! Giant bugs! Living equations! Johnny Storm, CEO! Exploding unstable molecules! The secret behind the Yancy Street Gang! And Doctor Doom's plans are truly unthinkable! Victor will push the FF beyond their limits - and when his actions lead to the death of one of their own, they'll storm the gates of Heaven to save their beloved teammate! Plus: Spider-Man and the Human Torch take on Hydro-Man! But with the Fantastic Four's reputation in tatters, is associating with a misunderstood wall-crawler really wise? And when Manhattan finds itself surrounded by a fleet of miles-high alien spacecraft, it's time for the Fantastic Four to do what they do best!COLLECTING: FANTASTIC FOUR (1998) 60-70, 500-524, 500 DIRECTOR'S CUT

Code Lyoko Volume 1: The Adventure Begins


Erin Stein - 2005
    - a virus that's determined to cross over into the real world and destroy Earth! All that stands in X.A.N.A. destructive path is a group of kids and their friends Aelita, a virtual creature in Lyoko. Does the team stand a chance against this out-of-control Supercomputer? Will our world be deleted?

Heroes


Patrick Fillion - 2005
    These guys bring out the big guns impressively equipped complete with six-pack and laser pistols. Without a doubt their most powerful weapon is their sex appeal. Patrick Fillion gives what the mainstream comic world has been keeping from us all this time. An incredibly erotic gay universe.

Tom of Finland Volume I: The Comic Collection


Tom of Finland - 2005
    This volume features 14 stories, including the first completed by Tom in 1946, and the last, done in 1986. Along the way we meet Jack in the Jungle, Beach Boys, Greasy Rider, Ringo & the Renegades, and Tom's most infamous creation, Kake, the ultimate leatherman. The stories are arranged chronologically in a book sized to fit perfectly in one hand, wrapped in our new Panic Jacket that allows the book to be read any place, any time, by simply removing and reversing the cover to give the appearance of a serious scholarly tome. For boys who like boys who like art—but are sometimes embarrassed to enjoy their art in public—this attractive package is not to be missed.Durk Dehner is Tom's archivist and provided the original art for these volumes. He was born in Alberta, Canada, where he studied art before moving to the United States in the mid-'70s. Dehner was instrumental in bringing Tom out of the underground and in focusing public attention on his work. The two co-founded the Tom of Finland Foundation in 1984, and Dehner continues as head of the Foundation, headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Madrox: Multiple Choice


Peter David - 2005
    Jamie Madrox, setting up a detective agency in the heart of Mutant Town. Jamie Madrox, a peaceful Shaolin priest. Which is the real Jamie Madrox? In this noir-esque thriller of a limited series, it's possible that even Madrox doesn't know anymore. Peter David, acclaimed for his run on X-Factor, reunites several of that title's most popular and whimsical characters - Jamie Madrox, Wolfsbane, and the aptly named Strong Guy - and sends them on an adventure of light and darkness. Featuring the incredibly moody pencils of Pablo Raimondi.

Tales Designed to Thrizzle #1


Michael Kupperman - 2005
    Tales designed to thrizzle are about Jesus's half-brother Pagus, Private Eye Johnny Silhouette, Murder she didn't Write, Hercules the Public Domain Superhero, Mark Twain, the Thirties, and more. The Thrizzle tales will make their debut in 2009 on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim as Snake 'N' Bacon, which is sure to catapult Thrizzle to new heights of popularity. The show, a mix of live action, pupperty and animation, stars David Rakoff (This American Life), Bill Hader(Saturday Night Live), Kristen Schaal ( Flight of the Conchords), James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers), and Dan Bakkedahl ( The Daily Show), and is produced by Kupperman, Robert Smigel ( Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog), Scott Jacobson(The Daily Show), and Rich Bloomquist (The Daily Show).

Judge Dredd: Dredd VS. Death (Judge Dredd (Graphic Novels))


John Wagner - 2005
    Meet Judge Dredd's ultimate nemesis; his name is Judge Death, and Dredd can't kill him because he's already dead! When Death comes to Mega-City One, it will take all of Dredd's ingenuity, not to mention the help of Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson, to stop him! Suggested For Mature Readers.

Running on Alter Ego (Rose Is Rose Collection)


Pat Brady - 2005
    This creator pulls more material from the one-child Gumbo family than other cartoonists can with five times the number of characters and settings.   That magic comes through in Brady's seventh collection, Rose is Rose Running on Alter Ego. The lively series of daily and Sunday strips revolves around Rose—devoted wife and doting mother—who, try as she might, just can't keep her biker chick fantasies totally in check. Rose never knows, as she manages her blue-collar husband, Jimbo, and their energy-fired son, Pasquale, when Vicki the Biker may show up. But when the long-haired, short-skirted babe surfaces, it's always with a breath of fresh air and a fresh take on "normal" family life.  Besides appearing on the cover, Rose as Vicki shines throughout the collection, in six new full-page drawings created just for the book. Each shows the seemingly satisfied housewife's alter ego performing some mundane chore demanded by Rose's less adventurous life, while Brady's usual mix of family fun, frolic, and fancy gives Gumbo fans plenty of delight.

Haunted Mansion #1


Roman Dirge - 2005
    Not based on the movie, Haunted Mansion will tell the stories of the 999 happy haunts who call the mansion home. The first issue features a cover by Lenore creator Roman Dirge. Interior stories will feature work by Dirge, Darren W. Frydenhall, Jon “Bean” Hastings and a host of others.

The World on Sunday: Graphic Art in Joseph Pulitzer's Newspaper, 1898-1911


Nicholson Baker - 2005
    The World was famous for muckraking and sensationalism, but to a contemporary eye what is most striking about the paper (and in particular its Sunday edition) is that it was filled with colorful art -- caricatures, full-page cartoons, disaster drawings, fiction illustrations, hand-lettered typography, weird science, halftone photographs, maps, and more. Author Nicholson Baker, dubbed the "Erin Brockovich of the library world" by the New York Times Book Review for his dedication to saving early American newspaper collections, started buying up archives from public libraries around the country and around the world, forming the American Newspaper Repository. Baker's research was published as Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper, which won the National Book Critics' Circle award for non-fiction in 2002. Now Baker and co-author Margaret Brentano have selected 85 of the finest examples of period reporting, bold and playful graphic design, long-lost comic strips, and society pieces from the heyday of the New York World for reproduction in this delightful, oversized volume. Baker's introductory essay argues the significance and beauty of Pulitzer's paper, and Brentano's detailed captions and notes accompany the colorful reproductions throughout.

Best Of American Splendor


Harvey Pekar - 2005
    But how did a former file clerk from Cleveland and up with an Oscar nomination? The story begins in 1976, when Harvey began publishing his autobiographical, slice-of-downtrodden-life comic book, illustrated by a who's who of underground comic artists, including R. Crumb, Frank Stack, Gary Dumm and Joe Sacco. Titan is proud to present our third book from Harvey, an all-new compilation of his best work, featuring 100 per cent previously uncollected material.

Gold Digger Gold Brick IV


Fred Perry - 2005
    by Fred Perry "The long, long wait is finally over! Antarctic Press presents "Gold Brick IV," collecting the "Golden Age" of Fred Perry's epic color issues, #26-50, widely believed to be the most refined and thoughtful issues of "Gold Digger "to date! An absolute "must-have" for every "GD" fan - past, present, and future! Also available is a dust-jacketed Special Edition version, signed by creator Fred Perry and featuring a mini-sketch, suitable for framing! "

The Dirty Dozen: The Best 12 Commando Books Ever!


George Low - 2005
    The Dirty Dozen showcases the best of the best - and 25 per cent bigger than the originals, so old guys can read the strips without their glasses! Chosen by current Editor George Low, the brilliantly drawn stories in this classic collection range from backs-to-the-wall heroics at Dunkirk and Battle of Britain dogfights, through desert warfare in North Africa and daring commando raids behind enemy lines, to tough battles across Europe from D-Day to VE Day. For everyone whose comic-book battle lust has ever been stirred by Nazi cries of 'Die! Englischer schweinhund', The Dirty Dozen will transport them right back into fictional combat situations they'd forgotten were so much fun. Aaarrghh!

Devil May Cry Volume 1


James McDonough - 2005
    But will unleashing the supernatural evil that he's struggled to contain all for so long grant him the power necessary to finally avenge his father's murder at the hands of the Demon Lord Mundus? Or will it only consume, damning him to a similar fate?

Wish You Were Here No. 1: The Innocents


Gipi - 2005
    "The Innocents," which includes two narrative tracks in different drawing styles, is a contemplative, beautifully drawn graphic novelette about these three characters' meeting. Future issues will focus on other members of this group of friends, a bit like Jaime Hernandez's "Locas" stories, with supporting characters stepping into the spotlight as former "lead" characters become part of the background...

Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #1


Brian Michael Bendis - 2005
    Spidey goes toe-to-toe with some old foes -- and winds up with a new girlfriend! Who is she? Will he live long enough to enjoy his time with her?

Little Lulu, Volume 3: Lulu in the Doghouse


John Stanley - 2005
    As tough as she is tender-hearted, as smart as she is sassy, and as fair and generous as she is cantankerous, Lulu Moppet is a real one-of-a-kind. Now, for the first time ever, comics fans can read and relish every Little Lulu comic book story from the original, long-running Dell Comics series in Dark Horse Books' handy paperback library series Handy, affordable, and hilarious, these thick, fun-filled volumes are bursting with stories from every angle of Lulu's world - from the far-flung fairy tales she dreams up to calm the quarrelsome tot, Alvin, to the silly slice-of-life adventures that end with impossible complexities and belly laughs for readers.

Masters of American Comics


John CarlinTom De Haven - 2005
    This fascinating book focuses on fifteen pioneering cartoonists—ranging from Winsor McCay to Chris Ware—who brought this genre to the highest level of artistic expression and who had the greatest impact on the development of the form.Organized chronologically, Masters of American Comics explores the rise of newspaper comic strips and comic books and considers their artistic development throughout the century. Presenting a wide selection of original drawings as well as progressive proofs, vintage printed Sunday pages, and comic books themselves, the authors also look at how the art of comics was transformed by artistic innovation as well as by changes in popular taste, economics, and printing conventions.First appearing in newspaper Sunday supplements, the comic strip became immediately successful and created the largest audience of any medium of its time. The comic book first began as a way to print existing newspaper comics, then subsequently established the mass popularity of superheroes in the 1940s and 1950s before it matured as a vehicle for independent personal expression in the underground comic books and graphic novels of the 1960s.Included in the book are insightful and entertaining essays on individual artists written by major figures in the fields of comics, narrative illustration, literature, popular culture, and art history. Masters of American Comics convincingly positions the genre of comics into the history of art and is destined to become a classic text for years to come.

Kamandi Archives, Vol. 1


Jack Kirby - 2005
    The first archive in a series collecting the adventures of Kamandi, the last boy on Earth, by Jack Kirby! In these tales from KAMANDI #1-10 (1972-1973), Kamandi --one of the few survivors of the Great Disaster -- must make his way in a world populated by bizarre mutated animals and other strange wonders!

Poor Sailor


Sammy Harkham - 2005
    Based on Guy de Maupassant's short story, 'Poor Sailor' is an emotional, moving and honest graphic novel by Sammy Harkham.

Garfield Travel Adventures


Jim Davis - 2005
    Original. 35,000 first printing.

Serenity: Those Left Behind #2


Joss Whedon - 2005
    

Big Top


Rob Harrell - 2005
    . . to the exciting world of Big Top! Rob Harrell's three-ring comic strip has already packed the house with fans eager for his hilarious take on the circus and those who bring it to life. The circus and its colorful cast-led by 10-year-old Pete and his happily reformed performing bear, Wink-are a perfect metaphor for life. It's not always what happens on the surface, Big Top reminds us, but what takes place backstage that delivers the lessons and the humor. Pete and Wink keep plenty of odd company, including Kingston, coolest king of the jungle; Stucco, a mute clown who still manages to make his point; Manfred, the bookish monkey; Dusty, the wisecracking tell-it-like-it-is trained poodle; Andrea, the new acrobat girl who's caught Pete's eye; and Hairy Mary the Bearded Lady, a mother figure to them all.Take this crew on the road and you get an endless array of situations and relationships, care and impatience, honesty and intolerance. It's like one big Big Top family . . . one that welcomes all readers for the mere price of a ticket.

Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Sr.


Stan Lee - 2005
    Jazzy John and Marvel's Mightiest together in stories that made them both famous From the fabulous fifties to the future of the Femizons The coming of the communist-hunting Captain America Peter Parker's parents in perilous predicaments The first of the final face-offs between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin The debut of the Devil's Daughter Also featuring the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Nick Fury, Wolverine, the Kingpin, and more Includes rarely seen horror tales from the pre-Marvel era Collects Strange Tales #4; Menace #11; Young Men #24, 26; Tales to Astonish #77; Tales of Suspense #77; Daredevil #16 and 17; Amazing Spider-Man #39, #40, #42, #50, #108, #109 and #365; Fantastic Four #105 and 106; Vampire Tales #2; and Untold Tales of Spider-Man Minus 1.

Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur, Vol. 1: 1937-1938


Hal Foster - 2005
    

Young Avengers #1


Allan Heinberg - 2005
    Who are these teenaged do-gooders and what right do they have to call themselves the Young Avengers?!

Don Taquero


Trino - 2005
    In addition to knowing what a "taco" is and how to make salsa with eyes closed, a taco-smith also needs this basic equipment: a rolling cart painted and re-painted white, long unclean nails to distribute condiments evenly, dried out limes that are full of seeds, an apron and small cap that were once white, a huge knife, and a toothpick to chew perpetually.

Lenore #12


Roman Dirge - 2005
    Meanwhile, Ragamuffin, now back to his old vampire self, defeats a large part of the Heck Army. After Ragamuffin repairs himself with his magic vampire powers he, Lenore and Muffin Monster, head back to Lenore's mansion to fortify it against the Heck Army. There they learn that Mr. Gosh is possessed and take great enjoyment beating him with a chair. Then Pooty shows up and calls on The Spam Witch to give them the answer to defeating the Heck Army. After some brief miscommunication, they close the portal to Heck and Taxidermy and his friends arrive and slaughter the rest of the army. Finally as Lenore is getting bored Ragamuffin turns back into his doll form once again. Hickory Dickory Dock- Retelling of Hickory Dickory Dock with a Lenore twist. Things Involving Me-Roman tells the story of his trip to Norway and the true story about how he lost his underwear tag to a naked Norwegian.

Burying Sandwiches


Rob Sato - 2005
    Her attempts to solve her problem go nowhere. Temporary salvation arrives as she discovers sustennance and joy in things supernatural. Awarded a 2004 Xeric Grant, this graphic novel was included among "The Comics Journal's Best Comics of 2005".

Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives, Vol. 1


Jerry ColemanMark Waid - 2005
    The first Silver Age Superman Archive, reprinting ACTION COMICS #241-247 and SUPERMAN #122-126 (1958-1959)! This volume, with an introduction by Mark Waid, features the debuts of the Fortress of Solitude, Brainiac, Kandor, the Super-Pets, and much more!

Tarzan: The Joe Kubert Years, Vol. 1


Joe Kubert - 2005
    This beautiful archive collection - with an introduction by Kubert and color restoration based off of Tatjana Wood's original colors - is a must-have for fans of timeless adventure tales and Joe Kubert's undeniable intensity and skill. Beginning with this first volume, Dark Horse's hardcover series reprints Kubert's entire Tarzan work. Join us on these primal adventures, as Tarzan discovers the pleasures and perils of the African wilds... and the many dangers posed by both man and beast! Joe Kubert's Tarzan, Volume One, reprints issues #207 through #214 of the 1970s run, featuring "Origin of the Ape Man" (a bold adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' first Tarzan novel), "Jungle Tales of Tarzan," and other stories inspired by Burroughs' books - all written and drawn by the legendary Joe Kubert!

Marvel Visionaries: Chris Claremont


Chris Claremont - 2005
    In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Chris Claremont's first X-Men story, the House of Ideas presents a timeless testament to another true Marvel visionary! Best known for ushering the X-Men from reprints to blockbuster franchise, Claremont has steered Marvel's mutants for three decades while working alongside some of comicdom's top artists.Collects Daredevil #102, Marvel Premiere #11, Iron Fist #14, Uncanny X-Men #137, 153, 205, 268, Uncanny X-Men Annual #12, Wolverine #3, New Mutants #21, Classic X-Men #12, Excalibur #16, X-Men Unlimited #36, and Avengers Annual #10.

Fantastic Four Visionaries: George Pérez, Vol. 1


George Pérez - 2005
    Fantastic in...the Frightful Four? Also featuring the Incredible Hulk, Luke Cage, the High Evolutionary, and costumed characters never seen before or since! Collects Fantastic Four #164-167, #170, #176-178, #184-186.

Malinky Robot: Bicycle


Sonny Liew - 2005
    They eat fast food and talk about computer games, Mr. Bon Bon and other things beneath the sun. "Bicycle" is the follow-up to the Xeric-winning "Stinky Fish Blues." Also included is the story "Dead Soul's Day Out." This book is a digest-sized comic with a mix of color and black-and-white pages

Kane Volume 5: Untouchable Rico Costas and Other Stories


Paul Grist - 2005
    His fellow police officers give Kane a welcome-back gift: a couple of bullets with his name on them. Rico Costas is only a two-bit villain, but he's managed to make himself the target of The Blind Man, a legendary hitman who tracks down his victims by listening to their heartbeats. The only safe place for Rico now is inside the cells of the 39th Precinct of New Eden. Only problem is, Rico's got a court order preventing the police from coming within six feet of him!

The Wedding of Cathy and Irving: A Cathy Collection


Cathy Guisewite - 2005
    It's the end of an era-or was it?"—USA Today  "YES."   Rarely has one word, one positive response, resonated so loudly from the world's comic pages. But when leading lady Cathy finally took the plunge—after nearly 30 interminable years!—and accepted boyfriend Irving's marriage proposal, the occasion certainly deserved notice among Cathy fans around the globe.The Wedding of Cathy and Irving captures all the fun, magic, and—yes—the nerve-racking overanalyzing that filled the Cathy strips leading up to the big decision and the big day itself. This collection features some of the couple's most memorable moments from throughout their long relationship, but the spotlight shines most on the year that included the unexpected "ring find," the proposal, the "YES," and the frenetic wedding plans that Cathy and Mom both endure and perpetuate.  The longest courtship in cartoon page history came to an end on February 5, 2005. But as The Wedding of Cathy and Irving shows, nothing is quite that simple in Cathy's world. Whether she's pondering pastor possibilities or worrying wedding dress selections to death, Cathy is unequalled in capturing the conundrums of modern women everywhere. It's all Cathy, through and through.

GrimJack: Killer Instinct


John Ostrander - 2005
    His friends at Cadre have hired a beautiful vampire assassin to take him out. How does GrimJack save his neck -- and who winds up in possession of Munden's Bar, the nexus of all realities?

Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan


Tom Field - 2005
    Featuring rare childhood drawings, photos, recently-discovered wartime illustrations, and original art and sketches from throughout his nearly 60-year career, this book offers new insight on the inspirations, challenges, and successes that shaped Gene 'the Dean' Colan. Among the highlights are: A comprehensive overview of Gene's glory days at Marvel Comics! Marv Wolfman, Don McGregor and other favorite writers share plot/script samples and anecotes of their Colan collaborations! Tom Palmer, Steve Leialoha, and other noted artists show how they approached the daunting task of inking Colan's famously nuanced penciled pages! Plus: a new portfolio of never-before-seen collaborations between Gene and such masters as John Byrne, Michael Kaluta, and George Perez, and all-new artwork created specifically for this book by Gene Colan, who is still inspired by the Secrets in the Shadows.

So You're Going to Be a Grandma!: A for Better or for Worse (R) Book


Lynn Johnston - 2005
    It is the perfect keepsake for any expectant grandmother.It is hard to know who looks forward to a new baby more, an expectant parent or an expectant grandmother. From the time the announcement is made, a grandma-to-be may be full of questions: "Aren't I too young for this? Or maybe too old? What will they call me? Will they need me, or resent my 'help'? Can I really do this?So You're Going to Be a Grandma! offers the perfect reassurance in the form of a delightful poem that covers all the doubts and questions, joys and successes as a new grandma proves to be a godsend to her new grandchild and its parents: "Baby weeps and so does mother, Daddy isn't far behind, Both so nervous and exhausted This is where a grandma shines. Readers of For Better or For Worse will recognize new Grandma Elly as well as her son, Mike, and his wife, Deanna, and appreciate the inclusion of families of various ethnicities in these heartwarming drawings. So You're Going to Be a Grandma! perfectly celebrates the universal love of a grandchild.

Ultraman Tiga Volume 2: Past Sins, Present Dangers


Tony Wong - 2005
    Ages 13+ ck and karate-chop his way into the hearts of fans around the world.

Kane Volume 4: Thirty Ninth


Paul Grist - 2005
    following a six-month suspension in the wake of shooting and killing his partner, his fellow police officers gave him a welcome back gift: a couple of bullets with his name on them. Now, a sniper is taking pot shots at the police. An ex-cop is looking to take revenge on the cop who turned him in. There's rioting in the streets and the Mayor's been kidnapped again. It's another typical week for the police in New Eden's Precinct 39!