The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil


Stephen Collins - 2013
    By which we mean: orderly, neat, contained and, moreover, beardless.Or at least it is until one famous day, when Dave, bald but for a single hair, finds himself assailed by a terrifying, unstoppable... monster*!Where did it come from? How should the islanders deal with it? And what, most importantly, are they going to do with Dave?The first book from a new leading light of UK comics, The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is an off-beat fable worthy of Roald Dahl. It is about life, death and the meaning of beards.(*We mean a gigantic beard, basically.)

Northlanders, Vol. 1: Sven the Returned


Brian Wood - 2008
    See why Entertainment Weekly calls it "a well-reserched, richly realized world that illuminates politics and culture without getting bogged down in history-book stuff."

The Fox and the Star


Coralie Bickford-Smith - 2015
    Illuminated by Star’s rays, Fox forages for food, runs with the rabbits, and dances in the rain—until Star suddenly goes out and life changes, leaving Fox huddling for warmth in the unfamiliar dark. To find his missing Star, Fox must embark on a wondrous journey beyond the world he knows—a journey lit by courage, newfound friends, and just maybe, a star-filled new sky. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and the art of William Blake, The Fox and the Star is a heartwarming, hopeful tale which comes alive through Bickford-Smith’s beloved illustrations, guiding readers both young and grown to “look up beyond your ears.”

Grendel Omnibus, Vol. 1: Hunter Rose


Matt WagnerMike Huddleston - 2012
    Matt Wagner's masterpiece celebrates its thirtieth anniversary with the first-ever comprehensive collection of the complete Grendelsaga! The first of four volumes presenting the entire series and following the chronology of the stories, this edition introduces millionaire Hunter Rose and his alter ego, the criminal mastermind Grendel!Volume 1 reprints Grendel: Devil by the Deed; the short story collections Grendel: Black, White, & Red and Grendel: Red, White, & Black, featuring a host of legendary guest artists; and the epic Grendel: Behold the Devil.

Superman (1987-2006) #1


John Byrne - 2013
    Superman’s first adventure following the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS mega-event just may be his last as he comes face-to-face with Metallo, the Man with the Kryptonite Heart!

Slothilda: Living the Sloth Life


Dante Fabiero - 2018
    Though Slothilda's sluggish ways might occasionally hold her back, it turns out her perceived deficits are actually her greatest attributes.Slothilda gives us permission to feel unashamed about our slothy tendencies and emphasizes the importance of celebrating our authentic selves.From former Simpsons animator Dante Fabiero comes this all-too-real comic series about an adorable little sloth who's driven by her desire for self-improvement. Slothilda explores an inner conflict we can all relate to–the desire to succeed and grow, while paradoxically dealing with the ever-present temptation to sloth.With hilarious themes related to work, fitness, food, shopping, and pets, this book shows that you're not the only sloth at heart.

Big Questions


Anders Nilsen - 2011
    This beautiful minimalist story, collected here for the first time, is the culmination of ten years and more than six hundred pages of work that details the metaphysical quandaries of the occupants of an endless plain, existing somewhere between a dream and a Russian steppe. A downed plane is thought to be a bird and the unexploded bomb that came from it is mistaken for a giant egg by the group of birds whose lives the story follows. The indifferent, stranded pilot is of great interest to the birds—some doggedly seek his approval, while others do quite the opposite, leading to tensions in the group. Nilsen seamlessly moves from humor to heartbreak. His distinctive, detailed line work is paired with plentiful white space and large, often frameless panels, conveying an ineffable sense of vulnerability and openness.Big Questions has roots in classic fables—the birds and snakes have more to say than their human counterparts, and there are hints of the hero’s journey, but here the easy moral that closes most fables is left open and ambiguous. Rather than lending its world meaning, Nilsen’s parable lets the questions wander where they will.

X-Men: Fall of the Mutants Omnibus


Chris ClaremontJohn Romita Jr. - 2011
    The New Mutants lose one of their own! And after the Marauders slaughter the Morlocks, they take on the X-Men! Collecting: New Mutants (1983) #55-61, Uncanny X-Men #220-227, X-Factor (1986) #19-26, Captain America (1968) #339, Daredevil (1964) #252, Fantastic Four (1961) #312, Incredible Hulk (1968) #340, Power Pack (1984) #35

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Relics


J. Torres - 2013
    This Free Comic Book Day story is an excellent excellent entry point to this wonderfully charming and imaginative world!Aang, Katara, and Sokka head to the North Pole, hoping to find a Waterbending teacher for Aang. On the way, they stop by a town to buy supplies, and Aang discovers that other Airbenders might live nearby! But he's not the only one looking for lost Airbenders in these mountains. The Fire Nation is hunting them too.

Tokyo on Foot: Travels in the City's Most Colorful Neighborhoods


Florent Chavouet - 2009
    Each day he would set forth, with a pouch full of colored pencils and a sketchpad, to visit different neighborhoods. This stunning book records the city that he got to know during his adventures, a gritty, vibrant place, full of ordinary people going about their daily lives. Realistically rendered city views or posters of pop stars contrast with cartoon sketches of iconic objects or droll vignettes, like a housewife walking her pet pig and a Godzilla statue in a local park.With wit, a playful sense of humor, and the colored pencils of his kit, Florent Chavouet sets aside the question of urban ugliness or beauty and captures the Japanese essence of a great city.

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia


Greg Rucka - 2002
    When Wonder Woman partakes in an ancient ritual called the Hiketeia, she is honor bound to eternally protect and care for a young girl named Danielle Wellys. But when the Amazon Princess learns that Danielle has killed the drug dealers who murdered her sister, she suddenly finds herself in battle with Batman, who is searching for the female fugitive. Caught in a no-win situation, Wonder Woman must choose between breaking a sacred oath and turning her back on justice.

Star Wars: The Bounty Hunters


Andy Mangels - 2000
    Many carry a hefty price on their heads, whether put there by criminal overlords like Jabba the Hutt or by the iron fist of the Galactic Empire. And where bounties are offered, bounty hunters will be there to claim them: the stealthy and merciless Aurra Sing; the fierce and relentless Bossk; the sly and mercenary Dengar; the calculating and precise 4-LOM; the audacious and deadly Kenix Kil; and the most feared manhunter of them all...Boba Fett! Four tales of life on the run created by a small army of comics luminaries, The Bounty Hunters is a must-read for Star Wars fans, predator and prey alike! Includes the popular — and hard to find — Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction.

Be Wild Be Free


Amber Fossey - 2020
    Looking at life through the eyes of Sloth, Bear, Koala, and even Blob Fish, these animals tell the stories of the raw beauty of life on our planet, encouraging us to let go of fear, stick our fingers/paws up at societal pressure, and love ourselves and one another with abandon.

The Escapists


Brian K. VaughanDan Jackson - 2007
    Tells the tale of three aspiring comics creators with big dreams, small cash, and publishing rights to one forgotten Golden Age hero - The Escapist.

Epicurus: The Sage


William Messner-Loebs - 1991
    When Epicurus travels to Athens to open his own school of philosophy, he is quickly chastised because of his liberal beliefs. Engaging Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates in public debates, Epicurus effortlessly exposes the absurdity of their arguments but still walks away humiliated. However when a goddess appears and taxes Epicurus and his companion, a young Alexander the Great, to save her daughter from the Underworld, the revolutionary sage uses his powers of logic and meditation to fulfill his impossible task.