Mark Beyer was breathing delirious, heartbreaking, otherworldly life into it by means of Amy and Jordan. Obviously, you weren’t reading New York Press. But I sure was. Voraciously. Back in 1989, when I discovered that Beyer’s strips were appearing regularly in this new “alternative weekly” paper, I quickly became hooked, and a thought seized me: I had to clip and save them–they were exquisite poems of urban despair, dreamy and nightmarish. I was already a fan of Beyer’s talent based on his book Agony (Pantheon, 1988), but these new strips revealed, week by week, a whole new dimension to his work–an ingenious reinvention of panel-design that redefined what a comic strip could be. As with Peanuts, it helps to try and picture these in the context which they first appeared in order to appreciate just how profoundly they emerged from anything else on the newspaper page. Even the “outré” NYP ads and listings which often ran alongside them were hopelessly dull by comparison. One of its most impressive aspects was the way Form served the Content–no matter how eccentric the layout got, it somehow never confused the narrative. And what narrative: it was as if Candide had been transported to the East Village and split in two like an amoeba and holed up in a squat on Avenue C. Along with giant bugs from outer space. So I did clip and save them, and put them into an envelope, which was then placed in a shoebox with a lot of other envelopes (receipts, receipts!), which was shoved to the back of the closet of my sixth-floor walk-up studio apartment, which I moved out of three years later and in the process I unwittingly threw them all away. Which frankly is just the sort of thing that Amy and Jordan would do. Drat. “Oh well,” I thought, once I’d realized it, “at some point someone will collect and publish them, and I’ll get them back that way.” And that was that. Fast forward more than ten years, to the spring of 2002. During a panel of cartoonists I was chairing in Philadelphia, a member of the audience asked what Mark was working on and where he was. No one seemed to know. The discussion was transcribed and published in The Comics Journal that summer, and in the fall Mark contacted me with the best possible news: He’d read the panel transcript and wanted to publish again. And the Amy and Jordan strips had never been comprehensively collected. So now, as an editor, I was able to grant my own wish. Amy and Jordan ran from 1988 through early 1996. After that, Beyer put cartooning aside to pursue other projects. This book signals his return to the realm of comics, which he says he wants to start making again. We can only hope he does. For now, I’m just thankful I finally have my Amy and Jordan collection back. –Chip Kidd, NYC, 10/03

    while re-inspiring yourself!" - Rick "Shaq" Goldstein, author of 669 reviews for Amazon "Novosel's autobiographical narrative of self-determination inspires and delights, in large part because it isn't a lofty tale of grandiose achievement but a humble one; he merely wants, and earns, a chance to show what he's got." - Publisher's Weekly Based on actual events, FIELDHOUSE is a story of embracing adversity through challenges, teamwork, perseverance, grit, determination, and a positive attitude! Fieldhouse follows Scotty Novosel on his journey to play basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. What he lacks in size he makes up for in heart, but countless obstacles and a devastating setback push his dream further and further out of reach... With incredible persistence, positive energy, and help from a cast of endearing characters, Scotty discovers just what it takes to transform vision into reality! In March 1995, Scott Novosel started for the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 8 Championship game. For the next 20 years, through endless determination and a mantra of never giving up, Scott completed the all ages graphic novel FIELDHOUSE with the help of the Eisner Award nominated artist Sam Sharpe. Together the duo produced an instant classic! The story of the making of the book was featured on Sports Illustrated. Find out why parents, teachers, librarians, parents, and grandparents are declaring FIELDHOUSE a "MUST READ!"

    The right-hand man to the god of Thunder. And now, a warrior without his best weapon. Beta Ray Bill is tired of playing second fiddle to Thor – and with Bill’s famous hammer, Stormbreaker, recently destroyed at the new All-Father’s hands, tensions are higher than ever. The Korbinite must strike out in search of a new weapon…and a new destiny. Assuming he can first defeat a Knullified Fin Fang Foom! Writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Murder Falcon) and colorist Mike Spicer take Beta Ray Bill on a journey beyond the shadow of a god! Plus: This oversize first issue contains an exclusive conversation between Johnson and Beta Ray Bill’s creator, the legendary Walter Simonson!

    You’ve got it! As a teacher in ‘School Rules’. That’s not all. Teachers rule in our It Happened to Me, Spotlight and Great Tinkle Circus segments. The IHTM compiles the Tinkle Team’s favourite memories of their teachers. Spotlight has us in a tête-à-tête with college principal, Dr. Beena Punjabi. As for the GTC, it is filled with dedications from students to teachers!This month, we also have Ajay, Dental Diaries, Kalia the Crow and Shikari Shambu giving Suppandi company. Ajay and Neeti tackle a new adventure in ‘Underground Secret’. Not to be left behind, Billy sets out to rescue his mother but ends up in a trap! Read all about it in ‘New Dangers’. Meanwhile, how do the animals of Big Baan fare in a football match? Find out in the concluding part of Kalia the Crow’s ‘Let’s Play a Game’. Talking about animals, Shikari Shambu has a tough time confronting ‘Feline Problems’. And if that’s not enough we also have two delightful tales in ‘The Prankster’ and ‘Age No Bar’. Enjoy!

    Angry Birds, the world's favorite mobile game franchise, is now the world's favorite digital comic! This issue's featured story, "Propiganda" by Jeff Parker and César Ferioli is sure to slingshot it's way into your heart!

    Are you a fan of Minecraft? Do you enjoy the Minecraft Diary series? Then you'll love this collection of funny Minecraft jokes and memes.

    Thai translation rights in Thailand by SIAM INTER COMICS"อิตโต้ นักเตะเลือดกังฟู ภาค 2 เล่ม 21"

    In the most gentle way the Great Teacher conveyed simple messages – treat your friends with respect, gluttony brings unhappiness, expect rewards only if righteous, be selfless in your devotion – axioms often forgotten in the hurly burly of daily life.

    Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott have scoured their archives for the very best of the Baby Blues school--and education-related strips to include in this retrospective. From sack lunches to show-and-tell, this hilarious collection of Baby Blues strips will earn high marks from loyal readers everywhere.

    Their adventures ring alarmingly true to parents of little ones, too. From doing projects in a cloud of glue and glitter to their nonstop chatter to trying to comprehend a completely incomprehensible world, Thompson's characters make Cul de Sac a must-read.

    Creator Lynn Johnston's commentary adds a behind-the-scenes element, as she describes some of her thoughts about the strip over the years.Author's web site: http://fbofw.com/

    His story opens with a boxing match which has a nasty ending for the up-and-coming boxer, despite his victory. It's not long before we discover that Rock is not only striving to make it in the boxing world, but is also something of a mathematical genius, which is how he met his best friend, TJ. For the first time in all their years of friendship, TJ introduces Rock to a girlfriend, the lovely Anne. Anne and Rock soon establish a bond of trust when Rock discovers that Anne too is living a double life, even though Anne's secret is not exactly what she leads Rock to believe. This is just the beginning of the tangled web of lies and deception that gets ever more convoluted as the series goes on...

    It is a strange opportunity: the parish is brand new, and set up by the community itself, who have built themselves a church modelled on St Peter's Basilica.The vicar is surprised and delighted by the enthusiastic welcome she receives. The church is full day after day, and the parishioners compete for her attention. Not many are interested in discussing spiritual matters however, and as she gets to know them, the vicar becomes aware of a split in the community; a terrible secret that is not spoken of, but which plagues the island, pitting neighbour against neighbour.She hears whispers of a missing young girl whose parents died in a mysterious blaze, of secret abortions, and of a fearsome ghost.Vicar Woman is a strange and discomforting story, and a brilliant new work from one of the most original artists on the Cape graphic novel list.

    With the enemy pushing inexorably forward, he knows the Horde must turn its attention to more vulnerable prey, and he'll use every atrocity and deception at his disposal to bring the high council around to his way of thinking.A prequel to the original Gears of War, written by Kurtis J. Wiebe (Rat Queens) with art by Max Dunbar (Dungeons & Dragons). See how it all began as Queen Myrrah's deadliest servant steers the course of history to bring about Emergence Day and the attack on humanans, setting in motion the events of the game!

    CHILL as Lady Deadpool and Headpool try to find the root cause of their majorly abusive frenemieship. Then THRILL as Kidpool and Dogpool embark on a 100-ton mechanized joy ride and and uhm...GET ILL as Dogpool makes a brand-new archenemy. Then it's 'Two Mutants and a Baby' in the untold story of how Cable escaped from Alaska with Hope. Wait -- You don't think Cable did that alone, did you? PLUS: Deadpool struggles to find the perfect way to honor his pal Cable.