Dave's Dozen: Collections/GNs

Concluding my look through the February Previews (for items supposedly shipping in April), here are a baker's dozen collections and graphic novels that I feel are worth your attention:


X-Men and Power Pack: The Power of X Digest
(Marvel, $6.99, p. M87)
Really, at only sveen bucks, there's just no excuse for you not giving this a go. Unless you just don't like fun, well-drawn, all-ages super-hero comics. The first digest is available for reorder too, so you can double your Pack for just $7 more.


Eden: It's an Endless World! vol. 3
(Dark Horse, $12.95, p. 40)
The first volume was a pleasant surprise: an intelligent science fiction manga with good art and an intriguing story. This series should appeal to those of you who enjoyed Planetes or Akira, even though it is a different sort of story than those.


Y: The Last Man, vol. 7 – Paper Dolls
(DC/Vertigo, $14.99, p. 123)
Another quality speculative fiction series, available in reading-size chunks with no ads for crappy rock bands. Plus, we get to check in on what's been going on with Ampersand the monkey, and monkeys always make comics better.


The Tourist
(Image, $9.99, p. 146)
Originally scheduled to come out from Ait/PlanetLAR, this OGN from Brian Wood and Toby Cypress finally makes an appearance under the Image banner. Action, drama, and cool drawings of oil rigs.


Lost in Space: Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul
(Bubblehead, $37.95, p. 242)
IIRC, this more adult take on LiS by Bill Mumy and Michal Dutkiewicz only saw six of its planned twelve issues come out before Innovation folded way back when. So despite the hefty price I'm anxious to see the conclusion after all these years.


Shades of Gray Comics & Stories
(Century Comics, $24.95, p. 244)
Jimmy Gownley cut his comics teeth on this self-published comic about teenagers in outer suburbia. It was a bit rough at times, especially the earlier issues, but it was very earnest and heartfelt, and rang true to those of us who grew up in such an environment.


A Patch of Dreams
(Fanfare/Ponent Mon, $22.99, p. 278)
I know next to nothing about this comic by Hideji Oda, but with F/PM's track record I have faith that it'll be good.


The Complete Peanuts, vol. 5: 1959-1960
(Fantagraphics, $28.95, p. 278)
The comprehensive Peanuts collections reach the end of the first decade, and I'm in it for the long haul. This features the debut of such long-time Peanuts themes as Lucy's Psychiatric booth, The Great Pumpkin, and sally, plus one of the most famous Peanuts strips ever.


Adventures in Oz
(IDW, $39.99, p. 292)
Finally, all of Eric Shanower's original OZ albums get collected into one place. Shanower manages to capture the magic of Baum's original stories in lush graphic narrative. Not to be missed.


Little Star
(Oni Press, $19.95, p. 306)
For those of us who were wating for the trade on Andi Watson's latest, here it is. I haven't read it yet, but it's gotten good reviews so I'll be picking it up.


Kat & Mouse, vol. 1
(TokyoPop, $5.99, p. 329)
Alex de Campi & Federica Manfredi team up for an OEL manga about myserty solving boarding school girls. Aimed at tweens, but I'm young at heart!


Kings in Disguise
(W. W. Norton, $16.95, p. 361)
I've heard a lot of good things about this classic series set in Detroit during the Great Depression, but I've never been able to read it, until now.


The Cartoon Guide to (Non) Communication
(Harper-Collins, $16.95, p. 379)
This classic by Larry Gonick is probably my favorite out of everything he's done, and it's a must read for anyone involved in Web work and the information professions. I'm very happy to see this book back in print.



Yeah, that's a baker's dozen. Deal with it.

That concludes Dave's Dozen for this month (previously I covered mainstream comics and indy comics). Come back next month for 36 (or 37 or 38...) picks.