Thursday, October 31, 2013

Comics News Bites

What's in the mainstream press going on about comics these days?

Trick or Treat 5

Our fifth annual Happy Halloween Ten of a Kind! (With a shout-out to everyone's favorite Little Stuffed Bull)

The Adventures of Little Archie #101
Boof and the Bruise Crew #1
GOld Digger Halloween Special #3
Halloween Eve

Herobear and the Kid 2013 Annual #1
Little Dot #156
Murder Can Be Fun #11
Sabrina #24
Sugar & Spike #37
Young Justice #3

(Trick or Treat 1 is here!) 
(Trick or Treat 2 is here!)  
(Trick or Treat 3 is here!) 
(Trick or Treat 4 is here!)

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover!


Hellblazer #84


John Constantine has a monkey on his back—a beer-swilling, cigarette-smoking monkey—on John Eder's cover for Hellblazer #84 (1994).


Cover courtesy of the GCD. Click on the image for a larger version.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Amazon cinquante premiers

Astérix chez les Pictes
As a bonus, here are the Top 50 Bandes dessinées on Amazon.fr Friday afternoon:

1. Astérix chez les Pictes - 35
2. Les Légendaires, Tome 16 : L'éternité ne dure qu'un temps
3. XIII Mystery, tome 6 : Billy Stockton
4. Blake & Mortimer Tome 22 l'Onde Septimus
5. Astérix chez les Pictes - 35 (Kindle)
6. Les Forêts d'Opale, Tome 8 : Les Hordes de la nuit
7. Le Chat, Tome 18 : La bible selon le chat
8. Astérix - Asterix chez les pictes - nº35 - Version luxe
9. Astérix - L'anniversaire d'Astérix et Obélix - n°34
10. Kriss de Valnor - tome 4 - Alliances
11. Antarès épisode 5
12. Blacksad, Tome 5 : Amarillo *
13. Astérix - La rentrée gauloise - n°32
14. Le bleu est une couleur chaude
15. Croisade - tome 7 - Le maître des sables
16. Les Tuniques Bleues - tome 57 - Colorado Story
17. Aquablue, Tome 14 : Standard-Island
18. Les Guerrières de Troy, Tome 2 : L'Or des profondeurs
19. Treize, Tome 22 : Retour à Greenfalls *
20. Astérix - Comment Obélix est tombé dans la marmite quand il était petit
21. Thorgal : Kah-Aniel
22. Les Nombrils - tome 6 - Un été trop mortel
23. Astérix - Le ciel lui tombe sur la tête - n°33
24. Les Naufragés d'Ythaq, Tome 11 : L'Haleine de l'Ogre
25. L'almanach 2014 des Grosses Têtes
26. Les aigles de Rome, tome 4 : Livre IV *
27. Seuls, Tome 8 : Les arênes *
28. Insiders Genesis, Tome 3 : Miami's fever
29. Forever, Bitch
30. Buck Danny, Tome 53 : Cobra noir *
31. Astérix - Le tour de Gaule d'Astérix - n°5
32. Transperceneige : Intégrale
33. 150 idées pour emmerder le monde
34. Elfes, Tome 4 : L'Élu des semi-Elfes
35. La dynastie Donald Duck, Tome 12 : Un sou dans le trou et autres histoires
36. Astérix - Astérix et les goths - n°3
37. Le Pape terrible, Tome 3 : La Pernicieuse Vertu
38. Namibia - tome 4 - Namibia (4/5) (Kenya saison 2)
39. UNIVERSAL War Two tome 1 : le temps du désert
40. Sillage, Tome 16 : Liés par le sang
41. Alix senator, Tome 2 : Le dernier pharaon
42. Astérix - La serpe d'Or - n°2
43. Walking Dead, Tome 18 : Lucille
44. Les Pompiers, Tome 13 : Feu de tout bois
45. Blake & Mortimer, tome 21 : Le serment des cinq lords
46. Brightest day, Tome 3 : Le retour des héros
47. Astérix - Astérix en corse - n°20
48. The Boys, Tome 19 : On ne prend plus de gants
49. Valérian - tome 22 - Souvenirs de Futurs (22)
50. American Vampire, Tome 4 : Course contre la mort


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

Commentary
  • I had a meeting today with a Faculty member in the French language department who teaches a 200-level class on BDs, which led me to trolling around on Amazon.fr looking for French language comics to add to the library's collection. Seeing as it's Friday when I traditionally compile the Amazon Top 50 comics chart for this blog, I decided to take a look at what is selling in France these days...
  • Astérix watch: It should be no surprise that the top seller is the new Astérix volume, Astérix chez les Pictes, which is also #1 on the overall Livres chart as well. All three versions (hardcover, Kindle, and Deluxe) are int eh top 10, and there are eleven Astérix volumes overall in the top 50.
  • What may surprise you is that the latest volume of Les Légendaires, number 2 on the BD chart, is #3 overall. In fact, the overall Livres bestsellers chart is full of BDs among other 'regular' books. If you ever needed a demonstration that comics are mainstream in France, here you go!
  • The top American comic on the BD chart is a collection of Carl Barks' Donald Duck at #35. Other American comics making the top 50 chart are collections of The Walking Dead, Brightest Day, The Boys, and American Vampire.

Amazon Top 50

Hyperbole and a Half
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (+1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback) *
2 (+1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
3 (-1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War *
4 (-). Your New Job Title Is Accomplice: A Dilbert Book (Kindle)
5 (+42). Hyperbole and a Half (hardcover) *
6 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
7 (N). Asterix and the Picts: Album #35 *
8 (+2). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
9 (-4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
10 (+9). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52) *
11 (-5). Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants
12 (+6). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 3 *
13 (-5). The Walking Dead, Book 9
14 (-2). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
15 (-2). The Joker: Death of the Family (The New 52)
16 (-7). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
17 (-3). Vader's Little Princess
18 (-7). Darth Vader and Son
19 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After
20 (N). Off the Leash: The Secret Life of Dogs
21 (+3). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
22 (+15). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
23 (-8). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
24 (+4). Stephen King's N. (Kindle)
25 (R). Blue Is the Warmest Color
26 (-4). Saga Volume 2
27 (-2). Saga Volume 1
28 (-11). Batman: The Court of Owls Mask and Book Set (The New 52)
29 (-9). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 (Kindle)
30 (-4). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
31 (R). I Am Pusheen the Cat *
32 (-11). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
33 (-2). Watchmen
34 (-11). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
35 (N). Blue Is the Warmest Color (Kindle)
36 (-7). Big Nate: I Smell a Pop Quiz! (Kindle)
37 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 2
38 (+3). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
39 (R). Marvel Encyclopedia
40 (R). Asterix Omnibus 1
41 (R). Hyperbole and a Half (Kindle) *
42 (+7). Attack on Titan 1
43 (N). Hellboy: The Midnight Circus *
44 (-10). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
45 (N). Asterix chez les Pictes (No. 35) (French Edition)
46 (-1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something To Fear
47 (-17). The Walking Dead, Book 1
48 (R). Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm
49 (-9). Justice League, Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (The New 52)
50 (R). The Complete Peanuts 1987-1990 Gift Box Set


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:
  • No surprise the Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half remains at the top of the list this week. The hardcover edition jumps up into the top five, and the Kindle edition re-appears on the chart as well.
  • Dead Watch: Eight Walking Dead titles on the chart this week. That's down two from last week, but it's also two of the top three, three of the top ten, and five of the top twenty.
  • The top debut this week is Asterix and the Picts, the English language translation of what is almost sure to be the biggest selling title world-wide this year. The French langauge edition also debuts on the chart, which is the first time to my knowledge that a French language publication has made the top fifty chart.
  • In other translated-from-the-French BD news, Blue Is the Warmest Color returns to the chart this week, and the Kindle edition debuts as well. Demand is no doubt driven by the movie based on it being released. Yeah, that's a NC-17-rated art house flick driving comic sales...
  • Also debuting this week are the Webcomic compilation Off the Leash: The Secret Life of Dogs, and the OGN Hellboy: The Midnight Circus.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Amazon Top 50

Hyperbole and a Half
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday afternoon. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (+1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback) *
2 (+1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War *
3 (+1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
4 (+1). Your New Job Title Is Accomplice: A Dilbert Book (Kindle)
5 (+5). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
6 (-5). Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants
7 (+9). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
8 (-1). The Walking Dead, Book 9
9 (+3). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
10 (-2). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
11 (-5). Darth Vader and Son
12 (+11). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
13 (+32). The Joker: Death of the Family (The New 52)
14 (-5). Vader's Little Princess
15 (+6). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
16 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After
17 (-2). Batman: The Court of Owls Mask and Book Set (The New 52)
18 (+10). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 3 *
19 (-2). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52) *
20 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 (Kindle)
21 (+6). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
22 (-11). Saga Volume 2
23 (+19). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
24 (+1). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
25 (+4). Saga Volume 1
26 (-2). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
27 (N). Monster Musume Vol. 1
28 (+4). Stephen King's N. (Kindle)
29 (-11). Big Nate: I Smell a Pop Quiz! (Kindle)
30 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 1
31 (+8). Watchmen
32 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
33 (+7). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 2
34 (R). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
35 (R). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile (Kindle)
36 (-10). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (hardcover)
37 (-3). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
38 (+9). Batman: Year One
39 (+10). Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 1: Gifted (Kindle)
40 (-20). Justice League, Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (The New 52)
41 (-6). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
42 (-12). Cat Versus Human (Kindle)
43 (R). Justice League, Vol. 2: The Villain's Journey (The New 52)
44 (-7). The Walking Dead #115 (Kindle)
45 (-2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something To Fear
46 (R). Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero
47 (R). Hyperbole and a Half (hardcover) *
48 (-). The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes
49 (-30). Attack on Titan 1
50 (-). Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 4: Welcome to the Team


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:
  • After a week at #2, Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half returns to the top spot this week.
  • Dead Watch: The number of Walking Dead titles on the chart this weeks actually drops from fourteen to ten, but four of those are in the top ten and two are in the top three.
  • The only debut this week is the first volume of the harem manga Monster Musume.
  • Kindle Watch: There are eight Kindle editions on the chart this week, down one from last week.
  • I'm not sure why there's a sudden interest in the first volume of Fables; both the paperback and Kindle editions make the chart this week.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Amazon Top 50

Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (+1). Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants
2 (-1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback) *
3 (+1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War *
4 (+5). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
5 (-2). Your New Job Title Is Accomplice: A Dilbert Book (Kindle)
6 (+7). Darth Vader and Son
7 (-1). The Walking Dead, Book 9
8 (-1). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
9 (-1). Vader's Little Princess
10 (+4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
11 (+7). Saga Volume 2
12 (+31). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
13 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After
14 (-9). The Sandman: Overture #1 (Kindle) *
15 (-5). Batman: The Court of Owls Mask and Book Set (The New 52)
16 (-5). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
17 (+16). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52) *
18 (+12). Big Nate: I Smell a Pop Quiz! (Kindle)
19 (-). Attack on Titan 1
20 (-4). Justice League, Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (The New 52) *
21 (+4). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
22 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 (Kindle)
23 (R). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
24 (-3). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
25 (-2). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
26 (R). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (hardcover)
27 (-3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
28 (-6). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 3 *
29 (-9). Saga Volume 1
30 (+8). Cat Versus Human (Kindle)
31 (-5). My Dog: The Paradox
32 (N). Stephen King's N. (Kindle)
33 (N). All-New X-Men, Vol. 3: Out of Their Depth
34 (+1). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
35 (R). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
36 (+6). The Complete Persepolis
37 (N). The Walking Dead #115 (Kindle)
38 (-6). Attack on Titan 2
39 (-8). Watchmen
40 (+6). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 2
41 (N). The Complete Peanuts 1987-1990 Gift Box Set
42 (R). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
43 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something To Fear
44 (R). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (Kindle) *
45 (N). The Joker: Death of the Family (The New 52)
46 (-17). Attack on Titan 7
47 (+3). Batman: Year One
48 (R). The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes
49 (-10). Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 1: Gifted (Kindle)
50 (N). Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 4: Welcome to the Team


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:
  • Over the past week at least five different titles were in the top position at one point. But at the time that this snapshot was taken, it is Matthew Inman's Why Grizzly Bars... that is sitting in the #1 position. 
  • Dead Watch: Four Walking Dead collections in the top 10, and fourteen titles overall on the top fifty chart, including a rare appearance of one of the single issues in Kindle form (#115, which apparently is the 10th anniversary issue). We must be close to the debut of the new television season!
  • The top debut this week is the sale-priced Kindle edition of Stephen King's N. Also debuting this week are the 3rd collection of All-New X-Men, the latest Peanuts box set, a hardcover collection of the "Death of the Family" Batman crossover, and the latest Buffy Season 9 collection.
  • Kindle Watch: There are nine Kindle editions on the chart this week, down three from last week.

Friday, October 04, 2013

Amazon Top 50

Hyperbole and a Half
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (+1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback) *
2 (-1). Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants
3 (N). Your New Job Title Is Accomplice: A Dilbert Book (Kindle)
4 (+5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War *
5 (N). The Sandman: Overture #1 (Kindle) *
6 (-3). The Walking Dead, Book 9
7 (-3). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
8 (-1). Vader's Little Princess
9 (+6). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
10 (+39). Batman: The Court of Owls Mask and Book Set (The New 52) *
11 (+7). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
12 (+28). Hyperbole and a Half (hardcover) *
13 (-5). Darth Vader and Son
14 (+7). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
15 (+14). The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After
16 (+6). Justice League, Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (The New 52) *
17 (N). The Sandman: Overture #2 (Kindle) *
18 (-4). Saga Volume 2
19 (+12). Attack on Titan 1
20 (-8). Saga Volume 1
21 (-11). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
22 (-9). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 3 *
23 (-18). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
24 (-1). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
25 (-8). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
26 (+18). My Dog: The Paradox
27 (N). Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants (Kindle)
28 (N). Avengers: Endless Wartime
29 (-9). Attack on Titan 7
30 (-6). Big Nate: I Smell a Pop Quiz! (Kindle)
31 (-1). Watchmen
32 (+11). Attack on Titan 2
33 (-17). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52) *
34 (-28). Injustice: Gods Among Us #36 (Kindle)
35 (-24). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
36 (N). Bleach, Vol. 58
37 (N). Rosario+Vampire: Season II, Vol. 12
38 (N). Cat Versus Human (Kindle)
39 (N). Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 1: Gifted (Kindle)
40 (N). Forever Evil (2013- ) #2 (Kindle)
41 (R). Hyperbole and a Half (Kindle) *
42 (-10). The Complete Persepolis
43 (-15). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
44 (N). Attack on Titan 3
45 (N). Spider-Man: Big Time (Kindle)
46 (-20). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 2
47 (-12). Attack on Titan 6
48 (R). If You Loved Me You'd Think This Was Cute (Kindle)
49 (N). Black Hole
50 (-25). Batman: Year One


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:
  • Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half slips back up into the top slot. It's currently #34 on the overall Amazon book chart. The hardcover and Kindle editions also make appearances on the chart this week. Matthew Inman's Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants is close behind at #49 on the overall Amazon chart.
  • The top debut this week is Your New Job Title Is Accomplice, the Kindle edition of a Dilbert collection, which leads the way in a batch of several sale-priced Kindle editions on the chart this week, including Cat Versus Human; Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 1: Gifted; and Spider-Man: Big Time.
  • But the big news this week is the fact that the pre-orders for the Kindle editions of the first two issues of Sandman: Overture debut on the chart this week, despite the first issue not being due out until the end of the month (and the second issue not until December!) If this early interest is any indication, the new Sandman series is going to be huge.
  • Manga Watch: There are seven manga volumes on the chart this week, more than we've seen in quite a while, with new volumes of Bleach and Rosario+Vampire joining several volumes of the increasingly popular Attack on Titan.
  • Rounding out the new titles this week are the OGN Avengers: Endless Wartime; the second Kindle issue of DC's Forever Evil crossover; and the collection of Charles Burns's Black Hole.
  • Dead Watch: Earlier in the week the top two slots on the chart were taken up by Walking Dead collections. But despite their slippage to the #4 & #6 slots as of Friday morning, WD still has three collections in the top ten and five in the top fifteen.
  • Kindle Watch: There are twelve kindle editions on the chart this week, up a whopping nine from last week.