Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday Night Fights: Captain America vs. Bank Robber



from Avengers Classic #4 (2007). Art by Michael Avon Oeming. Story by Dwayne McDuffie.

Who has Feet of Fury? Cap!

(click pic for larger)

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
2 (-). The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb
3 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
4 (+1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
5 (-1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid
6 (-). The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
7 (N). Tales from the Crypt #8: Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid
8 (-1). Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
9 (-). Watchmen
10 (-2). Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5)
11 (+6). Dilbert: 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar
12 (-1). Bloom County Complete Library Volume 1
13 (+18). Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds HC
14 (+1). Masterpiece Comics
15 (+6). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
16 (N). Vampire Knight, Vol. 8 *
17 (+13). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
18 (+17). The Complete Peanuts 1971-1974 Box Set
19 (-5). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
20 (+13). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
21 (+1). Simon's Cat
22 (+2). Asterios Polyp
23 (N). Black Bird, Vol. 2 *
24 (-11). 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box: A Dilbert Book
25 (-2). Batman: The Killing Joke
26 (-10). V for Vendetta
27 (R). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
28 (-16). R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country
29 (-2). Jack of Fables Vol. 6: The Big Book of War
30 (-20). Stitches: A Memoir
31 (-11). The TOON Treasury of Classic Children's Comics
32 (+17). The Umbrella Academy: Dallas
33 (+14). B.P.R.D. Volume 11: The Black Goddess
34 (-5). The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
35 (-10). The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become
36 (-). Tumor Chapter 1 (kindle)
37 (R). Fables Vol. 12: The Dark Ages
38 (N). Negima!: Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 24
39 (-20). Mercy Thompson Homecoming
40 (N). Pride and Prejudice
41 (R). Hellboy Library Edition Volume 3: Conqueror Worm And Strange Places
42 (+4). Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2 *
43 (N). Scalped Vol. 5: High Lonesome
44 (R). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
45 (R). Batman: The Long Halloween
46 (-18). The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part 2: From the Bastille to Baghdad
47 (R). The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country
48 (-22). Naruto, Volume 46
49 (R). Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4)
50 (N). Fables Deluxe Edition Vol. 1

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:

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days slips a bit more down to #7 on the overall list, with R. Crumb's Genesis not much further away at #12; but with Genesis's first print now sold out, we might see it slip a good deal unless a second printing can be put out soon (buyers tend to shy away when Amazon says availability is '1 to 3 months').

* The highest debut, at #7, comes as a bit of a surprise; perhaps the Wimpy Kid parody cover is giving Tales from the Crypt #8 a push?

* Three manga debuts hit the chart this week. Other debuts are Marvel's Pride and Prejudice collection; the latest Scalped collection, and (squeaking in at #50) a Fables deluxe hardcover.

* I'm just as mystified by Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds shooting up the Amazon charts as you are.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Monkey Covers

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

A horde of red-eyed monkeys threatens on Les McClaine's cover to The Middleman #4 (2005).


Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
2 (+3). The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb
3 (-1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
4 (-1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid
5 (-1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
6 (+1). The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
7 (-1). Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
8 (-). Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5)
9 (+1). Watchmen
10 (+2). Stitches: A Memoir
11 (-2). Bloom County Complete Library Volume 1
12 (N). R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country
13 (+17). 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box: A Dilbert Book
14 (+12). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
15 (+29). Masterpiece Comics
16 (-). V for Vendetta
17 (+4). Dilbert: 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar
18 (+11). Absolute Death
19 (+1). Mercy Thompson Homecoming
20 (R). The TOON Treasury of Classic Children's Comics
21 (+17). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
22 (N). Simon's Cat
23 (+9). Batman: The Killing Joke
24 (-6). Asterios Polyp
25 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become
26 (-11). Naruto, Volume 46
27 (N). Jack of Fables Vol. 6: The Big Book of War
28 (-5). The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part 2: From the Bastille to Baghdad
29 (R). The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
30 (+3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
31 (N). Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds HC *
32 (+5). The Best American Comics 2009
33 (-6). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
34 (-6). Batman: Year One
35 (-21). The Complete Peanuts 1971-1974 Box Set
36 (-17). Tumor Chapter 1 (kindle)
37 (R). Astonishing X-Men Omnibus
38 (R) Parker: The Hunter
39 (N). The Wolverton Bible
40 (+7). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
41 (-6). Marvel Encyclopedia
42 (-11). The Complete Persepolis
43 (+5). The Arrival
44 (-2). The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz HC
45 (N). Captain America: Road to Reborn *
46 (N). Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2 *
47 (N). B.P.R.D. Volume 11: The Black Goddess *
48 (N). Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink': A Calvin and Hobbes Collection
49 (-9). The Umbrella Academy: Dallas
50 (-14). Stephen King's Dark Tower: Treachery


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:

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days fell to #4 on the overall bestsellers list (due in some part to the Amazon-Walmart book price war which is pushing some hardcovers down to just $9) but that's still plenty enough to keep it at #1 on the Comics & Grpahic Novels chart. The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb is at #16 on the overall chart, while the other Wimpy Kid volumes check in at #43, #51 & #64.

* Following on the heels of his Bible adaptation, R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country is the highest debut at #12. The Wolverton Bible pops in at #39, no doubt also riding the underground-cartoonist's-bible-adaptation zeitgeist.

* Simon's Cat, apparently a cartoon book based on a series of YouTube videos, debuts at #22; the latest Jack of Fables debuts at #27 & Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds debuts at #31. Four more collections peek in with debuts near the bottom of the list.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Monkey Covers

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

Stupor Duck defeats Gruesome Gorilla on Dave Alvarez & Mike DeCarlo's cover to Looney Tunes #170 (2009).

(Standard disclaimer about gorillas who can be beaten up by ducks not really being monkeys applies.)


Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
2 (+1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
3 (+3). Diary of a Wimpy Kid
4 (+1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
5 (+2). The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb *
6 (-4). Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
7 (-4). The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
8 (+1). Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5)
9 (-1). Bloom County Complete Library Volume 1 *
10 (-). Watchmen
11 (+23). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
12 (+18). Stitches: A Memoir
13 (+31). Hellboy Library Edition Volume 3: Conqueror Worm And Strange Places
14 (+13). The Complete Peanuts 1971-1974 Box Set
15 (+11). Naruto, Volume 46
16 (+32). V for Vendetta
17 (N). The Amazing Spider-Man Pop-Up: Marvel True Believers Retro Collection
18 (-1). Asterios Polyp
19 (-). Tumor Chapter 1 (kindle)
20 (-2). Mercy Thompson Homecoming
21 (+11). Dilbert: 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar
22 (-). The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become
23 (-). The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part 2: From the Bastille to Baghdad
24 (+7). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
25 (-9). Fables Vol. 12: The Dark Ages
26 (-13). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
27 (-2). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
28 (-13). Batman: Year One
29 (R). Absolute Death
30 (-19). 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box: A Dilbert Book *
31 (R). The Complete Persepolis
32 (-18). Batman: The Killing Joke
33 (-21). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
34 (+1). Berserk Volume 31 *
35 (-7). Marvel Encyclopedia
36 (R). Stephen King's Dark Tower: Treachery
37 (R). The Best American Comics 2009
38 (+2). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
39 (N). Tee Time in Berzerkistan: A Doonesbury Book *
40 (-3). The Umbrella Academy: Dallas
41 (N). The Complete Peanuts 1967-1970 Box Set
42 (+4). The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz HC
43 (N). Dog Style Volume 3
44 (-23). Masterpiece Comics
45 (R). Yotsuba&!, Vol. 6
46 (-8). Locke & Key: Head Games
47 (+3). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
48 (-7). The Arrival
49 (R). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
50 (-30). Bloom County: Complete Library Volume 2 *


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:

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is not just top on the Comics & Graphic Novels charts, it's also the #1 book overall on Amazon. It outsells Sarah Palin & Dan Brown & Stephen King (at the 2, 3, & 4 slots respectively). The Last Straw weighs in at #24 on the overall chart, the first volume is at #44, and Roderick Rules is at #50.

* What to make of the block of #11-16, all of which made huge jumps up the chart this week?

* The highest debut belongs to The Amazing Spider-Man Pop-Up, published by Candlewick. In fact, the only two entries on the top 50 that feature Marvel's super-heroes are published by entities other than Marvel (The Marvel Encyclopedia comes from DK Publishers). I suspect that Marvel's new corporate overlords will have something to say about this state of affairs...

* Other debuts this wee are a Doonesbury collection, an older Complete Peanuts Box Set, and the 3rd volume of Dog Style, which appears to be a Yaoi title.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Peter Kuper at MLibrary, October 29


An upcoming event here at the University of Michigan Library:

Peter Kuper: Revolutions and Art -- Comics and Political Art and their
Application through History

Ann Arbor, MI: October 29, 7-8:30pm
Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery
913 S. University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1205

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Monkey Covers

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

Why is it that when the gorillas attack old west towns, it's always the nattily-dressed cowboys who pay? So testifies the cover to Ranchserien #9 (1968).

(Standard disclaimer about saloon-climbing gorillas not really being monkeys applies.)


Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Friday Night Fights: Melaka Fray vs. Vampires




From Fray #7 (2003). Art by Karl Moline & Andy Owens. Color by Dave Stewart & Michelle Madsen. Story by Joss Whedon.

Who has Feet of Fury? Fray!

(click pix for larger)

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days *
2 (-). Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
3 (+4). The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
4 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
5 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
6 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid
7 (-4). The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb *
8 (+13). Bloom County Complete Library Volume 1 *
9 (-1). Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5) *
10 (-). Watchmen
11 (N). 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box: A Dilbert Book *
12 (+4). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
13 (-1). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
14 (-1). Batman: The Killing Joke
15 (+18). Batman: Year One
16 (+3). Fables Vol. 12: The Dark Ages
17 (-2). Asterios Polyp
18 (-9). Mercy Thompson Homecoming
19 (R). Tumor Chapter 1 (kindle)
20 (N). Bloom County: Complete Library Volume 2 *
21 (+20). Masterpiece Comics
22 (-4). The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become
23 (+19). The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part 2: From the Bastille to Baghdad
24 (R). Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4)
25 (-4). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
26 (-6). Naruto, Volume 46
27 (-16). The Complete Peanuts 1971-1974 Box Set
28 (+18). Marvel Encyclopedia *
29 (-2). Astonishing X-Men Omnibus *
30 (-16). Stitches: A Memoir
31 (-). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
32 (N). Dilbert: 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar
33 (+14). The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
34 (+9). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
35 (N). Berserk Volume 31 *
36 (+4). Bone: One Volume Edition
37 (N). The Umbrella Academy: Dallas
38 (+7). Locke & Key: Head Games
39 (-11). Batman: The Long Halloween
40 (-15). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
41 (R). The Arrival
42 (-7). Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, Volume 5
43 (R). Wolves at the Gate (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 3)
44 (N). Hellboy Library Edition Volume 3: Conqueror Worm And Strange Places
45 (R). Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless
46 (-20). The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz HC
47 (R). The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1)
48 (-10). V for Vendetta
49 (-19). Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? Deluxe Edition
50 (-33). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood


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:

* A big week for strip collections: The first Bloom County compilation hops up into the top ten, while the pre-order for the second comes in at position 20; And two new Dilbert items debut at #11 & #32, and the previous collection also sneaks back onto the list.

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is at #2 on the overall bestseller list, just behind Dan Brown and just ahead of Sarah Palin. (Where the Wild Things Are is at #10 on the overall list, but is not included on the Graphic Novel chart.)

* The Other debuts this week are the latest volume of Berserk, The Umbrella Academy: Dallas, and Hellboy Library Edition Volume 3.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Monkey Covers

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

Grodd unleashes against The Flash on the cover of Flash #193 (2003) by Scott Kolins.

(Standard disclaimer about super-intelligent gorillas not really being monkeys applies.)


Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Friday Night Fights: Batman vs. Ra's al Ghul's Goons



From DC Special Series vol. 2 no. 15 - Batman Spectacular (1978). Art by Michael Golden & Dick Giordano. Color by Cory Adams. Story by Denny O'Neil.

Who has Feet of Fury? Batman!

(click pic for larger)

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days *
2 (N). Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
3 (+2). The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb *
4 (-2). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
5 (-2). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
6 (-2). Diary of a Wimpy Kid
7 (-). The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks *
8 (+22). Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5) *
9 (-1). Mercy Thompson Homecoming
10 (-4). Watchmen
11 (+11). The Complete Peanuts 1971-1974 Box Set
12 (-3). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
13 (+4). Batman: The Killing Joke
14 (-). Stitches: A Memoir
15 (-). Asterios Polyp
16 (-). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
17 (-6). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
18 (-5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become
19 (+1). Fables Vol. 12: The Dark Ages
20 (N). Naruto, Volume 46 *
21 (-11). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
22 (+21). Bloom County Complete Library Volume 1 *
23 (-11). The Complete Persepolis
24 (N). Rosario+Vampire, Volume 9 *
25 (+1). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
26 (R). The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz HC
27 (N). Astonishing X-Men Omnibus *
28 (-5). Batman: The Long Halloween
29 (N). Ultimatum Premiere HC *
30 (-9). Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? Deluxe Edition
31 (-12). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
32 (-5). The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet, Book 2)
33 (-8). Batman: Year One
34 (-3). Angel, Volume 5: Aftermath
35 (N). Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, Volume 5 *
36 (N). The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology
37 (R). The Complete Peanuts, 1973-1974
38 (+6). V for Vendetta
39 (R). The Best American Comics 2009 *
40 (-3). Bone: One Volume Edition
41 (R). Masterpiece Comics
42 (-10). The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part 2: From the Bastille to Baghdad *
43 (-25). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
44 (-4). Stephen King's Dark Tower: Treachery
45 (-6). Locke & Key: Head Games
46 (R). The Marvel Encyclopedia *
47 (R). The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
48 (R). Batman: R.I.P.
49 (-15). Batman: Hush
50 (-4). Blankets


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:

* A huge debut this week for Logicomix, which jumps right up onto the charts at the #2 position; this is the biggest debut since I started tracking these rankings.

* Not to be outdone, the #1 title, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, hits #4 on the overall books bestsellers. (Logicomix weighs in at #48 on the overall list.)

* Four manga titles debut this week, including the newest Naruto volume at #20.

* Marvel place five titles this week in the bottom half of the list, including debuts for the Astonishing X-Men Omnibus and the Ultimatum collection; also, the new eidtion of the DK-published Marvel Encyclopedia enters the rankings as well. SO a relatively big week for Marvel.