Digital Comics Picks of the Week for July 31, 2014

It occurred to me today that I could use Pinterest boards to put together collections of comics on comiXology. It's been a long time since I've put together Picks of the Week, but this seems like a new way to to so.

So here's the link to my Pinterest board of Digital Comics Picks of the Week for July 31, 2014.

Highlights include Drama & Smile by Reina Telgemeier, Sandman Overture #3, Hawkeye #19, and Howard the Duck #1. Follow Dave's board Digital Comics Picks of the Week for July 31, 2014 on Pinterest.

Amazon Top 50 - July 25, 2014

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 (R). Batman: The Complete Hush (Kindle)
2 (R). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Kindle)
3 (R). Batman: The Long Halloween (Kindle)
4 (R). Batman: The Killing Joke (Kindle)
5 (R). Batman: Year One (Kindle)
6 (N). Batman: The Black Mirror (Kindle)
7 (N). Batman: Arkham Asylum (Kindle)
8 (-7). Seconds: A Graphic Novel
9 (N). Batman: Batman and Son (Kindle)
10 (R). Batman: Earth One (Kindle)
11 (R). Batman: Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (Kindle)
12 (-10). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2 *
13 (-5). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
14 (-7). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
15 (-). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
16 (+4). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
17 (N). Injustice Year Two #16 (Kindle)
18 (+5). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel
19 (-14). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
20 (-8). Saga Volume 1
21 (-3). Goodnight Darth Vader
22 (-9). Saga Volume 3
23 (R). Hyperbole and a Half (Kindle)
24 (N). Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years
25 (-15). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan *
26 (-23). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
27 (-21). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
28 (-3). Watchmen
29 (+13). Batman: Year One
30 (-21). Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
31 (+3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
32 (-15). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
33 (-22). Darth Vader and Son
34 (N). The Strain Volume 1 (Kindle)
35 (N). Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye (Kindle)
36 (-14). Saga Volume 2
37 (N). Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 2: A Dame to Kill (Kindle)
38 (-12). Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book One
30 (-10). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
40 (-9). The Complete Persepolis
41 (-9). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
42 (N). Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 3: The Big Fat Kill (Kindle)
43 (-8). The Harlem Hellfighters
44 (R). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (Kindle)
45 (N). Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 4: That Yellow Bastard (Kindle)
46 (-19). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
47 (R). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (Kindle)
48 (-9). Marvel Encyclopedia
49 (N). Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 7: Hell and Back (Kindle)
50 (N). Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 5: Family Values (Kindle)


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:

• On Wednesday ("Batman Day"—the officially designated 75th Anniversary of Batman) Amazon offered several Batman graphic novels and collections on the Kindle at the sale from of $2.99. This led those collections to zoom to the top of the Comics & Graphic Novel chart where they've stayed, even though the sale is now over. (Amazon was giving away Kindle copies of Batman Eternal #1; it's our policy to not include free items on these chart summaries, so even though it is technically at the top of hte chart this week we are excluding it here.)
• On sale right now are the Kindle editions of Frank Miller's Sin City at $2.99. Six of the seven volumes debut on the chart this week (and volume 6—Booze, Broads & Bullets—would have been #51). 
• Also on sale right now on the Kindle is the first volume of The Strain, which debuts on the chart this week (helped also no doubt by the new TV series).
• The only print debut this week is Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years.
• Seconds fans don't worry, the book is still selling well and is #46 on the overall Amazon book chart this week.

Link Bait: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Premiere Red Carpet Photos

Last night was the premiere of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy in Hollywood. Disney sent along a bunch photos from the red carpet, so far be it from me to not share them with you!

This is Bradley Cooper, who is the voice of Rocket in the movie. He is a movie star; you can tell he is a movie star because he is cool enough to show up to a movie premiere in a black leather jacket and unshaven. If you are a movie star you need not wear a tie if you don't want to.

This is Bradley Cooper's watch. I'm not sure why it was important to have a photo of Bradley Cooper's watch, but we have one. Is it an expensive watch? I do not know anything about watches.

This is Glenn Close, a real movie star. She has Oscar nominations. She plays Nova Prime in this movie. Roll that around in your head: Glenn Close is Nova Prime. First Marvel got Robert Redford in Captain America, now Glenn Close in Guardians of the Galaxy. How does Marvel do it?

This is Chris Pratt, who is Star-Lord Peter Quill in the movie. Note that he is wearing a tie (his mother raised him properly).

This is Chris Pratt's watch. Are men's watch pictures a thing now?

Chris Pratt is married to actress Anna Faris, star of TV's Mom. They make a cute couple, yes?

Here is Anna Faris alone. The photographer should have noticed that there's a gun growing out of her right shoulder...

This is Zoe Saldana, who stars as Gamora. She is painted up green in the movie, and from the trailers it looks like she gets to kick plenty of butt. She was blue in Avatar.

This is Nathan Fillion, who apparently has a cameo in the movie. He is not wearing a tie, but at least he has on a sport coat.

This is Karen Gillen. She plays Nebula in the movie, a role for which she shaved her head bald (as you can see, her hair is growing back...)

This is Vin Diesel, who voices Groot in the movie. Also not wearing a tie, but he could break me in two without breaking a sweat, so I'll let it slide.

This is Lee Pace, who plays the main bad guy in the movie, Ronan the Accuser. He was one of the stars of Pushing Daisies, one of the best television shows ever. He is wearing a tie.

This is Emily Osment. She is not in the movie, but is the star of the new ABC Family sitcom Young & Hungry, and was on Hannah Montana for many years. Disney sent a lot of photos of people from the premiere who I don't think are in the movie, and who I don't recognize. They should send along a cheat sheet with the photos for those of us who are celebrity challenged.

Like I have no idea who these people are. But it looks like this kid's mom took him to the Guardians of the Galaxy movie premiere, so she probably gets the Mother of the Week Award!

Elizabeth Henstridge, Ming-Na Wen, and Chloe Bennet, three of the stars of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Glenn Close looks like she is very apprehensive about meeting Bradley Cooper. Does she not realize that he is a Movie Star, like she is? But then, she has Oscar nominations, and he does not. Mr. Cooper, you are not allowed to put your hand on Ms. Close's shoulder until you have at least two Oscar nominations!

Lee Pace and Zoe Saldana look far happier to be in each other's company. As we saw from the earlier picture, Mr. Pace is wearing a tie so Ms. Saldana knows that he is an actor at a movie premiere and not a random ruffian accosting her before the premiere.

Amazon Top 50 - July 18, 2014

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 (+5). Seconds: A Graphic Novel
2 (-1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2 *
3 (+9). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
4 (N). Injustice Year Two #15 (Kindle)
5 (-3). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (+2). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
7 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
8 (-1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
9 (-5). Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
10 (+11). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan *
11 (+2). Darth Vader and Son
12 (-2). Saga Volume 1
13 (-2). Saga Volume 3
14 (-9). Injustice Year Two #14 (Kindle)
15 (+1). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
16 (+3). Vader's Little Princess
17 (+7). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
18 (+19). Goodnight Darth Vader *
19 (-10). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
20 (-3). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
21 (N). Seconds: A Graphic Novel (Kindle)
22 (-). Saga Volume 2
23 (-3). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel
24 (N). The Death of Archie: A Life Celebrated *
25 (+9). Watchmen
26 (-3). Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book One
27 (+12). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
28 (R). American Born Chinese
29 (+12). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
30 (R). Snowpiercer, vol. 1: The Escape
31 (+19). The Complete Persepolis
32 (-3). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
33 (-6). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile (Kindle)
34 (+2). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
35 (-10). The Harlem Hellfighters
36 (-18). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War
37 (-9). Rat Queens Volume 1: Sass & Sorcery
38 (N). Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2
39 (-1). Marvel Encyclopedia
40 (+9). Sex Criminals Volume 1
41 (-9). Big Damn Sin City
42 (+6). Batman: Year One
43 (-13). Attack on Titan 1
44 (+2). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
45 (-). V for Vendetta
46 (R). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
47 (-32). Injustice Year Two #13 (Kindle)
48 (-5). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (hardcover)
49 (N). Nightwing Vol. 4: Second City (The New 52)
50 (R). Star Wars: Jedi Academy


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:

• Another new #1 this week, as Seconds, Brian Lee O'Malley's highly anticipated follow-up to Scott Pilgrim, was released. It is presently #17 on the overall Amazon books chart. The Kindle edition also charts at #21.
• The top debut this week is the new issue of Injustice. The hardcover collection of volume 2 of Injustice also debuts. Other debuts are the Death of Archie collection and the latest Nightwing collection.
• A quick shout-out to Rat Queens, which is hanging around on the chart without the benefit of any outside-of-comics media presence, along with fellow Image comics Saga and Sex Criminals.

Amazon Top 50 - July 11, 2014

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 (+6). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2 *
2 (+11). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
3 (-1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
4 (+2). Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
5 (N). Injustice Year Two #14 (Kindle)
6 (+11). Seconds: A Graphic Novel *
7 (-3). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
8 (+4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
9 (+17). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
10 (-5). Saga Volume 1
11 (-3). Saga Volume 3
12 (-1). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
13 (-4). Darth Vader and Son
14 (R). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
15 (-12). Injustice Year Two #13 (Kindle)
16 (+2). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
17 (-2). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
18 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War
19 (-3). Vader's Little Princess
20 (-1). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel
21 (+2). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan *
22 (-2). Saga Volume 2
23 (R). Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book One
24 (+11). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
25 (-24). The Harlem Hellfighters
26 (-16). Hyperbole and a Half (Kindle)
27 (R). Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile (Kindle)
28 (+14). Rat Queens Volume 1: Sass & Sorcery
29 (+2). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
30 (-5). Attack on Titan 1
31 (-17). Naruto, Vol. 66
32 (N). Big Damn Sin City
33 (-1). Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm
34 (-2). Watchmen
35 (R). Calvin and Hobbes
36 (-15). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
37 (-8). Goodnight Darth Vader *
38 (+1). Marvel Encyclopedia
39 (-1). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
40 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After
41 (-4). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
42 (R). The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances *
43 (R). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (hardcover)
44 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
45 (+3). V for Vendetta
46 (R). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
47 (R). The Essential Calvin and Hobbes
48 (-12). Batman: Year One
49 (-15). Sex Criminals Volume 1
50 (-9). The Complete Persepolis


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:

• With the release of volume 21 of The Walking Dead just a little over a couple of weeks away, it moves into the top slot and brings a bunch of previous volumes up into its halo.
• I'm really not sure why a bunch of Fables volumes jumped up onto the chart this week. A search of Google News shows that the 'season finale' of The Wolf Among Us, a Fables-based video game, came out this week, so maybe that's it?
• The top debut this week is the new digital issue of Injustice Year Two. It has moved back to a weekly schedule, so expect to see a new issue in the top ten every week until it finishes.
• The only other debut this week is Big Damn Sin City, the omnibus collection of Frank Miller's noir comic (with a movie out in August).

Amazon Top 50 - July 4, 2014

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 (R). The Harlem Hellfighters
2 (+3). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
3 (N). Injustice Year Two #13 (Kindle)
4 (+2). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
5 (+8). Saga Volume 1
6 (-2). Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
7 (-). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2 *
8 (+3). Saga Volume 3
9 (-1). Darth Vader and Son
10 (+5). Hyperbole and a Half (Kindle)
11 (+1). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
12 (+9). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
13 (+5). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
14 (N). Naruto, Vol. 66
15 (-1). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
16 (-7). Vader's Little Princess
17 (R). Seconds: A Graphic Novel *
18 (-1). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
19 (+3). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel
20 (-4). Saga Volume 2
21 (-1). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
22 (-12) Injustice Year Two #12 (Kindle)
23 (+7). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan *
24 (R). Attack on Titan 3
25 (+2). Attack on Titan 1
26 (-7). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
27 (N). Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2
28 (+5). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (Kindle)
29 (R). Goodnight Darth Vader *
30 (+1). Attack on Titan 2
31 (+12). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
32 (-7). Watchmen
33 (N). Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2 (Kindle)
34 (-). Sex Criminals Volume 1
35 (-11). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
36 (-7). Batman: Year One
37 (+8). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
38 (+9). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
39 (-16). Marvel Encyclopedia
40 (R). Attack on Titan 4
41 (-3). The Complete Persepolis
42 (R). Rat Queens Volume 1: Sass & Sorcery
43 (+6). Snowpiercer, vol. 1: The Escape
44 (R). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel (Kindle)
45 (-4). Attack on Titan 9
46 (R). Attack on Titan 10
47 (N). Snowpiercer, vol. 2: The Explorers
48 (-6). V for Vendetta
49 (-23). Attack on Titan: No Regrets 1
50 (R). Pretty Deadly Volume 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:

• Another week, another new #1: The Harlem Hellfighters, which in the past has floated around in all different parts of the top 50, suddenly returns to the chart in the #1 position. Usually when a book that has been out for a while exhibits a sudden surge of interest a Google News search can explain why, but all I can turn up is that earlier in the week a Website called Flavorwire chose it as one of their "10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2014 So Far."
• It's a good week for Injustice: The new Kindle issue debuts at #3, and the second collected volume debuts in both hardcover and Kindle formats.
• The other debuts this week are the new volume of Naruto and the second volume of Snowpiercer.
• Seconds, the new Bryan O'Malley graphic novel, returns; still in pre-order, it's due out in just a couple of weeks and I expect to see it hop right up to the top of the chart.