“The pleasures of Uneasy Happiness are small ones: seeing a fine cartoonist articulate a feeling you’ve had yourself, watching him stumble through the confusing bits of life as we all do, occasionally vicariously living the life of a famous cartoonist through him. It’s likely to be far too quiet and contemplative for most habitual readers of North American comics — but, then, that’s only their loss.”

Andrew Wheeler on Little Nothings 3

“It’s White’s line that makes the story work.  His figures look like a cross between Bob Fingerman and Bryan Lee O’Malley, with oversized heads and big eyes on the men, and sexier features on the women.  There’s even a touch of Dan DeCarlo at work here in features like Rick’s nose.  The pale orange wash adds to the sickly quality of the story’s visuals, reinforcing that sense of deterioration. Cleverly-designed and executed work.  It doesn’t overstay its welcome in terms of length, it’s clearly told and darkly humorous. ”

Rob Clough, The Comics Journal on Things Undone.

Trondheim’s Little Nothings keeps rolling on on the web:

Rob Clough at The Comics Journal:

“I always found myself drawn to his autobiographical material the most.  He’s self-deprecating without being mawkish, introspective without navel-gazing and consistently funny. At this point, I hope Little Nothings runs forever.  It’s already my favorite diary comic of all time and certainly in the top 10-20 of all-time comics autobio.”

Michael Lorah at Newsarama:

“It’s just great art, perfectly suited for his deadpan delivery, yet sufficiently emotive to carry the most subtle emotion. 
Lewis Trondheim is one of the world’s most respected and acclaimed cartoonists.  Little Nothings remains his most personal work, a collection of observations and personal outlooks, self-effacingly and ironically  hilarious. So long as Trondheim continues creating work as strong as Uneasy Happiness, the comics world will be a bright place.”

Sasha Watson strikes again this time on the Slate site with a great piece on our Story of O and its background . The anonymous author’s ‘coming out’ in the New Yorker in 1994 brought forth some juicy details…

“What’s shocking about Story of O is just how shocking it really is. You’d think, in our pornified culture, that a novel scandalous in 1954 might appear quaint today. But no. Aury delivers the hard stuff straight on, and it’s just as potent now as it was back then.”

Greg Houston’s outrageous Vatican Hustle is primed on Baker’s Dozen where the 1st part of a fun interview is presented. Bill Baker says of the GN:

“Over the years, I’ve been lucky to have had that exciting first contact scenario repeat itself several times. Even better, I’ve often then been given the honor of introducing those fine new creators, folks with names like Brian Azzarello, Jim Rugg and Andy Runton, to a wider audience.

Well, I’m here today to introduce you to yet another monster talent, Greg Houston. His work is on display in The Vatican Hustle from NBM. It’s a graphic novel that is startling, brilliant and laugh out loud funny. It’s a book that acknowledges its influences boldly, even as it transforms them into a raucous, outrageous and bold style that is strangely familiar, yet totally original.”

For Nowak’s Graylight, after Booklist, now it’s Library Journal’s turn:

“Nowak’s dreamlike art has a romantic early Seventies feel with its swirling lines in sepia ink and pastel washes, but a manga touch keeps it fresh and contemporary. Panels are often superimposed, floating on the page like leaves on water and creating strong visual flow.
Verdict Although the story doesn’t quite measure up to the art, the lovely images make this worth a look. Teen and adult fans of shojo manga will likely enjoy this blend of romance and magic.”

Art News has a beautiful 2 page piece on this series written by Sasha Watson (”Vidalia in Paris”) just as the next Louvre co-edition, On the Odd Hours, ships from our warehouse:

“A young man with a Mohawk stands at the top of the Louvre’s grand staircase and strikes a gong, awakening the rebellious spirit in great works of art. François-Joseph Bosio’s sculpture of a ten-year-old Henri IV runs through a gallery. The Winged Victory of Samothrace explodes into flight.

A heavy-metal blur of collaged drawings, engravings, and digital images, Eric Liberge’s graphic novel On the Odd Hours presents the Louvre in an imaginative way.”

Here’s what’s being solicited for at comics shops now from NBM.
Boneyard comes to its conclusion, well, at least for a while:

BONEYARD, Vol. 7
Richard Moore
The final volume, at least for a long while as Moore takes an indefinite break. Michael Paris and Abbey are up against powerful rival armies in the land of Faeries. Michael look helplessly caught but Abbey raises one powerful army of her own! In this grand spectacular finale, even in the midst of action and suspense, Moore mixes his usual irresistible deadpan humor and magic characterization. Collects issues 25-28.
7×10, 96pp, B&W, trade pb., $10.99, ISBN 978-1-56163-583-2

see previews.

AND, of course don’t miss the previous six volumes, the 1st 4 of which are in color. Vol.1 is presently sold out but going back to press.

Meanwhile, back at Eurotica, two goodies coming in May:

Back to press, long unavailable!
BODY HEAT 1
Kevin TAYLOR
This collection brings the best stories Taylor has done all in one juicy volume! Includes stories with Girl, Boy Blue and Marty and many other goodies as well as a number of new ones as yet unseen!
8 1/2 x11, 80pp., B&W, color cover, trade pb.: $11.99,
ISBN 978-1-56163-246-6

Speaking of Taylor, his last chapter of Girl, The Second Coming has been serializing in:

SIZZLE #46
Kristina’s 3rd adventure continues along with Cornnell Clarke’s Peanut Butter, Kevin Taylor’s Girl and Omaha the Cat Dancer plus many more goodies.
81/2x 11, quarterly magazine, 64pp., B&W, $5.95

see previews in Eurotica, click on the Coming Up in May banner

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PAPERCUTZ, our sister co. in kids GN’s has a lot of BIONICLE:

MAKUTA’S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE
By Greg Farshtey
Featuring the only map of the BIONICLE Universe ever published, exclusive information, and the inside story from Makuta Teridax himself, “Makuta’s Guide to the Universe” is a great addition to any BIONICLE fan’s collection. As the BIONICLE saga prepares to begin a new chapter, followers of the
series can take a look back at the stories that have thrilled millions!
6 x 9, 96pp., full color paperback, $9.99 ISBN-13: 978-1-59707-203-8

MATA NUI’S GUIDE TO BARA MAGNA
By Greg Farshtey
“Mata Nui’s Guide to Bara Magna” takes BIONICLE fans on a journey of discovery through the villages of Bara Magna, its treacherous sea of sand, and its forbidding Black Spike Mountains. BIONICLE fans will get exclusive information on the Agori, Glatorian, bone hunters and Skrall, and get the inside story of events on this strange world in Mata Nui’s own words. A brand new adventure is about to begin!
6 x 9, 96pp., full color paperback, $9.99 ISBN-13: 978-1-59707-204-5

BIONICLE Vol. 9 “The Fall of Atero”
Greg Farshtey, writer, Pop Mhan, artist.
The BIONICLE Glatorian series begins in this graphic novel taking place on the world of Bara Magna, first introduced to fans in BIONICLE #8 “Legends of Bara Magna”. In this harsh world that contains both deserts and snowy, mountain-like terrain, Glatorian matches much like the gladiator matches of
ancient Rome are used to decide conflicts between rival tribes. The world is overrun by the dangerous Skrall, who decimate everything in their path. Fans of the series will be delighted by the return of Mata Nui, the most powerful hero in the BIONICLE Universe, in a form never before seen. In a world with rules and enemies unlike any of the planets seen in previous BIONICLE graphic novels, “The Fall of Atero” launches an all-new dynamic already a hit with fans.
5 x 7 ½, 96pp, full color paperback, $8.99 ISBN-13: 978-1-59707-193-2

And the last Hardy Boys before a complete revamp this fall!

THE HARDY BOYS  vol. 20 “Deadly Strategy”
By Scott Lobdell. Paulo Henrique, artist.
When A.T.A.C. (American Teens Against Crime) agents across the country are all suddenly pulled into strange and bizarre cases, it’s up to special operatives Joe and Frank Hardy to find out exactly what is going on! But this won’t be easy – whoever is behind these seemingly unrelated cases is throwing A.T.A.C. into chaos. And just to complicate matters further, it appears everyone Joe and Frank, the Undercover Brothers, have encountered in the past are somehow involved! Characters from previous graphic novels such as Lindsay Ryder, the Sisters Noir, Dennis Hogan and many more are all back
in the wildest Hardy Boys case ever!
5 x 7 1/2, 96 pages, full-color Paperback, $8.99,  ISBN-13: 978-1-59707-182-6

Order all of these from your comics store today or you can pre-order from us here.

“A giant in French comics, Trondheim  has always been a marvelous observer of the extraordinary little moments in everyday existence. All rendered in the simple but expressive and versatile style that has always been one of his greatest strengths.
Verdict: Recommended for those who appreciate low-key but charming autobiographical comics.”

 Library Journal

“Trondheim’s third collection of musings on his personal life maintains its predecessors’ high caliber of narrative and art.  All of which entails swimming with sharks, coping with giant spiders, obsessing about consumerism while engaging in gadget lust, watching the family cat prey on a bird, and lots more equally engaging and ironic adventures.”

Booklist

“For connoisseurs of serious literature and film as well as graphic novels.”
says Booklist of Naomi Nowak’s new Graylight.

Lewis Trondheim’s newest entry in his comics blog collection of Little Nothings (vol.3: Uneasy Happiness) gets these words from Tom Spurgeon of The Comics Reporter:

“It’s one of the few series that vaults to the head of the reading pile whenever it shows up in the mailbox. For whatever reason, Trondheim’s diary comics play to a number of things I nearly always find enjoyable in comics: an acerbic and idiosyncratic world view, pretty pictures, frequent gags, places I’ve never visited, comics industry backstage anecdotes made real. It’s smart and well-executed, and I always laugh despite myself at least once — in this volume it was the punchline to the strip about how cool it might be to be a caveman.
We don’t really have anything else like this comic right now, not in North America, not someone this talented working this particular territory with such reliable clarity.”

Now, if only he would review our other books… mumblmumbl.

“The Year of Loving Dangerously is just the second book I’ve read of Ted Rall’s, the first being his account of his travels along the Silk Road in Silk Road to Ruin. I quite enjoyed the latter, how he combined his memories of the trip with accurate descriptions of the people and political climes of the countries he visited along the Silk Road. This book didn’t disappoint, either. A graphic memoir that presents this one particular year, a year of many hardships to Ted Rall, realistically and often humorously, it shows what a person can do if he or she doesn’t give up when faced with a seemingly insurmountable roadblock. Though Rall considered suicide at one point in the book, he fortunately toughed it out and carried on. This story gives hope to us all.”

So says Curled Up with a Good Book

The next one, from Andrew Wheeler, is more nuanced:

“Rall’s story of the summer of 1984 is worthy of a graphic novel.” He starts to say but: “It does have a tendency to come across as bragging. But Rall’s dialogue and narration keep the story flowing, and Callejo (artist of Bluesman) draws a lot of very attractive women in and out of bed with the young Ted Rall. I still have the feeling that Rall is telling this story in a very slanted way — that he’s very carefully chosen how to present this time in his life to make himself look as glamorous and positive as possible — but it’s a very readable graphic memoir that will make all men close to Rall’s age either remember their own youth fondly or wish fervently that they’d been more “active” back in the day.”
The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.

And there have been some much more scathing reviews of late on that note of Rall just showing off, including Rob Clough on The Comics Journal’s site where the art was also criticized which surprises us:

“A book that was all over the place: frequently entertaining, often baffling and contradicting itself at any number of turns.  If only it had been Rall’s own hand depicting these events, then this messiness might have held a greater appeal.”

 Most love the art but some just can’t get into the more realistic style Callejo chose, apparently. Also, interesting that all women who reviewed this, and there were many, didn’t see Rall as bragging, in fact they admired his survival skills!