NBM Review Round-Up!
January 14, 2013 by Stefan Blitz
Here we are, back again, with some recent reviews of various NBM titles.
Faster Than A Speeding Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel
“A a perfect book for anyone trying to wrap her or his head around the field of comics, a quick and smart overview of the field that spans both decades and genres. Whether you’re developing a syllabus, improving your library’s collection, or just trying to get a better sense of the field and the good stuff you might have missed, Rise is well worth a read, and worth keeping around afterwards for reference.”
“If the cartoon images of birds and bears–and the addition of the word “magical” to the book’s front cover–give the impression that Abelard is a children’s fantasy, be assured that it isn’t. Think of it more as an anthropomorphic piece of magical realism in the manner of Joanne Harris’ Chocolat, a reflection on hope and dreams that may surprise you by just how affecting it is.”
“(Abelard) starts off feeling somewhat quaint and unassuming, and by the time you realize where it is heading, it is far too late to stem the tide of heartache that the book makes you feel…A book very much worth your time and money. This is a high-quality piece of work.”
Philosophy – A Discovery in Comics by Margreet de Heer
”Congenial, bare-bones introduction to Western philosophy…this shrewd, engaging graphic primer is very ingratiating.”
Lover’s Lane: The Hall-Mills Mystery
One of Robot 6′s favorite comics of 2012!
“I love a good mystery, I love history, and I love Rick Geary’s quasi-documentary style of presenting historical mysteries.”
“A really weird graphic novel.”
Adapting Shakespeare for Comics
January 13, 2013 by Eric Hobbs
Animation
January 12, 2013 by Margreet de Heer
The New Year already brought exciting new plans, prospects and projects – including the intended publication of my next book at NBM in September: ‘Science: a Discovery in Science’. This calls for a new wave of Promotion when the time comes, and this time we’ll include some YouTube videos about the book. I could just video myself, but this seems a great opportunity to make an animation.
I’ve been wanting to learn animation but never got the time and besides, it’s my brother’s expertise. I have two brothers and we equally divided the Visual Media: Paul does documentary, Maarten does animation and I do comics. We never really ventured onto each others territory, but now I’m planning to. And who knows, maybe my brothers will start making graphic novels now.
I’m way at the beginning of this project, and this is the first thing I drew:
Now I just need to get it moving.
About ten years ago, I did a little bit of animation when I learned how to make animated GIFs – now an almost obsolete format but I hope it still runs on this blog. This is what I made:
It was for a site called animationbattle.com, and the characters getting their ass kicked were made by other animators – I even think two of them were made by my brothers. I don’t remember who “won” the animationbattle, but I definitely plan on making my comeback now!
What’s Next?
January 6, 2013 by Eric Hobbs
Happy New Year!
December 22, 2012 by Margreet de Heer
This time we celebrate the New Year before Christmas!
Happy Holidays to everyone!
NBM Review Round-Up!
December 20, 2012 by Stefan Blitz
It’s not too late to get some of our fantastic books to give away as holiday gifts (or buy one or two for yourself, you deserve it!).
Here’s what the critics are saying about some of our recent titles.
“A beautifully crafted piece of storytelling from Hautiére that tugs mercilessly at the heartstrings but doesn’t ever fall into sentimental or sickly sweet. If anything, by the end, we’re assaulted by the brutality of the story. And Dillies’ artwork is quite beautiful, his charming characters almost deliberately at odds with some of the themes and actions of the tale, yet never feeling wrong. His stylised colours perfectly suited to detailing all the wonders, all the misery, all the dreams Abelard finds along his journey.”
– The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log
“
A poignant, droll, and heartbreaking “funny animals” tale for grown-ups, with breathtaking art.”
– Karen Green – Boing Boing Annual “Return of the Best Damn Comics of the Year” List
Faster Than A Speeding Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel
“A wonderful primer for both educators who need to familiarize themselves with the medium as well as those who have been reading comics faithfully for 50+ years. Like the best of historians, Mr. Weiner manages to logically connect seemingly disparate ideas and occurrences into one cohesive story, fitting a lot of important notes into one place, and he never belabors any of them. His timeline, (always important to a comic fan and reader!) is impeccable and brilliantly concise.”
“Stargazing Dog is a beautiful, poignant work on love and death and I dare you to not to cry while reading it.”
Taxes, The Tea Party and Those Revolting Rebels
“Stan Mack uses succinct language, humor, and clean and energetic black and white cartoons to turn a complex history into an accessible story…A completely unique and accessible way of learning history.”
Congratulations Dara and Brent on your Kickstarter success: still time to get cool stuff!
December 20, 2012 by Terry
The Persia Blues project on Kickstarter has already surpassed its goal and there’s still a few hours to go. Congratulations to Dara Naraghi and Brent Bowman on reaching their goal and as for you, you can still chip in and get some really cool stuff such as signed copies, Persian recipes, or signed original sketches and art pages. Check it out!
And retailers: there’s a couple of packages for you that include them coming over for a signing + original art and copies of the book.
We look forward to publishing this series!
Our 800# is back.
December 19, 2012 by NBM
You can now once again reach us for orders at 800 886 1223 during normal business hours. Dates for when our normal service will resume have been pushed back on both internet (to Jan 4) and phones (Jan. 14)…
However, as noted before, it is possible to reach us at 212 643 5408 on a limited basis.
How we’ve been surviving all this is close to unbelievable, honestly.
Immoderation, that’s NBM in February
December 17, 2012 by NBM
Being solicited for now at your comics shop and coming in February:
IMMODERATION
A Chad Michael Ward Goth trilogy
Autopsyrotica, Devil Engine, Black Rust
A specially priced banded set of 3 of cult phenom Chad Michael Ward fantasy and conceptual art books – a collection of images that fit together in a morbid jigsaw puzzle of wires, women and man-beasts to form a symbolic cyberotic tale of love, redemption and death. Tim Bradstreet calls it “the sum of gothic eroticism.” Will appeal strongly to fans of Ashley Wood and Brom.
9×12, 256pp., full color trade pbs, set of 3, $49.99, ISBN 9781561637270
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Meanwhile, over at PAPERCUTZ:
A CHARMING NEW SERIES FROM EUROPE!
Ariol #1: “Just a Donkey Like You and Me”
Emmanuel Guibert, writer
Marc Boutavant, artist
Brand new series from multiple award-winning author Emmanuel Guibert (The Photographer) and renowned illustrator Marc Boutavant! Ariol is your everyday tween donkey with blue glasses. He lives in the suburbs with his mom and dad. His best friend is a pig. He’s in love with a beautiful cow in his class. His teacher is a dog. His gym teacher is a huge rooster. In short, Ariol is just like you and me. Kids will love the real humor around their lives on this one as they have in many other countries!
6 1/2 x 7 3/4, 124pp., full-color paperback with flaps: 12.99
ISBN: 978-1-59707-399-8
LEGO Ninjago #6
Greg Farshtey, writer
Jolyon Yates, artist
Jay, Cole, Zane, Kai, and Sensei Wu star in the latest exciting adventure from the world of LEGO Ninjago, introducing a whole new menacing world soon to be in toy stores that is so hush-hush we can’t say anything about it yet!
6 x 9, 64pp., full-color paperback: $6.99
ISBN: 9781597073783
6 x 9, 64pp., full-color hardcover: $10.99
ISBN: 9781597073790
The Smurfs #14: “The Baby Smurf”
Peyo, writer
Peyo, artist
“Cartooning’s craftsmanship at its height.” — THE COMICS JOURNAL
Baby Smurf arrives in the village! But for how long? On a quiet night in their village, a stork visits the Smurfs and leaves a Baby Smurf on one of their doorsteps. But the next day, the stork returns– the Baby Smurf was delivered by accident and must be returned! As soon as they go to fetch the baby for the stork, they find it’s gone! Where did the Baby Smurf go? And will the Smurfs really have to return it?
6 1/2 x 9, 56pp., full-color paperback: $5.99
ISBN: 9781597073813
6 1/2 x 9, 56pp., full-color hardcover: $10.99
ISBN: 978-1-59707-382-0
A Holiday card from us…
December 13, 2012 by NBM
