NBM Blog » Treasury of XXth Century Murder

Our Coming Up section is… up!

NBM — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:52:51 +0000

We’ve just updated our Coming Up section all the way to what’s shipping in June.

Check it out!

Includes Craig Russell’s new volume 5 of the Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde after many a year hiatus…. and Geary’s next Treasury of XXth Century Murder, besides a bunch of new sets, AND a thick art book on PEYO done for a gallery presentation in Europe we’re importing!

“it is not often a graphic novel can bring me to tears”

NBM — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:11:32 +0000

2 reviews on Stargazing Dog:

“It’s not often a graphic novel can bring me to tears. “Stargazing Dog,” by Takashi Murakami, did just that.

There is something positive to take from this. I admit I found the first part so emotionally wrenching that it took me two weeks to force myself to read the second part. But afterward the story kept bubbling up in my thoughts, demanding that I think about it, learn something from it.

And as America suffers its own economic doldrums, “Stargazing Dog” has a lot to teach.”

Capt. Comics Andrew Smith of Scripps Howard News Service.

“It’s bittersweet, but I appreciated that it didn’t take the easy way out. It’s hard to keep from finding yourself entranced by Happie [the dog] as he goes from good to bad situation but still has that upbeat canine spirit.”

says Read About Comics

“Lewis Trondheim is one of the greatest living cartoonists. It’s not even an argument. His work is immediately accessible, profoundly universal, and deeply hilarious. When he makes you laugh (and he will), it’s not just a sight-gag or well-observed human foible. It’s that you are so invested in his character and his world that it’s as if you are laughing at yourself, because in a way, you are. I can’t think of anyone in comics other than Charles Schulz who so brilliantly and intuitively understood human nature and conveyed it and depicted it as well as Trondheim does.”

Trouble with Comics on Little Nothings 4, still getting reviews months later and still a feature on this blog every Monday.

Speaking of books still getting reviews, the panelists give another rave for Geary’s Sacco & Vanzetti.

Geary at APE this weekend

NBM — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:36:30 +0000

It’s been a few years but Rick Geary is able to come back to the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco this weekend and he will be graciously manning our NBM table #203 for us.

Come by, say hi, get his latest Sacco & Vanzetti as well as an array of other Treasury of Murder books and some others of his. He also does fun postcards, stamps and such…

Booklist on Sacco & Vanzetti + more

NBM — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:18:11 +0000

“The quiet effectiveness of Geary’s consciously old-fashioned drawing style is reinforced by his thorough recreation of period details.”

Says Booklist of Geary‘s Sacco & Vanzetti.

“This dreamlike meditation on creativity and finding value in life is not understood so much as succumbed to. Reminded me of the work of Winsor McCay in its dreamlike logic.”

Johanna Draper Carlson, Comics Worth Reading on Bubbles & Gondola which is shipping now and wil be in stores by October 12th.

“Those reading these strips for shockingly frank autobiographical confessions are hereby advised to look elsewhere. For the rest of us, Trondheim’s ongoing Portrait of the Artist as a Middle-Aged Bird continues to charm and deliver.”

Bill Sherman of Blogcritics on Little Nothings 4.

Geary to appear in Portland after APE

NBM — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:26:03 +0000

Portland, OR Comics Store Bridge City Comics will have Rick Geary appear Wed. Oct. 5th from 6 to 8PM signing all his Treasury of Murder books as well as others.

Rick does few appearances outside of APE which he’ll be at (see his post below this one) and San Diego, so Portlanders! Here’s your chance to meet him!

APE 2011

Rick Geary — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:54:59 +0000

Here are four more pages from my new 20th Century Murder, “Lovers Lane,” which detail the discovery of the bodies of Rev. Edward Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills on September 16, 1922.

I’m looking forward to being at APE this weekend (Oct. 1&2), my first time there in four years. Anyone reading this and planning to be in San Francisco, please stop by my table and say HI!

Review round-up on a bunch o’ books

NBM — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:19:07 +0000

Marc Mason at Comics Waiting Room on 2 of our recent books: first on Sacco & Vanzetti:

“As with all the books he’s done in this series, he does his research, lays out the facts and evidence, and allows you to decide for yourself. That’s not only a hallmark of strong storytelling, but of confidence by the storyteller. He doesn’t need to pull you around by the nose if he has done his job right, and no one does the job right like Rick Geary. This is another incredible effort by a creator who simply seems to never swing and miss.”

And on Little Nothings 4:

“On the heels of Geary, LITTLE NOTHINGS VOL.4 arrived, and that’s about as happy as I get when it comes to comics. LITTLE NOTHINGS shows us a phenomenal talent at the peak of his powers. What more could you want?”

Over at Blogcritics, Bill Sherman is the first to review our freshly delivered Kinky & Cosy:

“The shiny die-cut cover to Kinky & Cosy (NBM) provides a strong indication of where this collection of comic strips is coming from: featuring google-eyed headshots of the book’s eight-year-old title twins, the collection opens to the image of two grinning death’s head skulls. A series of gag comics by Belgian cartoonist Nix, the strip is being compared by its publisher to the “Katzenjammer Kids on speed,” which is fair enough, particularly in a strip which ends on the image of our trickster girls rolling on the ground. I also detect elements of the manga/anime series Shin Chan, particularly in the strip’s (mis)treatment of our heroines’ parents.”

An unlikely source for a review of The Jade Door in our Eurotica collection: Unshelved which is a daily comics blog also with reviews for… Librarians. Hey, who said Librarians aren’t cool?

“Why I finished it: The gorgeous art. Chaiko’s softly colored maid-and-master story opens and closes the anthology, wrapping the collection up nicely. The rest of the tales are more vibrantly hued, making the folktales seem more realistic than the comparably modern story of the girl reading them.”

See the book (You need to be over 18!)

Kirkus on Sacco: ‘another great contribution to the country’s wealth of graphic lit.”

NBM — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:12:34 +0000

Well, we were going to highlight some other books this time but NO! Geary’s Sacco & Vanzetti hogs everyone’s attention! This time with a great review from the influential Kirkus Reviews, putting it in with “The 13 Can’t Miss Graphic Novels of 2011″. Calling him ‘legendary,’ they quote him about the book and state:

“Chalk one more up for the history books and another great contribution to the country’s wealth of graphic lit.”

Here’s another review:

“He researches diligently, then lays out the facts and theories with maps, diagrams, and deadpan narration, easily sucking in the true-crime buff. ”

Paste magazine giving it a 7. They also reviewed our collection of Little Nothings 1-3:

“Even nerds like me, who frequently love European comics, approach Continental cartoonists deemed “the next great hope” with some reluctance. Surely, their work will be too New Yorker cartoony, too elliptical, too… French. Lewis Trondheim is nothing of the sort, and his Little Nothings series, newly issued in a three-volume set by NBM/ComicsLit, is the sort of book you might want to keep in your bathroom, to dip into from time to time. Think American Elf with a lot less whining.”

On the Story of Lee, Voya, the leading teen librarian review publication says:

“There is much here to like. Lee is quite sympathetic and her straightforward romance with Matt is sweet and believable. Readers will look forward to the next volume in this gentle series.”

RICK GEARY Chats About SACCO & VANZETTI Part 3

Stefan Blitz — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Next week, Rick Geary will be attending the San Diego Comic Con is on, where we’re premiering the latest volume of Rick Geary’s Treasury of XXth Century Murder, THE LIVES OF SACCO & VANZETTI, and hopefully watching Rick take home a win for his Eisner Award Nomination in the Best Reality-Based Work category for his last book, Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Terrible Axe Man of New Orleans.

If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 of my chat with Rick check it out HERE and HERE

This particular case had two different trials, two appeals, and various demonstrations and protests. Do you think this was the result of anti-Italian prejudice, a government reaction to their politics or both?

The prejudices of the time, against immigrants in general as well as political radicals, played a huge role in the Sacco & Vanzetti saga. The long and drawn-out appeals process in their particular case was the result of the state system trying to appear fair and even-handed, when, in reality, the gears were in motion from the beginning and the outcome was never in any real doubt.

Do you write a book with a point of view or do you try to remain neutral?

Most of the true crime cases I’ve written about, especially the unsolved ones, are famous and controversial enough to have spawned many competing theories and opinions. In some instances I might have ideas of my own, but in my treatment I try to remain neutral and depict every point of view, no matter how crackpot, with equal weight.

Among Sacco and Venzitti’s supporters were Dorothy Parker, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells. Did this impact their careers or public perceptions?

Most of their supporters already had reputations as leftists or radicals or artistic outsiders, so I don’t think their actions did any lasting harm to their careers.

Governor Michael Dukakis stated that Sacco and Vanzetti had been unfairly tried and convicted and that “any disgrace should be forever removed from their names.” Do you think this was a fitting epilogue to the story?

As you might expect, Dukakis’ declaration failed to satisfy most people. For some, it went too far (Sacco & Vanzetti were, after all, convicted murders), for others, not far enough (they should have been granted a full pardon). It failed to settle anything, and for this reason, it’s as fitting an epilogue as we’re likely to get.

Below check out three penciled pages from the book, courtesy of Rick.

Make sure you stop by our booth (1528 ) in San Diego and say hello.

We also have a special very, very limited edition being made available ONLY THROUGH US online or by mail of this volume with a special bind, a tip in sheet of art specially done by Rick for this and numbered and signed by him.

HURRY! Only 25 copies are being made available. This will not be in stores!

Rick Geary interviewed on CBR + more

NBM — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:38:36 +0000

Comic Book Resources presents a good background article after interviewing Rick Geary on his forthcoming Sacco & Vanzetti.

The Sky Over the Louvre gets this review on The Comics Journal site by the very hard to please R. Fiore:

“In this year that is good God already half over I don’t think there’s anything in comics that’s impressed me more.”

But then, he couldn’t resist this swipe:

“I don’t know if you pay any more attention than I do to the seemingly random selection of European comics that NBM brings out.”

We’re curious: anyone out there agree with this? (Or disagree?)

We feel like we’ve focused our publishing considerably in the last 5-10 years and while we don’t have a ‘house style’ and proudly never will, we’ve concentrated on literary works, humor and parody of genre, steering away from genres themselves…