Category Archives: Featured Graphic Novels

Phantom of the Opera: the Graphic Novel

phantom

Published by A Wave Blue World

ISBN: 9781949518092
Price: $16.99
Genre: Literary Adaptation
Ages: 13+

On Sale: October 20, 2020

Everyone has heard the whispered tales of the phantom who lives beneath the opera house, the mysterious trickster behind all the little mishaps and lost things. But no one has ever seen the monster . . . until now. When the promise of blossoming love lures him out from his intricately constructed hideaways in the labyrinthine building’s walls and cellars, a hideously disfigured artist trains the lovely Christine to be the opera’s next star for a steep price. Does she choose her newfound success or her beloved Count Raoul? This doomed love triangle threatens to combust when a tragic death, a series of betrayals, and increasingly dangerous accidents cast the players of The Palais Garnier into a heart-wrenching horror story that will echo through the ages.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the iconic gothic romance, is retold with all the spectacle its legend demands in this devoted graphic novel adaptation that marries stunning artwork with Gaston Leroux’s haunting prose.

Key Selling Points

Creator(s) Bio

Advanced Praise

  • UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION: A pop culture phenomenon for over 100 years, Phantom of the Opera has thrilled multiple generations through several classic film adaptations and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic stage musical that has netted $6 billion in gross receipts over its 30-year run. The book is perfect for fans looking for a new take and newcomers looking for an accessible way into the story for the first time.

  • CHILLINGLY FUN CLASSIC HORROR: Ideal for “monster kids” who appreciate old fashioned classic horror films from Universal and Hammer Pictures, Leroux’s monster sits proudly in that pantheon. Tomi’s faithful adaptation recreates the time period for gothic treat that’s macabre and atmospheric without gore or outright terror.

  • LAVISH ARTWORK: With its impeccably detailed linework, readers can get as hopelessly lost in each panel as the characters do in the labyrinth below the opera house. Tomi’s goal is to give fans of Gaston Leroux’s prose a visual spectacle on par with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical in book form.

  • DEVOTED ADAPTATION: A devoted lifelong fan of both the musical and the original novel, Tomi is the perfect artist for a graphic novel adaptation. He spent years researching the costumes and settings for the story and painstakingly drawing these details into his labor of love.

  • INTRO TO CLASSIC LITERATURE: With its commitment to accuracy and authenticity, this PHANTOM OF THE OPERA adaptation is a great gateway book to classic literature for kids and students, and an entry point to graphic novels for literature readers who may be new to the medium.Broken Frontier anthology ( A Wave Blue World).

Varga Tomi is a Hungarian artist and colorist. He graduated from The Kubert School in Dover, NJ in 2015. Since then he’s worked with a number of publishers and high-profile creators, most notably IDW and Kevin Eastman on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and A Wave Blue World and Marguerite Bennett on the Broken Frontier Anthology and Ghastly Tales.

“This adaptation proves a faithful and attractive enough version that die-hard Phantom fans will likely pick it up.”
PUBLISHER WEEKLY

Trese Volume 1

trese

Published by Ablaze

ISBN: 9781950912193
Price: $16.99
Genre: Horror
Ages: 13+

On Sale: October 13, 2020

When the sun sets in the city of Manila, don’t you dare make a wrong turn and end up in that dimly- lit side of the metro, where blood-sucking aswang run the most-wanted kidnapping rings, where gigantic kapre are the kingpins of crime, and magical engkantos slip through the cracks and steal your most precious possessions. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexandra Trese.

Trese Vol 1 “Murder on Balete Drive” features all new, redrawn artwork throughout, and includes a substantial bonus section with behind-the-scenes sketches, info and details on the making of the book and further insight into the world of Trese, as told by its creators Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo!

Key Selling Points

Advanced Praise

  • Award-winning Filipino comic book
  • Soon to be a Netflix anime series
“I feel like you and all the smart Filipino writers and artists out there are doing something really brave and powerful, making a whole new wave of Filipino art and story. Well done!”
– NEIL GAIMAN 
 
“Budjette and Kajo’s Trese is a gem. It excites the little child in me which used to believe in the wonders of Filipino folklore, and my adult self who enjoys intelligently written and drawn tales.” 
– LEINIL YU

“It is the book I would love to write myself… they capture the true atmosphere of the Manila I know and love”
WHILCE PORTACIO

“Trese continues to impress and surprise.”
GERRY ALANGUILAN, CREATOR OF THE AWARD-WINNING GRAPHIC NOVEL ELMER

“The unconventional monster art and moody, action-packed narratives make this horror-crime series a must-follow for any aficionado of the macabre.” — PUBLISHER WEEKLY

Beyond Kuiper

9781947784192_e6822

Published by Heavy Metal

ISBN: 9781947784192
Price: $24.99
Genre: Science Fiction
Ages: 16+

On Sale: November 24, 2020

There is no Drake Equation. There is no question on sentience. The galaxy is alive and filled with life. The only issue: we humans aren’t invited.

The Galactic Star Alliance awaits your exploration.

In this illustrated novel co- created & written by Matthew Medney (Heavy Metal Magazine CEO & NYU adjunct professor) and John Connelly (Lockheed Martin Aerospace Engineer), humankind acknowledges the vastness of time, the cyclical nature of civilization, and the obscurity of our own history.

If our galaxy is so full of sentient life, why has no one said hello? We thought of a simple, logical reason: no one wants to. Stepping back and casting an objective eye on ourselves, it seems painfully obvious that humans lack a fundamental respect for our planet and for each other. We possess extremely short memories and long grudges, and the likelihood of receiving alien tools to hasten our expansion seems downright foolhardy.

The Galactic Star Alliance has been alive and well for millions of earth years. Hundreds of thousands of sentient worlds and trillions of beings walk, run, and crawl across the many home worlds of the Alliance. This revelation led to many questions: How is faster-than-light speed travel possible, and could cohesive, interstellar civilizations exist without it? Is it conceivable to govern a coalition not of different countries, but of different species? Each question led to another and each answer built our world, piece by piece until it spanned thousands of answers and millions of light-years. As for the title, from where would our judges watch us?

But our galaxy has spoken to us humans. There are some who believe it is out there. Not as science-fantasy but as science.

Digital Assets

Book Trailer

Interview

Undiscovered Country Volume 1

9781534315990_4738f

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534315990
Price: $9.99
Genre: Dystopian
Ages: 16+

On Sale: July 14, 2020

In UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, readers will journey into an unknown region that was once the United States of America-a mysterious land that has been literally walled off from the rest of the world for well over a century. Two small expeditions enter the former US simultaneously-one from the east, one from the west-and journey inward, each seeking their own form of truth as they struggle to survive in this strange and deadly lost country!

Collects UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #1-6

The smash hit series written by New York Times bestselling writers SCOTT SNYDER (WYTCHESAD: AFTER DEATH) and CHARLES SOULE (CURSE WORDSOracle Year) with art by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (The Amazing Spider-ManDarth VaderHellblazer), DANIELE ORLANDINI (Darth Vader) and Eisner Award-winning colorist MATT WILSON (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, PAPER GIRLS) gets its first collection!

Creator Bio(s)

CHARLES SOULE is a New York Times-bestselling, Brooklyn-based comic book writer, musician, and attorney. He is best known for writing Daredevil, She-Hulk, Death of Wolverine (inspiration for the film Logan,) and various Star Wars comics from Marvel Comics, as well as his creator-owned series CURSE WORDS from Image Comics and the award-winning political sci-fi epic Letter 44 from Oni Press. His debut novel The Oracle Year will be published in 2018 by HarperCollins.

SCOTT SNYDER has written WYTCHES, American Vampire, The Wake, SEVERED, Batman, Superman Unchained, and Swamp Thing, among many other projects. He’s also the writer of the short story collection Voodoo Heart. He is an avid and non-ironic fan of Elvis Presley

Mister Invincible

9781942367611_c5db5 (1)

Published by Magnetic Press

ISBN: 9781942367611
Price: $15.99
Genre: Humor
Ages: 9+

On Sale: August 4, 2020

There’s a new superhero in town — Mr. Invincible! Sure, he wears a mask and cape and helps widows and orphans as any self-respecting hero would, but he also thwarts the mad scientists and bad guys with his amazing super-power that makes him the only true comic book hero: he can reach outside the comic strip panels to affect both space and time! By breaking the boundaries of ‘comic book physics’ he and his companions are able to do amazing things that are only possible thanks to the magic of comics! A wholly unique and creative twist on conventional comic-book reading experience, this wacky Middle Grade title will put your imagination to the test!

Advanced Praise

KIRKUS (STARRED) — Jousselin too shows uncommon cleverness, as all these exploits and hijinks require exact, frequently ingenious placement of figures on both the same and neighboring pages to make them work. As Mister Invincible explains to one mystified witness, “It’s just the incredible magic of comics, ma’am.” The episodes in this French import, all drawn cartoon-style (with colors by Croix) in rows of squared-off panels, run one to 15 pages each. Mister Invincible presents White; there is a handful of secondary characters of color

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED) — Jousselin takes full advantage of the comics format to introduce Mr. Invincible-“the one and only true comic book superhero!”… Mr. Invincible, grounded and irreverent of his status as a major superhero, exudes infectious charm as he inspires those around him. Ages 9-12.

BOOKLIST (STARRED) — This French import gives new meaning to thinking outside the box, as mainstays of comics structure become opportunities for breathtaking formalist experimentation-transposing space and time, abstracting the solid, solidifying the abstract-to
mind-bending effect…. A wonderfully generous work displaying an unbridled love of the form.

Digital Assets

Mister Invincible Poster

Mister Invincible Stickers

Mister Invincible Shelf Talker

Mister Invincible Tabletop Standee

Reading & Discussion Guide

Moon Lake: Midnight Munchies

Published by Heavy Metal

ISBN: 9781947784185
Price: $24.99
Genre: Horror
Ages: 16+

On Sale: September 1, 2020

Creator Bio(s)

Advanced Praise

DAN FOGLER is an American actor, comedian and writer. He has appeared in films Balls of Fury, Good Luck Chuck, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

“Any artist that can make you feel young again with their work is an artist worth supporting. Thanks to Moon Lake, Fogler has my support as a writer of serious science fiction fantasy.”

KEVIN SMITH (CLERKS, MALLRATS, JAY AND SILENT BOB)

Digital Assets

A Conversation with Dan Fogler

Diamond talks with Dan Fogler about the inspiration behind Moon Lake.