Indies

Lee: I have to say this looks like a really good month. Especially good if you’re an “art guy” like me. Lots of pretty, pretty pictures. Stories? Who knows but lots and lots of pretty pictures.
Jim: Lee has chosen most of the books and he has found a lot worth looking at, but Lee really is an art guy and I’m more of a story guy, but some artists make it is almost who cares what the story is, just look at the freeling art.

ADHOUSE BOOKS
SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST #3 - by Joshua W. Cotter
Once again, Joshua W. Cotter puts the "crap" in Skyscrapers. This issue is about love and bloody noses, lost toys, broken toys, more giant robots, a chili supper, an elderly man and his dog, and the fall of Nova Stealth. Find out why critics and the Internet is a buzz about this comic series! 56 pages.
SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST #4 by Joshua W. Cotter.
Presenting the final installment of the Eisner Award-nominated series! In the words of Orson Welles, "If you want a happy ending, it depends, of course, on where you stop your story." Thy glossy comics cup runneth over with feverish floating robots, hallucinating overgrown women in tight spandex, cicada shells, and Lufisir himself. Good times guaranteed for all! 56 pages.
Previews can be found at http://jwcotter.com/comix.html
Lee: The old saying “A cover sells a book” is even more true when it comes to indies. The cover can let you know just how weird a story is going to be and at the same time give a hint about the artist’s artistic abilities. In this case, Cotter has a nice, clean style and a wicked sense of humor as shown by 3 rabbits in a giant robot crushing hunters. If you looking for something new and different, this is for you. Issue 3 is “available again” and issue 4 is new so it’s sorta like a 2-fer-1 deal.
Jim: The cover is good, the premise sounds amusing, it states Mature Themes which indicates that is should be biting humor, definitely worth a look. Check out the link as it gives you a good feel for the art work. It has a retro-underground feel to it.

AIRSHIP ENTERTAINMENT
MYTH ADVENTURE COLLECTION: ANOTHER FINE MYTH HC – by Asprin, Foglio & Sale
Studio Foglio is proud to present the graphic adaptation of Robert Asprin's comedic novel Another Fine Myth. It chronicles the adventures of Skeeve, a hapless apprentice magician, and his demonic teacher, Aahz, who has been stripped of his powers. They battle with an insane wizard who is determined to drain the world of magic. Long out-of-print, this fantasy classic was the first professional comics work by Phil Foglio and Tim Sale. 240 pages. (8x11) Also available in sc!
Lee: Myth Adventures was a hilarious novel that was excellently adapted by Foglio in the early 80’s. If you love humor, this is a great place to start.
Jim: If nothing else this book is interesting to look at to see Phil Foglio and Tim Sale’s first professional work. Still the entry price is a little high without reading some of it on the shelf first as the soft cover list for $40. OF course the problem is how many stores carry this book and have it on their shelves for you to be able to browse before reading it.

AIT/PLANETLAR
FIRST MOON GN – by Jason McNamara & Tony Talbert.
In 1587, 110 settlers would establish the first English colony on the island of Roanoke, Virginia. Shortly after, they would all disappear. Their fate remained a mystery for centuries. Now, in the present-day, a young man named Ben uncovers a startling secret. He and his family are descendents of the lost colony. To unlock the mystery, he will undertake a perilous journey through dark family secrets and American history itself. Can Ben endure the curse of Roanoke. and its survivors? 120 pages.
Jim: What interested me with this book is I have been enjoying books that have a historical bent lately. Crecy by Warren Ellis was an unexpected masterpiece. This book sounds interesting and I would like to check it out, but I want some preview pages to see before actually placing an order.
Lee: There seems to be a recent trend of historical stories and I like the added diversity to the market. I have to agree this does look interesting.

ALTERNATIVE COMICS
MOTHER'S MOUTH GN by Dash Shaw
The startling new comic/tragedy book from the artist The Comics Journal describes as "the scarily young and skillful Dash Shaw." In a pre-Katrina New Orleans, a woman starts dating a younger man who reminds her of her deceased ex-boyfriend. They begin re-enacting scenes from her previous relationship as a psychodrama to correct her haunting past. Replete with Pac-Man ghost spirits, Michael Jackson, children's drawings and deathtrap sandboxes, The Mother's Mouth is a smarter, unsentimental Blankets that will be the weirdo romance book of 2006. 128 pages. (7 x 7)
A 20 page preview can be found at http://www.dashshaw.com/
Lee: Well, I gotta say…. This is weird alright but I love the concept. And, if you like alternative, slice of life comics, out there comics this is for you.
Jim: Wow, I checked out the link and have to say that this is way away from anything that I want to read. The artwork is competent enough, but it is like he never finished his high school art class. Also the subject matter is not to my taste. An easy pass for me, but check out the link, what I liked was that I was given a chance with the link to determine if I would order the book or not.

PEANUTBUTTER & JEREMY'S BEST BOOK EVER by James Kochalka.
Peanutbutter is a cute little kitty who thinks she works in an office. Jeremy is the crafty crow who lives in the tree outside. Somehow, Peanutbutter and Jeremy build a friendship. As with the best satires on the surface, the story is silly and fun for kids. For adults, it is a clever critique of modern society! 240 pages. (6x9)
Visit http://www.indyworld.com/kochalka/index.html or more, and a link to Amazon which has preview pages.
Lee: Did you ever get the feeling that a book is just going to work? This is one of those times for me. Kochalka is a proven creator in the indy world and I’m always up for critique’s of modern society.
Jim: Lee, let me borrow this one from you. I liked what I saw in the link, but still want more to know more before I’m willing to spend $$ for this work. Still the link shows other books by this creator and he looks to have lots of really clever and inventive work.

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
EATING STEVE GN – by J. Marc Schmidt.
Jill doesn't understand why she tried to eat her boyfriend's brain, and it pretty much killed their relationship. She moves to the countryside to free herself of her past, hoping to discover a new way of life and new people. But she can't leave behind that odd incident. When her new neighbors begin turning into zombies, Jill realizes that she has to get involved. Can she escape her destiny? 80 pages.

EGG STORY – by J. Marc Schmidt.
These eggs talk. And in their conversations they decide that sitting in a cold, dark refrigerator waiting to get gobbled up is definitely not for them, and so they stage a daring escape. But life takes a grim turn when one of them turns into a suicidal maniac who yearns to become a soufflé, and it all ends up tragically (and messily) on the kitchen floor. What can an egg do after witnessing pointless, random death and destruction? 64 pages.
Previews at http://eggstory0.tripod.com/
Lee: Same author and from what I can tell, two wildly different styles. “Eating Steve” sounds good but “Egg Story” sounds better. “Eggs witnessing pointless death and destruction.” That’s just great! And, if I doubted, the previews really sold me. It’s just fun!
Jim: Egg Story does look very funny and is the type of thing that I would always make up in my own mind about inanimate objects. For $3.95 this book is an easy order fro me. The art is not Neal Adams level, but we are talking about drawing eggs here, it is all about the humor.

IGOR: FIXED BY FRANKENSTEINS GN – by Chris Reilly & Chris Grine.
Everyone's favorite deaf, mute hunchback returns for another series of adventures. Igor finds himself in another series of odd predicaments and laughs can only ensue in this hilarious, gross, weird, unexpected and quite possibly the Citizen Kane of baled, mute, mutant hunchback comics. Introduction written by Batton Lash. 72 pages.
Lee: What can I say? I’m a sucker for hunchback humor!!! AND, in the near future a full scale review because Chris Reilly is awesome!!!!

AVATAR PRESS INC
CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: LAST ENEMY GN by Garth Ennis & Rob SteenWormwood, Jimmy, Jay all return and the world hasn't gotten any better since their last adventure. Wormwood still produces questionable TV shows and pines for Maggie, his lost love. The boys all share drinks at their favorite pub and try to get on with their lives, but Pope Jacko has his own plans for Wormwood. In order to dispatch the Anti-Christ once-and-for-all, he dispatches his finest Holy assassin, Brother One, the Killer Eunuch! If you loved the original series, then you don't want to miss the next chapter of Garth Ennis' new sacrilegious masterpiece! 48 pages.
Jim: I have to get this book as the mini-series was so good. It’s Ennis at his most sacrilegious, yet the mini-series had one of the most positive endings I ever saw for a story. Ennis has made the anti-christ and Jesus as pals trying to keep God and the Devil from destroying the world. Very odd, but very readable.
Lee: I have to admit that I don’t get Ennis these days. This is Ennis out there to be offensive but people like it, whereas his other work “The Boys” is way out there of be offensive and it’s just that… offensive. There’s just so much sacrilege that I can take. A pass for me.

STREETS OF GLORY #1 – by Garth Ennis & Mike Wolfer. Joe Dunn is one of the last bastions of the old guard drifters, those men that could be trusted to defend the common man with integrity, honor, and if need be, hot steel of death. Dunn has been away from Montana for more than 15 years, lost to all who knew him. Now he comes riding into a small town, still representing an era quickly fading. The way things are done is changing, the future is coming. But before he is done making things right, the bodies will pile up while the streets run red with blood. Garth Ennis redefines the Western. 32 pages.
Jim: It says they are redefining the western, but many writers (and Ennis is among them) occasionally use blood and gore as opposed to telling a story. Still Ennis is a good writer and I want to try out his take on an American western.
Lee: I like a good western as much as the next guy but Ennis’s love of gore is going to keep me away. If the reviews are really, really good I might give the trade a try but I’m not holding my breath.

CHECKER BOOK PUBLISHING GROUP
R. F. OUTCAULT'S YELLOW KID HC by Richard Outcault.
The comic strip that started it all! This precocious kid from the barrios of New York City took the country by storm in the late 1800's, coined the term "yellow journalism," And laid the groundwork for an artform. Collected here is the entire run along with dozens of never before collected images by Outcault. Also included is the extraordinarily rare strip "Pore Lil Mose, also by Outcault. 300 pages. (9x12)
Lee: The facts as copied from elsewhere…
Why the fuss over Yellow Kid? He was the first successful comic strip character to achieve a popularity so great that he not only increased the sales of newspapers carrying him, but he was also the first to demonstrate that a comic strip character could be merchandised profitably. In fact, for these two reasons, the Yellow Kid and his creator, R. F. Outcault, are generally credited with permanently establishing the comic strip and making it a part of American society.
This is a wonderful book for the comic historian. This is where the hobby started! BUT, I would start with Little Nemo first to see if you can handle the material. Bottom line, a book worth having in every collection.
Jim: The scholar and intellectual in me agrees with Lee, the fan and child in me says forget it, I was forced to read Ulysses in college because it was of such significance, but still I did not enjoy it. Maybe one day, but not today for me.

CONUNDRUM PRESS
MY LIFE AS A FOOT GN by Richard Suicide.
It's bleak. It's sarcastic. It's a Richard Suicide graphic novel. The master of the absurdist and the scatological, Suicide turns his attention to the surrealistic world that only he can envision. 62 pages. (8x10).
http://lambiek.net/artists/s/suicide_richard.htm
Lee: I love the underground-pop culture art style. I am sure this is allllllll over the place. Is it any good? Don’t know but sure gonna find out.
Jim: Let me know when you find out Lee. Love the title of this book.

D.E./DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
EDUARDO RISSO'S TALE OF TERROR SC by Eduardo Risso.
Dynamite Entertainment continues to present the Eduardo Risso library of long-lost material - presented in English for the very first time! This time, we're presenting Eduardo Risso's Tales Of Terror, featuring 11 of the most gruesome, horrifying, chilling and downright scary tales of horror fiction ever produced! Translated into English for the very first time, each tale features the stunning artwork of Risso, the terrifying scripting of Carlos (Borderline) Trillo, and is a must-have for all fans of graphic (and we mean graphic) fiction! .
Lee: I love Risso’s art and Trillo actually writes a good story. BUT… it really all comes down to translation. I got some other reprints of Risso’s work and it’s always hit/miss. Art is always great to look at but the translation… DOUBLE BUT… you really can’t go wrong with short stories.
Jim: Now for an “art guy” like Lee, he should love Eduardo Risso’s work. I have no idea of what type of writer Trillo is, but Risso’s artwork is always a joy to look at, dark, edgy, a slight cartoony feel, but well done. His 100 Bullets work has been nothing short of phenomenal.

DREADSTAR VOL. 2: THE BEGINNING HC (SIGNED) by Jim Starlin.
The second hardcover collection of Jim Starlin's Magnum Opus - Dreadstar - goes back to the beginning as three complete masterpieces are collected here for the very first time! Containing Metamorphosis Odyssey, The Price and Dreadstar: the Graphic Novel - all fully painted by Starlin and presented here in one definitive collection - this fully re-mastered edition is ready to command a new legion of fans! Originally published between the late 1970s and 1982, now all three parts are combined into one limited edition hardcover volume, signed by creator Jim Starlin! .
Lee: This is classic Starlin space opera. Highly, highly recommended.
Jim: This is Starlin at his cosmic best. Marvel should hardcover some his Captain Marvel work.

DRAWN & QUARTERLY
MOOMIN: COMPLETE TOVE JANNSON COMIC STRIP VOL. 1 HC by Tove Jannson.
Tove Jansson is revered around the world as one of the foremost children's authors of the twentieth century for her illustrated chapter books regarding the magical worlds of her creations, the Moomins. Moomin book one is the first volume of Drawn & Quarterly's publishing plan to reprint the entire strip drawn by Jansson before she handed over the reins to her brother Lars in 1960. 96 pages. (9x12)http://lambiek.net/artists/j/jansson_t.htm
http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/artStudio.php?artist=a43cd43019761a
Lee: So, if you haven’t guessed, I am far and away an art person. I have seen most American comic art because that’s where I live but I am not nearly as familiar with European art. So when a book like this comes along I must have it. It’s beyond art into illustration and it’s wonderful. Samples can be see at the links.
Jim: I see the appeal for Lee in this book, but this is a pass for me.

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
POPEYE VOL. 2: WELL BLOW ME DOWN HC – by E.C. Segar.
This second volume of the acclaimed hit series collecting the entirety of E.C. Segar's original Popeye (a.k.a. Thimble Theatre) comic strips begins with a foreword by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, and continues with an introduction by noted film and cartooning critic Donald Phelps. This second volume features work from 1930 to 1932, and most notably includes the debut of Segar's second greatest character: J. Wellington Wimpy, which stands as a one-of-a-kind icon some 70 years after his creation - the most likeable lowdown cad ever to grace the comics page. Popeye Volume 2 includes the stories: "Clint Gore" (continued from the cliffhanger last volume); "A One-Way Bank," in which Popeye opens a bank that allows withdrawals but no deposits; a long war story featuring King Blozo that begins with "The Great Rough-House War"; and "Skullyville," which wraps up the daily strips for this volume. 200 pages. (11x17)
Lee: And, speaking of classics. This Popeye series is fantastic.
Jim: This is another pure “Lee” book as he is a fan of classic comic strips and loves the older stuff the way I love the golden age comic book material. Still reading some of this stuff is worth it and fun. I just can’t get behind as much of it as Lee does, but understandably everyone should try out some of it.

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
EC ARCHIVES: VAULT OF HORROR VOL. 1 HC
Legendary publisher Bill Gaines provided the forum and creators like Al Feldstein, Johnny Craig, Wally Wood, Harry Harrison, Jack Kamen, Harvey Kurtzman, Graham Ingels, and Jack Davis provided the mayhem. Six full issues and 24 complete stories are collected in this full-color, deluxe volume. Foreword by perennial N.Y. Times best-selling author R.L. Stine. 212 pages. (8x11)
Lee: Some of the best horror comics ever!!! A must read.
Jim: Also the EC archives are beautiful reproductions. You can tell that Russ Cochran is doing a work of love with these reproductions. This is a perfect format also. Slightly over sized art and six complete issues to a book.

NBM
MISTER I VOL. 1 HC by Lewis Trondheim.
After the greatly successful subversively goofy Mr. O, here comes another batch of gags crammed with little frames showing the mishaps of Mr. I, who, no matter what he tries, always ends up killed. Poor fellah! You gotta love this walking disaster.
Lee: Speaking of European books. This is Itchy and Scratchy done right. I found this commentary that sums up this excellent book as follows…
It’s hard to explain but all the main character, Mister I, wants to do is get something to eat. Too bad just about every person, animal and force of nature seems designed to keep him from that goal, the end result frequently being a bloody, highly comical death for our protagonist. Trondheim's wordless series of strips (a sequel of sorts to the equally funny "Mister O") really highlights the cartoonist's razor-sharp sense of timing. Despite the high body count and frequent bloodletting (not to mention some toilet humor), "Mister I" owes more to Chuck Jones than to Freddy Krueger, and fans of that sort of cartoon slapstick would do well to check this book out.
Jim: Lee you should be writing the hype for these guys. Reading their description I would immediately pass on this book and never give it a second thought. Reading your description I almost ready to buy the book sight unseen.

OLYMPIAN PUBLISHING
CHAMBER OF MYSTERY: VOODOO VOL. 1 SC
More terrifying masterpieces of pre-code horror! Just in time for Halloween, the second in a series of graphic novels reprinting rare 1950s comic stories (newly photographed and painstakingly remastered) is here! Stories depicting all aspects of Voodoo, including the Little Shop of Horrors inspiration The Devil Flower, the eerie Doll of Death, the beautifully titled jungle tale, Give Me Back My Head!, and more! Features an all-new. highly detailed splash page with the hostess of the series, Polychrome (of The Nocturnals), painted by Dan Brereton! 80 pages. (8x12)
CHAMBER OF MYSTERY: WITCHCRAFT VOL. 1 SC
More terrifying masterpieces of pre-code horror! Just in time for Halloween, the second in a series of graphic novels reprinting rare 1950s comic stories (newly photographed and painstakingly remastered) is here! Stories depicting all aspects of Voodoo, including the Little Shop of Horrors inspiration The Devil Flower, the eerie Doll of Death, the beautifully titled jungle tale, Give Me Back My Head!, and more! Features an all-new. highly detailed splash page with the hostess of the series, Polychrome (of The Nocturnals), painted by Dan Brereton! 80 pages. (8x12)
Lee: Classic golden age precode horror. This is great stuff.
Jim: But I’m so scared (pun intended) by unknown publishers and what the quality of their reproduction will be. It is important with older material to have the wherewithal to be able to reproduce it in a quality manner. I would have to see the book first before buying it.

PHILOMEL BOOKS
BRIAN JACQUES' REDWALL GN – by Brian Jacques & Bret Blevins.
The classic fantasy adventure that launched the Redwall phenomenon is now available as a graphic novel! Illustrated by artist Bret Blevins, Redwall: The Graphic Novel brings to life all the battles, all the heroes, and all the villains in a fun new format perfect for those just entering Jacques' mesmerizing Redwall world or the countless existing fans of the series! . 144 pages. (6X9)
http://www.optimisticstudios.com/ pick Artwork and check out his illustration art. Sweet stuff.
Lee: I picked this (1) because Jim likes Mouse stories and (2) Bret Blevins on art. Forget the “eeewwww” Blevins art from New Mutants and bask in the glory that his style has become. An outstanding illustrator the art will be fantastic even if the story stinks.
Jim: This does look good and I do like mouse stories, not sure why exactly but I do. This is another book that I would probably buy if I have a chance to look at it before signing up for it.

PICTUREBOX
GODDESS OF WAR #1 by Laura Weinstein.
Lauren Weinstein's follow up to her critically critically and commercially successful graphic novel, Girl Stories. Goddess of War traces the life of the title character, from her majestic beginnings as the best Valkyrie and the great granddaughter of Thor, to her present position as the Goddess. But she's bored of determining the outcome for all wars on earth. So she leaves her isolated planet of vampires, wolves and volcanoes to visit Earth, where she quits her job being a Goddess to be with her lover, the Apache Chief. This angers her boss, the king of the Gods, and he decides to exact vengeance upon them. Will he succeed in punishing them or will the lovers escape the hand of fate? Goddess of War is based on the character that Weinstein plays in her rock band, Flaming Fire. The story will be told in deluxe, oversized format with both pen and ink and etchings. 32 pages. (11x17).
Art and preview pages at http://www.vineyland.com/
Lee: Comix (yes I spelled that correctly) are awesome. As close to above ground as an underground can get. This look great.
Jim: This has a definite underground vibe to it. Should be very appealing to fans of that genre and the art has a lush quality to it, yet still has a Crumb feeling.

PLATINUM STUDIOS
ATLANTIS RISING #1 – by Scott Brown & Tim Irwin.
After more than a thousand years of peaceful co-existence, Atlantis and the surface world are on the brink of war, with the fate of both civilizations hanging in the balance. This issue begins the war that will decide the fate of all humanity and Atlanteans. 32 pages.
Jim: Platinum Studios is being published by Image usually, but maybe they have gone put on their own. So far Platinum has had some decent stories and journeymen artwork. They are hit and miss right now, but usually worth trying out.
Lee: For all the strange stuff I pick, Jim seems to find equally strange things. This sounds like same old-same old basic superheroes to me. If I am going to venture out, I going way, way out. A pass for me.

PURE IMAGINATION PUBLISHING
AL WILLIAMSON READER VOL. 1 SC by Al Williamson.
Comics legend Al Williamson receives attention in this retrospective that reprints over 160 pages of fantastic art that spans his career! Taken from stories with Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel, John Severin, and others and spanning genres from science-fiction and mysteries to jungle settings and westerns, almost none of the material has been reprinted before! . 160 pages.
Lee: I am sure there is someone in America that doesn’t know who Al Williamson is but I can’t imagine who. One of the absolute grand masters of comic book art. AND, from his peak period. This is great, great stuff.
Jim: The more your look at Williamson’s art the more you realize how great he was. I’m almost positive that at least 25% of all the artist working today have ripped off some of his artistic elements. Still Lee I bet many comic fans do not know his work, but it is worth getting.

RED 5 COMICS
ATOMIC ROBO #1 - by Clevinger & Wegener.
NEOZOIC #1 - Ens & Korim.
ABYSS #1 by Rubio, Marangon & Schley.
Lee: We reviewed these books not that long ago. All were well received. You (the reader) should buy them and support the little guys!
Jim: Agreed. I’m ordering all three from my retailer.

STRANGE FEAR
WEIRDLING GN by Mike Dubisch.
Anna Mandretta is a young woman on a submarine-like vessel submerged in the waters of an alien moon. By night, she dreams the life of an alternate reality, in which she is an acclaimed surgeon at the Miskatonik University Hospital. Unable to save the life of an infant inflicted with a hideous, hissing tumor, she is assaulted by the boy's parents, who claim he will be reborn to eternal life to rule the world in the name of an ancient deity, Azag-thoth. This gothic space fantasy follows Anna as she shifts between her horrific reality as a medic on the front lines of a war against the mysterious Xax, and the supernatural life she leads in the recurring dream that draws closer to becoming her waking world. The multilayered graphic novel - in which the true meaning of the events seems constantly just beyond the reader's grasp - bridges horror comics with a blend of military sexism, mind control, political commentary, and quantum string theory. 128 pages. (6x9)
http://dubisch.com/weirdling/index.html
Lee: I love art that is obviously influenced by Wrightson, Frazetta and other masters of the medium. This looks great.
Jim: The premise is really appealing also. This book has promise.

VILLARD BOOKS
ELK'S RUN GN by Joshua Fialkov & Noel Tuazon
No one is allowed to leave Elk's Run, West Virginia. Teenager John Kohler doesn't know why, but learns about the town's dark secrets - and how his father may have a lot to hide. Collects the first three issues, plus 100 pages of new material, and a never-before-seen conclusion to the story! . 208 pages. (7x10)
Lee: This is one of those books that always seems to be around. It never makes it to the big time but always has positive reviews and buzz. And, it seems to have a more supernatural undertone than the hype reads. A review and six page preview at http://www.popcultureshock.com/reviews.php?id=5006
Jim: This looks so good that I think I will have to order this book. Check out the preview.

WATSON GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS
SPY VS. SPY VOL. 2: JOKE & DAGGER FILES SC by David Shayne.
Black versus white. Yin versus yang. Good versus...wait, they're both evil. Or are they both good? Discuss. Everyone knows and loves Spy vs. Spy, the two MAD magazine spies locked in eternal, existential battle. In the rich tradition of Spy-vs.-Spy gotcha, this full-color sequel (only the spies are still black and white) takes up where the first volume left off and includes a foreword by J.J. Abrams, 230 strips by Spy artist Peter Kuper, 56 Spy strips by Bob Clarke, 85 Spy strips and Sunday newspaper strips by Dave Manak, and material from the popular Spy Mountain Dew commercials, AOL's Spys Jr., and MAD TV spots. 304 pages. (8x11)
Lee: 300 pages of Spy v. Spy. What isn’t to love? Now I have to go find volume #1.
Jim: Spy vs. Spy is always fun. I always loved those one page 4 to 6 panel gags.

FROM THE TOMB #23
In this issue (topped with an Al Feldstein cover) you'll find stories on EC's Voodoo tales, Fiction House part 2, Eerie Publications from the 1970s-80s, sex in the EC Comics, Al Williamson at DC, Skywald, Maurice Whitman, and Johnny Bell. Plus, the Mammoth Book of Horror Comics. Lastly, small press, and book and film reviews. 72 pages.
Lee: As always, a big push for “From the Tomb”. This is an invaluable tool for all horror comic lovers. It’s big, bold & beautiful. GO GET IT!!!
Jim: ……………………………okay, you go get it. Not into the magazine side of this stuff.

ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #20
The works of Jim Flora, best known for his hundreds of incredible jazz record illustrations, is the subject of this month's cover story with an article that presents the inside scoop on the re-discovery of his work with the publication of the new book, The Curiously Sinister Art of Jim Flora, by Irwin Chusid. The issue also includes an extensive feature on the art of Andrew Loomis, best known for his classic drawing books, and the work of magazine illustrator Andy Virgil. Also included are book reviews, a guide to events and exhibitions, and much more! 112 pages.
Lee: And, on the other spectrum, if you have any interest in the graphic arts then get this magazine. This has super sharp production with huge pictures or the art, card stock cover, and slick paper. A wonderful read.
Jim: See previous comment.

Jim: As always lots of great stuff and I really hope people are trying out at least one or two books from some of the small press publishers.
Lee: I agree, there is so many different and interesting titles that people should try. I really hope there was something in here that caught your eye. Good reading everyone!