Below are some comic strip and cartoon books scheduled for May 2024 release.
Images and links from a variety of publishers and outlets,
though ordering through your local comic shop or independent book store is a good idea.
Nancy & Sluggo’s Guide to Life by Ernie Bushmiller
This collection of Bushmiller’s Nancy brings together a selection from the beloved Kitchen Sink Press editions of Nancy strips, including How Sluggo Survives! and Nancy Eats Food, as well as a number of newly selected cartoons.
Together, this wide-ranging collection offers a chance for readers to experience the full range of Bushmiller’s absurd humor and unexpected visual delights. As Nancy once said: “Anything can happen in a comic strip!”
It Rose From The Tomb by Peter Normanton
Rising from the depths of history comes an all-new examination of the 20th Century’s best horror comics … From the pulps and seminal horror comics of the 1940s, through ones they tried to ban in the 1950s, this tome explores how the genre survived the introduction of the Comics Code, before making its terrifying return during the 1960s and 1970s. Come face-to-face with the early days of ACG’s alarming line, every horror comic from June 1953, hypodermic horrors, DC’s Gothic romance comics, Marvel’s Giant-Size terrors, Skywald and Warren’s chillers, and Atlas Seaboard’s shocking magazines. The 192-page full-color opus exhumes Bernie Wrightson’s darkest constructs, plus artwork by Frank Frazetta, Neal Adams, Mike Kaluta, Steve Ditko, Matt Fox, Warren Kremer, Lee Elias, Bill Everett, Russ Heath, The Gurch, and many more.
In this collection of Phoebe and her Unicorn comic strips, nine-year-old Phoebe Howell and her magical unicorn friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, explore the complexities of popularity, friendship, and crushes. Phoebe finds herself in the awkward position of taking on her friend Max in a debate contest and also helping her best frenemy, Dakota, regain her confidence. Marigold goes to therapy and reconnects with a friend named Sparkleface McGee who she hasn’t seen in 700 years. And both Phoebe and Marigold draw a fun series of comics about their lives.
Terry and the Pirates: The Master Collection Vol. 7: 1941 – Raven, Evermore by Milton Caniff
Embroiled in the guerilla struggle against the invader, Terry meets “Madame Lustre” (AKA Burma!) and matches wits German officers Kiel and Wolff. When Terry eventually reunites with Dude Hennick and Raven Sherman, the stage is set for one of the greatest stories in comics history, with Death waiting to strike unexpectedly. Terry’s road leads back to Hong Kong for a major reunion and a welcome-home kiss from April, but the delightful Miss Kane has secret troubles in the form of small-time grifter Sammy the Tapper. Everyone’s fortunes are poised to change as Christmas arrives and America charges headlong into World War II!
This tabloid-sized Volume 7 containing the 1941 dailies and Sundays is an unparalleled upgrade that no Terry fan can afford to pass up.
Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, 3d ed. by William Bryan Jones, Jr. (paperback)
In its expanded third edition, this definitive work on Classics Illustrated explores the enduring series of comic-book adaptations of literary masterpieces in even greater depth, with twice the number of color plates as in the second edition. Drawing on interviews, correspondence, fanzines, and archival research, the book covers in full detail the work of the artists, editors, scriptwriters, and publishers who contributed to the success of the “World’s Finest Juvenile Publication.” Many previously unpublished reproductions of original art are included, along with new chapters covering editor Meyer Kaplan, art director L.B. Cole, and artist John Parker; additional information on contributions from Black artists and scriptwriters such as Matt Baker, Ezra Jackson, George D. Lipscomb, and Lorenz Graham; and a complete issue-by-issue listing of significant international series.
Why They Married by Montgomery Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg (1877/1960) was an American illustrator best remembered today for his iconic Uncle Sam poster (“I Want YOU for U. S. Army”). WHY THEY MARRIED is a comic illustration accompanied by Flagg’s humorous reflections on the reasons for marriage.
The original 1906 book online.
“Mr.” was Joe Green, and “Mrs.” was his wife, Vi. They also had a young son named Roscoe. Joe and Vi argued a lot. They weren’t as bad as Leroy and Loretta Lockhorn, but their relationship was characterized more by mutual antagonism than affection. Neither was especially good-looking, or appealing in any other way. They were middle-aged and dumpy, and seldom made clever or interesting remarks, unless you count their barbs at each other.
The original 1922 book online.
The Gang’s All Here! A Wendle’s Life Treasury by Clayton Bouldin
The softcover version of the first Wendle’s Life treasury that includes all the comic strips from “I’m Not Weird I’m Misunderstood”, “Never Date A Girl With A Mullet Bigger Than Yours” and “At Least It’s Not Me Getting The Wedgie This Time”.
Worry Lines: You’re Doing Really Well Given the Circumstances
Worry Lines creates illustrations that feel like a big hug from an old friend. From lighthearted explorations of anxiety, heartwarming comics about love, and heartfelt tributes to the power of potatoes, these simple yet emotionally complex comics are deeply relatable, witty, and wise. Artful, funny, and endlessly sweet, “You’re Doing Really Well Given the Circumstances” is a hopeful tonic for troubled times.
Always Anthony by Terri Libenson
Friends. Bullies.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Anthony is TPFW (Too Popular For Words), loves science, hates writing.
Leah is a super-shy nerd who’s finally making friends of her own.
What could they have in common?
A lot more than they thought, as it turns out!
But then one day they witness Anthony’s teammates bullying a sixth grader. What happens next could cement their new friendship—or blow it up forever.
New York Times bestseller Terri Libenson is back with a story about unexpected friendship and everyday bravery.
COMICS REVUE PRESENTS APRIL 2024
Complete in this issue: Rick O’Shay (1959-60) by Stan Lynde, Buz Sawyer (1972) by Roy Crane, Sir Bagby (1964) by R&D Hackney. 19 pages of color Sunday pages featuring Alley Oop by V.T. Hamlin, The Phantom by Lee Falk, Flash Gordon by Dan Barry, and Steve Canyon by Milton Caniff. Plus a wealth of B&W features: Chris Welkin-Planeteer, Garth, Mandrake the Magician, Augusta, Casey Ruggles by Warren Tufts, Gasoline Alley and much more.
Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums by Bob Eckstein
A beautiful, smart, entertaining new art book from New Yorker cartoonist and author Bob Eckstein that is a love letter to museums and museum-goers, filled with lush and whimsical illustrations paired with stories and anecdotes from curators, museum workers, museum visitors, and more.
The 75+ museums featured include the biggest and boldest names (MoMA, the Whitney) and the more offbeat (Museum of Bad Art, the Museum of Jurassic Technology). They span the US, Canada, and Mexico and include those specializing in art, natural history, academia and science, and more. The 155 original pieces of artwork illustrate a story about the museum or showcase a particular work of art in its collection.
Welcome to Elwich—an oasis of small-town perfection, where the schools overflow with cheery-eyed children, lovingly adorned homes line the historic boulevards . . . and only the crows can see the deep, festering rot that lurks beneath the pristine surface.
Joys and Glooms, A Book of Drawings by T. E. Powers
Discover a classic old comic strip published in 1912 with drawings by the famous illustrator Thomas E. Powers.
Joys and Glooms, a classic with a filiform drawing line that has never been equalled.
The original 1912 edition online.
Discover the talent of cartoonist Phil May with humorous snapshots typical of the atmosphere at the end of the 19th century.
The original 1896 book online.
Tomfoolery by James Montgomery Flagg
This book, “Tomfoolery”, by James Montgomery Flagg, is a new layout from Comic Books Restore, but it is the same replica of a book originally published in 1904.
The original 1904 book online,
Sketch o’the Week…and other stuff Vol 5- Special TV Guide Edition! by Tom Richmond
… a new collection of sketches and caricatures from Tom’s popular “Sketch o’the Week” blog feature, this volume is themed around classic and current television shows and stars! This book contains over 150 caricatures done in pencil on paper, all drawn in Tom’s distinctive style.
62 pages, square bound paperback, black and white, full color glossy cover
Autographed by Tom!
KEEFER MADNESS! K Chronicles Collection #8 by Keith Knight
The long-awaited 8th collection of Keef’s long running autobiographical multi-panel strip. Don’t you dare sleep on this! Also available in numbered and doodled ARTISTS EDITION.
New Kid 3-Book Box Set: New Kid, Class Act, School Trip by Jerry Craft
From critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Jerry Craft comes a new special box set that includes all three books in his award-winning collection of graphic novels.
In New Kid, winner of the Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize, you’ll meet twelve-year-old Jordan Banks as he starts seventh grade at the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School—where diversity is low and expectations are high.
In Class Act, Jordan’s friends Drew and Liam have their own struggles as they enter their eighth grade year. Can two kids who are really so different still be friends?
And the saga soars to new heights in School Trip, where Jordan, Drew, Liam, and the rest of their friends all feel like the “new kid” as they spend an entire week in Paris.
Alley Oop: The First Time-Travel Adventures: Dailies 1939–42 by V. T. Hamlin
Never before collected: four years of rare Alley Oop Daily Strips! Alley Oop’s time-traveling adventures begin! Join Alley as he fights in the Trojan War, joins Ulysses’ Odyssey, visits Cleopatra’s Egypt, sails the Spanish Main, plunges into World War II, and more! You’ve seen the Sunday pages; now enjoy the daily strips, all featuring the time-travel stories, from the very beginning. Beautifully restored from 1939-1942 in this oversize and impressively thick hardcover.
More Alley Oop by Hamlin and Graue – regularly published by Chris Aruffo and available through Bud Plant
feature image: Baldo by Hector D. Cantú and Carlos Castellanos
The “Alley Oop” book is just fantastic. It seems as if Chris Aruffo has dedicated his life to ensuring that the complete run of V.T. Hamlin / Dave Graue is printed. So far the dailies have only been presented in a soft cover format, one year in each volume. This book not only sets a new standard by reprinting four years of strips but it makes the customers wish that all of the strips had been printed in a similar format. Aruffo has given insight to the many, many hours that he has spent restoring strips on the Oop FB page and it is simply amazing the effort and dedication he has provided. Now if we could only find someone to spend their lifes working on a complete reprint of “Rick O’Shay”….
Not only wishing for a complete Rick O’Shay, but finishing that lovely hardcover collection of Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray! It’s tragic that IDW bailed on LOAC. I’ve got all the volumes printed but would love to see a full set.
They bailed on Steve Canyon and Rip Kirby as well just like Drawn & Quarterly did the same with Gasoline Alley. Grateful for what has been printed but, like you, would love to see a complete run.