Top Shelf Productions

Shortlisted for the Heritage Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival!

Welcome to the quiet, evocative urban dramas of Masahiko Matsumoto, one of the leading lights of the Japanese alternative-comics movement known as "gekiga." Originally published in 1974, these eleven stories now form the first English-language collection of Matsumoto's mature work. His shy, uncertain heroes face broken hearts, changing families, money troubles, sexual anxiety, and the pressures of tradition, but with a whimsy and lightness of touch that is Matsumoto's trademark. Edited by Sean Michael Wilson, with a new introduction by Matsumoto's well-known colleague, the late Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Also included: a biographical back section by Mitsuhiro Asakawa.

Cigarette Girl by Masahiko Matsumoto
Softcover graphic novel with French flaps, 264 pages, $24.99 (US)
Printed in Japanese format, right-to-left
ISBN 978-1-60309-382-8 - Diamond: MAR16-0496
Coming in May/June 2016!

For details and a 13-page preview, click here!

In the early 20th century, the world's wealthiest men — captains of industry like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Morgan and Carnegie — spend their leisure on the tiny Georgia island of Jekyll. But when a terrifying new threat rises from the ashes of the Great War, it will take more than money to defend the free world — it will take a new generation of heroes.

Set in an alternate version of the age of invention, The Jekyll Island Chronicles: A Machine Age War begins a thrilling new series of graphic novels. Blending elements of historical fact, clockwork technology, and dieselpunk style, they span an age of furious mechanical advancement while exploring the span of man’s soul – whether good or evil.

The Jekyll Island Chronicles: A Machine Age War
Written by Steve Nedvidek, Ed Crowell, & Jack Lowe. Illustrated by Moses Nester, with colors by S. J. Miller.
Full-color graphic novel with French flaps, 176 pages, $19.99 (US)
ISBN 978-1-60309-388-0 - Diamond: MAR16-0501
Coming in May/June 2016!

For details and a 9-page preview, click here!

Our hats — and cricket helmets — are off to Julian Hanshaw today, as his charming and moody graphic novel Tim Ginger is announced as a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize!

Before Julian came to Top Shelf, he had already racked up considerable acclaim (and awards) in his native Britain for works such as The Art of Pho. Now, with Tim Ginger, he blends themes of childlessness and grief with a personal fascination for conspiracy theories, cricket, and the American southwest, resulting in a graphic novel that several critics have named one of the best of 2015. Broken Frontier called it "emotive subject matter tackled with grace and serenity," concluding that "Tim Ginger rewards not just a second reading but a third and a fourth – each revisit adding extra layers to its thematic core, and revealing subtle nuances to the interrelated plot threads that lead in to that final, awe-inspiring revelation."

In celebration, Julian Hanshaw will a featured guest of the LA Times Festival of Books, held April 9 -10, 2016 at the University of Southern California. Winners of the Book Prizes will be announced at the April 9 award ceremony.

In their first collaboration, God Is Disappointed in You, Mark Russell & Shannon Wheeler’s faithful-yet-irreverent approach to the Bible sparked an instant connection with readers of all backgrounds. Now, by popular demand, they turn their attention to the parts left out of the canonical Bible, including the Midrash, the Apocrypha, the Gnostic Gospels, and more.

Think of these as the DVD extras to the holy scripture: missing scenes, alternate versions of familiar stories, and long-lost strangeness from Biblical times.

This is what the Bible didn't tell you. And there's more to the story than you can imagine.

Apocrypha Now by Mark Russell & Shannon Wheeler
A 196-page, 2-color illustrated prose hardcover, 5 1/4" x 8 1/4"
with foil-stamped cover, gilded edges, and satin ribbon
$19.99 (USD) • ISBN 978-1-60309-369-9 • Diamond code: FEB16-0424

God Is Disappointed in You & Apocrypha Now — Slipcase Set
Celebrate the second coming of Mark Russell & Shannon Wheeler with this handy slipcase set, containing two hilarious must-have books at one amazing price. Perfect for gift-giving.
$34.99 (USD) • ISBN 978-1-60309-386-6 • Diamond code: FEB16-0425

Pre-order now for a Spring 2016 release!

It's here! Following his award-winning graphic novel Lucille, Ludovic Debeurme's Renée is in stores now and ready to break your heart. In a remarkable development, Debeurme balances the elegant minimalism of Lucille with stunningly detailed dreams and grotesque visions. See why Renée is being called "powerful and crushingly beautiful... Read it and be haunted."

Renee by Ludovic Debeurme
Softcover graphic novel with French flaps, 544 pages
$29.95 (US)
ISBN 978-1-60309-304-0 • Diamond order code: NOV150469

Named one of the year's 20 Essential Graphic Novels by ACBD (the French Association of Comics Critics)!

"Do you love to be unsettled and shaken up by a book? Then you'll love Renée." — Le Monde

"With detailed hatching reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch, Ludovic Debeurme crafts fantastical and poignant scenes… Debeurme has invented a unique poetry here, with intelligence and grace." — Les InRocks

"A very dark book that brilliantly depicts human misery. Many will not hesitate to rank it beside the American masters Charles Burns and Daniel Clowes." — La République

Soon after the New York City Department of Education honored March with its NYC Reads 365 program, we are proud to share a new endorsement for this landmark series by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell.

The Anti-Defamation League has declared March: Book One their Book of the Month. As the ADL puts it, reading can "help children explore the true diversity of our world. Books can also teach children to understand and challenge bias and bullying and to promote social action in order to combat injustice."

To help readers get the most out of March, the ADL offers two discussion guides, for educators and for parents & family. These and several other resources can be found from the dedicated March page on our web site.

Eisner Award winner James Kochalka is a master of many media, from comics to music to film and beyond... but one of his all-time most beloved projects is his series of graphic novels for kids starring the little ghost Johnny Boo, and his pet ghost Squiggle. In the new issue of Diamond Previews, we're delighted to unveil a brand-new adventure, Johnny Boo Goes Like This!, plus an awesome new boxed set of the series' first five books, Johnny Boo's Big Boo Box — both coming in March 2016!

Johnny Boo (Book 7): Goes Like This! by James Kochalka
ISBN: 978-1-60309-384-2 • Diamond: JAN16-0450
$9.99 (US) • 48-page full-color hardcover, 6” x 9”
Johnny Boo and Squiggle come across a giant pencil! Is it... magical? Whatever it is, when Johnny Boo draws with it, his drawings come to life. Before you know it, they're off on another adventure, filled with tigers, ice cream monsters, and truly unbelievable hairstyles. Celebrate the power of creativity - the Johnny Boo way!
In stores March 2016 - click here for a 5-page preview!

Johnny Boo's Big Boo Box! by James Kochalka
ISBN: 978-1-60309-385-9 • Diamond: JAN16-0451
$39.99 (US) • Slipcase set of FIVE 40-page full-color hardcover graphic novels, 6” x 9” x 2"
Collecting Johnny Boo's first five fan-favorite adventures, from
Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World to Johnny Boo Does Something!

Ray Friesen's PIRATE PENGUIN VS NINJA CHICKEN is back, and funnier than ever before! Join the adventure in March!

Pirate Penguin vs Ninja Chicken (Book 2): Escape from Skull-Fragment Island!
by Ray Friesen
ISBN: 978-1-60309-367-5 • JAN16-045623
$14.99 (US) • 112-page full-color hardcover, 6.5” x 8.5”
Set phasers for maximum silly: Ray Friesen, the non-stop sugar rush called by Booklist “a manic blend of mayhem and adventure,” is back for more! When Pirate Penguin and Ninja Chicken stumble across a mystical lost sword, a rip-roaring aquatic adventure ensues, with appearances by cousin Privateer Puffin, the terrifying Pirate Queen, and two unforgettable "mermaids." PLUS: our heroes get trapped in a Swedish furniture store, and a dozen more wacky short stories!
In stores March 2016 - click here for a 6-page preview!

As 2016 kicks off, critics everywhere continue their annual exercise of looking back on 2015 to select the year's best books... and Top Shelf has been scoring big!

The bestselling civil rights saga March: Book Two received tremendous acclaim from two dozen publications, including The Washington Post, NPR, and the New York Public Library. As GQ sums up: "It is vital, gripping work, passionately rendered and meticulously researched, equal parts true story and moving graphic memoir." Congratulations to Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, & Nate Powell on these well-deserved honors.

Critics also couldn't stop talking about Jennifer Hayden and her unforgettable memoir The Story of My Tits — named one of the year's best by (among many others) Library Journal, Comic Book Resources, Forbes, and even the New York Times! In the words of Paste, "Jennifer Hayden’s funny, sad, stunning graphic novel remixes various pieces of her life centered around a mastectomy in the wake of a diagnosis that 12 percent of all women encounter... Hayden remains a relatable, charming guide throughout all 349 pages, offering a new touchstone of empathy and endurance."

Fans of Alex Robinson celebrated the year-end arrival of his newest masterwork, and promptly placed Our Expanding Universe on "Best of 2015" lists from The Comics Alternative to The Oklahoman. Grab it yourself and discover what Publishers Weekly's critic calls "a character driven portrait of friends in New York [that] deals with all the big issues of relationships, cheating, parenting. One of the most absorbing graphic novels I've read."

Eddie Campbell scored significant accolades as well, from the likes of Publishers Weekly and The AV Club. If you haven't explored his massive Bacchus Omnibus Edition yet, the Village Voice urges you to do so: "Campbell's breakneck inking and skittering Zip-a-Tone accents perfectly complement his fantasias of the god of wine and cronies wandering through the twentieth century."

All that plus critical love for Tim Ginger, The Motorcycle Samurai, and Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas... what an amazing year! Thanks for your support of independing publishing, and here's to more great stuff to come.

The groundbreaking graphic novel memoir of a living legend of the civil rights movement, March: Book One has swiftly become an iconic work. Created by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, this #1 New York Times bestseller is also a Coretta Scott King Honor book, a required text in classrooms across America, and the first graphic novel to win a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.

Now for the first time ever, this modern classic — praised by everyone from President Bill Clinton to LeVar Burton to Tim Cook — will appear in an oversized hardcover edition (8" x 11.7"), so the stunning work of Lewis, Aydin, and Powell can be appreciated on a grander scale.

Pre-order now via your favorite retailer, for release in February 2016!

The master cartoonist behind Box Office Poison, Tricked, and Too Cool to Be Forgotten is back! Our Expanding Universe, the new graphic novel from Alex Robinson, is available now from your favorite retailer. Click here for a preview, or take it from these critics:

"In Our Expanding Universe, Robinson considers the big choice — to have kids or not... It's a delight to watch him pile speech bubbles atop each other, assemble mundane elements into complicated full-page tableaux and mix realism with fantasy." — NPR

"Robinson is a genius at characterization, and masterly in weaving the friendships and relationships together; the players are so believable and real that readers will continue thinking about them long after the story concludes." — Publishers Weekly

"Robinson's ability to examine the awkward, to comment on societal trends, and to grab you by the heart and pull wet stuff from your tear ducts are all fully on display here... Top notch." — Under the Radar

"An improbably well-balanced examination of friendship and parenthood."— Page 45

While you're shopping, pick up the striking new cover edition of Alex Robinson's multi-award-winning debut, Box Office Poison, declared by Wizard Magazine the best indy graphic novel of all time! As the AV Club once said: it's "a salute to comics, an exploration of the human condition, and a solid, absorbing, and riotously snide tale about at least half of the things that make life important."

And don't miss the stunning Slipcase Edition of Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill's Nemo Trilogy! With these three standalone adventures, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen creators follow pirate queen Janni Nemo on decades of rip-roaring escapades around the globe, from Lovecraftian horrors to metallo-fascist monstrosities. Now you can get — or give — the full trilogy in a gorgeous boxed set for one low price.

More congratulations are in order for Team March (Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell). Last night at the Indiana Library Federation's annual conference, the Association of Indiana School Library Educators announced their shortlist of candidates for next year's prestigious Young Hoosier Book Award — and the most advanced category, Middle Grades, features March: Book One!

Indiana's thousands of libraries will now spend the next year stocking up on the nominated titles, before the 2016-17 school year begins and students begin voting.

Meanwhile, students in Oklahoma are reading March in preparation to vote in the Sequoyah Book Awards, which have also nominated Book One for their 2016 list.

And as the year's end nears, March: Book Two has been declared one of the Best Books of 2015 by Publishers Weekly as well as The Washington Post, which declared "there is perhaps no more important modern book to be stocked in American school libraries... March is a powerful marriage of eloquent, stirring words and artful, gut-punching pictures."

Congratulations to Jennifer Hayden — her ambitious, hilarious, heartbreaking graphic memoir The Story of My Tits continues to earn rave reviews, and was announced today as one of the Best Books of 2015 by both Amazon.com and Library Journal!

"I wanted something that would take my voice and transmit it to the reader as easily as if I was having a beer with them at the kitchen table," explains Hayden in a new interview with Publishers Weekly. "I wanted that informality and immediacy." Readers have embraced the result, which goes far beyond a breast-cancer narrative to a page-turning exploration of adolescence, adulthood, family, love, and grief. "I set out to tell a survivor's story that would be the story of a woman, and the last chapter is cancer — not a cancer story per se."

Jennifer's next appearance is next Saturday, November 21, at the Miami Book Fair.

Read a 12-page sample of this landmark book and see why critics call it "everything a graphic memoir can and should be"!

The New York City Department of Education has unveiled "NYC Reads 365" — a new program "to promote a City that reads every day" with a central list of recommended books for each grade level. Top Shelf is proud to announce that the 7th/8th grade list includes March: Book One, the award-winning graphic memoir by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell!

The selected titles will be placed and promoted throughout New York's public schools and public libraries, along with a variety of tie-in resources for students and their families.

After accolades from the Robert F. Kennedy Book Awards, the American Library Association, and university first-year programs nationwide, we are honored to see March now receive this endorsement from America's largest public school system.

If you're a teacher looking to join this growing movement and bring the transformative March series into your classroom, please click here to download our comprehensive teacher's guides.

It's here! After great anticipation and a sell-out early launch at New York Comic-Con, Troy Little's stunning graphic novel adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas hits comic shops everywhere this week.

But how to promote this full-color monument to American ingenuity? For guidance, we turned to the words of Thompson himself: "If a thing like this is worth doing at all, it's worth doing right... We'd be fools not to ride this strange torpedo all the way out to the end." So the only way to handle a book like this, we felt, was to dress up like human peacocks and get crazy, then screech off across the desert and hold some signings.

We'll be replicating, as closely as possible, the actual journey depicted in the book — drinks at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, driving through the California desert in a convertible, and searching for the American Dream on the Las Vegas Strip. But instead of a briefcase of intoxicants, Troy will be loaded with art supplies, so he can document the experience in comics form as we go. So what are you waiting for? "Buy the ticket, take the ride!"

FEAR AND LOATHING ON THE ROAD: Artist Troy Little's Signing Tour
(watch this space for updates!)
10/28 • City Cinema (Charlottetown, PE)
10/30-11/1 • Hal-Con (Halifax, NS)
11/6 • San Diego Comic Art Gallery (San Diego)
11/7 • Comickaze Comics & More (San Diego)
11/8 • Meltdown Comics (Los Angeles)
11/9 • The Polo Lounge (Los Angeles)
11/10 • Barnes & Noble (Santa Monica)
11/11 • Maximum Comics #1 (Southwest Las Vegas)
11/12 • Maximum Comics #2 (Henderson)
11/13 • Maximum Comics #3 (Northwest Las Vegas)
11/13 • Barnes & Noble (Northwest Las Vegas)
11/13 • Karaoke party @ Flex Cocktail Lounge (Las Vegas)

Fans of Ludovic Debeurme and his award-winning graphic novel Lucille have cause for celebration! Top Shelf is pleased to announce the poetic and emotionally wrenching sequel, Renée, now available for pre-order from your favorite retailer.

Renee by Ludovic Debeurme
Softcover graphic novel with French flaps, 544 pages
$29.95 (US)
ISBN 978-1-60309-304-0 • Diamond order code: NOV150469

Named one of the year's 20 Essential Graphic Novels by ACBD (the French Association of Comics Critics)!

"With detailed hatching reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch, Ludovic Debeurme crafts fantastical and poignant scenes, exploring the ordinary monstrosity of man and his anxieties… Debeurme has invented a unique poetry here, with intelligence and grace." — Les InRocks

"Renée's triple-voiced narrative is beautifully constructed, and proves Debeurme's enduring talent for breaking the traditional boundaries of comics. Simply excellent." — Citrouille / Association of Booksellers for Youth

The acclaimed French cartoonist Ludovic Debeurme returns with the devastating follow-up to his prize-winning graphic novel Lucille. While Lucille moves back in with her mother and Arthur serves time in prison for murder, directionless young Renée becomes obsessed with a married jazz musician twice her age. Balancing the grotesque and the graceful, Debeurme's haunting border-less panels follow these three lost souls between dreams and reality, twining their stories together into a poignant and universal search for redemption.
Click here for details and an 11-page preview!

Strong Female Protagonist: Book One
by Brennan Lee Mulligan and Molly Ostertag
$19.95 (US)
ISBN 978-0-692-24618-4 • Diamond: JUN148321
"Bold and interesting." — Entertainment Weekly

"Strong Female Protagonist... bring[s] new questions about vigilantism, justice, and heroics to the field, standing alongside stories like Watchmen and Soon I Will Be Invincible in the canon of witty, thoughtful commentaries on superheroism that manage to be, at the same time, extremely satisfying as superhero comics." — Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing

Brennan Lee Mulligan and Molly Ostertag have earned a devoted following for their slice-of-super-life webcomic Strong Female Protagonist — now bring it to your bookshelf! One of Comic Book Resources' Best Books of the Year leaps back into action with a new printing in January. Don't miss it!