Top Shelf Productions

Lisa is a sweet unicorn girl with a cyborg arm… and anger issues… who’s late for her first day of work. And if this occult fast food chain’s minions don’t stop attacking, she’ll never achieve her dream of making it as a musician!

Meet Kevin Alvir at Brooklyn's Desert Island Comics on September 14th!

As the indie comics community descends once again on Bethesda, Maryland, for Small Press Expo this weekend, the Top Shelf booth (W56-W59) is your chance to meet seven outstanding creators and discover their unforgettable books:

Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz by Luca Debus and Francesco Matteuzzi finally reaches stores this week! And to launch it with a bang, yesterday's Sunday New York Times Book Review featured a thoughtful and heartfelt review of the book, written by none other than Jeff Smith, the bestselling author of Bone.

Comic-Con starts (gulp) tomorrow night! Stop by the IDW/Top Shelf booth (#2729) to meet these fabulous folks:

• Eddie Campbell (The Second Fake Death of Eddie Campbell)
• Hannah Templer (Cosmoknights)
• Dennis Messner (The Unpetables)
• Kim Dwinell (Surfside Girls)

Plus we'll have gorgeous recent releases like Cosmic Cadets and Skull Cat, and extended members of the Top Shelf family like Maria & Peter Hoey at their own booth!

And on Friday, don't miss the “IDW Publishing: 2023 and Beyond” panel featuring Top Shelf Editor-in-Chief Chris Staros and Cosmoknights author Hannah Templer, at 1:30 in room 10!

After revisiting the award-winning bestseller From Hell with a newly-colored Master Edition, the internationally beloved raconteur and master of observational comics Eddie Campbell found himself stuck at home in a pandemic lockdown, itching to return to the multi-layered meta-memoir approach of his 2006 classic The Fate of the Artist. The result, released today, is not just a deluxe new edition of that long-out-of-print gem but also a brand-new sequel, joined at the hip in a delightful "flip-book" hardcover that starts at either end.

Praise for The Second Fake Death of Eddie Campbell:

• “Through a collage of early 1900s–style illustrations, blunt political cartoons, subtle slice-of-life moments, gallows humor, and a surreal crime story, Campbell wrestles with his own existential crisis as he attempts to uncover the truth behind his apparent doppelgänger. It’s an indelible pseudo-autobiography from a true master of comics storytelling.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
• “Campbell merges memoir and hardboiled mystery to create a fascinating and revealing portrait of how world events impact an individual’s sense of self and creative drive.” — Library Journal

Eddie Campbell is not himself. But these days, who is? It’s meta-fictional mystery and mischief as the award-winning artist of From Hell sets out to find his own imposter. Plus, on the flipside: a deluxe new presentation of The Fate of the Artist, Eddie Campbell’s classic work of graphic meta-memoir!

Based on true events, Transitions is an emotional, informative, and ultimately affirming book, perfect for allies seeking to support transgender loved ones.

“I thought I was open-minded...”

Award-winning graphic novelist Élodie Durand (Parenthesis) achieves a new landmark in nonfiction comics with Transitions: A Mother’s Journey. A sympathetic and moving story of a family’s journey to acceptance, Transitions is translated for English-speaking audiences for the first time by Evan McGorray, and will be published by Top Shelf Productions in November 2023.

In Transitions, university biologist Anne Marbot learns that the 19-year-old she raised as “Lucie” is a transgender man named Alex. Struggling to understand her son’s new identity, she’s overwhelmed by questions. How can this be? Who put these ideas in your head? What if you regret it? Am I overreacting? How will your grandparents react? Why didn’t I see it coming? Why is this so easy for others? Am I a bigot? What does gender really mean, anyway? How can I be the parent my child needs? The news of her child’s transition hits Anne like a tidal wave, sweeping away all her certainties and the comfort of her tidy life.

It soon becomes clear that Alex is not the only one embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The road is not easy, and sometimes their relationship is bitterly strained. But Alex is sure of himself, and Anne is determined to be strong for his sake. With time, she too will be transformed, rediscovering her identity as a mother in profound new ways.

Praise for Emilia McKenzie's But You Have Friends:

• "A tender graphic memoir about the loss of a close friend... thoughtful, loving, and honest." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

When a dear friend dies by suicide, Emilia is left with only memories. Full of humor and poignancy, this graphic memoir is a meditation on the meaning of friendship and a love letter to an irreplaceable friend.

Praise for Dennis Messner's The Unpetables:

• "Hog wild hilarity." —Kirkus Reviews
• "Pigmund and Lizárdo are flippin' awesome! They may be unpetable, but they're also UNSTOPPABLE! Bring on the next adventure!" — Rob Harrell, author of Wink, Batpig, Life of Zarf, and Monster on the Hill
• “Take a wild ride with Dennis Messner’s The Unpetables. It’s the funniest adventure that a runaway pig and a lizard ever had. It’s got laughs, action, thrills, heart, and a werewolf hamster named Mr. Buttercups.” — Kaz, SpongeBob SquarePants writer, and creator of the comic strip Underworld

These two best friends have had ENOUGH of being petted! It’s a non-stop zany middle-grade adventure as they bust out of the petting zoo and hit the road to find their destiny.

As part of Pride 2023, Top Shelf celebrates two of our most dazzling LGBTQ+ series: one hot new release from Hannah Templer and one amazing pre-order from Axelle Lenoir.

Yesterday Newsarama broke the news of our upcoming publication of Lisa Cheese and Ghost Guitar: Attack of the Snack by the incredible Brooklyn powerhouse Kevin Alvir!

This action-packed, outrageously funny, and remarkably relatable graphic novel will hit stores in September. Read on for the full press release:

Coming soon to a retailer near you, check out our June on-sale comics in Penguin Random House’s March Direct Market Catalog!

• Cosmoknights (Book Two) by Hannah Templer
  On sale June 13th!
  Escape was just the beginning. The sensational “gays in space” webcomic/graphic novel returns, with new faces, long-awaited reunions, higher stakes, and more thrilling action!
• Chester 5000 (Book 1) by Jesse Fink — new edition with updated artwork!
  On sale June 27th (for adults only, 18+)
  A vintage delight for adult readers of all stripes, Jess Fink’s award-winning graphic novel debut reads like a whimsical love child of steampunk, silent film, and erotic comics.
• The Unpetables by Dennis Messner
  On sale June 20th!
  These two best friends have had ENOUGH of being petted! It’s a non-stop zany middle-grade adventure as they bust out of the petting zoo and hit the road to find their destiny.

Super Trash Clash and Onion Skin author Edgar Camacho joined Comix Experience’s Brian Hibbs not long ago for a delightful conversation about childhood video games, drawing cartoon characters with his mom, the comics scene in Mexico, his self-published Spanish-language collector’s edition of Super Trash Clash, and what makes nostalgia so powerful in graphic novels. Check out the hour-long video here!

In Álvaro Ortiz's Ashes, hitting stores today, three old friends reunite for the road trip of a lifetime.

• “Ortiz’s classic cartoon art style lends itself well to the wacky and surprising elements of his road trip story, while the characters’ reasons for growing apart and coming back together feel true. Ortiz’s English debut will be perfect for fans of Guy Delisle’s work.” —Booklist
• "Subtle, lyrical, friendly and funny... An adventure paced like a madcap movie plot, with underlying minor chords." —Library Journal
• “This laid-back, sneakily smart charmer should garner Ortiz a new audience.” —Publishers Weekly

Our parents can’t stop a galactic war… but maybe we can? Strap in for a colorful and action-packed space adventure about friendship, family, and fear of the unknown!

Humanity has gone to the stars, and the ESS Khonsu and its crew are leading the charge to explore the galaxy. As the son of the ship’s captain, Jimmil might not always live up to his mom’s expectations… but right now he and his friends might be the galaxy’s only hope.