Off The Shelf: Hello, Cruel World

At first, Hello Cruel World by Indianapolis artist Ron Braun seems to simply follow a small group of friends as they struggle to adapt to life after college, but things start to go a little supernatural after a mysterious stranger appears in their lives!

Fans of all things zombie and vampire will love this collection that features the entire run of the Hello Cruel World and Dakk Waggitt, Platypus For Hire! comic strips, original concept sketches, guest and fan art, promotional material, never-before-seen strips, celebrity fan photos and much more.

You can get your own copy for only $9.99 here and if you use the coupon code FALLBOOKS at LULU and you can get another 20% off that price!

References:

• Toon-It-Up, Graphic Novels
• LULU Store, Hello, Cruel World

Off The Shelf: Dead Man's Run

Written by acclaimed 'Hulk' writer Greg Pak and Art by Tony Parker, Walking Dead producer Gale Ann Hurd, and Tony Parker, penciller of the Eisner-nominated 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Phillip K. Dick), comes this winter's biggest blockbuster new series - DEAD MAN'S RUN!

They call the prison 'Hell.' And they just might be right. The nation's toughest soldier heads into the world's most deadly maximum security lock-up and uncovers a world of terror and temptation beyond his darkest dreams. Featuring a brand-new 12-page story that sets the stage for next month's upcoming premiere of DEAD MAN'S RUN #1, make sure to get in on the ground floor of this newest exciting Aspen hit series!

Complete with an additional sketchbook section showcasing the astounding artwork of series artist Tony Parker, never before seen character designs and sketches, and surrounded by a stunning new cover, this special zero issue is definitely not to be missed!

References:

• Greg Pak.com, Pak Buzz
• PDX Comic Geeks, Dead Man's Run #0
• Friends of The Dallas Public Library, Greg Pak Nov. 4th!

Off The Shelf: Hard Rock Heroes

This 240-page graphic novel was released in March of 2010 by Blue Water Productions who also published Female Force: Margaret Thatcher, Logan's Run and have a Joan Jett comic coming out in June. This Hard Rock book features the biggest, dumbest bands in mainstream rock from 1980 to 1990.

This book, based on the unauthorized biographies originally put together by Todd Loren who was killed at age 32 in San Diego in 1992, covers that special time in music when big hair and men-in-women's make-up ruled mainstream rock with a curling iron, mopey choruses and dopey-eyed fans who affirmed the fact that yes, every rose really does have a thorn, player.

While this humble writer (and a few others) ran screaming from Glam Rock to bands like Dinosaur, Slayer, Ministry and the Butthole Surfers - America was dominated by bands featured in Hard Rock Heroes: Skid Row, Poison, Guns 'N Roses, Megadeth and Tesla - the absolute worst of cock/glam rock scene.

The book is terrible, but it's terrible in a way that will make your sides aches as you watch Ozzy mistakenly scarf on a live bat in Iowa or the boys from Poison "show just how much heart a band can have". There are also a few treats/fun facts for fans of Metallica, Faith No More and Pantera in the book which has art by many different artists including Dave Biggs (Megadeth), Lyndal Ferguson (Snotley Crue) and Mark Erickson (Black Sabbath and Ozzy).

References:

• Blue Water Productions, Home
• Amazon,Hard Rock Heroes