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: Take A Joke

Volume #3 of the notorious Angry Youth Comix serves up some of the most pointedly politically incorrect strips from Johnny's Ryan's work - including the infamous "Rape Tank" bit from Angry Youth Comix Vol. 2 #14 plus Loady, Sinus, Waqi Iraqi and the whole demented gang.

Artist Johnny Ryan's Angry Youth Comix was originally self-published and released as a series of ten issues from 1994 to 1999. In 1998, Ryan's work came to the attention of Peter Bagge, creator of Hate comics, who introduced the material to Eric Reynolds of Fantagraphics where the series was picked up and published by Fantagraphics starting in 2001.

This 160 page color and black and white collection also features some of Ryan's more bizarre ventures into talking condiments, sci-fi ass assassination (it exists), time machines and even horror - which for the record has always been a pretty strong component of his work.


References:

• Wikipedia, The Angry Yutes
• Johnny Ryan, Angry Youth Comix
• Hyper Geek, Johnny Ryan's Take A Joke

Off The Shelf: Strange Tales

Marvel's long anticipated indie take on super-powered heroes arrived on book store shelves in March of 2010. This unique and humorous three-part series is now available in one hard bound collection with Strange Tales II w/Gene Yang due out April 6th of this year.

The first collection features Peter Bagge's The Incorrigible Hulk whose story Bagge describes in a 2009 interview with Sean Collins of Marvel.com as "... about both the Hulk and Bruce Banner trying to cope with their many issues via the use of modern pharmacology, in the form of head pills, Viagra, etc. Needless to say, wackiness ensues." The comedy gold that Bagge is not pointing out is the cover art of the Hulk arriving in cramped dress shoes at his date's door step with a pained expression on his face and a heart-shaped container of Valentine's Day candy tucked under one arm.

Blogfoot favorites Johnny Ryan (Angry Youth Comix, Prison Pit and Blecky Yuckerella) and James Kolchalka (American Elf) also are featured in Strange Tales as Dr. Strange records a gangsta rap album, the Hulk goes out on a date and Spidey and Doc Ock get into a drunken bar brawl. What more could any body want? $30.00 gets you the the entire set at Amazon.



References:

• Marvel.com, Bagge Talks Strange Tales
• Again With The Comics, The Incorrigible Hulk
• Bloody Cool, Incorrigible Hulk Gets Marvel Stamp

Screen Shots: Chynna Clugston Flores

San Diego based Illustrator Chynna Clugston Flores's Blog features her remarkably energetic, fun and stylized work. Go visit her site to see more of her work by clicking the comic above or going to New Wave Zombie @ Blogspot.com.

References:

• New Wave Zombie, Illustration and Comic Blog

Oh Shit, Frank Miller

Frank Miller to 1982 America: "Please don't ask me to draw any more X-Men".

• Labiek, The real dirt on Mr. Frank Miller
• Hang A Right, Dirty Dirt!