Graphic novel news

Titan Books has more US reprints coming out in the UK. Alan Moore's collected Tom Strong has reached volume three in hardback, while the Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith Chronicles of Conan has got to volume four. There are two new series starting via DC Comics: Smallville, the spin-off of the young Superman TV show; and Teen Titans: A Kid's Game, which features Robin, Superboy, Wonder Girl and Impulse. Last and certainly not least is Planetary: Crossing Worlds by Warren Ellis, which brings the Planetary superheroes into contact with The Authority, the JLA and Batman. Click on the images to order from Amazon.

US version
US version
US version
US version
US version

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - Preacher 9: Alamo by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon.

It's been a bit quiet in the usually buzzing Grovel office as a new arrival takes the spotlight. Don't wander too far though - normal service will be resuming shorlty.

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - Foodboy by Carol Swain.

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - Negima: Magister Negi Magi by Ken Akamatsu.

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - The Sandman 8: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman, Michael Allred, Gary Amaro, Mark Buckingham, Dick Giordano, Tony Harris, Steve Leialoha, Vince Locke, Shea Anton Pensa, Alec Stevens, Bryan Talbot, John Watkiss and Michael Zulli.

The second volume reprinting the classic James Bond newspaper strips of the sixties and seventies is out on 21 May from Titan Books. The Octopussy comic strip followed the plot of the original Ian Fleming novel more closely than the Roger Moore flick of the same name and has been out of print for 10 years, making this a must for fans of the British secret agent. Also includes an adaptation of Fleming's short story The Hildebrand Rarity.

Although not a graphic novel, Give Our Regards to the Atomsmashers is bound to appeal to anyone with an interest in both comics and great writing. This anthology of essays by top writers and novelists explores each writer's fascination with comics. Jonathan Lethem, author of the Spider-Man/Superman referencing Fortress of Solitude (US link/UK link), beautifully describes a childhood influenced by Jack Kirby; Glen David Gold, author of the highly recommended Carter Beats the Devil (US link/UK link), is a not-so-secret collector of original comic art; and a range of other writers discuss subjects as broad as Tintin, Steve Ditko's hands, Uncle Sam, Chris Ware, Classics Illustrated and Spider-Man. We've read it and some of the essays are more interesting than others, though all are fascinating insights into the inspirational value of comics on some of today's top writers.

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze by Warren Ellis, Garry Leach, Glenn Fabry, Steve Dillon, Roy Martinez, Jon J. Muth, David Lloyd and David Baron.

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - New X-Men: E is for Evolution by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.

Del Rey, a division of Random House, has launched the first four titles in its new manga collection, publishing titles from Japanese publishing company Kodansha. The four titles retain the original Japanese format, reading from right to left, and feature extensive translations and cultural explanations, while maintaining the spirit of the original version.

Gundam Seed: Mobile Suit Gundam, by Hajime Yadate, Yoshiyuki Tomino and Masatsugu Iwase, is a science-fiction war story, pitting natural human against genetically enhanced human in a desperate civil war. Negima: Magister Negi Magi by Ken Akamatsu is about a boy wizard who, instead of becoming a practicing mage, is forced to go and teach English in a school for girls. If you're more interested in the supernatural, try xxxHolic, created by the all-female manga collective Clamp, in which a haunted young man goes to a witch for help but ends up with more than he bargained for. Or try Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, also by Clamp, featuring the adventures of Sakura and Syaoran, characters from a magical world that crosses over with xxxHolic.

Negima and xxxHolic are recommended for mature readers.

Read Grovel's latest graphic novel review - Cerebus: Reads by Dave Sim and Gerhard.

Fantagraphics has a promising line-up scheduled going well into next year. Jaime Hernandez's Locas, due this September, sees Jaime's work getting the Palomar treatment. In December, watch out for Ho Che Anderson's King, a biography of the influential Martin Luthor King, from his childhood in Atlanta through to his assassination in 1968. Heading into 2005, January will see the collection of Volume 1 of Peter Bagge's Hate comics, titled Buddy Does Seattle, satirising the Seattle-based underground music scene of the early 1990s. Then, in February, watch out for The Clouds Up Above by Jordan Crane, an all-ages fantasy story that promises to contain the magic of The Wizard of Oz; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and Where the Wild Things Are.

The latest batch of books from Titan has come through. On the shelves now you should find Alien Legion: Tenants of Hell and Green Arrow: Straight Shooter. The Alien Legion title follows on from On the Edge, reprinting the Epic Comics series; while the Green Arrow title follows Sounds of Violence, with Judd Winick replacing Kevin Smith as writer.

Looking forward, 21 May sees the UK release of The Authority: Harsh Realities, the continuing saga of Warren Ellis's superheroes, with Robbie Morrison on script and Dwayne Turner on visuals, reprinting issues 0 to 5 of Volume 2 of the monthly comic book. Buffy fans should look forward to 25 June when Stake to the Heart is released, which promises to fill the gap left between the movie and the TV series.

Dave Gibbons's graphic novel The Originals is set to be released by DC Comics's Vertigo imprint in October. Newsarama has a full report, along with information on Vertigo's plans for its monthly comics. It's also reported that August will see the release of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Endless Nights in softcover.

May's recommended read, brought to you in association with Foyles, is Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's Preacher series.

Not enough horror on the UK graphic novel stands? Worry no longer, as Titan Books is distributing Dark Horse's Criminal Macabre by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, the creative team behind 2002's 30 Days of Night.