More trade paperbacks than you can shake a stick at
By the Wizard Staff
Posted 07/07/08
Sink your teeth into Laurell K. Hamilton:
With her fan-favorite Anita Blake series, Laurell K. Hamilton injects some new blood into the tried and true vampire formula.
Hamilton, whose Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures Vol. 1 ships on July 9 ($14.99), counts 16 Blake books to her credit, having just released the latest prose installment, Blood Noir, in May. These genre-bending thrillers combine elements of the traditional hard-boiled crime yarn (Blake’s supernatural troubleshooter works for the cops), set in a world where vampires, werewolves and other mythological creatures are the everyday norm. Throw in a helping of erotically charged storytelling, and it’s no wonder the author has found herself atop the New York Times best-seller list.
Mar-vell Must Reads: With Captain Marvel: Secret Invasion by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks hitting on July 30 ($19.99), now’s the perfect time to round out your bookshelf with some of the good Captain’s best stories.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: CAPTAIN MARVEL VOL. 1
Collecting the issues that first launched the character, this hardcover tome contains Marvel Superheroes #12-#13 (the first appearances of Mar-Vell), as well as the first nine issues of his original solo series. Look for Mar-Vell to throw down against a Sentry, the Super-Skrull and Namor the Sub-Mariner in these classic tales by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Arnold Drake, Gene Colan and Don Heck!
AVENGERS: THE KREE-SKRULL WAR
This is the epic cosmic conquest that brought this classic alien conflict to the forefront of the Marvel U. Mar-Vell and his young charge Rick Jones hold the key to victory as the Avengers intercede in a galactic war that could destroy Earth! This now-classic collection of Avengers #89-#97 features the work of Roy Thomas, John and Sal Buscema and the legendary Neal Adams.
THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL
The very first Marvel Graphic Novel, by writer/artist Jim Starlin, brought to an end the life of Marvel’s greatest cosmic warrior. This touching story of loss and mortality features plenty of outer space action and cameos from almost every major Marvel hero, but it’s Mar-Vell’s tragic death from cancer that hammers home the emotion and pathos of this epic tale.
The Sports Page: With Captain Marvel: Secret Invasion by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks hitting on July 30 ($19.99), now’s the perfect time to round out your bookshelf with some of the good Captain’s best stories.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: CAPTAIN MARVEL VOL. 1
Collecting the issues that first launched the character, this hardcover tome contains Marvel Superheroes #12-#13 (the first appearances of Mar-Vell), as well as the first nine issues of his original solo series. Look for Mar-Vell to throw down against a Sentry, the Super-Skrull and Namor the Sub-Mariner in these classic tales by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Arnold Drake, Gene Colan and Don Heck!
AVENGERS: THE KREE-SKRULL WAR
This is the epic cosmic conquest that brought this classic alien conflict to the forefront of the Marvel U. Mar-Vell and his young charge Rick Jones hold the key to victory as the Avengers intercede in a galactic war that could destroy Earth! This now-classic collection of Avengers #89-#97 features the work of Roy Thomas, John and Sal Buscema and the legendary Neal Adams.
THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL
The very first Marvel Graphic Novel, by writer/artist Jim Starlin, brought to an end the life of Marvel’s greatest cosmic warrior. This touching story of loss and mortality features plenty of outer space action and cameos from almost every major Marvel hero, but it’s Mar-Vell’s tragic death from cancer that hammers home the emotion and pathos of this epic tale.
The Sports Pages
Adam Beechen and Manny Bello step up to the plate in July with the AiT/PlanetLar graphic novel Dugout ($12.95) about a down on his luck baseball manager who organizes an exhibition game to break his star pitcher out of prison. If you're looking for some other “diamond” gems, check out these pasttime-powered tales, home runs all.
GOLEM'S MIGHTY SWING (Drawn & Quarterly)
Writer/artist James Sturm combines race relations with America's pastime in this moving graphic novel about a Jewish barnstorming baseball team dealing with prejudice during the 1920s.
SATCHEL PAIGE: STRIKING OUT JIM CROW (Jump at the Sky)
Sturm tackles yet another rich baseball story, this time teaming with artist Rich Tommaso for an insightful biography of Negro League icon Satchel Paige, one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game.
DC SPECIAL BLUE RIBBON DIGEST: STRANGE SPORTS STORIES (DC)
You'll have to hit up eBay or your local retailer to find this mini-collection, which contains several off-the-wall short sports stories (think “Twilight Zone” meets ESPN), and rocks this amazing cover of DCU's big guns squaring off on a baseball battlefield!
