Hey Comics Fans,

Lots of cool things to talk about in Top Shelf land this month:

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TOP SHELF 2.0
THE NEW WEBCOMICS LAUNCH on MAY 16!
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http://www.topshelfcomix.com/comix.php

Announcing a new phase in the internet age of comics: Top Shelf 2.0!

Launching this Friday, May 16, Top Shelf 2.0 is a new webcomics site
and
digital anthology, bringing together great cartoonists both familiar
and
new. We'll update with a new story every weekday! Sometimes a
standalone
short story, sometimes a new chapter in an ongoing serial, sometimes a
great story from the Top Shelf Webcomics archive... but always
something
different! It's all free and all on TopShelfComix.com!

What kind of material can you expect? Well, just for starters, there's:

-- The haunting avant-garde imagery of Bart Johnson and Ben
Constantine,
-- The globe-spanning high-kicking funkadelic fury of Kagan McCloud,
serializing his indie classic Infinite Kung-Fu in preparation for the
collected edition to be published by Top Shelf in 2009,
-- A really stunning painted fable by John C. Ralston,
-- Jed McGowen working his color wizardry with a beautifully limited
palette,
-- The freewheelin' mythic imagination of the inimitable Bernie
McGovern,
-- A couple young artists whose energy and charm practically shines
from
every panel of their cartoony adventures, Chris "Elio" Eliopoulos and
Michael DeForge,
-- The monumental TENTH 24-hour comic by the master of the form, David
Chelsea (his new book 24x2 is on sale now from Top Shelf),
-- An inky poetic parable from young Slovenian prodigy Domen Finzgar,
-- A Japan-flavored short from Belgian brush-master Stedho,
-- The brilliant wit and charm of notable webcomickers Jessica McLeod
and
Edward J Grug III,
-- Plus Aaron Navrady, Jeff Zwirek, Steve Lafler, Lizz Luney, Sean T.
Collins, Matt Wiegle, Matt Rota, Nik Daum, Will Dinski, Willow Dawson,
Emily Block, and many more to be revealed as we keep rolling!

Join us on Friday, May 16 for the big launch, and every weekday
thereafter!
Viva la future!

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/comix.php


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BUZZ EVERYWHERE FOR THE JULY RELEASE OF
Alex Robinson's TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN
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One of the coolest books to hit this summer will be Alex Robinson's
latest
masterpiece, TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN. Please visit the website and
check
out the awesome cover and the preview pages we have showcased there.
Here
are all the details, plus a few online reviews already in, and the
feature
interview with Alex at Publishers Weekly:

TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN
by Alex Robinson

-- a 128-page HARDCOVER graphic novel, 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"
-- ISBN: 978-1-891830-98-3, $14.95

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=565

"This is Alex Robinson's best book, and one of the rare comics not
written
by Stan Lee to perfectly capture the tragedy and triumph of being a
teenager. Totally recommended."
-- Brian K. Vaughan, author of Y: The Last Man, Pride of Baghdad, and
Runaways

Andy Wicks is a forty-something father of two who's tried everything to
quit smoking -- from going cold turkey, to the latest patches and
nicotine
chewing gums -- so he figures he'll give this hypnosis thing a try.
What's
the worst that could happen? Unfortunately, Andy gets dealt a fate
worse
than death -- high school! Transported back to 1985, Andy returns to
his
formative years as a gangly, awkward teenager. Is he doomed to relive
the
mistakes of his past, or has he been given a second chance to get
things
right? One thing's for sure … this time he's going to ask out that
girl
from math class...

ONLINE REVIEWS ALREADY IN:
--
http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2008/04/07/too-cool-to-be-forgotten.aspx
-- http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2008/04/30/too-cool-to-be-forgotten/
-- http://comicpants.com/2008/04/30/too-cool-to-be-forgotten-hc/

INTERVIEW WITH ALEX ROBINSON AT PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:
-- http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6551425.html?nid=2789


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ALSO SHIPPING IN JULY:
MORE ALL-AGES GRAPHIC NOVELS!
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YAM by Corey Barba
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=603
-- an 88-page graphic novel with a full-color section, 6 1/2" x 9"
-- ISBN: 978-1-60309-014-8, $10.00

As featured in Nickelodeon Magazine, where more than 900,000 readers
have
basked in the fun that is Yam!

Top Shelf is proud to present an all-new, "silent" all-ages graphic
novel
series … Yam and his fun-loving friends live on the remote tropical
island
of Leche de la Luna, and are always getting mixed up in surreal
adventures.
Whether it's encountering cupcakes that spring to life, befriending
potted
flowers, or exploring the mysterious ruins on the island, this small
boy in
his hooded, footy pajamas always ends up having a blast with his
friends.
The debut graphic novel, simply titled YAM, is anchored by the
full-length
story "Toy with My Dreams," in which Yam develops a crush on a girl
much
too old for him, but ends up being able to communicate with her in his
dreams. The graphic novel also contains a full-color section and
several
short stories which have seen print in Nickelodeon Magazine. Sure to be
a
real treat for anyone who's a fan of OWLY or KORGI.

&

The New Edition Of:
PINKY & STINKY by James Kochalka
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=57
--ISBN 978-1-891830-29-7, $15.00


IN OTHER NEWS:
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THE "SUMMER OF LOVE"
AT THE SWEDISH SMALL PRESS EXPO
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The relationship between the Swedish and American alternative comics
scenes
got a lot stronger a few weeks ago at the 10th Annual Swedish Small
Press
Expo (SPX) held at the famous and opulent KULTURHUSET -- Sweden's
"House of
Culture" in the heart of gorgeous downtown Stockholm.

I was lucky to be invited as a guest of both the convention and the
publishing house ORDFRONT/GALAGO, as this September Top Shelf will be
distributing FROM THE SHADOW OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, the first ever
all-English anthology of Swedish alternative comics. GALAGO, the
publishing
imprint/anthology that has showcased Swedish alternative cartoonists
for
over 30 (!) years, thought it would be good for me to check out the
comics
scene in Sweden and meet the cartoonists featured in NORTHERN LIGHTS.
And I
am so glad I did!

The efforts of all the Swedish publishers, creators, and especially the
convention organizer, Kristiina Kolehmainen -- who incidentally is the
head
of the Swedish Comics Library (Serieteket) and who has run the Swedish
SPX
since the beginning -- coalesced this year's convention into something
quite remarkable: a true "SUMMER OF LOVE" of the Swedish comics
community.
With a couple thousand comics fans, a hundred Swedish
creators/exhibitors,
and a dozen Scandinavian independent press publishers all putting out
intensely personal and literary works, the Swedish SPX has developed
into
one of the most important comics events in the EU -- on par with the
indy
scenes in the U.S. and France. And from the mood on the floor and at
the
cool parties held each night, I personally witnessed an amazing amount
of
energy and goodwill between the cartoonists and fans, who realize that
the
Swedish comics scene is -- after years of hard work -- finally in full
bloom.

In any event, next April Top Shelf will head back to the Swedish SPX,
bringing along Jeffrey Brown and debuting Niklas Asker's SECOND
THOUGHTS --
the first of several excellent Swedish cartoonists that we'll be
taking on.

And, by the way, a dozen Swedish creators told me they'd be visiting
MoCCA
this June, and the crew from GALAGO told me that they'd be coming to
the
American SPX this October to help showcase FROM THE SHADOW OF THE
NORTHERN
LIGHTS. Let's be sure to welcome them in the States as much as they
welcomed me over there.

A special thanks to Johannes Klenell, the Editor at GALAGO, who set up
the
entire trip for me and was my guide throughout Sweden the entire week.
Also
a big thanks to my other host, Fredrik Strömberg, the Director of the
prestigious comics school in Malmo. I journeyed there and spoke to
their
talented students as well. And finally a big thank you to Anders, Asa,
David, Federico, Fredrik, Ingemar, Jakob, Jamil, Jan-Erik, Jessica,
Johannes, Kim, Knut, Kolbeinn, Kristiina, Liv, Loka, Markus, Martin,
Mats,
Mattias, Melika, Niklas, Ola, Rolf, Simon, Sofia, Steffan, Stina, Ulli,
Victor, and everyone else who made my stay in Sweden so special. --
Chris
Staros

LINKS:

FROM THE SHADOW OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=627

SWEDISH SMALL PRESS EXPO:
http://www.kulturhuset.stockholm.se/default.asp?id=5760&refid=21527

KULTURHUSET -- SWEDEN’S “HOUSE OF CULTURE”:
http://www.kulturhuset.stockholm.se/default.asp?id=5617

GALAGO:
http://www.galago.se

COMICS SCHOOL IN MALMO (SERIESKOLAN):
http://www.serieskolan.se


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KINDT AND LEMIRE SCORE BIG AWARD NOMINATIONS!
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The 2008 award season is shaping up to be The Matt & Jeff Show here at
Top
Shelf!

Matt Kindt's critically beloved thriller SUPER SPY has been nominated
for
the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album--Reprint! Originally serialized
on
Top Shelf's web site, SUPER SPY earned accolades everywhere as soon as
it
was collected and published as a gorgeous full-color graphic novel.
SUPER
SPY fans include everyone from Attack of the Show's Blair Butler to
comic
super-retailer (and former Eisner judge) James Sime, as well as
institutions from the Teacher Librarian Magazine to The Comics Journal.
This is his third Eisner nomination!

SUPER SPY:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=571
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-96-9, $19.95

Jeff Lemire also turned heads this year with TWO Eisner nominations for
his
graphic novel trilogy ESSEX COUNTY. The first two parts of the trilogy,
TALES FROM THE FARM and GHOST STORIES, were nominated together for the
coveted award for Best Graphic Album--New! And on top of that, Jeff
himself
was honored with a nomination for Best Writer/Artist! Combine that with
the
Canadian Joe Shuster Award Nomination for Outstanding Canadian Comic
Book
Cartoonist (Writer/Artist) and his win of the American Library
Association
Alex Award, and it's starting to seem like time for Jeff to buy a new
trophy case!

ESSEX COUNTY (VOL 1): TALES FROM THE FARM:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=25&title=537
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-88-4, $9.95

ESSEX COUNTY (VOL 2): GHOST STORIES:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=25&title=568
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-94-5, $14.95

ESSEX COUNTY (VOL 3): THE COUNTRY NURSE
(the final volume -- will be published in October!)
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=25&title=569
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-95-2, $9.95

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Your friend thru comics,

Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions