Swallow Me Whole is one of the best OGNs I’ve ever read and a testament to the emotional power that comics can contain, just like any other medium. Now, its creator Nate Powell is back with his new book. It’s also black and white and it’s also from the same publisher – Top Shelf. Official details below and a preview here.

Nate Powell, hailed by the London Times as “a writer-artist of genius,” is back.

His new book, Any Empire, is a vivid examination of war and violence, and their trickle-down effects on middle America. First, a group of small-town kids find themselves bound together by geography, boredom, and a string of mysterious turtle mutilations. Years later, with Army tanks rolling through the streets of their hometown, these young adults are forced to confront painful questions of privilege, duty, betrayal, and courage.

Any Empire recalls aimless summers of Nancy Drew and GI Joe, treehouses and army surplus stores… but when fantasy starts to bleed into reality, whose mission will be accomplished? — a 304-page deluxe hardcover graphic novel, 6.5″ x 9.5″

ENLIST TODAY IN THE NEXT GREAT BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR OFSWALLOW ME WHOLE, 2009 EISNER AWARD WINNER FOR BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL!

SHIPPING IN JULY 2011!

May 9, 2011
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: Top Shelf . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Top Shelf would have to be my favourite indie publisher. Blankets and The Surrogates opened my mind to the increasing diversity and entertainment value in non-superhero books a few years ago, and they continue to impress me with their output. This year looks set to unveil another fine selection of sequential art goodies. Here it is from the Shelf themselves.

Hey friends,

Happy new year to you all! We hope your 2011 is off to a great start. Here at Top Shelf, we have a wonderful year planned — and after much preparation, we’re finally ready to announce our complete 2011 lineup!

It’s a wide assortment that includes new books from your favorite Top Shelf authors (including Alan Moore, Jeffrey Brown, Robert Venditti, and Nate Powell), amazing new authors from all over the world (including Ludovic Debeurme, Jessica Fink, Jennifer Hayden, Kagan McLeod, and Eric Skillman), and a huge number of all-ages books to celebrate the official launch of the Top Shelf Kids Club!

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

In fact, we’re so proud and excited about these books, we decided to share some of the fun with you as well! That’s why we’ve whipped up a special treat: the 2011 Top Shelf Tribune. So, not only is our complete 2011 line of books available for browsing and pre-order in our web catalog, but all year long we’ll be giving away the tongue-in-cheek Tribune at conventions and through your local comic shop! It’s packed with news, jokes, charts, facts, teaser images, and more, all about the Top Shelf books & authors coming out this year. And the whole thing is up on our web site as well, for you to enjoy and share with your friends! The 2011 Top Shelf Tribune : Real Books. Fake News.

NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED! WELL, MAYBE IF YOU BEHAVE YOURSELVES…

For years, some of our greatest books have been graphic novels for all ages: Owly, Korgi, Johnny Boo, and more. In 2011, we’re taking the plunge and expanding that line in a big way, with the official launch of the TOP SHELF KIDS CLUB! Our Free Comic Book Day book will kick things off in May (featuring Owly, Korgi,Johnny Boo, as well as the all-new Okie Dokie Donuts, Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken, and Upside Down: A Vampire’s Tale ), followed by an amazing EIGHT new releases for kids! You can meet them all on page 3 of the Top Shelf Tribune, or visit them online in the Top Shelf Kids Club section of our web catalog!

January 10, 2011
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: Top Shelf . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Firstly, the delightful all-ages book Owly is returning in February.

Top Shelf is proud to announce that the all-new OWLY picture book by Andy Runton is in the current Diamond Previews and available for pre-ordering! This 40-page full-color hardcover picture book (with a dust jacket) is published by Simon & Schuster under license from Top Shelf, and we’re all very excited to add this new dimension to the Owly Universe!

Owly and Wormy want butterflies! But when they come home from Mrs. Raccoon’s nursery with a milkweed plant that’s supposed to attract some fluttering friends, what they get instead are chubby, green bugs! But green bugs are not butterflies! Will butterflies ever come to the forest? Only time will tell… Bold, graphic, and full of fun, this wordless storybook gives all-ages readers the wings they need to start reading on their own, and a firm footing on the idea of metamorphosis as they watch old friends become new friends.

Secondly, their offering for Free Comic Book Day next year consists of 3 new all-ages tales.

And while we’re celebrating the all-new OWLY picture book, here’s a sneak peak at this year’s 2011 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY book, the TOP SHELF KIDS CLUB – 2011, featuring not one, but SIX all-ages tales! In this FCBD edition, we’ll not only present three adventures from our established all-ages series OWLY by Andy Runton, JOHNNY BOO by James Kochalka, and KORGI by Christian Slade; but we’ll also feature three all-new stories from three brand new all-ages series debuting in 2011: OKIE DOKIE DONUTS by Chris Eliopoulos, PIRATE PENGUIN VS NINJA CHICKEN by Ray Friesen, and UPSIDE DOWN by Jess Smart Smiley. Perfect for everyone in the family. With a great cover by Chris Eliopoulos this time around to boot!

Finally, they have a sale on some of their goodies throughout December.

December 8, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: Top Shelf . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The title says it all, but here’s some random attractions to entice you to visit it right here. Top Shelf are one of my favourite indie publishers and unlike others, their site has always been just as interesting as their unique books. Now it’s even better!

March 2, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: Top Shelf . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Those fine folks at diverse indie publisher Top Shelf are obviously happy that the film adaptation of The Surrogates is only days away, so they’re celebrating with a great sale this month. Details below.

Top Shelf’s MASSIVE $3 SALE is here to celebrate the debut of THE SURROGATES on iTunes, as well as the theatrical release of the SURROGATES on September 25th!

Just in time for the theatrical release of SURROGATES starring Bruce Willis, fans can now read the original graphic novel that inspired the upcoming blockbuster on their iPhone and iPod touch. THE SURROGATES App for the iPhone — developed for the iPhone by iVerse Media — features two full issues of the original comic book mini-series formatted for the iPhone screen for only $0.99. The remaining three issues of the series can be downloaded inside the Application as an “In App Purchase” for only $0.99 per issue. Or, if you prefer, you can simply download “THE SURROGATES #1” for FREE in the iTunes App Store.

So, to celebrate all this — from now thru Friday September 25th (the opening day of the film!) — Top Shelf is having a giant $3 graphic novel web sale. When you visit the site, you’ll find over 100 graphic novels and comics on sale — with 55+ titles marked down to just $3 (!) and 45 other titles slashed! All we ask is that you hit a $30 minimum on sale and/or non-sale items (before shipping). It’s a great opportunity to load up on all those graphic novels you’ve wanted to try, but just never got around to picking up. Get ’em while supplies last, and be sure to visit iTunes as well to download The Surrogates!

To go directly to the list of sale items, just click here.

September 14, 2009
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: Top Shelf . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment