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By Matthew Price

Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

The 1920s period thriller graphic novel “Bluesman,” by Norman writer Rob Vollmar, was released in June in a collected edition hardcover.

Originally serialized in three parts, “Bluesman” is the story of traveling musician Lem Taylor, on the run in late 1920s Arkansas.

Vollmar intends the graphic novel to explore “the foundations of some of the same issues of faith, power, and race that dominate our social conversation today,” he said in a recent interview.

The artist of “Bluesman” is Spain’s Pablo Callejo. Callejo previously collaborated with Vollmar on the Eisner-Award-nominated “The Castaways,” and is currently working to illustrate Ted Rall’s “The Year of Loving Dangerously.”

Film in works

“Bluesman” was optioned for film, with blues artist Keb’ Mo’ attached to produce the soundtrack. Though Vollmar couldn’t disclose much on the film front, he did say “if the current casting plans pan out, the ‘Bluesman’ soundtrack may be one of the most exciting releases for fans of blues and R&B music in a very long time.”

The primary change between the serialized format and the collected hardcover is one of consistency, Vollmar said.

“Writing and drawing it over three years made it harder to maintain that page-to-page, chapter-to-chapter consistency so having this opportunity to look at it all at once and make those adjustments proved invaluable,” he said.

Response to “Bluesman” has been near-uniformly positive, with favorable reviews from Entertainment Weekly and the LA Times, among others.

In the future, Vollmar hopes to complete a graphic novel about Frank Zappa. He’s also developing graphic novels on the Tulsa race riots of 1921 and the apostle Paul.

“Aside from that, I’m still writing new stories for ‘Tales from the Crypt,’ but will be spending most of the rest of this year promoting ‘Bluesman,’” he said.

DC Vice President of Sales Bob Wayne recapped several reprint projects from DC set for the coming months.

Following the success of the “Killing Joke” hardcover reprint, DC is readying a reprint of “Camelot 3000″ in deluxe hardcover for November.  Both projects were drawn by Brian Bolland.  “Camelot 3000″ was written by Mike W. Barr and was a reimagining of the King Arthur mythos.
“It’s a perfect followup sale to ‘Batman: The Killing Joke,’” Wayne said.

In September, DC plans an Absolute edition of “Frank Miller’s Ronin.” The Absolute line consists of oversized hardcovers of some of DC’s most popular comic books.  Wayne said ”Ronin” was in development as a film, and he expected increased interest in the series.

In the Absolute line, while particulars were still being discussed, Wayne said it would be unlikely to see Warren Ellis’ “Transmetropolitan,” due to the length of the series, and that it doesn’t promote anything else DC is currently publishing.  Wayne said “All-Star Superman” and “All-Star Batman” were far more likely.

In 2009, DC plans to reprint the classic Golden Age storyline “The Monster Society of Evil,” starring Captain Marvel, by C.C. Beck and others.

Brian K. Vaughan’s recently completed ”Y: The Last Man” will be released for the first time in hardcover, with each hardcover containing two of the softcover editions, Wayne said.

 – Matt Price

From outer-space adventure to destructive romantic relationships, comic books in graphic novel format continued to push the medium forward. The following are the best graphic novels for 2007:

1.       Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)

Scott Pilgrim, the slacker twentysomething musician, must still battle his new girlfriend Ramona’s ex-lovers in this fourth volume of the “Scott Pilgrim” series.  This pioneering “arcade logic” series is the perfect hybrid of action and romance in a post-videogame, post-manga world.

2.       Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan (Drawn and Quarterly)

Israeli cab driver Koby Franco is drawn into a mystery when his father’s ex-girlfriend Nuni contacts him. She wants to search for Koby’s father, who she says may have been killed in a terrorist attack. Koby’s search for his father becomes a search for himself, as Motan examines modern
Israel in this evocative graphic novel. 

3.       First in Space by James Vining (Oni Press)

“First in Space” is based on the true story of Ham, a chimpanzee trained by NASA to make the first sub-orbital space flight.  Well-researched and compelling, “First in Space” is suitable for all ages.

4.       All-Star Superman vol. 1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC Comics)

Morrison and Quitely capture the charm of comics’ Silver Age with their take on Superman, a Man of Steel who creates Superman robots, and whose best pal Jimmy Olsen finds himself gaining strange powers.  Several story tropes from the 1960s come full circle, as Morrison boils them down to their essence and represents them with modern flair.

5.       The Homeless Channel by Matt Silady (AiT-Planet Lar)

Network exec Darcy Shaw thinks “The Homeless Channel” will both draw attention to the homeless plight, and be a good way to make some money, taking reality television to the next level.

Aaron Sorkin-like dialogue and art reminiscent of an early Brian Michael Bendis make “The Homeless Channel” a noteworthy debut.

6.       Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine (Drawn and Quarterly)
Ben Tanaka is an abrasive
San Francisco theater owner who obsesses over white girls; this doesn’t help his relationship with his Asian-American activist girlfriend Miko.  An interesting look at race and sex through the lens of an intimate graphic novel. 

7.       League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill (DC Comics/WildStorm/ABC)

Something of a sourcebook gone mad,
Moore explores the history of his “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” concept, featuring heroes and villains from throughout literature.

8.       Shazam: Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith (DC Comics)

Jeff Smith captures the charm and wit of the 1940s Captain Marvel stories, recaptured for modern audiences.

9.       Astronaut Dad vol. 1 by David Hopkins and Brent Schoonover (Silent Devil)

David Hopkins looks at the children of astronaut reservists in the 1960s, making the space race more personal. 

10.    Nothing Better: No Place Like Home by Tyler Page (Dementian)Tyler Page (“Stylish Vittles”) takes his Web comic to graphic novel format in “Nothing Better,” which examines two mismatched roommates at a Lutheran college. “Nothing Better” is reminiscent of “Strangers in Paradise” and “Blankets,” with engaging characters and fresh art.

For those of you who find single issues (or “floppies”) to sticky and tedious to handle, DC Comics has dropped a list of their upcoming collections.

52 AFTERMATH: THE FOUR HORSEMEN TP - $19.99, 144 pages

THE ALL-NEW ATOM: THE HUNT FOR RAY PALMER TP - $14.99, 128 pages

BATMAN VS. TWO-FACE TP - $19.99, 192 pages

BATMAN: THE JOKER’S LAST LAUGH TP - $19.99, 192 pages

BATMAN: THE RESURRECTION OF RA’S AL GHUL HC - $29.99, 256 pages

BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE TP - $17.99, 144 pages

BOOSTER GOLD: 52 PICK-UP HC - $24.99, 160 pages

CHECKMATE VOL. 3: THE FALL OF THE WALL TP - $14.99, 168 pages

COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS VOL. 1 TP - $19.99, 296 pages

GREEN LANTERN: NO FEAR TP - $12.99, 176 pages

INFINITY INC. VOL. 1: LUTHOR’S MONSTERS TP - $14.99, 128 pages

JACK KIRBY’S O.M.A.C. HC - $24.99, 176 pages

JUSTICE VOL. 1 TP - $14.99, 160 pages

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: 1,050 YEARS OF THE FUTURE TP - $19.99, 224 pages

THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY ARCHIVES VOL. 3 HC - $59.99, 272 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: GREEN LANTERN VOL. 3 TP - $16.99, 528 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE HAUNTED TANK VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 560 pages

THE STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC - $49.99, 448 pages

SUPERMAN: ESCAPE FROM BIZARRO WORLD HC - $24.99, 160 pages

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF KRYPTON TP - $14.99, 192 pages

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER VOL. 1 HC - $29.99, 240 pages

BATMAN: JEKYLL & HYDE TP - $14.99, 144 pages

COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: THE SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER TP - $17.99, 160 pages

THE QUESTION: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD HC - $19.99, 128 pages

THE DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES VOL. 5 HC - $49.99, 208 pages

GREEN LANTERN: THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR VOL. 2 HC - $24.99, 192 pages

GREEN LANTERN: TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS HC - $29.99, 200 pages

THE JOKER: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP - $19.99, 192 pages

THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE HC - $19.99, 144 pages

METAMORPHO: YEAR ONE TP - $14.99, 144 pages

SHADOWPACT VOL. 3: DARKNESS AND LIGHT TP - $14.99, 144 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: BATMAN VOL. 3 TP - $16.99, 552 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE FLASH VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 552 pages

SUPERMAN: CAMELOT FALLS VOL. 1 TP - $12.99, 128 pages

SUPERMAN: LAST SON HC - $19.99, 160 pages

TANGENT COMICS VOL. 3 TP - $19.99, 208 pages

TEEN TITANS: TITANS OF TOMORROW TP - $14.99, 144 pages

WORLD’S FINEST DELUXE EDITION HC - $29.99, 176 pages

THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 3 HC - $99.00, 616 pages

FABLES VOL. 10: THE GOOD PRINCE TP - $17.99, 240 pages

LOVELESS VOL. 3: BLACKWATER FALLS TP - $14.99, 224 pages

VERTIGO FIRST CUT TP - $4.99, 168 pages

DEMO TP - $19.99, 328 pages

JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: THE FEAR MACHINE TP - $14.99, 240 pages

JACK OF FABLES VOL. 3: THE BAD PRINCE TP - $14.99, 128 pages

THE VINYL UNDERGROUND VOL. 1: SNOGGING FOR ENGLAND TP - $9.99, 128 pages

Y: THE LAST MAN VOL. 10: WHYS AND WHEREFORES TP - $14.99, 168 pages

HEROES TP - $19.99, 240 pages

TOM STRONG BOOK 6 TP - $17.99, 160 pages

WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY VOL. 2 TP - $19.99, 144 pages

EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION VOL. 1 HC - $29.99, 272 pages

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN: BLACK DOSSIER — THE ABSOLUTE EDITION HC - $99.00, 200 pages

THE PROGRAMME VOL. 1 TP - $17.99, 144 pages

BATMAN AND SON TP - $14.99, 200 pages

BATMAN: GOING SANE TP - $14.99, 160 pages

COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE TP - $17.99, 192 pages

COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS VOL. 2 TP - $19.99, 296 pages

COUNTDOWN: ARENA TP - $17.99, 168 pages

DIANA PRINCE: WONDER WOMAN VOL. 2 TP - $19.99, 176 pages

THE FLASH: THE WILD WESTS HC - $24.99, 160 pages

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOL. 2 HC - $24.99, 208 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HAWKMAN VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 560 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HOUSE OF SECRETS VOL. 1 TP - $16.99, 544 pages

SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES HC - $19.99, 168 pages

THE TRIALS OF SHAZAM VOL. 2 TP - $14.99, 144 pages

WONDER GIRL: CHAMPION TP  - $17.99, 144 pages

ALL STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 1 TP - $12.99, 160 pages

ALL STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 2 HC - $19.99, 160 pages

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD VOL. 2: THE BOOK OF DESTINY HC - $24.99, 160 pages

COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS TP - $17.99, 144 pages

THE DEATH OF THE NEW GODS HC - $29.99, 256 pages

DR. FATE: COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY TP - $17.99, 192 pages

JLA VOL. 1: THE DELUXE EDITION HC - $29.99, 256 pages

METAL MEN HC - $24.99, 200 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN VOL. 4 TP - $16.99, 648 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE ATOM VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 528 pages

SIMON DARK VOL. 1: WHAT SIMON DOES TP - $14.99, 144 pages

THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL. 25 HC - $59.99, 256 pages

SUICIDE SQUAD: FROM THE ASHES TP - $19.99, 192 pages

SUPERGIRL: BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL TP - $17.99, 176 pages

THE SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL. 5 TP - $14.99, 192 pages

AMERICAN VIRGIN VOL. 4: AROUND THE WORLD TP - $17.99, 224 pages

ARMY @ LOVE VOL. 2: GENERATION PWNED TP - $12.99, 168 pages

DMZ VOL. 5: THE HIDDEN WAR TP - $12.99, 144 pages

JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: THE LAUGHING MAGICIAN TP - $14.99, 128 pages

THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: THE DEAD BOY DETECTIVES TP - $12.99, 104 pages

TESTAMENT VOL. 4: EXODUS TP - $14.99, 144 pages

ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK 1 HC - $29.99, 256 pages

THE AUTHORITY: PRIME TP - $17.99, 144 pages

WILDSTORM: REVELATIONS TP - $17.99, 144 pages

WORLD OF WARCRAFT VOL. 1 HC - $19.99, 160 pages

AMERICA’S BEST COMICS PRIMER TP - $4.99, 168 pages

DEATHBLOW TP - $19.99, 224 pages

MIDNIGHTER VOL. 2 TP - $14.99, 160 pages

There are some good deals here (notably a Vertigo and America’s Best Comics primer, even though that line is defunct…for now) and some big releases, like the Starman Omnibus for completist freaks like me.

 – Greg Elwell