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The new Diamond Previews catalog is out today and in it you'll find our usual 2-page spread with our releases scheduled to arrive in your local comic shop in October 2011 (give or take — some release dates have changed since the issue went to press), plus a full-page Featured Item spotlight on Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Lost in the Andes by Carl Barks! We're pleased to offer additional and updated information about these upcoming releases here on our website, to help shops and customers alike make more informed ordering decisions. In addition to our first Barks Library book you'll…

St. Louis TV station KPLR ran this brief profile of Bill Mauldin as part of a series spotlighting inductees into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. I'm not sure when this originally aired, but The Daily Cartoonist picked it up today — fortuitious timing, as our two Willie & Joe collections hit comic shops tomorrow!

This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new titles. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators and web-savvy comic shops are saying about them (more to be added as they appear), check out our previews at the links, and contact your local shop to confirm availability. Willie & Joe: The WWII Years (Softcover Ed.) by Bill Mauldin; edited by Todd DePastino 704-page black & white/color 8" x 10" softcover • $39.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-439-9 Willie & Joe: Back Home by Bill Mauldin; edited by Todd DePastino 288-page black & white 8" x 10" hardcover • $29.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-351-4 "Maudlin's…

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • List: The Hooded Utilitarian, continuing to roll out the top 10 results in their International Best Comics Poll, reveals the Locas stories of Jaime Hernandez at #7, with an appreciation by Derik Badman • Review: "I am seriously finding it difficult, if not impossible, to review [Love and Rockets: New Stories #4] without simply hitting the bullets-and-numbering button and whipping up a list of everything in it that amazed me. It would be a long list, too…. The fact of the matter is that while reading this book I discovered that I’m at least…

We just had Anders Nilsen signing with us at the San Diego Comic-Con, and the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery was thrilled to welcome him back this past weekend, away from the costumes and video game noise of the 'Con! We've got a bunch of pictures from his signing with us up on the Fantagraphics Flickr. Anders gave a lovely slideshow presentation on the history of his comic Big Questions, in promotion of the 600-page collection just released by our pals at Drawn & Quarterly. I was kinda surprised to learn he used to be the frontman for a band (!),…

The Armed Garden and Other Stories by David B. 112-page two-color 7.5" x 10.75" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-462-7 Ships in: August 2011 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now David B., the creator of the acclaimed Epileptic, gives full rein to his fascination with history, magic and gods, not to mention grand battles, in this literate, witty, and absorbing collection of stories — all based on historical fact, or at least historical legend, and delineated in a striking stylized two-color format. “The Veiled Prophet”: During the 8th century (the time of Harun al-Rashid, the Caliph of 1001 Nights fame), Hakim al-Muqanna,…

Just arrived in our warehouse and ready to ship: Setting the Standard: Comics by Alex Toth 1952-1954 edited by Greg Sadowski 432-page full color 7.5" x 10.5" softcover • $39.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-408-5 See Previews / Order Now Alex Toth’s influence on the art of comic books is incalculable. As his generation was the first to grow up with the new 10-cent full-color pamphlets, he came to the medium with a fresh eye, and enough talent and discipline to graphically strip it down its to its bare essentials. His efforts reached fruition at Standard Comics, creating an entire school of imitators and…

Love & Rockets from The Comics Journal on Vimeo. Courtesy of The Comics Journal, enjoy this video of the entire Love and Rockets panel at Comic-Con 2011 with Gilbert, Jaime and Mario Hernandez (moderated by a laryngitis-stricken Kristy Valenti of TCJ).

Given a classroom assignment to create a toy design, Love and Rockets fan Ali Akbar sensibly thought, "Why not BEM?" Thus, this 3D rendering of everyone's favorite Gilbert Hernandez-created robo-gorilla-mecha-suit (as seen in the collection Amor y Cohetes). I'd buy wunna these… anna Roy action figure… anna Rocky & Fumble playset… anna Rena Titañon wrasslin' action doll… Thanks to Ali for sharing these images on the Love and Rockets Facebook page!

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Originally appearing from 1958 to 1960, these insouciant, stylish, and thrilling dramas should appeal to readers of all ages. If they don't hook a whole new batch of bande dessinée fans, France needs to take back the Statue of Liberty in a huff…. Both stories zip by with nary a dull patch. Confections lacking in gravitas, they nevertheless own the supreme virtues of lightness and panache. Tillieux's art is always easy on the eye…. If Spielberg is looking for a second franchise after Tintin, he couldn't go wrong with Gil Jordan." – Paul…