If you're not a bookseller or librarian, skip this post, but the new issue of Booklist is the annual spotlight on graphic fiction, and there's some very useful stuff for those building a core collection of GNs. The issue includes an interview with James Sturm, an "honor roll of female pioneers" in comics, and a look back at a lifetime reading "the Funnies" courtesy columnist Michael Cart. There are a number of top 10 lists, reviews, etc. as well. 

One thing that was particularly gratifying to see was the "Core Collection: Graphic Women" list. Of the 13 books on the list, Fantagraphics published five (including books by Linda Medley, Mary Fleener, Roberta Gregory, Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Carol Tyler). A sixth, La Perdida, was originally published by Fanta in serial form. A seventh, Persepolis, we almost published (long story). An eighth, Summer of Love, was by Debbie Drechsler, whose equally great Daddy's Girl is being republished by Fanta this month. So that was kind of a cool list to see.

Meanwhile, congrats also to Drew Friedman, whose The Fun Never Stops! was named one of the top 10 comics collections/graphic novels of 2007 by Booklist. 

More of our Spring 2008 releases are now available for pre-order! Pictured above: the fifth and final issue of Ted Stearn's mini-series Fuzz & Pluck in Splitsville; the first installment of Josh Simmons's multi-decade epic Jessica Farm; The Comics Journal #289, featuring Robert Kirkman on Marvel Zombies and much more; and Castle Waiting Vol. II #11 by Linda Medley. Below: the new, revised, expanded version of Rebel Visions; Bottomless Belly Button, the massive new graphic novel by Dash Shaw (with dual covers); the final (for now) installment of our Love and Rockets Library series, Amor Y Cohetes, collecting all the non-"Locas" and non-"Palomar" stories from L&R Vol. 1; and Mome Vol. 11, with cover star Killoffer. Check our Upcoming Releases page for the full listing of titles that are available for pre-order.

Call 1-800-657-1100 (or 206-524-1967 outside the U.S.) or click the links above to see full details on each title and add it to your shopping cart. New releases are usually shipped to our pre-order customers a week or two before they arrive in bookstores and comic shops, so beat the crowd and order today!

Castle Waiting Vol. II #10
By Linda Medley

This issue: Jain, Tolly and Simon get some unexpected help when they find an unpleasant surprise in the Castle's hidden passageways, while the other castle folk learn how not to construct a doorway.

24-page black & white comic book $3.95
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Linda Medley is on a whirlwind tour of six French cities celebrating the release of CHATEAU L'ATTENTE, the French edition of CASTLE WAITING. Here she is in Paris (her first leg of the tour), where a comics store/gallery is holding a CASTLE WAITING art show (yes, those are all originals on the wall). After this it will be on to Angouleme, where CHATEAU L'ATTENTE is a nominee in contention for best French language graphic novel of the year.

You can tell she's signing in France because she has been given a plate of cheese for sustenance.

Over on this side of the pond, the 10th issue of CASTLE WAITING VOLUME II will be released next week.