Diamond Comic Distrubutors’ Previews Catalogue is the place to find the best upcoming graphic novels, comics and manga. Titles are listed in the catalogue approximately 2 months before they are released onto the market which makes this tome a great resource for pre-ordering and staying ahead of upcoming releases.
The titles listed below are highly recommended for both libraries and schools due to their literary content and/or popularity. I have placed emphasis on graphic novels for kids but may add the occasional teen/adult title if they are particularly noteworthy.
Best Upcoming Graphic Novels/Manga For Kids:
Previews Catalogue January 2010
THE SIMPSONS: GET SOME FANCY BOOK LEARNIN’ TP
(W/A) Matt Groening
SC, 144pgs, FC Junior Fiction ISBN: 0061957879
Gather round for some high-spirited and fortune-filled fables when Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, takes on the world’s literary classics! Mount Olympus will never be the same when Homer presents The Iliad and Ned Flanders takes a turn as Aesop. Marge is Persian princess Scheherazade, who must impress the impulsive King Moe-mar Shahryar every night with a story in order to save her own neck.
Bart does the Bard, man, when the students of Springfield Elementary perform, measure by measure, virtually every one of William Shakespeare’s plays in one midsummer night. From gods to gorgons, the Simpsons put high-minded and high-falutin’ literature in its place — on your favourite bookshelf!
THE MUPPET SHOW VOLUME 2: ON THE ROAD
(W/A) Roger Langridge (A) Shelli Paroline
SOFTCOVER—SC, 6×9, 112pgs, FC
Junior Fiction ISBN: 9781608865161
With the theatre destroyed after the search for the treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson, the Muppets take their act on the road, but with two familiar hecklers in every town, will their show be a hit or will our Muppet minstrels be run out of town in tar and feathers?
Plus, Fozzie and Rizzo have plans for a big-budget Pigs in Space film, but is Hollywood prepared? Collecting issues #0-3 of the acclaimed ongoing The Muppet Show series by Roger Langridge. Available in Hardcover and Softcover editions.
TOY STORY VOLUME 1: THE RETURN OF BUZZ LIGHTYEAR
(W) Jesse Blaze Snider (A) Nathan Watson
SOFTCOVER—SC, 6×9, 112pgs, FC
Junior Fiction ISBN: 9781608865574
When Andy is given a surprise gift by his grandmother, no one is more surprised than the toys in his room — it’s a second Buzz Lightyear! The stage is set for a Star Command showdown as only one Buzz can stay, but when the wrong Buzz is returned to the store, Woody and the other toys must mount a rescue mission! Collecting the Toy Story Ongoing issues #0-3. Available in Hardcover and Softcover editions.
WALL-E VOLUME 1: RECHARGE
(W) J. Torres (A) Morgan Luthi
SOFTCOVER—SC, 6×9, 112pgs, FC
Junior Fiction ISBN: 9781608865123
Superstar writer J. Torres (Teen Titans Go!) chronicles Wall-E’s life before the events of the hit film. Wall-E is not yet the hardworking robot we know and love. Instead, he lets the few remaining other robots take care of most of the trash compacting while he collects interesting junk.
But when the other robots start breaking down, Wall-E must learn to adjust his priorities… or else Earth is doomed! Collects the WALL-E #0-3. Available in Hardcover and Softcover editions.
GUINEA PIG, PET SHOP PRIVATE EYE VOLUME 1: HAMSTER AND CHEESE SC
(W) Colleen AF Venable (A) Stephanie Yue
SC, 7×7, 48pgs, FC Junior Fiction
ISBN: 9780761354796
Sasspants, reluctant Guinea Pig P.I., solves the case of the missing sandwiches with the help of her sidekick, Hamisher the Hamster, and a menagerie of suspects. A furry, fishy, feathered, fanged, and funny cast of characters solve just-right mysteries in Mr. Venezi’s mixed-up pet shop.
With quick pacing, lots of visual clues, and complete with “animal facts” at the end, this series gives very young readers graphic novels of their own.
THE ELSEWHERE CHRONICLES BOOK 4: THE CALLING GN
(W) Nykko (A) Bannister
SC, 7×10, 48pgs, FC Junior Fiction
ISBN: 9780761360698
Max, Rebecca, Noah, and Theo have returned to the ordinary world, but they left behind them a land still under threat by the Master of Shadows. Rebecca is dangerously ill, and the only cure is to return to ElseWhere.
After battling monsters and Shadows, Max can’t fit in with days of bike racing and petty pranks. But how can any of them get there, now that they’ve destroyed all Grandpa Gabe’s passageways to the other world?
AMELIA RULES! TWEENAGE GUIDE TO NOT BEING UNPOPULAR
(W/A) Jimmy Gownley
SOFTCOVER—SC, 6×9, 176pgs, FC
Junior Fiction ISBN: 9781416986089
Meet Amelia Louise McBride. She’s been forced to move out of Manhattan after her parents decided to get divorced, and is now living in a small town with her mom and her aunt, Tanner. Not to mention the fact that she’s dealing with being the new kid in school.
In Jimmy Gownley’s first original volume in two years, Amelia and company rise and fall through the ranks of nerd, geek — and cheerleader? — in a daring attempt to not be unpopular. Available in Hardcover and Softcover editions.
You can Preorder these titles (copy the ISBN for convenience) at Amazon.
