The comics initiative at S&S is spearheaded by Liesa Abrams, senior editor at S&S’s Aladdin Paperbacks, and Ginee Seo, v-p, editorial director at S&S’s Ginee Seo Books and Atheneum Books for Young Readers. The publication of the Pendragon series by McNeil as well as Ignatz award-winner Hope Larson’s Chiggers, to be published simultaneously in hardcover (from Ginee Seo Books) and paperback in June, are the centerpieces of the budding S&S graphic novel program. Abrams also plans to launch two nonfiction series, Before They Were Famous, which offers fictionalized childhood biographies of famous individuals, and Turning Points, which places fictional kids in adventure stories set in the midst of important historical events.

Almost too clever and poignant, Amulet is, on the surface, about navigating the murky waters of adolescence and, beneath that, an exploration of abandonment and survival. Emily and Navin are lost children, literally lost in a dark, new world and struggling to save their mother, who has been kidnapped by a drooling, tentacled beast. With stellar artwork, imaginative character design, moody color and consistent pacing, this first volume's weakness lies in its largely disjointed storytelling. There is the strong, young, heroine; cute, furry, sidekicks; scary monsters—all extraordinary components, but pieced together in a patchwork manner. There is little hope in his dark world as Kibuishi removes Emily and Navin's frame of safety. Their hopes rest in a magic amulet that seems to be working in the interest of the children—until it suddenly isn't. The most frightening element of Amulet is the sense of insecurity we feel for Emily, fighting her way through uncharted terrain with no guide and no support system. This first volume of Amulet isn't a disappointment, but it does feel like a warmup to the main event. If anything, it's a clear indication that Kibuishi has just begun skimming the surface of his own talent. (Jan.)

In a break from his previous comics work, Jeff Smith is set to debut a new, darker series about a dimension-hopping art thief. The main character—a drinking, smoking, womanizing crook—is a far cry from the huggable Bone family. But running counter to expectations is nothing new for Smith, who self-published Bone while regularly crossing industry convention. Now returning to self-publishing after writing and drawing Shazam! for DC, Smith plans RASL as a two-year series of quarterly issues.

• Rurouni Kenshin VIZBIG Edition Vol. 1 (Viz Media)
• Batman: The Man Who Laughs (DC)
• El Diablo (DC/ Vertigo)
• Casanova Vol. 1: Luxuria (Image)
• New Avengers: Illuminati (Marvel)
• Uncanny X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shiar Empire (Marvel)
• What Were They Thinking Vol. 1 (Boom! Entertainment)
• Albert & the Others (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Warriors Vol. 2: Warriors Refuge (Harper Collins)
• Hell Girl Vol. 1 (Del Ray Manga)
• Ral Grad Vol.1 (Viz Media)
• Predator Omnibus Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)

• Angouleme Coverage, Winners
  
• Pre-Selling at Cons
  
• Harvey Awards' Ballots
  
• Shojo Beat Music Edition
  
• IDW Publishes Rogue Angel
  
• Quesada on The Colbert Report
  
• Viz Anime Via Amazon