Hope Innelli, associate publisher of Harper Paperbacks, said the new 576-page edition of Zot! will collect the entire black & white series in one volume. While early issues of the series, which was originally published by Eclipse Comics, ran in color, the new edition will be completely black & white. “That’s a creative decision by Scott,” said Innelli, explaining that McCloud believes the series really came together when he focused on working in black and white.

This delightful collection spotlights early work by Weissman, whose recent Chewing Gum in Church and Kid Firechief have generated much deserved acclaim. Weissman is the increasingly rare cartoonist whose simple, lush works hide a wicked intelligence and biting wit. He employs a classic, almost 1950s graphic style to tell stories of mischievous children. In this collection, Weissman focuses on a cast of monster kids, including Li'l Bloody (a kid vampire), Kid Medusa (a child Medusa), Pullapart Boy (his limbs pop off) and others. These twisted little ones are like the Peanuts gang on a bad acid trip. They punch, bite, kick and abuse one another in their eternal quest for friendship and mayhem. Weissman always walks the line between the comedic and the corny, but his pacing, dialogue and drawing is spot-on throughout. There's nothing quite like Kid Medusa feeling lonely or Pullapart Boy in shambles. The characters heighten all the universal childhood feelings with grotesque flair. Also included is a lengthy adventure featuring Rip Van Helsing, which is must reading, as is the whole book. (Sept.)

Despite over-the-top sex and violence that kept it out of most chain bookstores, Battle Royale has been a popular seller in its original 15-volume format. Now Tokyopop plans an omnibus Battle Royale Ultimate Edition, collecting three volumes of the original manga in a single, hardcover volume retailing for $24.99. The new book series debuts in October, and Tokyopop's editor-in-chief, Rob Tokar, explained why this new Battle Royale edition is more than just an old book in a new cover.

• Best American Comics 2007 (Houghton Mifflin Company)
• Elfworld Vol. 1 (Top Shelf Productions)
• I Killed Adolf Hitler (Fantagraphics)
• Loki (Marvel)
• Madman Vol. 1 (Image)
• Invisible Boy Vol. 1 (Digital Manga Publishing)
• Ronald Regan: A Graphic Biography (Hill and Wang)
• Bryon: Mad, Bad, and Dangerous(Amaze Ink/ Slave Labor Graphics)
• Alan Moore's Yuggoth Cultures and Other Growths (Avatar Press)
• Teen Titans Vol. 7: Titans East (DC)
• Killer Vol. 1 (Archaia Studios Press)

• Nee Rises at DC Comics
  
• New York Anime Festival Guests
  
• Demo Rights Revision
  
• 30 Days of Night Movie Adaptation
  
• Zuda Contracts
  
• Mike Wieringo Tribute Art Auction
  
• 24 Hour Comics Day 2007
  
• Top Comics of the Year 5767
  
• David Heatley on Canadian Radio