Panel Mania: Like A Dog

Like a Dog by Zak Sally collects the first two issues of his series Recidivist, along with other of if his stories from the last 15 years. In this preview there are excerpts from three stories: "Two Idiot Brothers," "At the Scaffold," and "The Man Who Killed Wally Wood." Like a Dog will be released by Fantagraphics in the last week of October.

Comics Reviews: 10/19/2009

Upbeat Diamond Summit Draws New Retailers

Although it's been a tumultuous month in the comics industry, retailers and publishers got down to business at the Diamond Retailer Summit, held October 11—12 in Baltimore. Organized and run by Diamond Distribution, the exclusive distributor for the top four comics and graphic novel publishers, the yearly meeting drew nearly 600 retailers from around North America.

Kane/Miller Conspires to Build a Hit

Educational Development Corp. chairman Randall White was pretty sure he had uncovered a gem of a small company when he acquired Kane/Miller Book Publishers last December, but the purchase has worked out even better than he thought. With the holiday season still to come, revenue at Kane/Miller in 2009 has already topped that of all of 2008, according to White.

Children's Book Reviews: 10/19/2009

This week, stars for Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock's The Mitten, John Hendrix's John Brown: His Fight for Freedom, Sharon Shinn's Gateway, and Julie Halpern's Into the Wild Nerd Yonder. Plus: roundups of Hanukkah titles and gift ideas.

Fiction Book Reviews: 10/19/2009

Reviewed this week, new fiction from Tami Hoag, Amy Bloom, Tash Aw, Sadie Jones and David Carkeet. Plus, Dexter Palmer debuts with a smart steampunk page-turner, Michael Thomas Ford takes Jane Austen into the realm of the undead, Brooke Morgan finds inspiration in a real-life murder case, and Hillary Manton Lodge heats up the bonnets in an Amish romance.

Galley Talk: A Whole Nother Story

Angela K. Sherrill of 57th Street Books in Chicago talks about a favorite 2010 galley.
For me, there’s something of Mark Twain in Dr. Cuthbert Soup’s upcoming middle-grade novel, A Whole Nother Story (Bloomsbury, Jan. 2010), a winking satire that grabs readers and pulls them along a swiftly narrated adventure. The action follows Mr. Cheeseman and his three unique and savvy children...

Web Exclusive Children's Book Reviews: 10/13/2009

This selection of web-exclusive children's book reviews from Publishers Weekly includes new titles from Kevin Sherry, Chris Van Dusen and Carolyn MacCullough, as well as a starred review for Joaquin Dorfman's new novel.

Retailers and Fans Converge on Baltimore

Despite intense industry speculation of changes at Marvel and DC after recent ownership and management shake-ups, the doubleheader of the Baltimore Comic-con and the Diamond Retailer Summit managed to stick to an agenda of celebrating comics and finding ways to sell more of them

Comics Scholarship—Mississippi Style

If the last century saw the state of Mississippi as the cradle of the blues, this century may see the region’s University Press of Mississippi set the course for modern comics scholarship.

October Comics Bestsellers

Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid: Last Straw is king; Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead: What We Become just won’t die; and Bill Willingham follows with Fables: The Dark Ages. Bleach vol 28 and Naruto vol. 45 are next while Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson: Homecoming, Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet Book 2 and Brian Azzarello’s Filthy Rich round out the list.

HCI Author Gets Own Imprint

HCI is giving one of its authors his own imprint. FG Publishing, Inc., will be headed by author, entrepreneur, speaker and philanthropist Farrah Gray. HCI published Gray’s book Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out in 2005, in which Gray explained how he became a millionaire at age 14 and went on to launch businesses and foundations and publish several books.

Comics Briefly

MoCCA Art Fest Moved to Spring; New Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Fest ; Boom Studios Signs With Haven; Viz Accepting Submissions; Powers Returns with New Series; Marvel.Com Exclusive Animation Extras; Archie Comics Creator at Big Apple Comic Con; Bendis Interview on Fresh Ink; Media Meltdown Free Digital Comic from Orca; This Week @ The Beat; and This Week @ Good Comics For Kids

Sampling Food, Books and the Schnitzelwich in California and Oregon

Last week I visited the West Coast, spending time in San Francisco, Napa Valley and Portland, Ore., and while I knew all three places deserved a place on any foodie’s map, I wasn’t prepared for the breadth of offerings. Food carts, coffee stands and bakeries deserve just as many accolades as Thomas Keller’s temples of cuisine. Cookbook fans and armchair travelers, take note.

Barron's Revamps Bestselling Culinary Reference

It’s still early to predict which food books will be most popular this holiday season, but The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion could be in the running. It is the fifth edition of a popular culinary reference book that was first released 19 years ago and has sold more than a million copies since then. And at $29.99, it’s a rare example of the “deluxe” book also being the wallet-friendly book.

Short Order: October 12

It's party time! Louisa Edwards celebrated the release of her debut novel, Can't Stand the Heat (St. Martin's) at New York's Blue Hill restaurant; Lara Starr feted her new cookbook, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook (Viva Editions) in San Rafael, Calif.; and pastry chef Karen DeMasco (pictured) got happy about her new tome, The Craft of Baking (Clarkson Potter) at Locanda Verde in Manhattan. Also, news on Gourmet.

Panel Mania: Luke Cage Noir

Luke Cage Noir, set in Prohibition-era Harlem, follows Luke Cage as he attempts to put his life back together after 10 years in Riker's Island, even while he is hindered by powerful forces. The pages in this excerpt are from Luke Cage Noir Issue #3, written by Mike Benson and Adam Glass, with art by Shawn Martinbrough; the cover is by Tim Bradstreet. The hardcover graphic novel is due out from Marvel in March 2010, and the fourth issue will be released on November 11.

Fiction Book Reviews: 10/12/2009

Reviewed this week, new fiction from Sue Grafton, J.M. Coetzee, Ken Bruen, Anna Maxted and Richard Bausch. Plus, Norberto Fuentes channels Castro, Thomas E. Kennedy gets a long-overdue U.S. launch, Maaza Mengiste debuts with a striking novel of 1974 Ethiopia, and Matthew Reilly delivers another bang-up adventure.

Children's Book Reviews: 10/12/2009

This week's children's book reviews include new picture books from Kazuna Kohara, Emily Gravett, and Julianna, Isabella, and Craig Hatkoff; PW's review of the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, Dog Days; new fiction from Josh Lieb, Robin Brande and Barry Lyga; as well as nonfiction, new picture books about the Obamas and a trio of small but thought-provoking gift books.

The Wimp Factor

In schoolyards, jocks may still rule. But in bookstores, the big boy on campus is a wimp. More specifically, he’s a middle-schooler named Greg Heffley, the star of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Next Monday, Amulet Books imprint is releasing four million copies of Dog Days, the fourth installment of the cartoon-illustrated novels—the largest first printing for any children’s book this year.