Continuing our look at the coming year in comics publishing, here's a look at what the esteemed Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly has planned for the spring and summer.
APRIL
A Drifting Life by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Probably the biggest book the company will publish this year, and at 840 pages, I mean that literally. This is Tatsumi's (The Push Man, Good-Bye) memoir of his life from 1945-1960, the end of WWII to his arrival as a professional manga-ka. Expect to see this on a lot of top 10 lists a year from now. $39.95 hardcover.
Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine. Tomine's highly acclaimed tale of a jerk who's got a thing for blondes arrives in paperback. Now the poverty-stricken among you can complain that his comics are nothing but whiny twentysomethings. $14.95 paperback.
32 Stories Special Edition by Adrian Tomine. It's Tomine season! Coinciding with Shortcomings' paperback release is a gussied-up collection of Tomine's mini-comics done back when he was in high school, before he frittered his talent away (I'm kidding). Comes with an additional pamphlet containing a new introduction and notes by Tomine. $19.95 slipcased volume.
MAY
George Sprott 1894-1975 by Seth. Lots of folks loved Seth's story of an over-the-hill TV host -- as remembered by his fans, family and friends -- when it was originally serialized in the New York Times. Now you can too. $19.95 hardcover.
The Collected Doug Wright Vol. 1. Lynn Johnston wrote the introduction for the first in what will be a multi-part celebration of a little known (assuming you live below the Canadian border) cartoonist. This introductory volume collects a lot of his unpublished work as well as the initial run of his comic strip Nipper. Brad Mackay provides a biographical essay. $29.95 hardcover.
JUNE
Nancy Vol. 1 by John Stanley. Not the Ernie Brushmiller strip, but John Stanley's comic book version of such. Right on the heels of Melvin Monster comes another treasure trove of Stanley hilarity. Seth designed this book too. Guy gets around. $19.95 hardcover.
Moomin Book 4 by Tove Jansson. Continuing the Moomin parade. Hopefully you're not letting it pass you by. $19.95 hardcover.
Aya: The Secrets Come Out by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. I admit it. I'm completely hooked on this African soap-opera series and cant wait to see what happens next. $19.95 hardcover.
Prayer Requested by Christian Northeast. Part of D&Q's Petit Livres series, this book features Northeast's illustrative collage work, with each image accompanied by a "found or scavenged prayer." $12.95 paperback.