Before we begin today's run-down, a quick word on the dates listed below. I'm going by the catalog I received in the mail here, and not by the dates listed on the company's Web site. In other words, even though NBM says the next Trondheim book is coming out this month, I'm saying March, because that's what it says in their catalog. I apologize in advance if this screws anyone up.

Now with that out of the way, let's move on ...

Miss Don't Touch Me by Hubert and Kerascoet. This actually comes out today. It's a French book, full of murder, sex and intrigue, about a young woman who ends up becoming a call-girl to try and solve a murder. I don't think Nancy Drew ever did that. Previews here. $14.95 paperback.



Little Nothings Vol. 2: The Prisoner Syndrome by Lewis Trondheim. More autobiographical one-page musings from the French master. The first volume won a lot of accolades and made it onto more than one best-of year-end list. Will the sequel do the same or will it seem all too familiar? Samples can be found here. $14.95 paperback. March.

Dungeon Zenith Vol. 3: Back in Style by Joann Sfar, Lewis Trondheim and Boulet. Moving back from the Twilight and Monstres series, these tales return to the Dungeon's heyday, and find Herbert and his friends up to their necks in trouble again. I can't get enough of this series. $12.95 paperback. April.

Arlene's Heart by Victoria Frances. A fantasy artist known for the Favola series of books contributes what seems to be a Goth-inspired fantasy fable. Not my cup of tea, but perhaps you'll like it. Previews here. $24.95 hardcover. May.

Mijeong by Byun Byung-Jun. A new book from the author of Run, Bong-Gu,Run!, about young people from different walks of life whose paths cross in unexpected and sometimes tragic ways. $19.95 paperback. June.

George McManus' Bringing Up Father. Part of NBM's ongoing Forever Nuts series, which celebrates early 20th century strips, this book looks at the early years of McManus' seminal, rolling-pin throwing strip, collecting the daillies fromt he first two years. It should be noted that IDW is planning on publishing Sunday pages of the strip down the road as well. $24.95 hardcover. July.

A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: Famous Players: The Mysterious Death of William Desmond Taylor by Rick Geary. Geary continues his wonderful (if macabre) true crime series with this examination of the unsolved murder of a early Hollywood director and actor who turned up dead in his bungalow one day. As Sean Collins likes to say, sure, I'll eat it. $15.95 hardcover. August.