ELFSAR BLOG

I just got a call from the Shuster Awards yesterday. My heart sank as they told me that Elfsar again has been nominated for a Shuster Award for Most Outstanding Comic Book Retailer of the year. (Elfsar is now the current record holder for the most times nominated)

The Harry Kremer Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer /Le Prix Harry Kremer pour Détaillant Exceptionnel Canadien de Bandes Dessinées
* Another Dimension (Calgary, AB) www.another-dimension.com
* The Beguiling (Toronto, ON) www.beguiling.com
* Elfsar (Vancouver, BC) www.elfsar.com
* Fichtre! (Montreal, QC) www.fichtre.qc.ca
* Heroes (London, ON) www.heroescomics.ca

But there is the problem that we will no longer be an active retialer when the awards ceremony is held June 5th.  (We miss it by 5 days as we have to be out of this location by May 31st).  Does this discredit the past years worth of work and community building that we have done over the past year?  I cetainly hope not.  I can think of no bigger honor than for Elfsar to get the Harry Kremer Award.   I travelled to Toronto for the event last year and after not getting  the award, I was determined and motivated to turn it up and work my ass off.  But I sense that this year I will be disqualified due to the unfortunate circumstances.  Nothing has been said yet, but I am sure the powers that be are discussing it.

Nothing I can do about now but throw the biggest and best FCBD of all time!

Many of you are probably wondering why there has not been a monthly reminder to read Elfbytes or that your orders are now due.  Well the truth is Elfsar has been involved in some lengthy negotiations over the past few weeks with our landlord and unfortunately it has not worked out like we had planned.

Upon the renewal of our lease our landlord has demanded more than two and a half times what we were currently paying to be in Yaletown (which was not chump change to begin with).  We half suspect that the Shoppers drug mart above and next to us is after all (or at least half) of our space for added storage and is willing to pay a premium to take it.

The numbers simply no longer add up and Elfsar as a retail store would cease to become a viable business.  Even if I were to let go of all staff and get rid of all saver file discounts and free bags and boards we would still be required to double the amount of sales and I truly do not think that is possible in an industry which its own future is in question.

Faced with either moving the business/starting over or cutting my losses/shutting it down, I have had to make the very hard decision to close Elfsar as a retail store.

We will be shutting the doors down on Sunday May 23^{rd  –} the day before Victoria day.  Saver files should get in contact with me regarding any issues they have left to commit to.  An email or printed copy will be made available so that you can transfer your file to another store with the least amount of difficultly. I deeply apologize for the short notice as I was hoping to finally work out a deal with our landlord so that we could continue to bring you the very best in comics and service.

The three most convenient stores that offer a subscription program are as follows:

GOLDENAGE – The closest store (location wise) to us.  They offer saver files.  No discounts. No charges. Go one month without a pickup and they sell your books to other customers.

THE COMIC SHOP – The closest store (operation wise) to us. A security deposit of $25 is needed to set up a file.  They track your sales for 3 months. If you spend $100 per month you then qualify to get 10% off, $200 per month you get 20% off…etc. As long as you keep spending you qualify to get the discount.

RX COMICS –  The closest store (service wise) to us.  No security deposit or membership fees.  Saver files save 5% off the U.S. cover price.

All mail order files will be contacted via email with the remaining comics and toys left to come in and those who have CGC orders still remaining will be contacted once your order has been completed.  All shipments will be forwarded to a new office in North Vancouver which will be the head office for www.elfsar.com .

For those of you who will be on vacation at the time, we will mail your deposits back along with any outstanding items that had come in while you were away to the address you have provided us.  Other deposits from other customers will be returned in store upon the final visit.

Many of you that know me understand that I have been closely watching what has been happening in the comic book world (not just as a fan, but as a retail business owner).  The fact is the “modern age” of comics is changing at a rapid pace. With one million in sales through mobile formats such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Kindle, and PSP formats in 2009, I believe that in the next 5 to 10 years we will see the most significant changes to the comic industry as a whole.  Heck the biggest threat, known as the iPad has not even hit Canada yet and we have already seen the ripple effect in our business.  Yes, they are not offering any new comics for the time being but as costs and availability change over the next few years the comic book retail world is becoming a scarier place to be.  A new age is starting to emerge, let’s call it the “Digital age” of comics.  Even though torrents have existed for years now (with minimal effort one can get any new comic instantly) I applaud those who are trying to make digital comics a sellable format.

I like paper comics, don’t get me wrong, but the new digital formats for comics is exciting.  What can be achieved in storytelling by changing elements within the same panel is new and ready to be played with (here is a fine example of what I am talking about: http://balak01.deviantart.com/art/about-DIGITAL-COMICS-111966969 or check out http://balak01.deviantart.com/art/ABOUt-about-DIGITAL-COMICS-112523191 )

Is this the end of Elfsar?  Not entirely. We are restructuring and will be switching to a more e-tail based business.  www.elfsar.com will be changing over the next year to a site that is focusing more on the art of comics, fine art and other digital formats.

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However, Elfsar is not done yet….

Now with Free Comic Book day approaching this Saturday (our last FCBD)

We plan on pulling all the stops as we offer the biggest sale we have ever had in our 7 year history!

As a big thank you to all our comic saver files, we invite you to come in a day earlier on April 30^th to beat the rush to get first dibs on our special deals. *note you are still encouraged to come to the event on Saturday to meet the creators, get the free comics, participate in raffles and get your photo taken with members of the Xavier institute for gifted youngsters.  We also have a few surprises on May 1st… that I am being tight lipped about.

Our special sale is as follows:

SAVE 20 to 80% OFF -  Toys, Statues, Models, Novelties, T-Shirts & Posters!

SAVE up to 50% OFF -  Graphic Novels, Art Books, Comic Sets & Magazines
(with our new and improved Buy 1 get another 1 FREE sale!)

A BACK ISSUE CLEARANCE SALE THAT GEEKS DREAM ABOUT

SAVE 55% OFF -  on any single comic.
Or BUY 10 comics for only $10
Or BUY 30 comics for only $25
Or BUY a short box (approx 150 comics) for $75 and fill it up with as many comics from the back issue bins as you can.*
Or BUY a long box (approx 300 comics) for $100 and fill it up with as many comics from the back issue bins as you can.*

*Note: To be fair to everyone, you may not select more than 1 copy per comic of the same cover.  In other words you can not grab all 50 copies of Wolverine #1 to fill a box.  However, you can buy as many times as you like (if your goal is to get more of the same comic with the same cover).  Comics placed in boxes must be stacked vertically and the cashier must be able to insert one finger in on both ends to qualify.  Boxes must be able to close with a lid.

For more information about Free Comic book Day check our website: http://www.elfsar.com/FCBD/2010/Event.htm

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My thanks to everyone for making my job a joy to come to every day,

-Ethan (A.K.A. The Big Elf)

Digital comic sales have totaled between $500,000 and $1 million in retail sales within North America in 2009.  The total includes sales in mobile formats such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Kindle, and PSP formats.

The method used to inform the estimate was by consulting with the largest players in the digital comics based on their estimates of the market, each from a very different vantage point.  The range of the estimates reflected those different vantage points and the nascent state of the market; there was almost an order of magnitude separating the lowest and highest estimates.

Although digital comic sales in 2009 were a relatively modest number, they represent a huge jump from 2008, when only iVerse and uClick had digital comics available.  In 2009, Panelfly and Comixology launched for the iPhone, IDW began offering a wide range of titles initially through iVerse and then through its own apps, and PSP launched with 500 comic titles in December.  This type of boom in the industry is very similar to the graphic novel boom that started in 2005.

Among the big sellers in 2009 were IDW’s Star Trek: Countdown and Transformers:  Alliance iPhone apps, which IDW CEO Ted Adams believes were the top digital comic sellers for the year.   In 2010, sales are going to expand dramatically, with a full year of sales for the companies that launched in 2009, more launches in 2010, the huge impact of the iPad (which has not even hit Canada yet), the launch of the Marvel store, other launches TBD (i.e. What is DC COMICS going to do?), and continuing growth in the number of titles available.

Here are three of the digital comics companies and their looks ahead:

Brett Dovman, CFO of Panelfly:

“I think it’s an extremely new market and clearly believe that there is the potential for massive growth.  A quick example would be that of Japan’s.  Digital comics in Japan started to become available in 2003, and generated roughly $1 million that year.  In 2009, digital comics generated $500 million.  While I realize that Japan has a much larger print market and that the US market will not grow to become a $500 million market in just six years, I do think it’s possible for it to become a $100 million market in that time frame.”

Michael Murphey, CEO of iVerse:

“We’ve just reached the tip of the iceberg on the growth of the market.  iPad and other table devices provide a much more satisfying comic book reading experience, and I think we’ll see more readers enter the digital space because of that.  As more publishers move to bringing their current content into the digital arena, we’ll see growth from that as well.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see the digital comics market double annually over the next few years.”

David Steinberger, CEO of Comixology:

“2010 is the year that will be looked back on as the time when digital comics became regarded as a legitimate and profitable part of the comic book market as a whole.  I believe that digital distribution will increase the visibility and discoverability of comics, leading to an expanding market, including print.  It’s an exciting time to be in comics both creatively and as a business.”

Comic-Con International has released the nominations for the 22nd Eisner Awards; winners will be announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July.  David Mazzucchelli’s Asterios Polyp from Pantheon received the most nominations of any product, with four.  A number of others received three, including Fanfare/Ponent Mon’s My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill; First Second’s The Photographer; Viz’s 20th Century Boys and Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka; A Drifting Life from Drawn & Quarterly, Norton’s Book of Genesis; Vertigo’s The Unwritten; and Boom’s Irredeemable.

A few minor changes to the categories were made, including the addition of new categories for Best Adaptation from Another Work and for Best Writer/Artist—Nonfiction.

The judges, who established the nominees, are academic Craig Fischer (Appalachian State University), librarian Francisca Goldsmith (Infopeople), reviewer John Hogan (GraphicNovelReporter.com), writer James Hudnall, and retailer Wayne Winsett (Time Warp, Boulder).

Comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers now vote for the winners in each category.

I highlighted my votes in Red

Best Short Story

“Because I Love You So Much,” by Nikoline Werdelin, in From Wonderland with Love: Danish Comics in the 3rd Millennium (Fantagraphics/Aben malen)

“Gentleman John,” by Nathan Greno, in What Is Torch Tiger? (Torch Tiger)

“How and Why to Bale Hay,” by Nick Bertozzi, in Syncopated (Villard)

“Hurricane,” interpreted by Gradimir Smudja, in Bob Dylan Revisited (Norton)

 “Urgent Request,” by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, in The Eternal Smile (First Second)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

Brave & the Bold #28: “Blackhawk and the Flash: Firing Line,” by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz (DC)

Captain America #601: “Red, White, and Blue-Blood,” by Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan (Marvel)

Ganges #3, by Kevin Huizenga (Fantagraphics)

The Unwritten #5: “How the Whale Became,” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)

Usagi Yojimbo #123: “The Death of Lord Hikiji” by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series

Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy et al. (Vertigo/DC)

Irredeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!)

Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)

The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)

Best Limited Series or Story Arc

Blackest Night, by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Oclair Albert (DC)

Incognito, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)

Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki (VIZ Media)

Wolverine #66–72 and Wolverine Giant-Size Special: “Old Man Logan,” by Mark Millar, Steve McNiven, and Dexter Vines (Marvel)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best New Series

Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick, art by Tony Parker (BOOM!)

Ireedeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!)

Sweet Tooth, by Jeff Lemire (Vertigo/DC)

The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, by Jarrett J. Krosoczeka (Knopf)

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook, by Eleanor Davis (Bloomsbury)

Tiny Tyrant vol. 1: The Ethelbertosaurus, by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme (First Second)

The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Abrams ComicArts/Toon)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz hc, by L. Frank Baum, Eric Shanower, and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Publication for Teens

Angora Napkin, by Troy Little (IDW)

Beasts of Burden, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)

A Family Secret, by Eric Heuvel (Farrar Straus Giroux/Anne Frank House)

Far Arden, by Kevin Cannon (Top Shelf)

I Kill Giants tpb, by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura (Image)

Best Humor Publication

Drinky Crow’s Maakies Treasury, by Tony Millionaire (Fantagraphics)

Everybody Is Stupid Except for Me, And Other Astute Observations, by Peter Bagge (Fantagraphics)

Little Lulu, vols. 19–21, by John Stanley and Irving Tripp (Dark Horse Books)

The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets, by Roger Langridge (BOOM Kids!)

Scott Pilgrim vol. 5: Scott Pilgrm vs. the Universe, by Brian Lee O’Malley (Oni)

Best Anthology

Abstract Comics, edited by Andrei Molotiu (Fantagraphics)

Bob Dylan Revisited, edited by Bob Weill (Norton)

Flight 6, edited by Kazu Kibuishi (Villard)

Popgun vol. 3, edited by Mark Andrew Smith, D. J. Kirkbride, and Joe Keatinge (Image)

Syncopated: An Anthology of Nonfiction Picto-Essays, edited by Brendan Burford (Villard)

What Is Torch Tiger? edited by Paul Briggs (Torch Tiger)

Best Digital Comic

Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, www.abominable.cc

Bayou, by Jeremy Love, http://zudacomics.com/bayou

The Guns of Shadow Valley, by David Wachter and James Andrew Clark, www.gunsofshadowvalley.com

Power Out, by Nathan Schreiber, www.act-i-vate.com/67.comic

Sin Titulo, by Cameron Stewart, www.sintitulocomic.com/

Best Reality-Based Work

A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)

Footnotes in Gaza, by Joe Sacco (Metropolitan/Holt)

The Imposter’s Daughter, by Laurie Sandell (Little, Brown)

Monsters, by Ken Dahl (Secret Acres)

The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)

Stitches, by David Small (Norton)

Best Adaptation from Another Work

The Book of Genesis Illustrated, by R. Crumb (Norton)

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation, adapted by Michael Keller and Nicolle Rager Fuller (Rodale)

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, adapted by Tim Hamilton (Hill & Wang)

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

West Coast Blues, by Jean-Patrick Manchette, adapted by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—New

Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzuccheilli (Pantheon)

A Distant Neighborhood (2 vols.), by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

The Book of Genesis Illustrated, by R. Crumb (Norton)

My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill, by Jean Regnaud and émile Bravo (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

Absolute Justice, by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Doug Braithewaite (DC)

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge, by Josh Neufeld (Pantheon)

Alec: The Years Have Pants, by Eddie Campbell (Top Shelf)

Essex County Collected, by Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)

Map of My Heart: The Best of King-Cat Comics & Stories, 1996–2002, by John Porcellino (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips

Bloom County: The Complete Library, vol. 1, by Berkeley Breathed, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

Bringing Up Father, vol. 1: From Sea to Shining Sea, by George McManus and Zeke Zekley, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW)

The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley’s Cartoons 1913–1940, edited by Trina Robbins (Fantagraphics)

Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, by Gahan Wilson, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

Prince Valiant, vol. 1: 1937–1938, by Hal Foster, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)

Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, Walt McDougall, and W. W. Denslow (Sunday Press)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books

The Best of Simon & Kirby, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, edited by Steve Saffel (Titan Books)

Blazing Combat, by Archie Goodwin et al., edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

Humbug, by Harvey Kurtzman et al., edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures deluxe edition, by Dave Stevens, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Abrams ComicArts/Toon)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill, by Jean Regnaud and émile Bravo (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)

Tiny Tyrant vol. 1: The Ethelbertosaurus, by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme (First Second)

West Coast Blues, by Jean-Patrick Manchette, adapted by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Years of the Elephant, by Willy Linthout (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

The Color Trilogy, by Kim Dong Haw (First Second) 

A Distant Neighborhood (2 vols.), by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)

Oishinbo a la Carte, written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki (VIZ Media)

Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki (VIZ Media)

Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer

Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project (Marvel) Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)

Geoff Johns, Adventure Comics, Blackest Night, The Flash: Rebirth, Superman: Secret Origin (DC)

James Robinson, Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC)

Mark Waid, Irredeemable, The Incredibles (BOOM!)

Bill Willingham, Fables (Vertigo/DC)

Best Writer/Artist

Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter (IDW)

R. Crumb, The Book of Genesis Illustrated (Norton)

David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Terry Moore, Echo (Abstract Books)

Naoki Urasawa, Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka (VIZ Media)

Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction

Reinhard Kleist, Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness (Abrams ComicArts)

Willy Linthout, Years of the Elephant (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (Metropolitan/Holt)

David Small, Stitches (Norton)

Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Michael Kaluta, Madame Xanadu #11–15: “Exodus Noir” (Vertigo/DC)

Steve McNiven/Dexter Vines, Wolverine: Old Man Logan (Marvel)

Fiona Staples, North 40 (WildStorm)

J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)

Danijel Zezelj, Luna Park (Vertigo/DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

émile Bravo, My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

Mauro Cascioli, Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC)

Nicolle Rager Fuller, Charles Darwin on the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation (Rodale Books)

Jill Thompson, Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse); Magic Trixie and the Dragon (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics)

Best Cover Artist

John Cassaday, Irredeemable (BOOM!); Lone Ranger (Dynamite)

Salvador Larocca, Invincible Iron Man (Marvel)

Sean Phillips, Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon); 28 Days Later (BOOM!)

Alex Ross, Astro City: The Dark Age (WildStorm/DC); Project Superpowers  (Dynamite)

J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)

Best Coloring

Steve Hamaker, Bone: Crown of Thorns (Scholastic); Little Mouse Gets Ready (Toon)

Laura Martin, The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures (IDW); Thor, The Stand: American Nightmares (Marvel)

David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Alex Sinclair, Blackest Night, Batman and Robin (DC)

Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, Umbrella Academy, Zero Killer (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Northlanders, Luna Park (Vertigo)

Best Lettering

Brian Fies, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? (Abrams ComicArts)

David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Tom Orzechowski, Savage Dragon (Image); X-Men Forever (Marvel)

Richard Sala, Cat Burglar Black (First Second); Delphine (Fantagraphics)

Adrian Tomine, A Drifting Life (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)

ComicsAlliance, www.comicsalliance.com

Comics Comics, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (www.comicscomicsmag.com) (PictureBox)

The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)

The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon (www.comicsreporter.com)

Best Comics-Related Book

Alan Moore: Comics as Performance, Fiction as Scalpel, by Annalisa Di Liddo (University Press of Mississippi)

The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts)

The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga, by Helen McCarthy (Abrams ComicArts)

Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater, by Eric P. Nash (Abrams ComicArts)

Will Eisner and PS Magazine, by Paul E. Fitzgerald (Fitzworld.US)

Best Publication Design

Absolute Justice, designed by Curtis King and Josh Beatman (DC)

The Brinkley Girls, designed by Adam Grano (Fantagraphics)

Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)

Life and Times of Martha Washington, designed by David Nestelle (Dark Horse Books)

Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, designed by Philippe Ghielmetti (Sunday Press)

Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? designed by Neil Egan and Brian Fies (Abrams ComicArts)