Top Shelf News

Movie news: TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN announces writing team!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The film adaptation of Alex Robinson's award-winning graphic novel TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN takes another step closer to reality this week, as screenwriters Rocky Russo and Jeremy Sosenko have signed on to write the script.

Red Crown Productions' Daniela Taplin Lundberg and Daniel Crown are producing with Likely Story’s Anthony Bregman. Stefanie Azpiazu and Riva Marker will be executive producers on the film.

Bregman commented "Too Cool To Be Forgotten is a story that demonstrates that comic books can be as profound and moving as they can be funny and entertaining, and that is exactly what this team hopes to replicate on the screen."

"I'm awfully proud of this book, and pleased to see it in good hands," said Alex Robinson. "There's still a long way to go yet, so we'll hold off on the champagne just yet... but I may have a candy cigarette or two! In the meantime, back to work on my new book, which I'll hopefully have wrapped up by the time of the big premiere!"

TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN, Alex Robinson's third graphic novel (following BOX OFFICE POISON and TRICKED), follows middle-aged Andy Wicks as he attempts hypnotherapy to cure his smoking addiction... and finds himself traveling back in time to his painfully awkward high school years! Is he doomed to relive the mistakes of his past, or is this is second chance to get things right?

If you've never read TOO COOL, check it out now and beat the rush!

Jeffrey Brown SAVES THE DATE of his movie debut at Sundance!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

One of Top Shelf's most beloved authors, Jeffrey Brown, makes his feature film debut today in U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, with SAVE THE DATE!

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of Jeffrey Brown’s groundbreaking graphic novel CLUMSY, and what better way to celebrate than with the premiere of a film he co-wrote!

Filmmaker Michael Mohan (One Too Many Mornings) returns to Sundance with a bittersweet screenplay he wrote with famed graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown and co-writer Egan Reich. At turns funny, sad, and sweet, SAVE THE DATE is a sincere story about the familial and romantic bonds that form us all.

Nate Powell's ANY EMPIRE explodes onto YouTube!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

An intense new video trailer for Nate Powell's graphic novel Any Empire has just been posted to YouTube! It features music by the bands Tracker (who were responsible for the Blankets soundtrack album) and Universe (featuring Nate Powell himself), and is a real treat for both those who've read the book and those who haven't yet. Check it out here: Any Empire video trailer!

Dive into BLUE by Pat Grant!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Fri, 6 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

You've never seen anything quite like this. In March 2012, Top Shelf will release the debut graphic novel from super-talented Australian cartoonist Pat Grant, entitled BLUE.

It's a fascinating blend of autobiography and fiction with a sci-fi twist: in a seaside Australian town struggling with alien tentacle-creature immigration, a trio of aimless teenagers skip school to go surfing, chase rumors of a dead body, and avoid dealing with their own fears.

Here's what Craig Thompson, author of Blankets, Carnet de Voyage, and Habibi, had to say about BLUE: "This book rekindles my earliest enthusiasm for the comics medium. Pat Grant is the Australian Mark Twain, trading Huck's raft for a waxed-up surfboard and an inked-up sable brush. Vast themes of racism and immigration unravel in sprawling murals and a single day in the life of some reckless teens in this sea-polished, perfect nugget of a book."

Still not convinced? Check out Pat's great SHAMELESS PUBLICITY DOCUMENT, and the free preview of BLUE at Pat’s website!

Be sure to pre-order this lush, lovable, complex book from your favorite comic shop, or directly from Top Shelf!

BLUE by Pat Grant
--96-page hardcover graphic novel with 2-color interiors
--9.4" x 6.6" (landscape format)
--Older teens (16+) and adults
--ISBN: 978-1-60309-153-4
--Diamond order code: JAN12-1268
--$14.95 (US)

"Pat Grant is serious about comics." -- Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics, and Making Comics

"BLUE is everything a good comics can be." -- Shaun Tan, author of The Arrival and Tales from Outer Suburbia

Happy holidays from Top Shelf!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Enjoy this greeting from James Kochalka, and thanks for supporting us through another year of amazing comics!

Eddie Campbell & ALEC score Angouleme honors!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

The TOP SHELF KIDS CLUB celebrates Free Comic Book Day 2012!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

2011's not over yet, but we're already knee-deep in preparations for 2012 -- including one of our most fun projects of the year, the FREE all-ages comic book for Free Comic Book Day (May 5, 2012)!

Check out this amazing cover by Pirate Penguin vs Ninja Chicken creator Ray Friesen! The interior will feature SIX new stories by the dream team of Top Shelf Kids Club authors: Owly by Andy Runton, Johnny Boo by James Kochalka, Korgi by Christian Slade, Okie Dokie Donuts by Chris Eliopoulos, Pirate Penguin vs Ninja Chicken by Ray Friesen, and Upside Down by Jess Smart Smiley.

Wow, May 5th can't come soon enough! In the meantime, don't forget to check out the official Top Shelf Kids Club app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, where you can read the 2011 FCBD book and buy digital versions of all our great all-ages titles!

Pre-order your copy of Harvey Pekar's CLEVELAND!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Wed, 7 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Harvey Pekar was one of a kind -- as Alan Moore says, "a pillar of the comics medium." His work in autobiographical comics has affected millions deeply, and his influence can be seen everywhere today.

This winter, we're honored to team up with new publisher Zip Comics to release one of his final projects: Harvey Pekar's Cleveland, a heartfelt memoir as well as a bittersweet celebration of the city he loved.

This February release is now available for pre-order through your local comic shop (with code DEC11-1207), bookseller, or directly from us. Check out Joseph Remnant's amazing art in the 8-page preview here, and pre-order your copy today!

Top Shelf's first time at Brooklyn Comics & Graphics Festival!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Fri, 2 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

New Yorkers! Come celebrate our debut appearance at the much buzzed-about Brooklyn Comics & Graphics Festival, a FREE one-day celebration of indie/art comics, today, Saturday December 3 from noon to 9 PM.

You can meet Underwire author Jennifer Hayden, continuing her rock star Underwire signing tour, as well as Liar's Kiss author Eric Skillman, who'll have a new issue of his hard-boiled crime series Egg! And our own New Yorker, Leigh Walton, will be manning the booth and cutting deals all day long, with a full lineup of our incredible 2011 releases.

See you soon!

Kevin O'Neill offers LEAGUE original art for sale!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

For the first time, British comics legend and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen co-creator Kevin O'Neill is making available almost 90 pages of original artwork from recent League graphic novels!

The selling exhibitions -- one in Brussels and one in Paris -- include the front covers and some of the greatest interior pages from The Black Dossier, Century: 1910, and Century: 1969.

Paul will be present to open the exhibitions later this month: December 15th at the Galerie Champaka in Brussels, followed by December 16th at Galerie 9eme Art in Paris!

For more details, check out exhibition consultant Paul Gravett's announcement here, or the Galerie Champaka site where the pages will be viewable and purchasable.