Top Shelf News

Jake Tapper Makes his Graphic Novel Debut with The Butcher!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 PST

Jake Tapper Makes his Graphic Novel Debut with The Butcher: The Decades-Long Hunt for Klaus Barbie, One of the World's Most Notorious Killers

Top Shelf Set to Release the Original Graphic Novel June 1, 2027

PREORDER AVAILABLE NOW

LINK TO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VARIETY

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 21, 2026) — Stepping away from the newsroom to the creator’s chair, award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author, Jake Tapper, tackles the hunt for one of the most terrifying war criminals of the 20th century with his debut graphic novel, The Butcher: The Decades-Long Hunt for Klaus Barbie, One of the World's Most Notorious Killers, publishing June 1, 2027 via Top Shelf Productions. The Butcher is the compelling true story of Klaus Barbie, the mass murderer who escaped justice and thrived for decades, the Nazi hunters and journalists who tracked him down, and the shocking investigation that revealed who helped him escape to begin with. Using his investigative skills and researching from source material in four different languages — German, English, Spanish, and French — Tapper has chronicled the shocking pursuit of one of the world’s most sought after war criminals in excruciating detail, as writer AND illustrator!

“This has been one of the most difficult and rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on — both in terms of the research into the astounding and troubling life of one of the world’s most notorious and elusive Nazi war criminals, the effort to turn that into compelling storytelling, and the work to illustrate it all,” says writer and illustrator Jake Tapper. “I hope readers find it as satisfying to read.”

“Jake Tapper combines his passions for investigative journalism and literary comics in his debut graphic novel, which he both wrote and illustrated,” says Chris Staros, Editor-in-Chief, Top Shelf Productions. “What sets this book apart is its powerful revelation of those who assisted in helping a notorious Nazi evade justice, contrasted with the relentless, uncompromising efforts of those who fought to ensure accountability.”

The Butcher: The Decades-Long Hunt for Klaus Barbie, One of the World's Most Notorious Killers will be available as a full-color graphic novel on June 1, 2027 in two editions. The softcover edition (ISBN: 978-1-60309-615-7) will be available wherever books are sold for a list price of $19.99. There will be a limited, signed and numbered hardcover edition (ISBN: 978-1-60309-626-3) available exclusively at the IDW Publishing online store for a list price of $49.99.

About the Creator:
Jake Tapper is the award-winning lead Washington anchor for CNN who hosts the weekday television news show The Lead with Jake Tapper and co-hosts the Sunday-morning public affairs program State of the Union. He is the best-selling author of the novels The Hellfire Club and The Devil May Dance and the nonfiction book The Outpost as well as the co-author of the critically acclaimed Original Sin, which debuted at number one on the New York Times best-seller list for nonfiction and remained on the list for almost two months. A Philly boy and Dartmouth man, he lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, daughter, son, five dogs, and cat.

Photo credit: Elliott O'Donovan

You Wish (Book 3): Crunch Time IN STORES NOW!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 PST

The beloved graphic novel series returns! Just when you thought it was safe to be a half-genie… Avery and her friends discover shocking new threats rising from the lost history of the lamp dimension!

Avery and Gribblet have been reunited, and even found a new friend in the warrior woman Solong, but their adventure is just getting started! When Avery’s mother falls mysteriously ill, the three friends rub the magic lamp and travel back into the genie world to search for a cure… with a gruesome bounty hunter named Crunch Gunderson hot on their trail. Meanwhile, far away in a mysterious amber prison, a hooded figure is slowly gaining power, plotting a confrontation with our heroes. As sinister forces start closing in, Avery and her friends are caught in a desperate race against time!

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE!

You Wish (Book 3): Crunch Time
by Jeff Victor
$14.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-597-6
160 pages | 7" x 9.5" full-color graphic novel (w/3" French flaps)

The Book Tour: A Lack of Alibi IN STORES NOW!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 00:00:00 PST

There’s no evidence you didn’t do it.

Door-to-door encyclopedia salesman Mortimer arrives in the city in a hurry. He wants to get home in time for his daughter's sports day, but first he needs to make a sale. All that’s stopping him is a murderer on the loose, the police declaring him their prime suspect…and a lack of alibi.

After rave reviews for his graphic novel The Book Tour, internationally renowned cartoonist Andi Watson returns with another bewildering escapade of deadpan disaster, a stand-alone sequel packed with even more twists.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE!

The Book Tour (Book 2): A Lack of Alibi
by Andi Watson
$14.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-602-7
285 pages | 6.5" x 9" B&W graphic novel (w/3" French flaps)

Skull Cat (Book 2): Skull Cat and the Vampire’s Amulet IN STORES NOW!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 00:00:00 PST

Scully is starting to like his job at the spooky castle… but when he tries to show his dad there’s nothing to fear, everything goes wrong!

Scully Catterson doesn’t understand why his father is so worried about Scully working at Le Dark Château, an eerily blood-red castle that’s rumored to be the home of a pair of vampires. Giving him a tour of the castle’s beautiful gardens might have started to change his mind…if he hadn’t been abducted by a flying pirate ship! Now it’s up to Scully to save the day again, joined by a grumpy goblin and a disgruntled vine dragon. But will this clumsy team catch up with the villains before the secrets of the Vampire’s Amulet are revealed and the Ultimate Power is unleashed? And will Mr. Catterson learn to trust his son, so Scully can become the hero he’s destined to be?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE!

Skull Cat (Book 2): Skulll Cat and the Vampire's Amulet
by Norman Shurtliff
$14.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-596-9
112 pages | 7" x 9" full-color graphic novel (w/3" French flaps)

Ben Wickey nominated for a HARVEY AWARD!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 00:00:00 PST

Ben Wickey nominated for two RINGO AWARDS!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 PST

FOREVR in stores now!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Wed, 2 Sep 2026 00:00:00 PST

What if you didn’t have to say goodbye to your loved ones?

Old fashioned death, the way our parents and grandparents went, is a sad barbaric tradition. FOREVR allows humans, for the first time in history, to defy death. Say "Hello" to the most wise, powerful, and customizable version of your loved one.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE!

Forevr
by Brian "Box" Brown
$19.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-600-3
148 pages | 6" x 8.5" full-color graphic novel (w/3" French flaps)

KODI: A PLACE TO CALL HOME in stores now!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 00:00:00 PST

Stunning watercolor artwork, a headstrong young girl, and a huge bear with a gentle heart — all return for an emotional new adventure in this stunning sequel!

After being reunited, Katya and Kodi are settling into their fast-paced new life together in the city. But as Katya starts to fall behind in school and Kodi struggles to find his place in this noisy new world, everything is put at risk by a greedy zookeeper who aims to break them up for good. Now, Katya and her unusual family must venture back into the wild, face their fears, and learn to trust new friends, as they fight to find a place to belong.

In Kodi: A Place To Call Home, painter/cartoonist Jared Cullum returns to his award-winning graphic novel series for an incredible new adventure, full of gorgeous outdoor vistas, amazing animals, lovable and hateable new characters, roaring rivers, thrilling dangers, and tender moments.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE!

Kodi: A Place to Call Home
by Jared Cullum
$14.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-595-2
172 pages | 6.5" x 9" full-color graphic novel (w/3" French flaps)

HOME TIME: TWELVE DAYS in stores now!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 PST

Talking peaches, magic tea, frightening wildlife, and more—the award-winning fantasy epic graphic novel that critics called “an intoxicating and visually stunning Australian Narnia” is now collected into a single massive volume!

The last school bell has rung, and it’s finally HOME TIME! Even though they’re twins, Lily and David don’t agree on much…except that the last summer before high school is the perfect time for relaxing with friends.

But their plans for sleepovers, fantasy games, and romance are thrown out the window when the whole gang falls into a river and wakes up in a village of fantastic creatures. Hailed as magical spirits, threatened by lizards, and trained in the mysterious arts of tea-brewing, these kids must find their way home—if they don’t throttle each other first.

Featuring a kaleidoscope of art styles, a puzzle-box narrative structure, and a spectacular reimagining of his childhood hometown, Campbell Whyte’s astonishing Australian fantasy series is now collected in one volume for the first time.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE!

Home Time: Twelve Days
by Campbell Whyte
$39.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-582-2
452 pages | 9" x 9" full-color graphic novel (w/3" French flaps)

JOHNNY BOO: ON THE GO in stores now!

Chris Staros@www.topshelfcomix.com — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 PST

Perfect for beginning readers, this quirky and fun graphic novel follows the adventures of a ghost and his pet Squiggle!

Johnny Boo is the best little ghost in the whole world, because he has Boo Power. This means that he can go "BOO" really loudly! His pet ghost named Squiggle has Squiggle Power, which means that he can fly and do really fast loop-the-loops. Together they have the world's greatest ghost adventures! And now, for the first time, read the first seven volumes in one book!

James Kochalka has won multiple Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Young Readers and has published 14 volumes of the Johnny Boo series. This special On The Go edition collects the first seven into one convenient-to-read book!

Johnny Boo: On the Go
by James Kochalka
$13.99 (US) | ISBN 978-1-60309-604-1
272 pages | 6" x 9" full-color graphic novel