SMH USA Catalogue 2013

SelfMadeHeroEssential Graphic Novels

2013

SelfMadeHeroEssential Graphic Novels

2013

Our mission at SelfMadeHero is simple: to publish works that “provoke, entertain, inspire, and

inform through the medium of the graphic novel”. We are proud to publish ground-breaking and

beautiful work by authors and artists from across the globe, from the quirky and humorous to

the political and profound.

A leading light of the graphic novel renaissance at home, SelfMadeHero is at the heart of the

independent British comics scene that is currently gaining such popularity in North America.

With the success of books like Glyn Dillon’s award-winning The Nao of Brown, we’re fast

gaining a reputation as the finest British graphic novel publisher.

Our 2013 titles are a testament to the diversity of our list: there’s fiction from leading European

creators Frederik Peeters and David B., adaptations of Don Quixote and The Castle, as well as

a wonderful gift book, The (True!) History of Art, which takes an outrageously speculative look

at the mysteries of art history.

We love to hear from our readers, so be sure to let us know what you think @selfmadehero

About SelfMadeHero

2 ■ FALL 2013

specifications

selling points

■ Appeals to fans of historical

fiction and Jewish interest as well

as second- and third-generation

American Jews whose relatives

arrived during and after

World War II

ISBN 978-1-906838-63-8

US $22.95 CAN $25.95ISBN 978-1-906838-63-8

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 6 3 8

5 2 2 9 5

After their grandmother’s death, Jérémie

and his brother attempt to learn more

about their family’s Jewish-Polish roots. But

Jérémie is less interested in how the Holocaust

affected his family and more interested in

understanding what it means to be Jewish

and Polish in today’s world. They decide not

to do the Holocaust trail—they won’t go to

Auschwitz—but instead go to Żelechów, the vil-

lage where their grandfather was born; Warsaw,

their grandmother’s hometown; and Kraków,

the city that hosts Europe’s largest festival of

Jewish culture. In their quest for identity, they

gradually put together the pieces of their family

history, while at the same time discovering a

country still affected by its past and a culture

greater than themselves.

Jérémie Dres lives in Paris, France. This is his

first graphic novel.

An uplifting semi-autobiographical work about the search for identity

Also AvAilAble

A Chinese Life

ISBN 978-1-906838-55-3

US $27.50 CAN $31.50ISBN 978-1-906838-55-3

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 5 5 3

5 2 7 5 0

We Won’t See Auschwitz ■ By Jérémie Dres

208 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Paperback

RIGHTS: North AmerIcA

PUB MONTH: SePtemBer

GrAPhIc Novel

Fall2013

FALL 2013 ■ 3

specifications

selling points

An unusual tale of music, history, and politics, and the clash between cultures

Rebetiko ■ By DaviD PruDhomme

■ Crossover appeal to music

fans, similar to Chico & Rita

(SelfMadeHero, Spring 2012)

■ Rebetiko has won several

prestigious awards at European

film and comics festivals

ISBN 978-1-906838-51-5

US $22.95 CAN $25.95ISBN 978-1-906838-51-5

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 5 1 5

5 2 2 9 5

104 pages, 6½ × 9½"

hardcover


PUB MONTH: SePtemBer

GrAPhIc Novel • mUSIc

Rebetiko refers to the fusion of West

and East, Greece and Asia Minor, in

music. However, to General Metaxas, it is only a

reminder of the Turkish influence on his country.

The ruthless Greek dictator is determined to

crack down on rebetis and their way of life,

creating strict censorship. A small group of

friends—Rebetiko musicians—wind their way

through the Athenian backstreets, ouzeris, and

market squares, dodging the police while settling

disputes over hashish and women. With music at

its heart, the narrative portrays a day in the life of

the Rebetiko musicians in Athens in 1936.

David Prudhomme is a graduate of the Arts

School of Angoulême and an award-winning

graphic novelist. He lives in Bordeaux, France.

Also AvAilAble

Chico & Rita

ISBN 978-1-906838-29-4

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-29-4

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 2 9 4

5 2 4 9 5

Fall2013

4 ■ FALL 2013

specifications

selling points

■ The perfect gift for arty friends

and family

■ A treat for art lovers of all ages

as well as anyone who enjoys a

good laugh

ISBN: 978-1-906838-71-3

US $15.50 CAN $17.50

This small book contains big revelations. It unveils the

mysteries behind the world’s great paintings. Or, it

might not. The (True!) History of Art takes an outrageously

speculative look at the stories behind the works of

Monet, Rembrandt, and other masters of art. In a series of

hilarious parodies, Sylvain Coissard and Alexis Lemoine

answer the nagging questions of art history: what caused

Munch’s subject to scream? Why is Van Gogh’s Yellow

Bedroom so suspiciously tidy? Why is Cézanne wearing

a bandage in his famous self-portrait? The (True!) History

of Art is for anyone who wants to know what happened

before the Mona Lisa smiled. Or, rather, what might

have happened.

A humorous gift book unveiling the mysteries behind the world’s greatest paintings

The (True!) History of Art ■ By sylvain CoissarD anD ale xis lemoine

66 color illustrations

48 pages, 9½ × 5½"

hardcover


PUB MONTH: octoBer

Art • hUmor

“Smart, funny, imaginative . . . a magical little

book.” —Anna Gavalda, Elle France

Sylvain coissard is a literary agent special-

izing in children’s books and graphic

novels. He lives in Nîmes, France. This is

his first book. Alexis lemoine studied at

the Estienne art school in Paris and, in 1997,

became a professional illustrator. He works

for the French press (notably Libération).

He lives in Paris, France.

Fall2013

FALL 2013 ■ 5

specifications

selling points

This cinematic tale opens surrealistically:

with a traffic jam caused by a wounded

elephant. Our heroine, Carice, abandons her

car and walks trancelike through a wood to

visit her husband in the hospital. Along the

way she meets a few odd characters, includ-

ing a blind pig keeper and an alien-looking

baby. The surreal encounters do not stop

there. The hospital is eerie and foreboding.

When Carice’s whistling wakes up an appar-

ently dead body in the morgue, she soon

realizes that the aged cadaver she’s talking

to is her future self.

Frederik Peeters has been nominated

five times at Angoulême in the best book

category, and won the best series prize in

2013. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

A surreal and poetic tale of mystery and imagination

Pachyderme ■ By FreDerik Peeters

■ Frederik Peeters has established

a strong fan base with his award-

winning graphic novels Blue Pills

and Sandcastle (SelfMadeHero,

Spring 2013), which won the

Best Science Fiction Graphic

Novel of 2011 at Utopiales and

was nominated for the grand

prize at the 2011 Angoulême

International Comics Festival

■ Crossover appeal for science

fiction, and mystery readers, and

fans of existentialism

■ Foreword by French comic book

legend Moebius

ISBN 978-1-906838-60-7

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-60-7

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 6 0 7

5 1 9 9 5

Also AvAilAble

Sandcastle

ISBN 978-1-906838-38-6

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-38-6

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 3 8 6

5 1 9 9 5

88 pages, 6½ × 9½"

hardcover


PUB MONTH: octoBer

GrAPhIc Novel

Fall2013

6 ■ FALL 2013

selling points

specificAtions

■ Adapter and artist I. N. J. Culbard

has won awards and widespread

critical acclaim for his previous

titles, At the Mountains of

Madness and The Case of

Charles Dexter Ward

■ Appeals to readers who bought

The Lovecraft Anthology,

Volume I, Volume II, and The

Case of Charles Dexter Ward

■ H. P. Lovecraft has a vast cult

following similar to that of Edgar

Allan Poe and has inspired

modern masters such as Stephen

King and Alan Moore

ISBN 978-1-906838-68-3

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-68-3

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 6 8 3

5 1 9 9 5

In 1908, Nathaniel Wingate Peaslee experi-

ences an unfortunate fainting spell. Five years

later, he finally returns to his senses, but has

no recollection of these lost years of his life. As

he attempts to discover what happened during

this time, he becomes increasingly tormented

by vivid, disturbing dreams—dreams that will

lead him on a journey through space and

time to unlock the secrets of his past and of

the universe.

h. P. lovecraft (1890–1937) was one of the most

influential horror writers of the 20th century.

I. N. J. culbard has adapted several classics for

SelfMadeHero, including At the Mountains of

Madness and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.

He lives in Nottinghamshire, England.

A disturbing tale for H. P. Lovecraft fans of all ages

Also AvAilAble

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

ISBN 978-1-906838-35-5

US $19.95 CAN $21.95

Lovecraft Anthology, Volume 1

ISBN 978-1-906838-53-9

US $19.95 CAN $21.95

Lovecraft Anthology, Volume 2

ISBN 978-1-906838-43-0

US $19.95 CAN $21.95

ISBN 978-1-906838-35-5

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 3 5 5

5 1 9 9 5

ISBN 978-1-906838-53-9

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 5 3 9

5 1 9 9 5

ISBN 978-1-906838-43-0

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 4 3 0

5 1 9 9 5

The Shadow Out of Time ■ By h . P. loveCr aF t

■ aDaPteD anD i llustr ateD By i . n . J . CulBarD

120 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Paperback with flaps


PUB MONTH: NovemBer

GrAPhIc Novel

Fall2013

FALL 2013 ■ 7

specifications

selling points

The protagonist of this Kafka classic, K., finds himself

in a faraway, snow-covered village with a castle

looming above. The inhabitants of the mysterious castle

are also the strict officials who govern the village. When

K. tries to reach out to the officials, he gets himself into

a complex misunderstanding over the contradictory

rules and regulations that dictate the daily life of the

villagers. The Castle explores the conflicting tension of

power between individuals—represented by K.—and the

authorities—the officials in the castle.

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) is considered one of the most

seminal writers of the early 20th century. David Zane

mairowitz is an author, playwright, radio director, and

translator. He lives in France. Jaromír 99 (a.k.a. Jaromír

Švejdík) is an artist, musician, and animator. He won the

European Academy Award for his animated film Alois

Nebel, which is also a graphic novel. He lives in the

Czech Republic.

A powerful tale of isolation

transformed into an innovative,

enigmatic graphic novel

The Castle ■ By Fr anz k aFk a

■ aDaPteD By DaviD z ane mairowitz

■ i llustr ateD By Jaromír 99

■ Kafka is one of the most famous

and influential writers of the 20th

century, and his works are part

of the core curriculum in schools

throughout the country

■ Crossover appeal with fans

of Kafka and other Modernist

writers

■ The Castle, Kafka’s last novel,

published in 1926, remains a

must-read literary classic and is

now easily accessible to a broad

array of readers in this graphic

novel format

ISBN 978-1-906838-67-6

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-67-6

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 6 7 6

5 1 9 9 5

Also AvAilAble

The Complete Don Quixote

ISBN 978-1-906838-65-2

US $27.50 CAN $31.50ISBN 978-1-906838-65-2

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 6 5 2

5 2 7 5 0

144 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Paperback with flaps


PUB MONTH: NovemBer

GrAPhIc Novel

Fall2013

Spring2013

8 ■ SPRING 2013

specifications

selling points

■ Patrick McEown established a

broad fan base with his popular,

award-winning comics series

Grendel: War Child

■ First-class graphic fiction with

stunning, evocative full-color art

■ McEown has worked with

other comics notables, such as

Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and on

high-profile projects such as

Batman Beyond

ISBN 978-1-906838-27-0

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-27-0

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 2 7 0

5 2 4 9 5

John and Naomi were childhood sweet-

hearts—and then they grew up. Life took

them on very different paths, but accidents will

happen. When their two lives intersect again,

they decide to have another go at love. But this

is no simple romantic rekindling: Both John and

Naomi are wearing the hairshirts of miserable

memories and dark nightmares, which may be

too painful to shed, even if they hold each other

tight again. Their terrible struggle is powerfully

represented in beautifully nuanced art that

reflects a soulless city, troubled love, and tense

aimlessness.

Patrick McEown is an Eisner Award–winning

artist whose credits include the popular comics

series Grendel: War Child and collaborations

with Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy. He lives in

Montreal, Canada.

A bold debut graphic novel from an Eisner Award–winning comics artist

Hairshirt ■ By Patrick McEown

Color illustrations throughout

128 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Hardcover

RIGHTS: NortH AMErIcA

PUB MONTH: MArcH 2013

GrAPHIc NovEl

“Best accompanied by a cup of

black coffee and a Radiohead

album... it draw[s] readers into

McEown’s appropriately scribbled

and murky-hued world of youth

and regret.” —Publishers Weekly

SPRING 2013 ■ 9

selling points

specifications

When the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated

after World War I, control of the Adriatic

port of Fiume (now Rieka, Croatia) was hotly disputed.

Enter “Pirate King” Gabriele d’Annunzio, an Italian poet

who stormed the city with 3,000 Italian nationalists.

D’Annunzio declared Fiume a free republic and himself

commander. He envisioned a utopian city-state, but

Fiume quickly became a surreal center of violence,

looting, and decadence, with shades of the Fascist move-

ment to come. Acclaimed comics artist David B. uses this

real event as a backdrop and seamlessly weaves history,

hysteria, and highly stylized art into the tragic love story

of a beautiful torch singer and a young soldier haunted by

the horrors of trench warfare.

David B. (Pierre-François Beauchard) is a prominent

French comics artist whose graphic memoir, Epileptic,

was nominated for an Eisner and won an Ignatz Award, as

well as top prizes at the Angoulême International Comics

Festival. He is also the illustrator of Best of Enemies: A

History of U.S. and Middle East Relations. He lives in

Paris, France.

Award-winning fan favorite David B. tells a surreal tale inspired by a true story set in WWI–era Europe

Black Paths ■ By DaviD B .

■ Stunning art from David B.,

creator of the critically acclaimed

Epileptic and an acknowledged

master and award-winning

comics artist with a strong

fan base

■ David B. illustrated Best of

Enemies: A History of U.S. and

Middle East Relations, also from

SelfMadeHero, which received

a terrific review in the New York

Times Book Review

■ In keeping with recent

noteworthy, big graphic novels,

such as Craig Thompson’s Habibi,

which use the graphic format to

tell epic stories of a culture

■ Crossover appeal for readers of

history and politics

ISBN 978-1-906838-33-1

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-33-1

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 3 3 1

5 2 4 9 5


128 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Hardcover

RIGHTS: NortH AmerIcA

PUB MONTH: mArcH 2013

GrApHIc Novel

Spring2013

Starred Review:

“David B. draws with the chaotic,

high-contrast style he used in his

best-known work, Epileptic, to

capture the distressed, surreal

mood of artists struggling to run

the world.”

—Publishers Weekly

10 ■ SPRING 2013

specifications

selling points

■ Vanistendael’s previous work has

been nominated for prestigious

awards at the Angoulême

International Comics Festival

■ Striking art underscores the

emotional power of the narrative

■ Timely topic makes this an

important book for a broad

audience

ISBN 978-1-906838-54-6

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-54-6

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 5 4 6

5 2 4 9 5

The doctor’s report is final: David has cancer.

Now the whole family is under the same

terrible verdict. David’s wife becomes progres-

sively consumed by the looming shadow of

death while his daughters struggle to be as help-

ful as possible. Meanwhile, David soldiers on,

not wanting the tumor to rob him of everything,

including the chance to see his granddaughter

grow up.

Vanistendael’s extraordinary art and sensi-

tive text provide a powerful portrayal of a family

preparing for life after unimaginable loss.

Judith vanistendael holds several art degrees.

Her semi-autobiographical book, Dance by

the Light of the Moon, was also published by

SelfMadeHero and was nominated for two

awards at Angoulême, including the grand prize.

She lives in Brussels, Belgium.

A powerful graphic novel in the tradition of David Small’s #1 New York Times bestseller, Stitches

When David Lost His Voice ■ By JuDith vanistenDael


280 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Hardcover


PUB MONTH: mArcH 2013

GrApHIc Novel

“A book like a tone poem, exactly

fitting Shelley’s words: ‘a nightingale

who sits in darkness and sings to

cheer its own solitude with sweet

sounds.’ The painting and drawing

from panel to panel, page to page,

is lovely, light and lyrical, while the

subject is love, loss, and death and

the mixed emotions each one of

those summons. Vanistendael is

particularly effective in pinpointing

the naïve, touching way that

children attempt to cope with

something as irremediable as the

idea of the death of a loved one.”

—David Small, author of the New

York Times bestseller, Stitches

Spring2013

SPRING 2013 ■ 1 1

specifications

selling points

■ Will appeal to readers who

bought The Lovecraft Anthology,

Volume I and Volume II, both

from SelfMadeHero

■ H. P. Lovecraft has a vast cult


Allen Poe and has inspired

modern masters, such as

Stephen King and Alan Moore

■ Adaptor and artist I. N. J. Culbard

has worked on several

SelfMadeHero titles and has a

fan base for his comics work

ISBN 978-1-906838-35-5

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-35-5

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 3 5 5

5 1 9 9 5

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

■ By h . P. lovecr af t

■ aDaPteD anD i llustr ateD By i . n . J . culBarD

With creepy, spooky art, and sinister, sus-

penseful text, I. N. J. Culbard brings new

life—and death—to H. P. Lovecraft’s psychological

mystery of forbidden knowledge and pursuits.

Young Charles Dexter Ward is fascinated by the his-

tory of Joseph Curwen, his wizard ancestor of the

17th century. Curwen was notorious for haunting

graveyards, practicing alchemy, and never aging!

Ward can’t help his fixation: He himself looks just

like Curwen. In an attempt to duplicate his ances-

tor’s cabbalistic feats, he resurrects the fearsome

Curwen . . . and then the true horror begins!

H. p. lovecraft (1890–1937) was one of the most


I. N. J. culbard’s work has appeared in several

anthologies, including Dark Horse Presents, Judge

Dredd Magazine, and 2000 A.D. He has also

adapted several classics for SelfMadeHero. He

lives in Nottinghamshire, England.

Alchemy and resurrection for

H. P. Lovecraft fans!


144 pages, 6½ × 9½"

paperback with flaps


PUB MONTH: AprIl 2013

GrApHIc Novel

“Culbard brings the classic tale

to life.”


Spring2013

12 ■ SPRING 2013

specifications

selling points

It’s a perfect beach day, or so thought the family,

young couple, a few tourists, and a refugee who

all end up in the same secluded, idyllic cove filled

with rock pools and sandy shore, encircled by green,

densely vegetated cliffs.

But this utopia hides a dark secret. First there

is the dead body of a woman found floating in the

crystal-clear water. Then there is the odd fact that all

the children are aging rapidly.

Soon everybody is growing older—every half

hour—and there doesn’t seem to be any way out of

the cover. Levy’s dramatic storytelling works seam-

lessly with Peeters’ sinister art to create a profoundly

disturbing and fantastical mystery.

pierre oscar lévy is an award-winning documentary

filmmaker. He lives in France. Frederik peeters’s

previous graphic novels have received multiple

nominations for top awards at the Angoulême

International Comics Festival. He lives in Switzerland.

A day at the beach turns

deadly in this gripping sci-fi graphic novel

Sandcastle ■ Writ ten By P ierre oscar lé v y

■ i llustr ateD By freDerik Peeters

■ Sandcastle was nominated

for the grand prize at the 2011

Angoulême International Comics

Festival

■ The strong black-and-white

illustrations and tense narrative

will appeal to readers of comics

masters such as Charles Burns.

■ Crossover appeal to graphic

novel, science fiction, and

mystery readers

ISBN 978-1-906838-38-6

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-38-6

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 3 8 6

5 1 9 9 5

104 black-and-white illustrations

104 pages, 6 ½ × 9 ½"

Hardcover


PUB MONTH: mAy 2013

GrApHIc Novel

“Five stars . . . a low key sci-fi gem

with heart!” —SFX Magazine

Spring2013

SPRING 2013 ■ 13

specifications

selling points

The Complete Don Quixote ■ By Miguel De cervantes

■ aDaPteD anD i llustr ateD By roB Davis

More than 400 years ago, Spanish author

Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) sent

his irrepressible optimist of a hero out to tilt at

windmills—and Don Quixote and his philosophical

squire, Sancho Panza, still remain among the

world’s most popular and entertaining figures, as

well as the archetypes for the tall, thin straight man

and his short, stocky comic sidekick. In this terrific

adaptation of the Cervantes classic, Rob Davis uses

innovative paneling and an interesting color palette

to bring the Knight-Errant to life. This is sequential

storytelling and art at its finest, as we follow Don

Quixote on his search for adventure and chivalrous

quests—and he will not be defeated by such foes

as logic, propriety, or sanity.

miguel de cervantes was a celebrated Spanish

Renaissance playwright, poet, and novelist. rob

Davis has drawn Judge Dredd and Dr. Who comics

and worked as an illustrator for newspapers and

children’s publishers. He lives in Dorset, England.

A delightful and energetic new

take on the beloved classic!

■ Don Quixote is one of the most

enduring books of all time; this

exciting graphic adaptation will

quickly become the definitive

new edition

■ Stunning art work and an

innovative palette

■ The graphic format makes this

book immediately accessible to a

broad array of readers

ISBN 978-1-906838-65-2

US $27.50 CAN $31.50ISBN 978-1-906838-65-2

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 6 5 2

5 2 7 5 0


296 pages, 6½ × 9½"

Hardcover


PUB MONTH: mAy 2013

GrApHIc Novel

Spring2013

14 ■ FALL 2012

specifications

selling points

■ First-class graphic fiction with

stunning, evocative full-color art

■ Storytelling that blends gritty

urbanism with magic realism; will

appeal to fans of Guillermo del

Toro and Terry Gilliam films

■ Crossover appeal for readers

interested in Buddhist thinking

and mind/body/spirit topics

■ Winner of the Angoulême Special

Jury Prize 2013

ISBN 978-1-906838-42-3

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-42-3

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 4 2 3

5 2 4 9 5

Twenty-eight-year-old Nao Brown, who’s hafu (half

Japanese, half English), is not well. She’s suffering

from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and fighting

violent urges to harm other people. But that’s not who

she really wants to be. Nao has dreams. She wants to

quiet her unruly mind; she wants to get her design and

illustration career off the ground; and she wants to find

love, perfect love.

Nao’s life continues to seesaw. Her boyfriend dumps

her; a toy deal falls through. But she also meets Gregory,

an interesting washing-machine repairman, and Ray, an

art teacher at the Buddhist Center. She begins to draw

and meditate to ease her mind and open her heart—and

in doing so comes to a big realization: Life isn’t black-and-

white after all . . . it’s much more like brown.

Glyn Dillon’s comics illustrations have appeared in

several works from Vertigo, including The Sandman. He

has also worked as an artist, animator, and designer in

film and television. He lives in London, England.

An unforgettable heroine striving to make “normal” feel right

The Nao of Brown ■ By G lyn Di llon


208 pages, 8 × 10½"

Hardcover


PUB MONTH: SeptemBer 2012

GrApHIc Novel

Fall2012

“This was the best read I

have had in a long time.”

—Chicago Tribune

“It’s a pleasure to observe

Dillon’s characters trying to

understand themselves.”

—The New York Times

“It’s a masterpiece, and I really

can’t recommend it enough.”

—Comic Book Resources

FALL 2012 ■ 15

specifications

selling points

A Chinese Life is an astonishing graphic novel

set against the backdrop of the creation of the

People’s Republic of China in 1949. This distinctively

drawn work chronicles the rise and reign of Chairman

Mao Zedong, and his sweeping, often cataclysmic vision

for the most populated country on the planet.

Though the storyline is epic, the storytelling is

intimate, reflecting the real life of the book’s artist.

Li Kunwu spent more than 30 years as a state artist

for the Communist Party. He saw firsthand what was

happening to his family, his neighbors, and his homeland

during this extraordinary time. Working with Philippe Ôtié,

the artist has created a memoir of self and state, a rich,

very human account of a major historical moment with

contemporary consequences. Mao said, “The masses are

the real heroes,” but A Chinese Life shows those masses

as real people.

li Kunwu has had more than 30 of his comics published

in the three decades he’s worked as a state artist. He

lives in Kunming, Yunnan, China. philippe Ôtié is a

French diplomat who lives in Wuhan, China.

A Chinese Life ■ By l i Kunwu anD Phi l iPPe Ôtié

■ In keeping with recent

noteworthy, big graphic novels,

such as Craig Thompson’s Habibi,

that use the graphic format to tell

epic stories of a culture

■ Timely, given China’s prominence

in economic and world news

■ Stunning art from a leading

Chinese artist with a distinctive,

traditional brushwork style

■ Crossover appeal for readers of

history and politics

ISBN 978-1-906838-55-3

US $27.50 CAN $31.50ISBN 978-1-906838-55-3

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 5 5 3

5 2 7 5 0

Black-and-white illustrations

throughout

720 pages, 6½ × 9½"

paperback


PUB MONTH: SeptemBer 2012

GrApHIc Novel

From Mao to now: the graphic memoir of a

Chinese artist who witnessed

the Great Cultural Revolution and

its aftermath

Fall2012

“One of ‘The best graphic novels

and art comics of 2012’”

—The A.V. Club

“By the final page, you’ll feel

like you, too, have borne

witness to some of the

greatest transformations

of the 20th century.”

—Book Dragon

16 ■ FALL 2012

specifications

selling points

■ An exciting companion to The

Lovecraft Anthology, Volume I

■ Lovecraft has a vast cult


Allen Poe, and has inspired

modern masters such as Stephen

King and Alan Moore

■ Contributors have their own fan

bases, including literary podcast

subscribers

ISBN 978-1-906838-43-0

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-43-0

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 4 3 0

5 1 9 9 5

Cursed the ground where dead thoughts

live new and oddly bodied . . .

So wrote H. P. Lovecraft, the acknowledged

20th-century master of horror, fantasy,

science fiction, and the subgenre known as weird

fiction. Adapted with great craft and beautifully

illustrated, this graphic collection, a companion

to the first volume, explores Lovecraft’s favorite

themes: forbidden knowledge and insanity. The

art is brilliant in its variety, each style perfectly

matched to the story, whether it’s about a painter

obsessed with ghouls, a submarine stuck in a

mysterious city on the ocean floor, or semifluid

beings floating in from the deep cosmos.

Reader, beware!

H. p. lovecraft (1890–1937) was one of the most


Dan lockwood lives in Salisbury, England. The

various adaptors and artists are from the United

States and Europe.

A chilling graphic collection from the renowned master

of the twisted and macabre

The Lovecraft AnthologyVoLuME I I

■ By h . P. lovecr af t

■ eDiteD By Dan locK wooD


128 pages, 6½ × 9½"



PUB MONTH: octoBer 2012

GrApHIc Novel

Fall2012

“Don’t read either volume of

the The Lovecraft Anthology

before going to bed. You may

never want to turn out the light.”

—McClatchy Newspapers

FALL 2012 ■ 17

specifications

selling points

Raise a glass to the story of four of the greatest

actors—and boozers—of all time: Richard Burton,

Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole, and Oliver Reed. This

inventive graphic work seamlessly weaves their four

biographies into one fast-paced adventure of drunken

binges, orgies, parties, and fun. The story begins at a

London pub one sorry Christmas and is told through the

eyes of Martin, a wannabe hellraiser sitting at the end of

the bar alone, drinking himself into oblivion. He’s joined

in turn by Burton, Harris, Reed, and O’Toole, who take

Martin on tours of their tumultuous childhoods, rises to

stardom, and chaotic personal lives.

robert Sellers is the author of several celebrity

biographies, including the original hardcover Hellraisers:

The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard

Harris, Peter O’Toole, and Oliver Reed, as well as books

on Sting, Tom Cruise, and the film industry. He lives in

St. Albans, England. JAKe is an artist whose work has

appeared in Esquire and Time Out; he also works for

LucasFilm on Star Wars. Recently he illustrated the book

How to Speak Wookiee. He lives in London, England.

Hellraisers ■ By roBert SellerS anD JaKe

■ Subjects are cultural favorites,

and celebrity biographies are

high-interest

■ Author has a following for his

2008 prose book on these

important actors

■ Crossover appeal for theater- and

film-loving readers

ISBN 978-1-906838-36-2

US $22.95 CAN $25.95ISBN 978-1-906838-36-2

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 3 6 2

5 2 2 9 5


throughout

160 pages, 6½ × 9½"

paperback


PUB MONTH: JANUAry 2013

GrApHIc Novel

So Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole, and Oliver Reed walk into a bar . . .

Fall2012

“A savage sock in the jaw to

polite, reverential biographical

graphic novels, these hilariously

bleak shock tales make the

modern-day antics of Lindsay

Lohan look like Dr. Seuss.”


“The story is perfectly rendered

by illustrator JAKe. The storyline

itself is hallucinatory, like a severe

case of the DTs, with scenes

from movies dissolving into

boozed and drugged reality.”

—Boing Boing

18 ■ SPRING 2012

specifications

selling points

Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with

big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an

extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unite

them, but their journey brings heartache and torment.

From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood, and Las

Vegas, two passionate individuals battle impossible odds

to unite in music and love.

Mariscal’s art perfectly captures the steamy, vibrant

atmosphere of 1940s’ Havana and transports the reader

back to a time filled with music and romance. Based

on the true story of Grammy Award–winning Cuban

pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdes, this graphic novel

is adapted from the animated feature film Chico & Rita,

directed by Trueba and Mariscal.

Fernando Trueba is a multiaward-winning writer, director,

and producer, with a career spanning more than three

decades in film, television, documentaries, theater, and

music. Javier Mariscal is an artist and designer working

in multiple fields, including illustration, graphics, comic

books, paintings, animation, interiors, product design,

furniture, and web design. He has a long-standing

association with The New Yorker. Both creators live in

Barcelona, Spain.

A love story set in Cuba and

New York about a young musician

and a beautiful young singer

Chico & Rita ■ By Javier Mariscal & Fernando TrueBa

■ The award-winning animated

movie of Chico & Rita premiered

in New York in February 2012

■ One of the “28 Graphic Novels

to illustrate African American

History Month.” January 2013,

Library Journal

ISBN: 978-1-906838-29-4

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-29-4

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 2 9 4

5 2 4 9 5


216 pages, 6½ x 9½"

Hardcover

RIGHTS: NorTh AMerIcA

PuB MoNTH: FeBrUAry 2012

orIgINAl FIcTIoN •

grAphIc NovelS

Spring2012

“A work of art in its own right...

I defy anyone to reach the end

of it without a tear in their eye.”

—The Observer

SPRING 2012 ■ 19

specifications

specifications

Kiki de Montparnasse ■ By caTel & BocqueT

Best of EnemiesA HISTORY OF US ANd MIddlE E AST RE l ATIONS, PART ONE: 1783–1953

■ By Je an - Pierre F i l iu and david B .

In bohemian Montparnasse of the 1920s, Kiki

escaped poverty to become one of the most

charismatic figures of the avant garde years

between the wars. Partner to Man Ray, and one of

the first emancipated women of the 20th century,

Kiki made her mark with her freedom of style, word,

and thought that could be learned from only one

school—the school of life.

José-luis Bocquet is a writer, comic book editor,

and former journalist. Catel Muller is a renowned

author of children’s books and mature graphic

novels. They jointly won the Angoulême Festival

Grand Prize, France’s most prestigious graphic

novel award. Both creators live in Paris, France.

David B. and Filiu draw striking parallels

between ancient and contemporary

political history in this look at the uS–Middle East

conflict. The reader is transported to the pirate-

choked Mediterranean sea, where Christians and

Muslims continue the crusades, only this time

on water. As the centuries pass, the traditional

victims of the Muslim pirates—the British, French,

and Spanish—all become empire-building powers

whose sights lie beyond the Mediterranean.

Jean-Pierre Filiu is a world-renowned expert on

the Middle East. David B. is a prominent French

comics artist whose graphic memoir, Epileptic, was

nominated for an Eisner and won an Ignatz Award,

as well as top prizes at the Angoulême International

Comics Festival. Both creators live in Paris, France.

Kiki de Montparnasse, muse to famous photographer and artist Man Ray

Volume one of an original graphic novel recounting the history of uS–Middle East relations


throughout

416 pages, 6½ x 9½"



PuB MoNTH: MArch 2012

grAphIc NovelS •

BIogrAphy

ISBN 978-1-906838-25-6

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-25-6

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 2 5 6

5 2 4 9 5


throughout

120 pages, 6½ x 9½"

hardcover


PuB MoNTH: MAy 2012

grAphIc NovelS •

hISTory AND crITIcISM

ISBN 978-1-906838-45-4

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-45-4

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 4 5 4

5 2 4 9 5

Spring2012

“The toast of France, Catel

Muller and José-Louis Bocquet’s

award-winning graphic novel

Kiki de Montparnasse now

seduces American audiences.”

—Vanity Fair

“This will prove a riveting read

to many aficionados, teens

and up, of Marjane Satrapi’s

Persepolis and others interested

in Middle East issues.”

—Library Journal

20 ■ SPRING 2012

specifications

specifications

The lovecraft AnthologyVOlUME I

■ By H . P. lovecr aF T

■ ediTed By dan lock wood

But I Really Wanted to Be an Anthropologist

■ By Margaux MoTin

A graphic anthology of tales featuring

collaborations between established

writers and artists and debut contributors, The

Lovecraft Anthology showcases Lovecraft’s talent

for the macabre. From the insidious mutations of

“The Shadow over Innsmouth” to the mind-bending

threat of “The Call of Cthulhu,” this collection

explores themes of insanity, inherited guilt, and

arcane ritual to startling effect.

h. p. lovecraft (1890–1937) was one of the most


Dan lockwood lives in Salisbury, England. The

various adaptors and artists are from the united

States and Europe.

But I Really Wanted to Be an Anthropologist

is an introduction to the world of

Margaux, a charming 30-something living in

Paris, navigating the world as an illustrator. This

diary documents her day-to-day existence with

her boyfriend and young daughter, drinking

and smoking, and the difficulties of a persistent

and precocious child. Anyone who’s ever worn

inappropriate shoes to the supermarket or

danced around the house in their underwear will

be charmed by Motin’s irreverent humor.

Margaux Motin’s illustration credits include cov-

ers for the French editions of Bridget Jones’ Diary,

Elle, and Cosmopolitan. She lives in Paris, France.

A graphic anthology of tales from the renowned master of the eerie, H.P. Lovecraft

An original diary chronicling life as an artist, blogger, mother, and shoe fanatic in Paris


120 pages, 6½ x 9½"



PuB MoNTH: MArch 2012

grAphIc NovelS •

ScI FI AND horror

ISBN 978-1-906838-53-9

US $19.95 CAN $21.95ISBN 978-1-906838-53-9

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 5 3 9

5 1 9 9 5


176 pages, 6½ x 9½"

hardcover


PuB MoNTH: AprIl 2012

grAphIc NovelS • hUMor

ISBN 978-1-906838-46-1

US $24.95 CAN $27.95ISBN 978-1-906838-46-1

9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 3 8 4 6 1

5 2 4 9 5

Spring2012

“Ms. Motin has a perfect

sense of humor and can lay

claim, as she suggests at the

end of this book, to being the

Sarah Silverman of comics.”

—Comics Grinder

“The Lovecraft Anthology, Vol. 1

provides the goods.”

—Geekdad.com

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SMH USA Catalogue 2013

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