Library sales up, manga drops

What this librarian & comic fangirl found interesting:

Icv2, #65, July 2009

• In spite of horrendous contraction in the US Economy, Graphic Novel sales up in 2008: 5% increase in book and comic stores.
  
  
• GN sales faster in bookstores than in comic shops
  
  
• 900,000 copies printed of Watchmen- broke all modern sales records
  
  
• GN for kids and tweens, saw a 134% increase in titles
  
  
• Library sales from $30 million to $35 million in 2008...this growth should continue in 2009.
  
  
• Manga sales declined- down 17%. Small manga publishers went out of business. Some properties like Vampire Knight no exposure on Cartoon Network.

Watchmen directors cut July 21st!

Final Fruits Basket vol 23 July 2009

Vertigo Crime imprint:
Entries, Ian Rankin comic book featuring Constantine from Hellblazer: August 25
Filthy Rich, Brian Azzarello: also August 25

Hanna and goodbye Selina

Riding out TS Hanna- rain and wind stirred up pretty well. So far today I've gone to the gym, picked up things in the yard and patio, watched one episode of the Wire, got bagels, ate a hamburger, swiffered two floors, watched a Daily Show from the RNC.

The RNC conventioners are both funny, and tragic. Sarah Palin wanted to ban library books! I can imagine the intellectual climate for the head librarian with someone who answered most questions with "god's will". I really may have to move to Canada...

Comicwise, I've caught up on Trinity 11-13, Jack of Fables 25 (the Page sisters!), JSA 18, and JLA. Also, The not so long kiss goodbye... to Catwoman in issue 82. I have been a regular follower of the Catwoman series, through writers and artists, and the occasional cheesecake covers. I will miss Selina, but I'm glad the last issue was just her and Batman, discussing who and what they are (with some rooftop chasing in between). If you didn't read these (and I guess people weren't or the series wouldn't have ended), I would def. recommend in trade.

I guess I'll make the best of it and now save $2.99 an issue. Plenty of other comics to spend dough on!

Tonoharu

Planning to get Chinese food tonight and watch the opening ceremonies. Still pondering Joshua's win on SYTYCD, actually think Katee's dancing made him better, and that she probably was the best dancer.

I came across this GN on the new nonfiction shelf, and being a GN that I didn't order for the library, I was interested. I liked the art, story, and the cultural differences and reaching for connection of the main character. Tonoharu is a town in Japan.

Tonoharu
Daniel Wells begins a new life as an assistant junior high school teacher in the rural Japanese village of Tonoharu. Isolated from those around him by cultural and language barriers, he leads a monastic existence, peppered only by his inept pursuit of the company of a fellow American who lives a couple towns over


and a Library link to the Anthrax case-

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6584193.html

MD PL Director Accedes to FBI Computer Seizure; Possible Anthrax Link

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 8/4/2008

• FBI took two computers; library says they were not linked to patron records

• Director would typically request warrant, but says he was convinced by FBI

• Investigation may be linked to anthrax suicide case

the Templar

Disappointed with the Heroes writers for the dialogue with Claire. After giving her excuse of going to the library, she said she was writing a paper on "libraries being obsolete in the digital age"." Argh. All our hard work to still promote libraries and our services, comes down to that old nonsense. And that you can google all the answers.

The art in Mice Templar is just awesome. Mike Oeming takes his unique style and applies it to a mythological story written by Brian Glass. I met Brian briefly, and he is a friendly and interesting guy. The story is dense, so it takes some concentration, but these gorgeous pinups should win you over.
#2 - 32 PAGES, FC, OCTOBER 10 - $2.99


Thanks L for the link to Girl Power at Big Monkey Comics! (blogger Scipio's store)

New Yorker festival's panel on superheroes
..Mike Mignola's recounting of the origins of Hellboy), to Grant Morrison's vision of his superhero stories as "stories about what it is to be human, but on a cosmic scale," to Lethem's re-imagining of the 1970s Marvel comic Omega the Unknown