Alternative Comics
THE CUTE MANIFESTO
By James Kochalka
Collecting some of Kochalka's most intensely thoughtful work, this book struggles with all the big issues... comics and art, birth and death, technology and joy, and everything in between. (June)
HAILS AT SEA
By Walt Holcombe
HAILS AT SEA collects Holcombe's Eisner-winning graphic novel, THE KING OF PERSIA, stories from his Fantagraphics series, POOT, and additional rarely seen and new short pieces. (July)
DC Comics
IDENTITY CRISIS HC
Written by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Rags Morales and Michael Blair.
The top-selling Identity Crises series that changed the Justice League of America gets collected. (FALL)
** THE QUITTER ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
Written by Harvey Pekar and illustrated by Dean Haspiel.
Pekar's first work for Vertigo, THE QUITTER is an original graphic novel that mines tales from Pekar's childhood and early adolescence. (FALL)
JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: ALL HIS ENGINES
Written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Leonardo Manco
In this original graphic novel, John Constantine, the incorrigible, trench coat-clad anti-hero, hunts down a mad demon that has left a trail of bodies stretching from London to Los Angeles. (March 1)
BIZARRO WORLD
Written and illustrated by various; Cover by Jaime Hernandez
The follow-up to BIZARRO COMICS lets the world's greatest alternative cartoonists run rampant through the DC Universe. (Feb 16)
See TIME.comix review of the first volume
SEVEN SOLDIERS
Written by Grant Morrison; illustrations by various
The SEVEN SOLDIERS saga comprises seven 4-issue miniseries and two bookend Specials - all which may be read independently but combine to tell a colossal 30-part tale, starring Klarion, Mister Miracle, Frankenstein, Zatanna, The Guardian, Bulleteer and the Shining Knight. (February 23)
Drawn & Quarterly
** WALT & SKEEZIX
By Frank King, edited and designed by Chris Ware
The first of a multi-volume collection of Gasoline Alley strips, each of which will have biographical information, photographs and sketches from King's estate that detail the story of this great forgotten American artist. (June)
** THE PUSH MAN & OTHER STORIES
By Yoshihiro Tatsumi edited and designed by Adrian Tomine.
THE PUSH MAN is the debut volume in a new series of short stories by the cartoonist Yoshihiro Tatsumi, the grandfather of alternative manga. (September)
** BAGHDAD JOURNAL
By Steve Mumford
BAGHDAD JOURNAL is the culmination of three voyages to war-torn Iraq by artist Steve Mumford who in the long tradition of war artists meticulously documented the everyday scenes of Iraq. (September)
** PYONGYANG
By Guy Delisle
In early 2000 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to travel to North Korea allowing him to spend several weeks observing every aspect of the lives of North Koreans. (September)
WAR'S END: PROFILES FROM BOSNIA 95-96
By Joe Sacco
Before SAFE AREA GORAZDE and THE FIXER, author Sacco created two short stories of the characters from each side of the Balkan crossfire: Soba - the artist warrior and Karadzic, the evil war criminal. (June)
See TIME.comix's review of THE FIXER
Fantagraphics Books
SEEING THINGS
By Jim Woodring
This hardcover collects Woodring's most toothsome fine art paintings and charcoal drawings.
See TIME.comix review of Jim Woodring's FRANK
** SEX, ROCK 'N' ROLL & OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
By Victor Moscoso
The Zap cartoonist and psychedelic poster artist finally gets his first career retrospective in this full-color book.
** THE THREE PARADOXES
By Paul Hornschemeier
Hornschemeier's second graphic novel is an intricate and complex of autobiography from this rising young graphic novelist.
See TIME.comix review of Hornschemeier's MOTHER COME HOME
** WE ALL DIE ALONE
By Mark Newgarden
The first retrospective of the great RAW cartoonist and creator of the Garbage Pail Kids is edited by THE GANZFELD's Dan Nadel.
MOME
Edited by Gary Groth & Eric Reynolds
This new quarterly anthology features the best new talent in the graphic arts.
Image Comics
FLIGHT II
By various artists
A follow-up to last year's wildly successful FLIGHT, this full color anthology of short stories brings together some of the comic and animation world's brightest young talents.
FOUR LETTER WORLDS
By various artists
This anthology of eight page stories by today's best creators, centers on the four letter word themes of "Love," "Hate," "Fate" and "Fear." (January)
NEGATIVE BURN
By various artists
A new anthology that updates the classic series from the early nineties that featured groundbreaking work by creators ranging from Alan Moore to Brian Michael Bendis. (March)
AS BIG AS EARTH
By Scott Morse and Dean Haspiel
This ongoing bimonthly will feature the super team A-OKAY Cool, Haspiel's answer to the JLA and The Avengers, while Morse brings us tales from Motionville, featuring new heroes The Scare, The Move, The Foolish Fling, and others. (June)
GODLAND
By Joe Casey and Tom Scioli
This over-the-top, cosmic superhero epic travels to the limits of existence and beyond. (May or June)
Dark Horse Comics
STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
Miles Lane (w) Doug Wheatley (a)
The adaptation of the coming final installment of the Star Wars series arrives six weeks before the film! (April 2)
HELLBOY: THE ISLAND
Mike Mignola (w/a)
In this sequel to the 2002 HELLBOY: THIRD WISH, Hellboy, last seen at the bottom of the ocean, washes ashore on a small island that seems to sit between this world and the next. (Summer)
REVELATIONS
Paul Jenkins (w) Humberto Ramos (a)
A murder mystery set in the Vatican where cover-ups and deceit lead to a shocking conclusion. (Summer)
** CONAN AND THE JEWELS OF GWAHLUR
P. Craig Russell (w/a)
In this three-part adaptation of Robert E. Howard's short story, Conan puts his military and thieving experience together in one of his last adventures before becoming King of Aquilonia. (Summer)
MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN
Bruce Campbell, David Goodman, Hilary Barta (w)
An adaptation of the upcoming Bruce Campbell feature film about a business man on vacation in Europe whose gets half of a Russian cab driver's brain put inside his head. (Summer)
Marvel Comics
YOUNG AVENGERS #1
Written by Allan Heinberg; Pencils & Cover by Jim Cheung
In the wake of AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, a mysterious new group of teen super heroes appears. (2/9/2005)
BLACK PANTHER #1
Written by Reginald Hudlin; Penciled by John Romita Jr. Cover by John Romita JR.
The Wakandan super hero is back with Hollywood heavyweight Hudlin (HOUSE PARTY, BOOMERANG) and fan favorite Romita Jr. (WOLVERINE, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN), teaming up to deliver a book that's sure to excite true believers and the hip hop faithful. (2/2/2005)
HOUSE OF M (1-8)
Written by Brian Bendis, and illustrated by Olivier Coipel
This will be THE Marvel event of '05, reaching far and wide through titles such as New Avengers and X-Men but details are being kept under wraps for now. (Early June)
ASTONISHING X-MEN
Written by Joss Whedon; Illustrated by John Cassaday
The smash series of '04 continues with the "Dangerous" story arc in '05!
ULTIMATE IRON MAN #1 (of 6)
Written by Orson Scott Card; Pencils by Andy Kubert; Foil Cover by Bryan Hitch
If you thought The Ultimates told you everything you needed to know about Ultimate Iron Man, think again.
NBM
ISAAC THE PIRATE, VOL.2; THE CAPITAL
By Christophe Blain
In part two of this high-seas adventure, Isaac finally gets back to his country but as a profoundly changed man.
DUNGEON, VOL.2, "THE BARBARIAN PRINCESS"
By Lewis Trondheim & Joann Sfar
Part duex of the Dungeon series continues the horror and fantasy spoof by two of France's best cartoonists.
** ORDINARY VICTORIES
By Manu Larcenet
This lyrical rendering of the everyday struggle won the prize for Best Album in Angouleme.
THE JUNGLE
By Upton Sinclair, adapted by Peter Kuper
The praised adaptation of Sinclair's novel will arrive in paperback.
See TIME.comix review of the hardcover
A TREASURY OF VICTORIAN MURDER: THE MURDER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
By Rick Geary
Geary retraces in detail the first spectacular assassination of a president. (July)
Pantheon
** EPILEPTIC
By David B.
Both parts of this heart-breaking memoir of the artist's epileptic brother are now collected. (January)
See TIME.comix review of part one
EMBROIDERIES
By Marjane Satrapi
From the author of PERSEPOLIS, comes a sort of a graphic novel version of The Joy Luck Club, only in Iran. (April)
See TIME.comix review of PERSEPOPLIS
** ICE HAVEN
By Dan Clowes
The book-length, expanded version of Eightball #22 takes an Altman-esque look at the residents of Suburbia. (June)
See TIME.comix review of Eightball #22
THE ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY
By Chris Ware
This tabloid-sized hardcover collects Ware's one-page "gag" strips, with 36 pages of previously un-collected material. (Sept)
See TIME.comix review of Chris Ware's QUIMBY THE MOUSE
** BLACK HOLE
By Charles Burns
Finally, ten years in the making, in hardcover--Burns' epic horror story of teenagers and a mysterious plague. (October)
TOKYOPOP
WARCRAFT: THE SUNWELL TRILOGY
Written by Richard Knaack
Set in the same rich universe as Blizzard's Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game World of Warcraft, Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy is a fresh take on the Warcraft universe using original characters and storylines.
BIZENGHAST
By Marty LeGrow
In a forgotten town of Bizenghast where the graveyard can't be found and the dead never leave, a mentally unstable girl is the only hope for the tormented souls who are trying to find a way out.
I LUV HALLOWEEN
By Keith Giffen & Benjamin Roman
This darkly comedic series chronicles the misadventures of a group of particularly disturbing trick-or-treaters as they go about their macabre business on Halloween night.
PSY-COMM
By Jason Henderson & Tony Salvaggio
Psychic soldiers are the new celebrities in a future where corporations sponsor wars, settle disputes and entertain the masses. Mark Keit is Electromedia's biggest star--nothing can touch him...until he meets someone who makes him want to run.
OFF-BEAT
By Jenny Quick
Secrets and lies are around every corner in this curiously cool adventure of three high school students whose lives are tied together by the designs of their own imaginations.
Top Shelf
LOST GIRLS
By Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie
This erotic fantasy reinvents "pornography" as something exquisite, thoughtful, and human. (Summer)
OWLY (VOL2): JUST A LITTLE BLUE
By Andy Runton
The second volume in the breakout, all-ages series, where Owly learns that sometimes you have to make sacrifices for things that are important, especially friendship. (February)
SPIRAL-BOUND
By Aaron Renier
With an ensemble cast straight from a box of Animal Crackers, this delightful tale of self-discovery is the first major work by extraordinary newcomer Aaron Renier. (Summer)
TRICKED
By Alex Robinson
From the cartoonist of Box Office Poison, comes a tale of six people -- a reclusive rock legend, a heartbroken waitress, a counterfeiter, an obsessive crank, a lost daughter and a backstabbing lover -- whose lives spiral in upon each other. (Summer)
THE KING
By Rich Koslowski
From the cartoonist of Three Fingers, comes a pop culture, adventure/mystery about an enigmatic Elvis impersonator that might actually be "The King." (Summer)
VIZ
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2-ANI-MANGA
By Shirow Masamune
The definitive 4-volume, full color boxed set inspired by the hit anime film about the struggle between humans and cyborgs to coexist with each other in a wildly futuristic Earth. (April)
FULL METAL ALCHEMIST
By Arakawa Hiromu
A long awaited 9-volume manga series that tells the story of young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who attempt to use the science of alchemy to bring their mother back to life, with life changing and action packed results. (June)
DR. SLUMP
By Akira Toriyama
Adored and massively popular manga from Akira Toriyama, the creator of DRAGON BALL, Dr. Slump is a madcap, episodic series about a blustering inventor who creates the "perfect" android girl, only to discover that he may have created a monster instead! (May)
HUNTER X HUNTER
By Yoshihiro Togashi
Launching VIZ's new SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED imprint that will offer manga titles to older teens and young adults, HUNTER X HUNTER tells the fantastic adventure story of a young boy who trains to become a master monster hunter. (April)
HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH
By Rie Takada
Hanabi Oozora is a rambunctious 16-year-old tomboy and street urchin who comes to the rescue of her less assertive friends, sometimes in exchange for food. (March)
On Tuesday, December 21 watch for TIME.comix' annual Top Ten list. TIME.comix will then return in January.