Top Shelf is celebrating the release of two great new books right now with Jess Fink’s “We Can Fix It!” and the “From Hell” companion by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, but they’re certainly not going to go on cruise control. Instead, they’ve just announced two great looking books, one of which is sure to appeal to your sensibilities.
First up is “Monster on the Hill,” the first graphic novel by veteran newspaper comic strip man Rob Harrell. An all-ages book, the book focuses on young monster Rayburn, who is not quite as monstrous as he could be, and already comes with recommendations from Neil Gaiman and Jeff Smith. That bodes pretty well already, if you ask me.
Next up is “God Is Disappointed In You,” written by Mark Russell and illustrated by the always humorous Shannon Wheeler (“Too Much Coffee Man,” anyone?) The book is a “condensed” version of the Bible full of all the relevant information you need to know to understand it, done in a satrical fashion and published as a deluxe Bible-style hardcover. If you like jokey looks at the world’s first great novel, then this is certainly for you.
There will also be a reprint of “Super Spy” for all you Kindt fans out there, which is the best of news. Hopefully that means Top Shelf will be reprinting some of Kindt’s other early, hard to find works as well, such as “Super Spy” spin-off “2 Sisters” (which, to be fair, is available in the Top Shelf online store, just not so much in actual stores).
Here are the full deets on both books for you:
MONSTER ON THE HILL
by Rob Harrell
— Full-color graphic novel with french flaps, 7 3/16″ x 9″
— 192 pages
— ISBN 978-1-60309-075-9
— $19.95 (US)
— Audience: All ages (10+)
— In the current DIAMOND PREVIEWS (for books shipping in July)“Really fun, goofy, extremely silly fantasy for readers of all ages, crying out for reviewers and critics to make appalling puns of the ‘monstrously good’ variety.” — Neil Gaiman
“Rob Harrell has jumped the fence from comic strips to graphic novels with ease, and brought with him wit, strong characters, and last minute twists. Funny, original, expected. And best of all: excellent monsters!” — Jeff Smith, creator of Bone
“Rob Harrell reminds us of a more interesting time when cities took great civic pride in the quality and flamboyance of their local monsters, instead of something silly like football teams. And I sure am glad he does. More, Rob, I want to hear more!” — Richard Thompson, creator of Cul de Sac and Richard’s Poor Almanac
“A funny, exciting tale of melancholy monsters and eminent Victorians.. like How to Train Your Dragon with a twist of Bloom County and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Harrell makes the jump from the newspaper page to the graphic novel with his sense of humor intact.” — Noel Murray, The AV Club
In a fantastical 1860s England, every quiet little township is terrorized by a ferocious monster — much to the townsfolk’s delight! Each town’s unique monster is a source of local pride, not to mention tourism.
Each town, that is… except for one. Unfortunately for the people of Stoker-on-Avon, their monster isn’t quite as impressive. In fact, he’s a little down in the dumps. Can the morose Rayburn get a monstrous makeover and become a proper horror? It’s up to the eccentric Dr. Charles Wilkie and plucky street urchin Timothy to get him up to snuff, before a greater threat turns the whole town to kindling.
Monsters of all ages are sure to enjoy this tale about life’s challenges, the power of friendship, and creative redemption, packed with epic battles and plenty of wild beasts!
GOD IS DISAPPOINTED IN YOU
by Mark Russell & Shannon Wheeler
— A deluxe Bible-esque textured hardcover, 5″ x 8″
— With rounded corners, gilded edges & satin ribbon!
— Printed in two colors (black & red)
— 224 pages
— ISBN 978-1-60309-098-8
— $19.95 (US)
— Audience: Mature readers (16+)
— In the current DIAMOND PREVIEWS (for books shipping in July)God Is Disappointed in You is for people who would like to read the Bible…if it would just cut to the chase. Stripped of its arcane language and interminable passages, every book of the Bible is condensed down to its core message, in no more than a few pages each.
Written by Mark Russell with cartoons by New Yorker cartoonist Shannon Wheeler, God Is Disappointed in You is a frequently hilarious, often shocking, but always accurate retelling of the Bible, including the parts selectively left out by Sunday School teachers and church sermons.
Irreverent yet faithful, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to see past the fog of religious agendas and cultural debates to discover what the Bible really says.
Look for both books in July.
