Advance Review: Welcome to Oddville by Jay Stephens

Do you remember the first time you read Chris Onstad’s Achewood? Well I do. It took me a good six strips before something clicked and I “got” it. Achewood is an idiosyncratic strip that can take a while to get into. But once you become accustomed to the characters and Onstad’s sense of humor the strip is hilarious. Welcome to Oddville by Jay Stephens was the same way for me. Stephens’s characterization and sense of humor took me a while to understand. But once I got it I realized the subtle brilliance of his work.

Welcome to Oddville HC (released through AdHouse Books this week) collects the entire strip which originally ran in The Toronto Star’s Brand New Planet from March of 2003 to the Summer of 2007. Stephens has a quick wit and sharp writing which lends itself perfectly to the traditional newspaper comic strip. Stephens has had a long career in comics and television. He created the animated television series Tutenstein and The Secret Saturdays. He has also worked on countless books, comics and strips, including The Land of Nod, Jetcat Clubhouse, Chick & Dee and Cartoon Network Action Pack. He was also a frequent contributor to Nickelodeon Magazine.

Welcome to Oddville centers loosely around Jetcat a kid superhero and her adventures saving Oddville from doom and destruction. In the first two pages alone we are introduced to Fire, Sloshy (a snowman) and Bandage. The whole cast of characters are quirky and eccentric. I think my favorite character is Petty the Snail. I love his passive despondency. He is a bit of a downer, but he goes along for the ride (though not entirely happily or willingly).

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Press Release: ADHOUSE BOOKS and MyDigitalComics Partner Again for Digital Release

Eisner Nominated Afrodisiac Is Available For Purchase and Download at MyDigitalComics.com

April 27, 2011– Fort Wayne, IN – MyDigitalComics (MDC) and AdHouse Books are coming together again this week to offer AdHouse’s Afrodisiac to MDC customers.  The fan favorite graphic novel by creators Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca is available in three different formats through MyDigitalComics—in MDC’s onsite page flipper, and as a download in both .PDF and .CBZ formats.

Originally released in very early 2010, Afrodisiac has been heralded by fans and critics alike as one of the best graphic novels of the year and has been nominated for both Eisner and Glyph Awards. “We are happy to offer Afrodisiac to the readers and users of MyDigitalComics. From the beginning, our goal has been to make Afrodisiac accessible to readers in the format and distribution channels they prefer. We believe MyDigitalComics offers us an opportunity to better serve our readers and to continue to connect with new ones,” said creators Rugg and Maruca in a joint statement.

In late 2010 AdHouse and MyDigitalComics offered Duncan The Wonder Dog with a huge amount of success, immediately making it one of the most popular titles available to MDC users. With a growing list of titles from publishers like AdHouse, Top Cow, Boom! Studios, Dynamite, Devil’s Due, and TwoMorrows, MyDigitalComics has been an emergent part of the digital comics market place by offering a wide array of titles in multiple formats that appeal to fans of all genres.  MDC is also part of the Discount Comic Book Service (DCBS) family, which also includes sibling store, InStockTrades. Discount Comic Book Service is one of the nation’s largest comics retailers.

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Press Release: AdHouse Announces Immonen Centifolia Project

Click Image to View PDF PreviewCentifolia 2 by Stuart Immonen.
Published by AdHouse Books

AdHouse Books is pleased to announce the upcoming publication of Centifolia V2 by Stuart Immonen.

Centifolia V2 marks Stuart Immonen’s return to his eclectic collection of work! Continuing where V1 left off, we find even more sketches, concept designs, illustrations and comics. Best known for his mainstream superhero work, Stuart is a multi-faceted creator and this publication proves it. Again, 32 of the 128 pages are full color, and Stuart’s attention to detail shows through in the publication’s design.

But wait! There’s more! AdHouse Books will also be bringing Centifolia V1 back in print! To help celebrate these two beautiful publications, there will even be a limited (100) slipcase edition created that includes a special S&N print and custom slipcase design.

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Publisher Chris Pitzer responded, “I was very happy to be approached by Stuart to help make this happen. We’ve been con-buddies for a few years now, and I really love his work.”

Centifolia V1, V2 and the limited slipcase will make their con debut at the 2011 Toronto Comics Art Festival that takes place May 7th & 8th.

Centifolia Volume 1 & 2
96 1C pages & 32 4C pages
8” x 10.75” SC
$19.95 US funds
V1: ISBN 978-1-935233-13-8
V2: ISBN 978-1-935233-14-5
Shipping May 2011

Preview: Even the Giants



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Even The Giants by Jesse Jacobs. Published by AdHouse Books

Jesse Jacobs bursts onto the comic scene with his first published work EVEN THE GIANTS. The work beautifully captures the isolation of the Great White North while also giving the artist a sequential canvas to explore and experiment. This book will be printed in three Pantone spot colors. Jesse’s work has been nominated for the Doug Wright award and has won the Gene Day award.

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Press Release: Duncan Goes Digital

ADHOUSE BOOKS and mydigitalcomics announce partner for digItal release

The Critically Acclaimed Duncan The Wonder Dog Will Be Available, In Its Entirety, For Digital Consumption At MyDigitalComics.com 

January 18, 2011– Fort Wayne, IN – MyDigitalComics (MDC), an up and coming player in the digital comics market place, and AdHouse Books are coming together this week to offer AdHouses’ critically acclaimed Duncan The Wonder Dog in three different digital formats. Duncan The Wonder Dog was conceived and created by cartoonist Adam Hines and has been widely praised since it’s late 2010 release. With the first printing of the ambitious work completely selling out, and a second printing on the way this Spring, MyDigitalComics will be offering the book for purchase as digital download in both .PDF and .CBZ formats, as well as in its onsite page flipper.

With titles from publishers like Top Cow, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite, Devil’s Due, TwoMorrows, and now AdHouse, MyDigitalComics has been aggressively reaching out to publishers from all levels of the industry to make as many new and exciting titles available to readers as possible. MDC is also part of the Discount Comic Book Service (DCBS) family, which also includes sibling store, InStockTrades. Discount Comic Book Service is one of the nation’s largest comics retailers.

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