Cover by Jeff Lemire

Once again, Top Shelf Productions is showcasing its year-to-date publications and key future releases in the Top Shelf Seasonal Sampler 2008.  This free guide to the Atlanta and Portland-based indie publisher’s 2008 publishing efforts is both a catalog of art comics and alt-comix delights and a sampling of why Top Shelf’s idiosyncratic line of graphic novels, comic books, and books is truly awe-inspiring.  There is even a large section featuring popular perennial titles (from creators such as Alan Moore, Andy Runton, Craig Thompson, and Alex Robinson, to name a few).

The Top Shelf Seasonal Sampler 2008 offers generous sample pages from such current books as Korgi (Book 2): The Cosmic Collector and YAM.  Select pages from superb mature graphic novels like That Salty Air, Swallow Me Whole, Essex County (Vol. 3): The Country Nurse, and Too Cool to be Forgotten are also offered.

Readers will also want to take a look at highly anticipated 2009 and 2010 releases such as The Surrogates 2.0: Flesh & Bone (a sequel to Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele’s hit sci-fi graphic novel, The Surrogates), Craig Thompson’s Kissypoo Garden, and omnibus editions of Marshal Law by Pat Mills & Kevin O’Neill, Eddie Campbell’s Alec and Bacchus (which will be a two-volume omnibus).  The next two years will also bring us Alan Moore treats:  the three-volume The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. III): Century and The Moon & Serpent Bumper Book of Magic.

The Top Shelf Seasonal Sampler 2008 is a no-excuses opportunity to taste-test some fine comics.