Good Books to Order for June 2016

The latest Diamond Previews catalog lists a lot of books worth checking out. Here are a few of them, along with others I had something to say about. You can order them now through your local comic shop for delivery in June or later. (The ones with May dates are relists of books that have already been published, so they’re available earlier.)

Drug & Drop Dark Horse, $10.99, APR16 0187, May 18 It’s Manga Month! Which is just an excuse for publishers to relist any translated Japanese comics they happen to put out, such as Dark Horse’s CLAMP work. Not sure why they chose to relist this volume 1 to appear a week AFTER the volume 2 relist, though.	The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Omnibus Dark Horse, $19.99, APR16 0207, May 18 Same thing’s happening here, with this dynamite series omnibus set appearing as volume 1, May 18; volume 2, May 11; and volume 3, May 18. I understand the need to space them out, but a little more logic, perhaps? Regardless, don’t let it stop you from catching up on this fascinating horror manga.
LARP! Volume 2 Dark Horse, $9.99, APR16 0150, August 3 I thought the first volume was mediocre and predictable, but I’m sure there’s an audience for these “it’s ok to be a fan geek” stories, probably in middle school libraries.	Teen Titans: Earth One Volume 2 DC Comics, $22.99, APR16 0323, August 10 Almost two years after the first volume, DC continues one of its many attempts at creating jumping-on points for its elaborate superhero universe. The description says “Picking right up after the cliffhanger ending to the first volume…” because that’s a good strategy. Artistically, the Dodsons have been replaced by Andy McDonald.
Blue Monday Volume 1: The Kids Are Alright Image Comics, $9.99, APR16 0791, July 27 The Blue Monday reprints from Image begin. I think the market’s much better now for this pop-culture-fueled series of teen adventures by Chynna Clugston Flores. I hope it finds its audience.	Girl Genius: The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne Volume 2: The City of Lightning Airship Entertainment, $25, APR16 1181, June 29 I’m unsure whether I’m going to continue with this series after doing a massive re-read leading up to the release of first volume of the second journey (which seems to be just a rename to avoid scaring off people who don’t want volumes 14 or 15 of the series). It’s fun in the moment, but the books seem a tad pricey to me for the time spent with them. If you disagree, all the previous volumes are also available for reorder.
Strange Attractors #1 Boom! Studios, $3.99, APR16 1356, June 15 I didn’t care for Strange Attractors when it was all under one cover, but I’m fascinated by the retro-serialization of turning a graphic novel into a miniseries. Why?	Wandering Star Dover Publications, $39.95, APR16 1573, June 29 Welcome back, character-driven science fiction by Teri S. Wood! (I normally advise buying through your local comic shop, but Amazon has the book for half-price right now, quite the deal!)
A Drifting Life Drawn & Quarterly, $34.95, APR16 1580, May 11 Another set of Manga Month reissues. Like the graphic novels they publish, D&Q’s manga choices are literate and thought-provoking. A Drifting Life is a huge memoir of Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s life as a manga creator.	Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan Drawn & Quarterly, $24.95, APR16 1583, May 18 Shigeru Mizuki captures the modern history of Japan in four volumes, interwoven with stories of his own life.
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Volume 9: Rise of the Rhyming Man Fantagraphics, $35, APR16 1646, June 29 The comic strip reprint series by Floyd Gottfredson continues, now well into the post-War era with its streamlined characters and more comedic situations. All previous volumes are also available for reorder. (I like the earliest ones best.)	This One Summer First Second, $17.99, APR16 1661, May 18 This One Summer came out two years ago, but it’s quickly become a modern classic, and the perfect thing to read as another summer rolls around. Jillian and Mariko Tamaki tell of a young woman’s coming of age during a season at the beach.
Fresh Romance One Press, $24.99, APR16 1829, August 10 Oni has picked up the print collection of the acclaimed digital romance comic anthology, and good for them for doing so. In this collection, you’ll get Kate Leth and Arielle Jovellanos showing teens hiding their true selves and partners from their parents; the lengthy first chapter of an historical arranged marriage by Sarah Vaughn and Sarah Winifred Searle; an adorable coffee shop mixup with magic by Sarah Kuhn and Sally Jane Thompson; and Marguerite Bennett and Trundles’ mystical beast love fairy tale. Plus a short new piece by Kieron Gillen and Christine Norrie.	Sherlock: A Study in Pink #1 Titan Comics, $4.99, APR16 1965, June 8 The much-anticipated manga adaptation of the TV show will run seven issues, each longer than a typical comic issue.
Solanin Viz Media, $17.99, APR16 2112, May 11 A melancholy set of stories about young adults by Inio Asano, reoffered now that his works are better known. Both volumes of What a Wonderful World!, by the same author, are also available.	Yotsuba&! Volume 13 Yen Press, $13, APR16 2157, May 25 Seeing more Yotsuba&! is terrific. Thanks to Yen Press for continuing to bring it out.