I first met Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery about a year ago. They were discussing their new series, Kill Shakespeare, and I wasn't quite sure what to make of the name. Was this for real? Was it good? Yes is the answer to both, it turns out. Not only was it real, but it was excellent: a fun and irreverent yet totally respectful (if it's not an oxymoron to call something "irreverent" and "respectful" at the same time) work that reimagines Shakespeare and his characters. There are heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, etc.) and villains (Iago and Lady Macbeth, natch) and vivid storylines being woven throughout this 12-issue series, which will be collected in a trade volume this November. But for now, you can read all about the series and its creators in the GNR interview with Conor and Anthony.

I think what impresses me about what the two have done (more than the immense research they've done to get it right when it comes to Shakespeare) is the tenacity they have. They created the series and found a way not only to get it created but also to get the word out about it. They are active in marketing. They are present at important shows. They have made an effort to get to know the right people. And they've created a website that is accessible for new readers. It's the kind of grassroots effort that you envy, because it's so very needed in comics right now. This kind of outreach (getting in tune with teachers and librarians, reaching out to readers of all appropriate ages) is what will make a series grow, and with it, the industry.

I bring this all up because it's nice to see worthwhile books succeeding. With so much out there, and more coming out all the time, we all see good graphic novels getting lost in the mix. Whenever one comes around that manages to make an impact, it's nice to be able to see it happening and to be able to recognize the work that went into it.

On another note, let me tell you about a couple personal favorites I've reviewed this time around. First up is the new volume in IDW's ongoing anthology of Bloom County comic strip reprints. I picked this edition up at San Diego Comic-Con, but I'm just now getting around to writing the review (blame summer). I did mention this book in the last newsletter, though, and talked about how much I love these reprints, most of all because Bloom County made such a huge impact on me when I was a kid. The treasury lives up to all the expectations. If you were ever a fan, or if you ever wondered what all the fuss was about with it, now's your chance. It's excellent. And it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

I've also just now managed to catch up on a book that's been on my bookshelf for a while. I'm sad to say I let Solomon's Thieves wait so long, because it's great. It's not just an adventure (although it definitely is, and a good one at that); it's also a fun little lesson in history, with a nice little twist on the story of the Knights Templar.

By the way, the Miami Book Fair is coming up in November. Sure, it's summer now and the week of November 14th-21st seems like it's ages away, but it'll be here soon. For the third year The Comix Galaxy will be part of this book festival. The School of Comics, two days of comics education are planned for Thursday, November 18th (Carol will be moderating this day of events) and Friday, November 19th. And there is more programming planned for Saturday and Sunday, the 20th-21st as well. The comics portion of the show has been growing by leaps and bounds the past few years, so we've done our best to give you this top-level view of what's going on at one of the biggest public book shows in the country. And we will be sharing more details with you in the weeks to come.

One more quick thing. GraphicNovelReporter.com is part of TheBookReportNetwork.com. The company is considering launching a website catering to readers between the ages of 17 and 30 years old. We think this is an underserved readership online, and we’ve been gathering a lot of information in hopes of developing a great site for this market. We’ve code-named this project CO-20 (a name which makes Carol feel like some kind of undercover agent), and we invite you to pass this survey along to readers you know who fall in that age range as we want their feedback as we consider this idea. Of course, if YOU are 17-30, we want to hear from you too. Many of these readers are comics readers and we want to create a spot for them online where they can continue to build on their love of reading with titles culled specifically to appeal to them. Participants will be entered to win one of the $25 gift cards we’re giving away. Click here for the CO-20 survey.

And with that, I invite you to read on to see the big lineup of reviews and graphic-novel-related news online right now at GraphicNovelReporter.com. Enjoy the books!

Happy reading,

John Hogan (John@bookreporter.com)

Stan "the Man" Lee has a special message for retailers about his three new ongoing series for Boom! Studios (under his Pow! Entertainment imprint). Check it out here! Plus, get a look at a trailer for Starmaker: Leviathan, a new series from Dare Comics.

From great science fiction to compelling drama to aching romance, dozens of reviews of top fiction titles are now online.

Stephen King's The Stand, Vol. 3: Soul Survivors by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins
The wonderful comics adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling The Stand continues in an engrossing new volume. Reviewed by Michael Hicks

Wolf God, Vol. 1 by Ai Tenkawa
Kyounosuke of the Inugami wolf pack is on a mission. With the pending death of his grandfather, he must seek out his older brother, who left home years ago to become the new leader. With the help of his newfound friend Koyuki, he will begin to unravel the mystery of his brother's disappearance. But what he finds is far from anything he anticipates. Reviewed by Courtney Kraft