Joel Swendsen

Imagine a cross between American Splendor and Alice in Wonderland…or imagine a cross between Carl Barks and Carlos Castaneda… In Joel Orff's new graphic novel Waterwise he explores these concepts and many more. This is the story of two old friends who are reunited for one night and wander together through a surreal, vaguely apocalyptic landscape, pondering life, griping about their circumstances, and trying to connect. Along the way they explore the nature of dreams, the fragile facade of civilization and the tenderness of a true friendship.

One of Booklist's Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2008, Joel Orff's graphic novel Thunderhead Underground Falls tells the story of Jack, a young army reservist who has one weekend left before shipping out for combat in the Middle East. He and a friend find themselves behind the wheel of his parent's car, driving farther and farther west into a snowy landscape. The book is an impressionistic exploration of Jack's flight from his future, as well as an exploration of this place that he's pledged his life to fight for. Jack and his friends want to experience the simple freedom of taking a drive, of seeing familiar things before his outlook is changed forever by the violence that he knows he will soon face. As the hours go by, Jack begins to consider desertion, but he knows that if he stays to hold onto the life that he knows, it will still be changed forever.

A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! In a not-too-distant future L.A. where master chefs rule the town like crime lords and people literally kill for a seat at the best restaurants, a bloody culinary war is raging.
On one side, the Internationalists, who blend foods from all over the world into exotic delights. On the other, the "Vertical Farm," who prepare nothing but organic, vegetarian, macrobiotic dishes. Into this maelstrom steps Jiro, a renegade and ruthless sushi chef, known to decapitate patrons who dare request a California Roll, or who stir wasabi into their soy sauce. Both sides want Jiro to join their factions. Jiro, however has bigger ideas, and in the end, no chef may be left alive!
Anthony Bourdain, top chef, acclaimed writer (Kitchen Confidential, Medium Raw) and star of the hit travel show, No Reservations, co-writes with Joel Rose (Kill Kill Faster Faster, The Blackest Bird) this stylized send-up of food culture and society, with detailed and dynamic art by Langdon Foss.

Continuing the story of film pioneer Guy Ritchie's anti-hero, the Gamekeeper, soon to be a motion picture from Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver (The Matrix)! Hoping to resume a quiet life as the gamekeeper of his slain friend, Jonah Morgan's estate, Brock is thrust back into battle when a team of hired-assassins kidnap Morgan's daughter, Krista, in a plot to steal the secrets of Cold Fusion. With the world's eyes on his home, an old enemy, the brutal, one-eyed Sadic, returns, leaving no rest for the weary gamekeeper. But when the connection between Brock's tragic past and a mysterious assassin is revealed, the Gamekeeper must do what he does best - kill - even if it means losing the last shred of his humanity!

The Skullkickers tip back a few more pints and you're all invited along to the pub to toast their glory! This issue is another righteous Skullkicking short story cavalcade by killer comic talent JOEL CARROLL (Flight), MIKE LUCKAS, BEN MCSWEENEY (Joe is Japanese), JOE NG (Street Fighter IV), HOWARD TAYLER (Schlock Mercenary), ZACH WEINER (Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal) JIM DEMONAKOS & KYLE STEVENS (Kirby Krackle) and JIM ZUB (that SKULLKICKERS comic thing).