Dungeon Crawler Carl meets Dragon Age in the bestselling LitRPG humorous fantasy adventure series AN UNEXPECTED HERO - in print and as a Light Novel for the very first time with AN UNEXPECTED HERO (Light Novel) Vol. 1 from Vault Books! Come for the adventure. Stay for the laughs. Some men are born heroes. Others have heroism thrust upon them… Sorry... Really? Thrust? Anyway, Danny Kendrick was a down-on-his luck performer who always struggled to find his place. He certainly never wanted to be a hero. He just hoped to earn a living doing what he loved. That all changes when he pisses off the wrong guy and gets sucked into a fantasy realm straight out of a Renaissance Fair. Getting used to a new world is tough. It’s even tougher when you’re surrounded by axe-wielding barbarians, super hot elf assassins, strange magic, and a System AI that seems as interested in causing trouble as helping... or maybe just wasn't interested in being assigned yet another companion in the first place. Danny must adapt fast, turn on the charm, and learn to embrace his given Class if he hopes to master it and survive this dangerous new place. But he has a knack for finding trouble. Gifted what seems like an innocent ancient lute after making a questionable deal with a Hag, Danny becomes the target of mysterious factions who seek to claim its power. It's up to him, Screenie, and his new barbaric friend, Curr, to uncover the truth and become the heroes nobody knew they needed. And maybe, just maybe, Danny will finally find a place where he belongs. Perhaps, even where he'll thrive. Jump into this fantasy isekai LitRPG Adventure Light Novel filled with unforgettable characters, loveable companions, unlikely heroes, slice-of-life elements, and plenty of laughs. Perfect for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Off to be the Wizard, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves, and Kings of the Wyld!

Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer meets Encyclopedia Brown in the hard-boiled detective adventure KID MAROON, where big city crime and corruption can only be cracked by the Kid – or can it? “Crimeville’s always been a lousy scum stain.” - Kid Maroon, the world’s only hard-boiled boy detective. Two years ago, Walden Maroon outgrew his small town slice of Americana known as Tiny Falls, his loving parents, and the low stakes mysteries involving missing butterflies and stolen cookies. Since then, he’s dwelled within the gritty, gangster-ridden cesspit of a city known as Crimeville, where murders, vice, and corruption are the city’s bread and butter. Where the unholy trinity of Greed, Squalor, and Despair permeates both the air the citizens breathe and the ground on which they walk – and die. But at 12 years old, Kid is weary. When a string of horrific killings and arsons spring up in the streets, can he crack the case with his quick wits and slingshot? Or does Kid Maroon secretly yearn for what he’s never gotten to be … a kid? From bestselling writer Christopher Cantwell (Iron Man, Doctor Doom, The Blue Flame, Halt and Catch Fire) and star artist Victor Santos (Polar, Violent Love)!

Jonathan Hickman''s smash-hit reimagination of Spider-Man continues! The Sinister Six are all hunting Spider-Man and the Green Goblin for their ringleader, Kingpin - and Kraven has seized the upper hand! But when Peter Parker and Harry Osborn are made to endure horrors at Kraven''s hands in the wilds of the Savage Land, how long before Spider-Man and the Green Goblin turn the Hunter into the hunted? And even if they can gain the upper hand, are they still prey in someone else''s game? As the dust settles from his ordeal, Peter takes MJ and the kids on a family vacation - but he didn''t count on the Sandman! Plus: Mysterio''s secret origin is revealed - and the Sinister Six go to war with each other, with not just one Spider-Man caught in the middle! Collecting: Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) 13-18

“Every word is an accusation…and every whisper kills.” This staggering graphic novel explores the infamous Salem witch trials and the long shadows they cast more than 300 years later. 1692 is a year of terror. In Salem, Massachusetts, Giles and Martha Corey are forced to confront their troubled past when accusations of witchcraft plunge their community into a violent moral panic. Based upon true events, and set in three centuries, More Weight is a unique inquiry into the Salem witchcraft tragedy and the misunderstood city now synonymous with it.

Collecting the web comic sensation for the first time in print!Fans of Lenore and irreverent humor will love the exploits of an all-too-relatable dead guy. Never Been Deader follows the wildly relatable Lifeless Carl as he reluctantly journeys through the afterlife. Most of Carl’s time is spent in the offices of Afterlife Industries, where he works in the Department of Intake for the recently deceased. He is joined by his dead colleagues, who are equally reluctant to be there but are always ready to complain about their jobs over some coffee. Lifeless Carl shares many of the same complaints as the usual non-deceased white-collar worker, like getting granted a half day but having to do double the work in part of the time. Luckily, Carl has his colleagues to alleviate some of his workplace anxiety, including Myrtle, his best work friend and confidant, Newbie, his often-confused trainee, and at the end of the day, his sarcastic pet cat, Furball.

From Amazing Ameziane, the creator of Quentin by Tarantino and Don Coppola, comes the next insightful instalment of biographical graphic novels. Based on the lives and films of acclaimed cinema icons, this book focuses on the legendary Sergio Leone of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly fame. Following the story of the man behind the movies, Sergio Leone shows the insight behind the critically-acclaimed Dollars Trilogy director and takes a look at both the impact of his movies and the narrative of his life from his cinematic viewpoint. Created and illustrated by Amazing Ameziane, Sergio Leone is the next instalment in the author’s Cine saga, illustrating the behind-the-scenes stories of some of Hollywood’s biggest hits.

Ancient Rome has never been so visceral! Experience the ruthlessness of the coliseum in this revenge plot between a warrior and a king. From famed French writer Jean-Pierre Pecau and iconic Savage Sword of Conan illustrator Max Von Fafner. With a burning vengeance at the heart of his story, one man will climb the pits of the coliseum to satiate his wrath. In Rome during the last days of the republic, a warrior from Gaul with a terrible desire for revenge links his destiny to Julius Caesar by becoming his spy. When the Gallic mercenary Coax takes a Roman as hostage demanding ransom against his liberation, he hasn't yet realised that he had kidnapped the young Caius Julius Caesar. Caesar doesn't take long to seek revenge when the two men meet again. With Coax imprisoned to be sold as a slave and then as a gladiator. But as fortune has it, Coax is offered the opportunity of becoming Caesar's spy, a mercenary fit to be the gladius of the emperor. From writer Jean-Pierre Pecau and artist Max Von Fafner, Caesar's Spy tells the epic of a spy's battle to overcome the most notorious ruler of ancient Rome.

More Savage, brutal and epic in scope than its sister title Conan the Barbarian. Savage Sword Volume 6 sees Conan doing what he does best, slaughtering monsters & demons, slaying opponents and wenching. Showcasing double-length stories by some of the best artists and writers in the business including Michael Fleisher, Chris Claremont, and stalwart regular Roy Thomas, Alfredo Alcala, Barry Windsor-Smith and John Buscema among others. In this massive 1008-page Omnibus collection, writer Michael Fleisher hits his stride with a series of mold-breaking Conan tales including 'The Temple of the Twelve-Eyed Thing,' 'Demons of the Firelight' and 'Dominion of the Bat', illustrated by top talents including Alfredo Alcala, Ernie Chan and, of course, the one and only John Buscema! Meanwhile, X-MEN superstar Chris Claremont pens an adventure that pits Conan against the minions of Thoth-Amon in a tour de force drawn by Val Mayerik! Conan legend Roy Thomas is also on hand to tell solo stories of Conan's 'Red Nails' colleague, Valeria. Rounding out this volume are the conclusion of John Buscema's 'Bront' - and extensive articles on, and the comic book adaptation of, the blockbuster Conan the Barbarian film! Collecting: Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #73-87, Marvel Comics Super Special (1977) #21. Featuring the usual assortment of superb pin up art by some true greats of the comic book form. This book also features a section of rarely seen bonus material. This volume includes Michael Fleisher, Chris Claremont, and stalwart regular Roy Thomas on the writing duties and artists Alfredo Alcala, Ernie Chan, Joe Chiodo, Val Mayerick and Barry Windsor-Smith joining legend John Buscema. Collecting: Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #73-87 and Marvel Comics Super Special (1977) #21

Working for God in a Godless World Volume 3 continues the adventures from the hit anime on Crunchyroll. Yukito faces powerful opposition in his quest to protect his new world and home, alongside the God Mitama, whom he despises. In the third instalment, as Yukito and Mitama continue to build their following, they receive word of a possible new god Dakini, taking the other villages by storm, which can only mean one thing: less worshipping for Yukito’s cult. Our heroes take to the classroom to learn new, old ways to dismantle a rival group and secure the following for themselves! They decide to covertly infiltrate Dakini’s cult and usurp the power she holds, but the looming threat of being found out as well as Dakini’s mystical powers to charm and seduce stand in their way. Aoi Akashiro’s incredible storytelling, as shown in renowned anime Classroom of the Elite and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, delves deep into existential themes while delivering heart-wrenching moments and thrilling action. Fans of the hit 12-part anime adaptation will be able to see the raw and uncut origins of their favorite characters. Readers are catapulted into barren worlds and enthralled by godly powers, as Sonsho Hangetsuban’s intriguing art and Akashiro’s intricate narrative provides the audience with the chance to join Yukito and Mitama on their quest for truth and survival in a world where gods and mortals collide.

Slip case edition of the ground-breaking series written by the legendary Michael Moorcock and illustrated by some of the true masters of the comic arts, Walt Simonson, John Ridgway and Mark Reeve. This epic quest sees diverse heroes from Moorcock’s sprawling Eternal Champion series united in a common quest to stop the criminal mastermind Silverskin from destroying the multiverse. MULTIVERSE is Moorcock’s epic 12 issue series combining three unique and separate storylines from the Eternal Champion novels into one centuries-spanning epic story that unites Elric of Melnibone, Sir Seaton Begg, Silverskin, Sam Oakenhurst and Rose Von Beck in an adventure told across thousands of years of time. With one of three artists illustrating each story, Walter Simonson on Moonbeams and Roses, John Ridgeway on Duke Elric and Mark Reeve on The Metatemporal Detective. Set across three unique locations and time-lines, the three story arcs follow the mutual search for the enigmatic underworld crime lord, Silverskin concluding with the convergence of the three plots. In Moonbeams and Roses, hero Jack Karaquazian does battle in a meta-universal game of chance with leading characters from the Moorcock universe including Moorcock and Simonson themselves. While in The Metatemporal Detective ace detective Sir Seaton Begg and his companion Dr. Taffy Sinclair investigate a series of seemingly unrelated crimes in the period between world wars, crimes involving Adolf Hitler. Finally in Duke Elric, the albino emperor himself is magically transported to the Middle East in 1000AD and forced to embark on a quest to return him home. • Essential reading for all fans of the novels and those wishing to dip their toes into Moorcock’s vivid fantasy world! • Perfect for fans of Fables, Sandman, Elfquest, and A Game of Thrones. • Elric’s antihero protagonist will also appeal to readers looking for an alternative to Tolkienesque Fantasy. • Thanks to the Marvel movies like Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness, Spider Man No Way Home, Loki, Everything, Everywhere, All at Once the notion of the Multiverse has never been more popular or accessible. Now experience the concept through the unique imagination of Michael Moorcock, the master of alternative universes! Contains: Michael Moorcock’s Multiverse Vol 1. (ISBN 9781787740808) Michael Moorcock’s Multiverse Vol 2. (ISBN 9781787740815)

Critically-acclaimed writer, artist and director Ugo Bienvenu presents a beautifully illustrated graphic novel which takes a dark introspection on the future of the world of the social media. Set in a bright dystopian future, fans of the sci-fi fan genre will love exploring the story of a man on the run for protecting cultural treasures in his robot surrogate. A Black Mirror-esque future-shock satire. In the near future, society lives in a social media metaverse where data storage is at a premium and historic works of art are simply deleted to make space for holiday photos. Appalled by this way of life, an archivist risks everything by stealing and hiding culturally important artefacts inside the robot acting as the surrogate carrier of his unborn daughter. However, he’s soon discovered, and the family are forced to go on the run, with tragic consequences. Fans of dystopian sci-fi will love sinking their teeth into this cautionary tale.

Experience the thrilling prequel to Tezuka's Astro Boy, with intense mecha battles and rich storytelling. Dive into the origins of this iconic series, based on the world-renowned franchise streaming on Netflix, Amazon, and Crunchyroll. In Atom: The Beginning Volume 12, the origins of the iconic Astro Boy myth come to life with new intensity, as readers can enjoy a new side to the franchise that currently has an anime streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Crunchyroll. As Laboratory No. 1, now under Haido's control, showcases its latest marvel, the robot Mu emerges as a formidable contender during a robot wrestling tournament. After a dominant victory over U-ran, Mu's power and prowess are undeniable. Meanwhile, the team from Lab No. 7 shifts their focus from the recent competition to refining their own robot creation, setting the stage for future advancements. This volume is a crucial installment for fans of the legendary Astro Boy series, providing deeper insights into the prequel's development. With high-octane robot battles and complex ethical dilemmas about robotics, it caters to fans of mecha manga and those intrigued by the broader implications of robotic technology. Atom: The Beginning enriches the legacy of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy, offering beautifully drawn action scenes and a compelling storyline that explores the roots of one of manga's most influential works. Perfect for readers who enjoyed Battle Angel Alita and Ghost in the Shell, this volume continues to blend intense robot combat with philosophical questions about the nature of being. With a quirky, lovable cast and rich backstories that set the stage for the beloved sequel series, this manga is a must-read for fans and newcomers alike.

A graphic novel history of the cocktail—from prehistoric wassail to our current boozy renaissance—featuring 20 recipes by drinks historian, Daily Beast columnist, and award-winning author David Wondrich. There''s no better writer to tell the colorful history of cocktails than David Wondrich, widely considered to be one of the world''s foremost authorities on cocktails and a driving force behind the early-twenty-first-century revival in the classic American art of mixing drinks. In The Comic Book Story of the Cocktail, Wondrich teams up with comics artist Dean Kotz to trace the evolution of the cocktail. Beginning with the ancient days of wassail and hypocras (mixed drinks based on wine and beer), they narrate a tumultuous and vibrant history that stretches through the Age of Exploration, the boozier parts of the Enlightenment and America’s hurly-burly nineteenth century, to the Disco years, the Cosmo years, and the modern Cocktail Revolution. Kotz’s intricate, masterful drawings illustrate stories that have never been properly told and introduce key characters who haven’t yet received their due. Nearly thirty recipes round out this spirited account, featuring accurate versions of old classics and a generous selection of secret weapons from the mixologist’s vest pocket. So, settle in with your libation of choice and prepare to meet the good, the bad, and the boozy in this lively and jam-packed tale.