The Library of American Comics

The big news in the second volume of the complete Li’l Abner is Al Capp’s creation of the first Sadie Hawkins Day, in which the womenfolk chase the menfolk, and whosoever gets caught is brought to the altar before Marryin’ Sam himself. Presenting the daily strips and color Sundays from 1937 and 1938. Learn More

This is a very limited edition, available ONLY through IDW Publishing. Each copy has an exclusive sketch and signature plate. Each sketch will feature one of four characters from Bloom county: Bill the Cat, Michael Binkley, Opus, and Steve Dallas. Orders are assigned the lowest available number. Because of strict limitations you will not be able to choose which character you will receive. Learn More

Bloom County: The Complete Library, Volume Three collects every strip from July 1984 through February 1986. Many fondly remembered strips are in this volume, including the classic 1984 presidential elections featuring possibly the finest running mates ever for such a campaign: Opus and Bill the Cat. Plus a cornucopia of ingenious satire featuring the rest of the Bloom County cast: Steve Dallas, Mio, Binkley, Oliver, Cutter John, and all the rest. Additionally, this volume contains many insightful, biting, and downright hysterical annotations by Berkeley Breathed as he comments on his strips in his own uniquely irreverent way. Context pages, for perspective, are sprinkled throughout the book. Learn More

Celebrating Blondie’s 80th anniversary, IDW’s Library of American Comics presents Blondie like you’ve never seen her before. This book collects the early strips by Chic Young for the first time ever, beginning with the first ones from October 1930. Blondie Boopadoop is a light-headed flapper who meets Dagwood Bumstead, the heir to a wealthy, high society fortune. Dagwood’s parents are aghast and refuse him permission to marry the blonde, but their son is in love. He and Blondie hatch a scheme—the voracious Dagwood goes on a hunger strike for 28 days, 7 hours, 8 minutes and 22 seconds. This first volume chronicles the amazing and hilarious courtship, and concludes with the spectacular wedding in February 1933! Learn More

Produced with full access to Caniff's extensive personal archives at The Ohio State University, and with the cooperation of the Caniff estate, this oversized book reproduces from the original artwork hundreds of comics, illustrations, pencil sketches, and drawings—including many not previously reprinted. In addition to the three famous comic strips, represented are his childhood drawings, the beginnings of his career as a newspaper cartoonist, his significant contributions to the 1940s war effort, as well as his continuing relationship with the Air Force, Boy Scouts, and other organizations. Learn More

Berkeley Breathed is known to comic-strip lovers as the hilarious creator of Bloom County and its quirky denizens Opus, Bill the Cat Milo Bloom, Steve Dallas, Cutter John and more. He is also renowned for his touching children's books like Mars Needs Moms and Flawed Dogs. Earlier this year the Museum of Cartoon Art in San Francisco celebrated the joy and laughter this inventive and diverse creator has given us by putting on a one man show of his work, both Bloom County and children's books. Accompanying that exhibition was a lovely 96-page catalog, measuring 11 x 8.5 inches. The catalog showcased a number of Breathed's Bloom County strips, each shot from the original art, as well as a selection of his children's book illustrations. Additionally there are essay's and an interview with Breathed. Now through special arrangement with the Cartoon Art Museum and Berkeley Breathed, IDW is pleased to off this lovely book—and fine companion piece to the Bloom County Library—to the direct market. Learn More

The fourth and final volume of Alex Raymond's modernist classic Rip Kirby contains every daily strip from April 19, 1954 through September 29, 1956. The 46-year-old Raymond's tragic death in the prime of his life caught the syndicate in mid-episode. This book also contains the conclusion to Raymond's ultimate story, drawn by John Prentice, from October 1 through October 20, 1956. Edited and designed by Eisner Award-winner Dean Mullaney, with a biographical and historical essay by Brian Walker. Learn More

The fifth volume of the Harvey Award-nominated Rip Kirby features the incredible art of John Prentice, who picked up the pen and ink duties after Alex Raymond's death and continued drawing the strip for decades. Prentice received three Reuben Awards for the series, in 1966, 1967, and 1986. Fred Dickenson, who had been writing the strip with Raymond, keeps the continuity going for Prentice's exquisite art. Volume Five contains more than 800 comics, every one from October 22, 1956 to June 6, 1959. Edited by Dean Mullaney. Introduction by Brian Walker. Learn More

The Definitive Flash Gordon & Jungle Jim presents every Sunday by Alex Raymond from both classic strips together for the first time, in the oversized 12” x 16” champagne edition format. Part of IDW’s Library of American Comics Ultimate Alex Raymond Collection. Learn More