Comic Book New Releases June 17

Volume 1 - 1st printing. Story and art by Kobayashi Yuugo. To the world stage! Glory and ambition lie ahead of young Ashito Aoi as he takes the first steps to becoming a pro soccer player. But after being catapulted into a new harsh environment, can he hold onto his spiders thread and climb his way to the top? A fateful encounter on Futami Beach in Ehime, Japan leads to the meeting between Fukuda Tatsuya; once a rising star and a player on the cusp of greatness whose career ended all too soon, and Aoi Ashito; a brash and hot-headed striker who loves soccer despite his selfish tendencies. After being selected to try out for the Tokyo City Esperion Youth club, Ashito Aoi stakes his future on the chance to create a better life for his single mother and older brother, all while realizing his own shortcomings and dealing with the highly competitive world of J-Youth Soccer. Softcover, 5-in.x 7-in., 608 pages, B&W. Teen+ Cover price $24.99.

1st printing. Written by Aphmau. Art and cover by Michela Cacciatore. Aphmau is the new girl in town, and after a rough first day at school—thanks, Stacy—shes not sure anyone will come to her birthday party. Thankfully, the supercute and mysterious Aaron comes through and brings the party with him. But after Stacy sprinkles the cake with magic dust, Aphmaus birthday wishes dont just come true, they come to life! Soon Aphmau and her friends find that the world has become just like Aphmaus video games! Will they be able to turn everything back to normal? Or will Stacys evil plan reign supreme? Softcover, 7-in. x 9-in., 208 pages, full color. Middle Grades Cover price $12.99.

1st printing. Text by Tracey Miller-Zarneke. Art and Cover by Nico Marlet. This beautiful collection explores the creative spark behind some of animation's most well-known and beloved characters, as well as never-before-seen personal illustrative and sculptural pieces from world-renowned character designer Nico Marlet. The work of Annie Award–winning character designer Nico Marlet spans more than three decades and multiple studios and has left a trail of the most iconic animated characters in the DreamWorks, Disney, Amblimation, and Pixar libraries. Marlet has contributed to such notable films and television projects as Ducktales, Balto, Monsters Inc., Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon (for which he designed the iconic Toothless), among many others. In Boisterous Beasts & Deadly Dragons: The Art of Nico Marlet, his illustrations are entwined with reflections and quotes from well-known directors and studio heads, including Pete Docter, Dean DeBlois, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Bonnie Arnold, that showcase the lasting impact Marlet has left on the animation industry. Foreword by Jack Black and preface by Dean DeBlois! His never-before-told life story will complement the exclusive look at his personal works in both 2D and 3D mediums, giving readers a deeper appreciation of the well from which Marlet's creativity springs. Hardcover, 12-in. x 8-in., 176 pages, full color. Cover price $40.00.