Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins by Caitlin McGurk & Emily Flake, 288 pages

 This gorgeous art book celebrates the work and legacy of Barbara Shermund, one of the first female cartoonists for humor and lifestyle magazines in the United States, including The New Yorker and Esquire.

Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins doubles as an official biography and coffee table art collection honoring the life and art of pioneering cartoonist Barbara Shermund, an unheralded early master of magazine cartooning whose career spanned the heyday of American magazines from the 1920s–1960s. Her sharp wit and loose style boldly tapped the zeitgeist of first-wave feminism with vivid characters that were alive and astute. Shermund’s women spoke their minds about sex, marriage, and society; smoked cigarettes and drank; and poked fun at everything in an era when it was not common to see young women doing so. Shermund left behind a body of work that was ahead of its time and remains insightful, witty, relevant, and contemporary.

As one of the first women cartoonists to work for The New Yorker the year of its launch in 1925, she created nine covers and more than 600 cartoons for the magazine, in addition to countless spot illustrations, giving the nascent publication its unique visual brand. Shermund later became a mainstay at Esquire; contributed to Life, Colliers, Judge, and more; had a syndicated newspaper cartoon published by King Features; and illustrated a variety of books. In 1950, Shermund was among the first three women to be accepted as a member of the male-dominated National Cartoonist Society. A compelling facet of Shermund’s work is her frequent nods to queer audiences, which appeared in her work more than that of any of her contemporary New Yorker cartoonists. There are indications in her personal files that she also may have been queer, including love letters and other personal archives.

Readers will discover Shermund’s unique and vibrant life and art and gain an understanding of how women’s place in the history of cartooning has been controlled and sublimated by greater societal and cultural allowances. Through close readings, archival research, reproductions of original art, correspondence and photographs, this volume uncovers and celebrates a trailblazing female magazine cartoonist, and rightfully places her in the canon of cartoon art history.

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #62, 196 pages

 Archie, along with his furry friend Vegas and brainy buddy Dilton, are visiting Denny -- a young, shy boy who Dilton has worked with to create his own website. Meanwhile, Vegas helps some shy, young friends of his own when he encounters some abandoned puppies left under a garbage dumpster in a rain storm. Can he find safety for these pups? How can Denny help? Find out in "Happiness is a Wagging Tail!" the heart-warming lead story to this comics annual!

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #61, 196 pages

 It's the last weekend of summer and Archie has every intention of making the most out of his final day of freedom before school starts! There's just one problem... The List! Archie's dad gave him a list of chores at the beginning of the summer that he swore would be done before school started. Well, he's out of summer and not a single chore has even been started, so Archie's not going anywhere until he clears that list! Will he complete his chores in time to still have some fun, or will his last day of vacation be a real summer bummer?

Letters From the Dust Bowl by Carolyn Henderson, 296 pages

 In May 1936 Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace wrote to Caroline Henderson to praise her contributions to American "understanding of some of our farm problems." His comments reflected the national attention aroused by Henderson’s articles, which had been published in Atlantic Monthly since 1931. Even today, Henderson’s articles are frequently cited for her vivid descriptions of the dust storms that ravaged the Plains. Caroline Henderson was a Mount Holyoke graduate who moved to Oklahoma’s panhandle to homestead and teach in 1907. This collection of Henderson’s letters and articles published from 1908 to1966 presents an intimate portrait of a woman’s life in the Great Plains. Her writing mirrors her love of the land and the literature that sustained her as she struggled for survival. Alvin O. Turner has collected and edited Henderson’s published materials together with her private correspondence. Accompanying biographical sketch, chapter introductions, and annotations provide details on Henderson’s life and context for her frequent literary allusions and comments on contemporary issues.

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie, 275 pages

 "A Murder is Announced" is a staple of crime fiction and often considered as the best Miss Marple novel. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Jane Marple who is staying nearby, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.’ Is this a childish practical joke? Or a hoax intended to scare poor Letitia Blacklock? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd gathers at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out…

The Hex Girls: A Rogue Thorn by Lily Meade, 256 pages

 Everything’s chill in Coolsville. . . until the Hex Girls move to town. Can Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang solve the mystery surrounding the goth rockers before someone gets hurt? Find out in this dark, mysterious, and exciting take on the beloved Scooby-Doo cartoon!

Coolsville is shaken up when eco-goth band The Hex Girls move to town. Teenagers Thorn, Luna, and Dusk are looking for a fresh start for themselves and their band after the disastrous events that destroyed their hometown and Thorn’s reputation. But things take a turn for the worse when a mysterious mist starts killing crops and making people sick wherever Thorn goes. She quickly becomes the town’s prime suspect and is outcast once again.

As her band falls apart, Thorn turns to the Mystery Inc. gang, especially Velma, for help as they try to solve the mystery and prove Thorn’s innocence. While the gang thinks that Thorn’s magical powers are the key to stopping the growing threat to Coolsville, Thorn is sure magic will only bring more harm than good—and that revealing her true nature would make her an outsider forever. Can they solve the mystery and save Coolsville before someone gets seriously hurt. . . or worse?

Full of classic Scooby-Doo antics mixed with darker, more mysterious horrors, this spooky, romantic mystery is sure to thrill teens and Scooby-Doo fans!

World of Archie Comics #59, 225 pages

 When Betty leads the gang on a wilderness hike, will they have a fun, friendly excursion and appreciate the nature around them? Or will they find themselves facing danger and beaten down BY nature? Find out in "Summer Hike-Jinks," the hilarious, all-new lead story to this summer annual, featuring even more pages of fun in the sun!