Last Saturday on the Sam's Studios newsletter, I reviewed Gawk #1 by Brooklyn-based cartoonist Naz and Royalty Report by Brandon Graham and published by @livingtheline.bsky.social!
samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-32...
I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Stevens who is publishing Stephen Bissette’s magnum opus, Tyrant!
Designed by: Jim Rugg
Production by: Sean Michael Robinson of @livingtheline.bsky.social
Check out the video interview here:
youtu.be/am_sij2RuiE?...
Living the Line reviewed my mini-comics Plague Journal # 1 and 2!
youtu.be/DPZ3AnAi4Ek
You can buy both issues of Plague Journal at my Etsy shop (and the thumbnail image here is one of my paintings which is for sale there too!): michaelavolio.etsy.com
PLAZA by Yokoyama Yuichi, English edition from Living the Line
Mansect by koga shinichi smudge imprint living the line translated by ryan holmberg
Recent Reads
Living the Line also reviewed our latest š! #55 'Comics Sans Frontières' www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jiP...
@bobfishpresents.bsky.social Presents : Ryan Holmberg & Living the Line : Smudge Manga
#actuabd #bd #bobfish #review #comics #culture #art #fyp #ryanholmberg #livingtheline #smudgemanga
Stumbling across Her Frankenstein at my local library was how I discovered Living the Line! Libraries are excellent for trying out new titles to see if you like them without taking a risk on something you may or may not like!
Mi Familia Gorila, de Ichiro Iijima
Empieza bien el tercer día del #MangaBCN con Diábolo anunciando otro de los tomos clásicos de terror underground publicados por Living the Line en EEUU 🥳
Mi Familia Gorila, de Ichiro Iijima. Es una compra segura, muy fans de esta línea editorial
In last Saturday's newsletter, I reviewed @ephk.bsky.social's cyberpunk mystery graphic novel Harpy published by @livingtheline.bsky.social!
samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-11...
In my most recent Saturday newsletter update, I reviewed the @livingtheline.bsky.social Smudge release, The Girl Who Raised the Dead by Kawashima Norikazu:
samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-11...
In my first newsletter update of 2026, I review my top 10 comics of 2025!
@livingtheline.bsky.social @breakdownpress.bsky.social @topshelfcomix.bsky.social
samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-15...
It is still a big mess , but hopeful for a resolution sometime soon.
Anything that had previously been listed with them continued to be listed for whatever date it was set for before. Despite our best efforts.
Proof of life!
Out in early April! Advanced copies just arrived. All of our listings have been borked by Diamond’s collapse and bad behavior. New distro is working hard to get them back under control
Steer over to Comics Beat for a review of Harpy, a late-breaking contender for the hardest-hitting sci-fi GN of 2025. This massive 308-page gn pulls the dystopian 2060s into unnerving focus, as competence + class division collide with revenge + obsession. In the lineage of Shirow, Otomo & Druillet.
2026 has already begun!
And here are my 50 Most Anticipated Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga etc coming out this year!
Ft. Publishers:
@fantagraphics.bsky.social
@abramscomicarts.bsky.social
@livingtheline.bsky.social
@dandq.bsky.social
@darkhorse.com
Check out my video:
youtu.be/aA0QpX4MCnk?...
My definitive TOP 25 COMICS OF 2025 video is out now!
Ft. publishers:
@fantagraphics.bsky.social
@imagecomics.com
@floatingworld.bsky.social
@abramscomicarts.bsky.social
@livingtheline.bsky.social
@madcavestudios.com
@dandq.bsky.social
Check it out:
youtu.be/qZC7vPnl2wY?...
2025 has been a GREAT year for comic book collected editions!
Here are my TOP 15!
Ft. Publishers:
@fantagraphics.bsky.social
@abramscomicarts.bsky.social
@livingtheline.bsky.social
@marvelcomicshqs.bsky.social
@dcoffical.bsky.social
@darkhorse.com
Check out my video:
youtu.be/3ZF6dqkOXCA?...
Excellent cult-horror from Kawashima Norikazu! Also appreciated is the included essay on the occult in postwar Japanese culture by Tanaka Hirokazu! Available through @livingtheline.bsky.social #gekiga
livingtheline.com/livingthelin...
Out this Wednesday! HARPY by @ephk.bsky.social 💙
A brooding, futuristic detective tale, perfect for fans of Blade Runner. HARPY perfectly embodies EPHK’s sci-fi pin-up style and personality. It’s stunning!!
Our copies come with a limited signed print too!
okcomics.co.uk/products/har...
Currently reading: Harpy by @ephk.bsky.social
Harpy by @ephk.bsky.social was phenomenal on all counts! Great story serving up both action and mystery, paired with incredible art that has some of the best action sequence that I’ve seen. A definite must-read!
❤️❤️❤️
New releases from @deepvellum.bsky.social and comics publisher @livingtheline.bsky.social, a 1980’s horror manga 📚✨
The futuristic murder mystery, Harpy, from @ephk.bsky.social at @livingtheline.bsky.social is a late addition to our best of the year range. Such a great combination lively cartooning and intricate detail.
Signed bookplate editions available now...
okcomics.co.uk/products/har...
We'll continue to list new books thru Lunar under Uncivilized Books, yes! We want you all to have more options, not less :)
It's me. I'm the "discussions about sexuality and erotic works in an academic context"!
Comics Beat speaks on our new distributor, CRWN Studios! CRWN's new head of sales Terry Helman (former DBD) is ready to take your orders or field your questions.
comicsbeat.com/crwn-studios...
Full press release at our website as well.
Metal Hurlant: old dreams, young visions from @humanoids.com and Face Meat by @livingtheline.bsky.social #comics #manga
Panel 1 An author in their agent's office says: "This book will be my magnum opus, the book that I was put on the planet too write, and the pinnacle my writing and your publishing careers." Panel two The agent looks over a manuscript with a neutral expression. The author continues: "Unless you don’t like it. In which case it’s just one of a number of ideas I’m playing around with."
My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com
