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Bluesman Collected Edition HC After nine editions serialized worldwide, rave reviews from Entertainment Weekly, the Boston Globe, and the Guardian UK, and a movie deal in the works, The Bluesman Project is proud to announce that the single-volume hardcover edition is finally upon us. This June, NBM Publishing will release this definitive edition of Bluesman into the Direct Market for only $24.95. The graphic novel will begin its move into bookstore markets in August, allowing retailers and readers alike to benefit from this two-month window of Direct Market exclusivity. Bluesman is a taut period thriller that pushes the boundaries of the graphic novel while addressing core issues of race, faith, and redemption that continue to haunt public discourse to the present day. You might be asking yourself -- How do I get a copy of the Bluesman Collected Edition for myself? Finding most graphic novels, comics, and manga is relatively easy with the caveat that it may involve going to stores that you otherwise might not frequent. For those who want a copy of the Bluesman Collected Edition as soon as possible: The fastest way to get a copy of Bluesman is to order it online directly from my publisher, NBM. You can temporarily (for the next three weeks or so) access it directly at http://www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comaug.html but their site is easy to navigate and their ordering apparatus consistent and secure. Delivery would theoretically occur when the books reach New York where NBM is located. The next best way is to order it through a local comics store. Now we must take a moment for those uninitiated into the world of comics that all comics shop are born unequal and some are more unequal than others. Depending on where you live, what passes for a comics shop in the area may be either too unwilling or too unknowing to help you in this endeavor. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area with some choice as to eventual comics destination, I’d recommend the following course to decide which one with which to trust your business. 1. The Phone Call: There is a handy tool available online to locate comic stores in your area at http://csls.diamondcomics.com/ Call each store in your area and ask them three simple questions. If there is a management person available to talk, better to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Ask them:
a. Do you stock graphic novels? Make a list of the stores that didn’t actively embarrass themselves in answering. 2. The On-Site Visit As much time as it might waste, an actual visit to the shop(s) you are considering for as your point of purchase will prove invaluable. Placing your pre-order in person also creates an actual human bond that can often guarantee better success from the staff in processing your order over the course of the next couple of months. Everyone has their own criteria for what constitutes a credible business so better that you let your own natural instincts guide you to your ideal shop. When you are satisfied that you are dealing with an able retail partner, simply present the title of the book {Bluesman HC), the publisher (NBM Publishing), and the Diamond order code (APR084026). I myself don’t know precisely when in June it will hit comics shops so the retail associate won’t either. Make certain, of course, that they get your name and number so that you can be contacted. That’s it. Lather, rinse, sit there for two months, and presto, you got the blues! Why should I pre-order Bluesman in a comic book store? From a practical standpoint, it benefits you only in the sense that you are indicating to a business that they can earn a guaranteed sale. You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that, with the hard work out of the way, your next interaction will likely be with the book in your hand. The benefits to the project are considerable. Each pre-order sends another message of confidence to retailers who want to speculate on product that they can sell and, in a best case scenario, re-order and sell again. The mere fact that you took the trouble to research and then patronize their business in order to acquire Bluesman (or any other graphic novel for that matter) may well cause them to take a closer look at that project and wonder what other part of their clientele it might resonate with. Rephrased with a dose of cynicism, it is difficult to build momentum on a project within the Direct Market that doesn’t start with healthy pre-order numbers. It is infinitely more difficult to convince a retailer to re-order a book that he or she has never seen than it is to get them to speculate under those same terms. So, bottom line, it is important for the long-term success of this project that supporters get out there and help us in our attempt to get Bluesman as deeply embedded into the Direct Market as enthusiasm and time will allow. When should I pre-order Bluesman in a comic book store? The Previews catalog containing the Bluesman HC was issued on March 26. Anytime in April would be an excellent time to place a pre-order. What if I don’t live close to a credible comics store but I do have access to a chain bookstore like Borders and/or Barnes and Noble? As I said, ordering from NBM is the most painless way to get it but let me assume that not everyone is comfortable with or interested in buying things sight unseen online. Rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to see that Bluesman is well-represented in mass market bookstores where its previous format was ill-equipped to compete. Nevertheless, most of these operations have sophisticated special order systems that make it possible to get damn near anything in. If you don’t mind waiting until August when Bluesman hits those shelves, I’d wager just about any of them could order you a copy in, regardless of whether they plan to stock it initially. In that scenario, they are going to want the title (Bluesman Collected Edition), format (hardcover), authors (Rob Vollmar and Pablo Callejo), and the all-important ISBN number, which for this edition of Bluesman is 1561635324. The same data applies to special orders placed after the book’s release in August. Stay on top of the Bluesman news The best way to keep up with what's going on with Bluesman is to bookmark these two blogs:
The Bluesman Blog Thanks for your interest in Bluesman! -- Rob Vollmar and Pablo G. Callejo
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The Bluesman Cometh!