Every week there is a true flood of new cartoons: new issues, variant covers, new #1, fresh miniseries. There are plenty of dozens of bookshelves to land in local comic shops, but it can also be achieved at local indie bookstores! ). From fresh original graphic novels, the much-anticipated archive editions and recent collections of cartoons, from collections for all traders, there are plenty of trade paperbacks and hardcovers to fill the shelves.
After reviewing these types of books for AIPT over the years, I have come to appreciate what makes the collection really special. Here at TradeWatch, I picked five books next week and it seems like the most exciting to me. This is my recommendation for the week of August 25th, 2025.
The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 1 – Donald Duck: Donald Duck finds Pirate Gold
fantagraphics, hc – $39.99 (buy now)
This is all just beginning as Carl Burks takes control of Donald Duck’s comic book adventures and begins a series of clever, creative, complicated, comedic stories that continue under the sparkle of his comics for over 20 years, and guarantees his place in comic history.
Fantagraphics has been producing beautiful hardcover series since 2011, but the complete Carl Barks Disney Library has yet to collect very early comics from the master cartoonist. This ends with a volume featuring not only Donald and his nephew, but also the longer UTO Punish tale (including awful bombs).
I’ll mourn
Mud Cave, TPB – $14.99 (Buy Now)
Paula beautifully speaks to how she deals with the loss of her mother and the sudden loss of this fascinating and moving graphic novel.
Cartoonist Paula Cheshire has a fun aesthetic (as everyone can see through her Instagram), but what sells me in this book is that it is a fun, illustrated book about sadness. There is a tendency for a child to long for sad stories, and that part of me is happy to cartoon my loving part and jump together into this book.
Miles Morales: An epic collection of Spider-Man from the modern era – Spider-Man is already
Marvel Comics, TPB – $49.99 (Buy Now)
Miles Morales is still used to being Spider-Man when Captain America makes him a very special offer. Is Miles really the ultimate participant?
I recently read my first Miles Morales Epic Collection (the first read of material since the first publication in 2011), so I can talk without the rosy glasses. The artwork sings, the pace of the story is perfect for the pitch, and Miles is the right successor to Spider-Man’s title. These stories are nearly a decade and a half and it’s wild to think they still feel this fresh and beautiful. Also, there are few books that pry money out of my wallet, like a good, spectacular collection.
Sandman Mystery Theater Grand Overview 2
DC Comics, TPB – $59.99 (Buy Now)
The remaining issues from the acclaimed Dizziness series are finally collected in this softcover compilation. It features storylines such as “The Mist,” “The Phantom of the Fair,” “The Crone,” and “The Goblin.” Each issue has been painstakingly recovered for fans who patiently wait for the conclusion of the series.
Wesley Do’s comics offered in the modern market are not enough. Certainly there was a miniseries two years ago (Wesley Dodds: The Sandman), but does it pretend to be a modern gas mask or detective lover? It’s almost certainly not. This collection presents half of the conclusions (a whopping 35 questions) of the noir-rich 1993 series.
Wednesday Comic
DC Comics, HC – $75.00 (Buy Now)
An oversized hardcover collection of DC’s 2009 weekly comic sensations, which USA Today called “Cool, Classic-Loish.”
Originally released broadsheet style – like a funny old page on Sunday – Wednesday’s comic was a beautiful anthology of 15 artistically diverse stories. It was put together by who is who of the acclaimed creators (including those we are not talking about anymore). It’s a beautiful concept and although this edition cannot replicate the dimensions of the original broadsheet, you really appreciate the artwork as it is amazing and grows.
