It’s Here!
I’m proud to officially announce Book One of The Abominable Charles Christopher, collecting Chapter One of the Eisner-nominated webcomic.
Wrapped in an embossed, faux suede hardcover, this 144-page tome collects all of the comics from the first two years of the series, along with lots of additional illustrations and a 40″ gatefold at the end of the book, featuring an enormous pencil rendering of the key players, all in one scene.
Inside the front cover is a “This book belongs to” page, so you can personalize it for yourself or as a gift to loved ones. I’ve also included a space for sketches, so if you meet me at a show, I can further personalize your book with a one-of-a-kind, original drawing.
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting to announce this. It’s the treatment of the book I want for myself, and it’s been a tremendous amount of work to put together. The files are going to the printer today, so it looks like I’ll be officially launching at TCAF on May 8-10! If you’re going to be in Toronto that weekend, be sure to come by and see me for your own signed copy! And tell your friends! I’m self-publishing this thing, and I can use all the help I can get. :)
Buy it HERE!
NOTE: This is a Pre-Order, ending on May 12th! Shipping will begin on May 17th.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
LOVE IT!
One thing though- I wanted to pre-order, but then I won’t have it for TCAF… Is there anyway I can reserve one, signed & sketched, for the event?
April 14th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Hi Nicole!
I’ll be bringing a few boxes of books to TCAF – hopefully enough to fill demand – but there’s no way to reserve. I’ll be selling them on a first-come-first-serve basis.
ALL of the TCAF book sales will be signed and include the bookplate, though!
Send an email to shopkeeper@store.txcomics.com specifying how many books you’d like. That way, we’ll have a better idea of how many to bring.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! Your hard work is super inspiring!
April 14th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Christmas’s came early this year!
April 14th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Any chance that pre-orderers might snag an autographed copy?
:)
April 14th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Yup! All pre-orders are signed, Silus, and come with a small, limited print.
April 14th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I just found my Mother’s Day gift! I can pick for myself right?
April 14th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Woo, do want! =D Am putting this on the reminder list for when payday rolls around.
Congrats, Karl! What I can see looks beautiful.
April 14th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
First off, the book looks beautiful. Two years worth in a lovely hardcover? I’m very keen to get one.
But $19 for shipping to the US? ($17 in Canada even!) That seems beyond exorbitant. There really isn’t a more economical way? I bought a book from Amazon UK that cost less than half that to ship, and that’s coming across an ocean!
April 14th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Hi Ryan. I know shipping costs suck, and I tried to keep the price down as much as I could, but the fact is that Canada has no media rate for shipping books the way the US does, and it’s a fairly heavy hardcover book. Amazon keeps its costs down because they deal in volume and can afford to offer low (or free) shipping. I’m just one guy, dealing with Canada Post. So unfortunately there’s not much I can do.
Sorry!
April 14th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I’m happy that the book is out, and I’m happy that the TCAF comes a year early. I think I’ll try to buy a copy from you at TCAF.
April 14th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
wait you’re offering the bookplate at TCAF too?! well now I feel like an idiot for getting it online =/
April 14th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Oh, I want! Sadly, I apparently missed the preorder date. *cry* Do we lose the autographs and/or sketch (if we decide to get the master edition)? When I have $80 to spare I’ll certainly be getting this… I need a better job first..
April 14th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
@Tigerlady – the pre-orders are live until May 12, so you’ve got just under a month left! :)
April 14th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Oh, May! I’m an idiot… Don’t mind me… I’m having nightmares that May is already upon me along with finals and so many other awful things…
April 14th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
SO HAPPY! YAY!
April 14th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
I think you just made my day! I ordered one. I would have paid $200 … I want to get two … why do I want two? I don’t understand, but the compulsion to order another is HUGE! I’m totally going to … Oh my god, this is how I felt when I first saw that all in one BONE volume … I love you Karl … I’m seriously considering heading to Toronto just to get it signed again by you.
Thank you for doing this … I mean Charles Christopher. Thank you. It’s brightened my life in a way that’s just … that there just aren’t words for.
April 14th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I think it’s subliminal, it’s because there are two in the picture at the top of the page. That’s what I want my coffee table to look like. Plus, I totally need one to loan out … oh my god … I need two …
April 14th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
stupid question… whats a “book plate”?
April 14th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
OK, I totally just burnt my dinner for that … but it’s worth it
April 14th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
YYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!! Such good news! Makes me completely forget about the fact that there is no new strip yet!…kidding.
April 14th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Yaaaaaaaaay! My tax refund is so going towards this. I’m so excited. I’m also curious what a book plate is….
April 14th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
ORDERED! Been waiting for a book version, and it being a stunning one is just an added bonus!
Can we request our sketches?
I kid I kid!
(Townsen)
Can’t wait for this!
April 14th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Oh man these look great! So exciting!
April 14th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
I’m looking forward to meeting you at TCAF and buying my copy! I’ll email that email you told Nicole to email to help you get your numbers right. :)
April 14th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Oh, my goodness!!!!!! I am not usually given to outbursts such as this, least of all in public, but ohhhhh!!!!!!!! This is much too exciting, argh!!!!!
….
I think I shall probably cry when I receive my copies (yes, plural). And I really do not care how that confession makes me look… *sniffs*
April 14th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
That’s fantastic Karl!! Way to go my friend! I’m gonna be at TCAF with the Anthology crew so I’ll pick one up from you there. Make sure you save me one!!! Congrats man!!
April 15th, 2010 at 12:14 am
@james A book plate is the “This book belongs to” thing in the front page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_plate
Notice that the notice here has a link to it
http://www.abominable.cc/images/store/TACC-openbook.jpg
It’s really beautiful, Karl!
April 15th, 2010 at 4:52 am
Ordered! I cannot WAIT for May now!
April 15th, 2010 at 10:36 am
My heartfelt congratulations, Sir! Your artwork and story-telling deserve a treatment like this for sure.
hUZZAH – It Must Be Mine!
Siigh.. How to finagle the funds from my spouses tight anti-purloining grip.
April 15th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Looks like I’ll be heading down to TCAF after all. I’ve never – NEVER – actually attended a comics festival, although I’ve been thinking of doing so for a while.
Thanks for finally giving me a good enough reason to make the (short) trip.
Look forward to seeing you there!
I’ve got a few friends (3-4) who adore ACC as mush as I; you might want to consider bringing more boxes of books! :D
April 15th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Just ordered and I had to say thank you Karl for putting this together. I really appreciate (and understand!) the work and nerves involved with self-publishing. Hopefully it will be a huge success that will lead to many more such projects from you :)
April 16th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Thanks for the support, everyone! It means a lot.
I’m as excited as you are to have this book in my hands. Self-publishing is a scary (and expensive) venture, but it’s a great feeling to be in control of your own stuff from beginning to end.
See you in Toronto!
April 16th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Hello, Karl. Thanks so much for putting this book together! I pre-ordered mine last night. Hopefully this is only the beginning of a long life for Charles Christopher!
April 16th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Looks Gorgeous! I knew I could expect a really top quality publication from you, and it looks like you have delivered. Can’t wait to have a copy in my hands.
April 17th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Way to go Karl! I’ve been loving your strip for quite some time. The book looks great. I plan on ordering one soon.
April 17th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I can’t recall a time in my life where I spent 80 dollars so fast and with so few reservations.
I am so deeply excited :).
I’ve seen much worse shipping, I’ve shopped from sellers on Amazon ;).
“Why does your USB stick have 90 dollars shipping?” “Cause of insurance!” “:/”
April 17th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
That is one beautiful looking book!
April 18th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Lovely book Karl!
I’m definitely tempted to go check your stuff out at TCAF! And maybe I can actually buy the book and get a sketch from you this time… I saw you at fanexpo last summer but didn’t get a chance to go over and say hello (my two sisters did though… they were the ones that were really shy and nervous to ask you for a Townsend sketch lol)
Awesome comic, keep up the great work :)
April 19th, 2010 at 8:41 am
SQUEEEEEE! Oh the unimaginable excitement. I saw this and instantly sent a link to my boyfriend. Bless him, his response was “Our three years is coming up next month, is this what you want?” I was like, OMG YES!! Thank you Karl for awesome timing so that I can have an awesome copy of your book as an awesome present from an awesome boyfriend. Oh so excited… now if only there was such a thing as instant shipping from Canada to UK and I wouldnt have to wait so long :P
April 19th, 2010 at 10:13 am
You’re welcome! Congratulations on three years!
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:55 am
Hey Karl!
I hear you’re going to be appearing at the 4th Wall in Montreal in a few weeks. Will you have copies of the book for that visit?
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:03 am
@Rabbit – No, sorry. I won’t have the final books in my hands in time for Free Comic Book Day. I’ll be signing other stuff (Wednesday Comics, Teen Titans, etc) at The 4th Wall, though. And I’d be happy to do as many Charles Christopher sketches as possible!
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:46 am
Definitely picking one up for myself. I wish I could make it it TCAF. Any idea when you’re going to make it stateside next?
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:10 am
My next trip to the US will most likely be the New York Comicon in October, Justin. It would be nice to go to San Diego, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for this year.
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Karl, would it be possible for me to buy the book and then pick I up at the NYC con? I am considering buying some art from you as well so I figure I kill two birds with one stone. Please let me know if this is possible. Thanks!
May 5th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
I’ll be getting mine this Sunday at TCAF for sure!
May 7th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Hey Karl, I’ll echo Jam6534’s question about getting the book in NYC…. incredible work of art, by the way.
May 12th, 2010 at 7:14 am
Nevermind… I just bought it online. :)
May 20th, 2010 at 1:33 am
Woo! Can’t wait for the books I’ve ordered. Normally, I hate gatefolds with a passion. It’s because usually it’s like people put in gatefolds for the sake of putting in gatefolds, when the content on said gatefolds really doesn’t benefit from being a gatefold, in fact, it would probably be better on regular pages because then I don’t have to continually fold and unfold the dang thing and have it all spread out and awkward when I want to look at it. BUT it looks like this gatefold is actually a legitimate gatefold, in fact it’s going to be AWESOME, so well done! This will be an incredible collection! Sorry for including a mini-rant here :)
May 25th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Please please please tell me I can still get a copy of this… but in Australia.
May 28th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Hi Karl,
I recieved my copy yesterday. It is glorious. Thank you for it.
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Hi Karl,
I am very excited to see this book! I placed a pre-order a while ago and was wondering if there was some way to track my copy down. Thanks!
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:05 pm
@Richard – orders started shipping, as planned, on May 17th. The vast majority of the shipped books are the regular editions (without the sketches) so if your order was one of those, then it should be in your hands soon!
I’m working hard to get the sketched versions done. Promise!
June 7th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Hello Karl,
I bought a copy of your book (unfortunately without sketch or – of course – dedication) 2 days ago on a german comic book convention named “Comic Salon Erlangen”.
I was instantaneously captured by your drawings and bought the book because of the nice haptics and of course, the great look. Later on when i got some time to actually read the strips, i smiled, grinned, laughed and at moments, felt tense and sadness.
Your book is what i would call my “best buy of the con” and starting now i’ll stop by on your site on a regular basis.
Thanks for your inspiring work.
Steven
June 16th, 2010 at 12:09 am
I just received my book today and it’s really really beautiful. Thanks for the hard work you put into it, it really shows.
June 29th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
I keep struggling for the specific words to convey how your work has captured me–beguiling is close. I fell into the heart of the love of Christopher and Townson and cried despairingly when their companionship ended. I am completely entranced by watching you draw the lion. Your hands are beautifully artistic and seemingly move of their own accord. Your characters have the depth and roundness of any other classic literary characters. Thank you. Dot
June 29th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
I should add that I plan to order the master book next month. I can hardly stand to wait for its delivery. Dot
July 6th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Just got my email yesterday saying it was shipped can’t wait! Thank you Karl!
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I jus got a shipping confirmation that my Master Sketch Edition is on it’s way! Karl I’m so looking forward to this, it’s like an early Christmas presten, plus I’ve got a t-shirt coming with it as well. Keep up the excellent work!