Bloody Mary - Softcover

A cornerstone of the modern comic industry, Garth Ennis is most easily recognized as the creator of Preacher, one of the best-selling graphic novel series of all time. His full list of writing credits is nothing short of extraordinary; his career highlights include "Judge Dredd, Hellblazer, The Demon, Hitman, Punisher, The Pro, War Story, and The Boys". Over the past ten years, Ennis has published numerous acclaimed and fan-favorite projects through Avatar Press, including "Dicks, Chronicles Of Wormwood, 303, Streets Of Glory", and the wildly successful Crossed series. He wrote and directed his first film, "Stitched", which Avatar Press continued as an ongoing series.

Beginning his career in comic books as a freelance artist in 1990, David Lapham founded El Capitan Books in 1995 exclusively to publish his Eisner Award-winning crime comic book series, "Stray Bullets". In recent years, he has worked as a writer for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse, and finally Avatar Press, on three "Crossed" projects ("Family Values", "Crossed 3D", "Badlands", and "Psychopath"), "Ferals", and "Caligula".

Simon Spurrier, a British author of comic books and novels, first began writing professionally in 2001. He contributed extensively to the library of respected UK publisher 2000 AD, including their flagship comic book series "Judge Dredd, Harry Kipling, Lobster Random, and The Simping Detective". He also wrote several novels set in the 2000 AD and Warhammer 40,000 story continuities. With the debut of his creator-owned series "Gutsville" in 2007, Spurrier began to work in the American comic book market, predominantly on such Marvel Comics properties as "Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider, and X-Men". In 2011, Spurrier launched a successful web comic through Avatar Press, "Crossed: Wish You Were Here", which presents his take on the on the popular horror franchise (CrossedComic.com).

Grade 11 Up–In 1999, war breaks out between a newly fascist Europe and the Allies of Britain and America. Thirteen years later, a stalemate seems permanent. Two mercenaries, alcoholic Bloody Mary and Britannic-cliché-spouting Major, emerge from the prewar days and join forces with the Allies. They encounter a fighter for the Euros, who seems to die in every battle yet always returns intact. Moreover, he keeps killing even when his head is blown off. Mary and the very amusing Major rendezvous with the man, crossing paths with a wine-obsessed fellow mercenary. Whoever wins will tip the balance of the war, and the battle goes into the stronghold of Rochelle, the fascist French dictator. Bloody Mary has strong plotting and powerful imagery with many elements of great graphic novels: the war backdrop, the lone traveler hero, the sarcastic sidekick. Although the final half switches to a religious cult in America, the personalities never change and there is continuity among them. Also, there is character development, some of it both funny and touching. Strong, graphic language and sexual content are included.–John Leighton, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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