Fantagraphics has announced that it is transitioning from comic book format to a direct-to-graphic novel format for Love and Rockets, effective immediately.  The 100-page volumes of new material will come out annually in the summer, premiering at San Diego Comic-Con with trade distribution to follow.  The first issue of the new format will be Love and Rockets Volume III, #1, at a $14.99 cover price. 

The 100 pages of new material in each new volume will be divided between work by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, with occasional contributions by Mario Hernandez.  This will allow longer storylines in individual issues, as compared to the 12-14 page new story holes that each artist had in the current pamphlet format.  The format will be roughly 7.5' x 9.5'. 

The first Jaime story in the new format will be a two-parter extending across the first two volumes in the new format.  This will allow reading in bigger chunks than the six or so issues that material would have taken in the current format. 

Fantagraphics believes the re-formatting will improve sales because new Love and Rockets material will be available immediately to consumers in both comic stores and book stores (including online book retailers).  It notes the increased sales that repackaging Love and Rockets into smaller, thicker books has produced.  And it also notes the comparison to Acme Novelty Library, which releases periodicals in book format to great success in the book trade without negatively impacting sales in the direct market.    

The new Love and Rockets format represents the third format in the history of the title.  Fifty magazine-sized issues were produced between 1982 and 1996; and 20 comic-sized issues between 2000 and 2007. 

Material from the new Love and Rockets format will eventually be collected into the fat collection format into which previous volumes are being collected.