Sara Gray of Mira Mesa Comic Gallery in San Diego, California saw our recent ICv2 Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels (see 'ICv2 Releases 'Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels'') and let us know that we missed a title that she feels should have been included.

We got a copy of the new tpb/gn list at our store this week, and while I haven't read it cover-to-cover in detail, I was looking for a book and was stunned not to find it.

Carla Speed McNeil's Finder - multiple Eisner nominated book and author - is not there.  Yet books that I would not stock on my shelves due to the tremendous lack of consumer response are included.  Pick half the 'indy/b&w' titles on the list.  I can't afford to have them collecting dust on my shelves.  I stock books like Finder, which actually sell repeatedly - and for good reason.

While the book Finder is not necessarily 'for everyone' I have to say that most of the books ON the list are not 'for everyone' either.

I was just rather surprised ('slash' annoyed) not to find it or anything even remotely like it on the list.  Perhaps it's just my attitude about my favorite book.  Perhaps it's that Carla lost those Eisners to people who had produced either precious little and won repeatedly in those categories no matter how little they put out per year, or work so worn out or unmarketable in my area that I was a bit peeved at those awards, too.

But to snub an author whose work just seems to get better and better every time she places pen to paper?  Hmm.  It doesn't give me much faith in the decision process or the books in the 'indy' section of the guide.  I know I wouldn't read most of them voluntarily, and I've never once had requests for most of them from customers, even those who buy 'similar' items.