Fantagraphics Blog Jacob Covey

  Fantagraphics pin-up expert, Alex Chun, is doing a rare presentation on Jack Cole and his Humorama brethren TONIGHT in Burbank. If you're into mid-century cartooning (or just purty ladies), this is not to be missed.

Bwana Spoons' Grass Hut announcement says it perfectly: "He has made many of us want to use computers, books and art to bring more good into the world. We here at Grass Hut are living proof of his positive influence on the world. It is with total gut-wrenching, tear-jerking honor that we host this show." New Artwork by J.Otto Seibold Opens May 2nd runs through June 1stGrass Hut Gallery811 e. burnsidePortland Oregon

Finally a web comic that's actually made for the web… or one unruly book. By Stuart Kolakovic of the UK. UPDATE: Stuart writes "Funny you should call it a web comic- it honestly never even crossed my mind- Never Been was originally printed as a massive, almost 10 meter long mural which wound its way around a gallery wall. The gallery had low ceilings and beam supports jutting out all over the place, hence the funny winding shape. I've never actually read a "web" comic. Comics are all about paper in my book!" But I persist in saying it's one…

Nothing directly to do with comics but Steven Weissman writes on his Flickr page: "We rescued this kitten out of a bird's nest in one of our cypress trees this weekend. We're taking care of it for now, but if anyone wants her, please let us know. She's cute, sleeping through the night and maybe 3-4 weeks old."   Are you going to pass up the opportunity to adopt a cat who thinks it's a bird??

Lizz Hickey is one of the reasons I decided to do another anthology this year. Working with a mythology all her own, her work is the kind of world I love to be let in on and the more I've looked at her portfolio the more she's become one of my favorite young artists. Primarily a printmaker, there is definitely an aspect to Lizz's work where an understanding of traditional print processes reinforces the awesome nature of what she does. Although there's an impulsive quality to her style nothing she makes is easy, nothing is throwaway. It's pure elbow grease….

  Learn all about Gene Deitch 's Terrytoons days, including his reflections on a young Ralph Bakshi ("a minor cel painter, and not a very good one"), over on his site dedicated to "How to Succeed in Animation." Above is an obscure 1957 CBS promotional photograph of Gene drawing Tom Terrific (or Terr'ble Thompson if you use your imagination) with his young sons Kim and Simon. Wotta family!

One of many bands with ties to Fantagraphics, Fox Hollow features Eric Reynolds (the third arm to Gary and Kim) and his wife, Rhea (who used to do a lot around here but now does other things), Adam Grano (Art Director of TCJ, etc.), Kaela Graham, and Kevin Schlosser (both of whom have always had better things to do than work here). Fox Hollow just put their slick demo online. Check it out, totally free and exciting. Foxy Trivia: Let's Go! is no love song. "I know you're a busy man but I need your attention" is the subject line…

  Remember the good ol' days? When a gun was never out of reach of any child's finger and bullets were still considered toys? I slept through the night in those days.  

Look what our pals at SHQ have for you tonight.

Heroes & Villians is a photo series by Tatiana Wills and Roman Cho that "features intimate portraits of the most notable emerging and established figures in the Pop Surrealist, Graffiti and Alt-Comic Book worlds." I would contest their designation of THE most notable but it is cool to see them documenting SOME of the most notable artists working. Pictured above is the enchanting Jordan Crane. Visit Cho's site for a peek at more comics folks like Anders Nilsen, Johnny Ryan, Sammy Harkham, Souther Salazar, Ron Rege, Jr., and Steven Weissman. UPDATE: I failed to mention that the show is 2…