Fantagraphics Blog Jacob Covey

As the designer of Paul Karasik's "I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets" I can tell you that there were dozens of directions considered for this cover design. I share Karasik's reverence for Fletcher Hanks and this final, spare white cover design [above, left] resulted from our joint response to how Hanks' work is most succinctly communicated. At the core his style is awkward but unmistakable and carries with it a baron, iconic force. His superheroes are omnipotent and dramatically unpredictable/unknowable.

You can understand why, for a fleeting moment, I was confused about Jaime Hernandez concerning himself with my sexual life.

A rough re-cap of tonight's Simpsons episode.

For my dad's recent 60th birthday I thought I was being very thoughtful when I sent him a mousepad featuring a picture of his first car– a damaged picture that I had reconstructed for him in Photoshop. When I called him he laughed since even he hasn't used a mousepad in years. BUT that's all the more reason to get your highly collectible Jordan Crane mousepad before everyone realizes that it's the last mousepad that will ever be made. PLUS you help out Jenny Ryan's Felt Club. Or, at the same site, you can buy a pretty mirror with art…

I have absolutely no use for the perfect coin purse. But Ray Fenwick makes me want things I don't need.

Ray recently guest blogged on one of my favorite sites, Book By Its Cover. There he has summarized his love of Mat Brinkman as such: "I'm always searching for art that gives me both something I understand and something I don't."

I proudly own this enormous etching by Lizz Hickey of an unsettling, beautiful and overwhelming slice of extraterrestrial landscape. It's one of the most dense worlds I could imagine creating, brimming with details that all seem to insinuate life-going-on. Unfortunately that image is not on her Flickr page. BUT, now she's cranking out nearly 100 different prints that seem to be microcosms within that crazy world. Close-ups of vague organic forms doing uncertain things. I like it. As an acquaintance of mine might say, I understand it and I don't understand it.

Don't forget: Adrian Tomine appearing 7 o'clock tonight at the University Bookstore, chatting with Fantagraphics' third arm, Eric Reynolds. In Florida: "Small Stuff" at Bear & Bird Gallery on Nov. 24th. Features a bunch of artists selling work in a "cash and carry" format. A great way to buy some art for the gift-giving season. One of my favorites, Scott Campbell is in the show, as is Australian cartoonist Benjamin Constantine. Constantine (Ben Cee) recently sent comics to the office that I really enjoyed. His work has shades of Kevin Scalzo hanging out with Dave Cooper. He seems to be…

From Grass Hut:"This Saturday at 6pm we are having a special instore accoustic set with Kid Mud, and most special of all Souther Salazar will be here with some bells on. He is going to draw pictures and sign books and have some good times with us. We are going to raffle off the drawings to you. 10% of all proceeds will go to Scrap. A local space that recycles all your old art and craft supplies.Oh, and we turn one this month. So if you live in the portland area, please come by, eat some pie, say hi, win…

I know it's bad form to urge you to buy another publisher's books but I finally got ahold of Moomin 2 the other day and I can't recommend it enough. Up at the top of my list (next to Peanuts, Fletcher Hanks and Popeye) for reprint collections. It is every entry for amazing in the thesaurus. I still have only seen a little of v.1 as I can't find it in local shops or the B&N. Go figure. A great site that features nothing more than illustrators creating superheroes whose talents conquer the previous hero. Hilarious and endlessly time-wasting. The…

I've been putting together Peter Bagge's next Hate Annual (#7) which contains ten pages of his Weekly World News "Bat Boy" strips. The strips are some of my favorite work from Pete and I was curious about how he came to do a comic strip for the notoriously bizarre supermarket tabloid. So for the fans here's some quick Q&A: