Fantagraphics Blog Eric Reynolds

Mike mentioned Jim Blanchard's new limited-edition Trucker Fags In Denial print earlier this week, but did you know Jim will be at Stumptown this weekend, selling them?  We'll be at Stumptown, too. Come on down and say hi and stimulate our economy, won't you? 

Michael Kupperman's Snake'N'Bacon the TV show pilot is going to be broadcast as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block of programming, on May 10th at 12:45 AM. Based on his comic book, Tales Designed to Thrizzle, the cast includes Kristin Schaal, Dan Bakkedahl, Bill Hader, Peter Serafinowicz, James Urbaniak, Brian Stack, and David Rakoff, in live-action and animated segments. We've seen the pilot and guarantee you will not regret setting your DVR so you can watch it over and over. Meanwhile, look for Thrizzle #5 later this month, and the first collection of the series (including issues 1 thru 4,…

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm told that this week's New Yorker features a David Sedaris story all about his ex-boyfriend "Johnny Ryan." I know what I'll be reading this weekend!

  Coolest feature of the day: Jaime Hernandez talks his Top Ten favorite Criterion film editions, as Criterion releases a limited-edition fine-art print by the man (detail above), featuring his artwork for the Criterion Collection release of Pietro Germi's Divorce Italian Style. Thanks to FooFer* Jenn Chan for the tip! Oh, and did we mention that Jaime was the latest guest on the fine radio programme, INKSTUDS?  How can you not want to listen? * FooF: "Friend of ol' Flog" 

Thanks to everyone who came out for our HUMBUG event at the Strand last night (including a certain fanboy pictured below). Hopefully we'll get some video from it up soon, but in the meantime, here's a couple of pics of the men of the hour, Messers Roth and Jaffee.   By the way, if you missed the event, The Strand still has a few copies signed by these two gentlemen in stock at the regular $60 cover price only $47.95! 

  UpcomingAnders NilsenPictures of Dirt and GrassOpening Saturday, April 18, 20096:00 – 9:00 pm Closing brunch Sunday, May 3, 200912:00 – 3:00 pm RAFTCurated Installation by Laura Shaeffer + Rachel Tredon Finestra Art Space Friday, February 13, 20095:00pm – 9:00pm410 S. Michigan AvenueSuite 516Chicago, Illinois 60605-1456 The Home Gallery in Hyde Park has been invited to do a show at Finestra Gallery in downtown Chicago. Artists include: Conrad Freiburg, Katrin Asbury and Shawn Greene, Casey Roberts and DeeDee Davis, Rose DiSalvo, Doug Shaeffer, Anders Nilsen, Nora Mapp, Jesus Mejia, Dax Tran-Caffee, and Andrew Nord.

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS AND THE STRAND PRESENT: AN EVENING OF HUMBUG In 1957, five artists – HARVEY KURTZMAN, WILL ELDER, ARNOLD ROTH, AL JAFFEE and JACK DAVIS — hot on the heels of creating MAD magazine, pooled their money and their talent and entered into the creative, exuberant folly of a lifetime by creating the greatest satirical magazine of their careers. Join HUMBUG co-founders Arnold Roth and Al Jaffee in a book signing and discussion about this historic publication with Fantagraphics Publisher and editor of the collected HUMBUG, Gary Groth. Attendees will also enjoy an exclusive screening of a documentary short film about the late Will Elder. LISTING INFORMATION: An Evening…

  Leah Hayes and her band, Scary Mansion, are headed to France later this month for a short music tour (including a gig opening for Bonnie "Prince" Billy!). She'll even have copies of her two books, Funeral of the Heart and Holy Moly, for sale at the merch table. Go see Leah restore dignity to America.   22/04 : PARIS* / La Maroquinerie 23/04 : GRENOBLE* / Le Ciel 24/04 : AJACCIO* / l'Aghja 25/04 : PRINTEMPS DE BOURGES / L'Auditorium (avec Bonnie Prince Billy) 27/04 : CLERMONT FD / Le rat Pacl 28/04 : BORDEAUX / Le Saint Ex 29/04 :…

Every year during the baseball season, when the All-Star teams are announced, some beat writer will put together a team of non All-Stars that could potentially rival the quality of the actual All-Stars. To that end, here's my non-Eisner Nominee Fanta Heavy Hitter starting line-up for 2009, with their non-nominated 2008 books in paretheses: Gilbert Hernandez (Love & Rockets: New Stories #1) Jaime Hernandez (Love & Rockets: New Stories #1) Steve Ditko (or Blake Bell, for Strange & Stranger) Michael Kupperman (Tales Designed to Thrizzle #4) Bob Levin (Most Outrageous) E.C. Segar (Popeye V. 3) Tim Lane (Abandoned Cars) Daniel Clowes (Ghost World: Special Edition) Charles M. Schulz (Complete…