Fantagraphics Blog Larry Reid

Long before Low Brow caught on, Fantagraphics Books published LOOSE TEETH, a pop surrealist masterpiece by Brian Sendelbach and Scott Musgrove. The only drawback to the comic book was that it was 10 years ahead of its time. Sendelbach continues to pursue a successful career in comics, while Scott Musgrove has become one of the most highly regarded painters in the Low Brow movement. His alluring renderings of crypto-zoological creatures can be found in THE LATE FAUNA OF EARLY NORTH AMERICA: THE ART OF SCOTT MUSGROVE. Fans of Fantagraphics BEASTS! franchise will find this book fascinating. Scott Musgrove will be…

As part of our festive 3rd anniversary celebration, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery presents a panel discussion focusing on PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE on Sunday, December 13 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Five distinguished experts in the field will screen short clips from their favorite exploitation films and discuss its influence on their work, as well as the broader social implications of the genre. Panelists include artist Lisa Petrucci (KICKASS KUTIES) of Something Weird, cartoonist Marc Palm of Scarecrow Video, Seattle Times pop culture critic Mark Rahner with film critic and curator Robert Horton, the co-writer of horror comic ROTTEN. The panel is…

The third anniversary celebration for Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, December 12 promises to be an unforgettable affair. The event features appearances by an international cadre of compelling cartoonists and artists as well as the world premier of PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE with editor Jacques Boyreau. Guest stars include the lovely Femke Hiemstra (ROCK CANDY) from Amsterdam, Paul Hornschemeier (ALL & SUNDRY) and Jay Ryan (BEASTS!) from Chicago, Portland's Dame Darcy (MEAT CAKE), and Seattle's own Peter Bagge (HATE), Jim Woodring (FRANK) and – just added – Jim Blanchard (TRUCKER FAGS IN DENIAL.) Musical entertainment will be provided by Bagge's pop…

Fresh off his wildly successful show in Manhattan, Robert Williams is celebrated as the Lord High Priest of Low Brow in the documentary film New Brow: Contemporary Underground Art. Shot by Justin Giarla of San Francisco’s Shooting Gallery, the film focuses on badass West Coast art and features all the superstars of modern pop (Ed. note: including an interview with Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery’s curator Larry Reid filmed at the store — the second voice you hear in the trailer — plus interviews with Blab!-published artists like Camille Rose Garcia, Shag and many more — you'll catch a glimpse of…

The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack returns on November 14 with a diverse array of art exhibitions and cultural activities. Join us in this historic industrial arts district between 6:00 and 9:00 PM for another entertaining evening of creative fun. Highlights of the November 14 Art Attack include: The grand opening of the Georgetown Atelier hosted by founder Tenaya Sims; new work by Kyle Abernethy with shrines and collages by folk artist Luann Baroh at KrabJab Studio; "Junkture," original assemblages by Wendy James at Calamity Jane's; The Brite Collective presents "Eat My Story" at All City Coffee; "I Paint What…

Come down to Georgetown this Saturday, November 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and welcome visionary cartoonist and visual artist Al Columbia back to Seattle. He’ll be in town to celebrate the debut of his first book, PIM & FRANCIE, with a reception, book signing and exhibition of original works . Al Columbia is widely regarded among his peers as one of the most accomplished and influential artists working in comics today. PIM & FRANCIE represents a breathtaking vision of contemporary American art. Collecting over a decade’s worth of artifacts, excavations, comic strips, storybook covers, and much more, this book…

To promote their blockbuster show "Michelangelo Public & Private" the Seattle Art Museum dug up this miniature Michelangelo and dropped it off at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery last week. We took him on a little tour of Georgetown on Halloween day, where he enjoyed a spooky threesome with GHOST WORLD beauties Enid and Rebecca. Check out his continuing adventures at "Little David's Travelogue."

Kristy Valenti recently purged duplicate copies of coveted back issues from The Comics Journal archive, now available in limited quantities at Fantagraphics Bookstore. Among the many gems on sale at cover price: The endearingly fannish #37 from December 1977 featuring the breathless headline Star Wars: The Movie! The Comic! The Photos! Issue #53's infamous interview with sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison, and a revealing interview with mid-career Daniel Clowes in issue #235. This treasure trove of news, reviews, and essential interviews includes everything from Lynda Barry, Berke Breathed, Carl Barks, and the Bros to Crumb, Kirby, Kurtzman, Miller, Moore and more!…

An action packed evening of comix craziness with Johnny Ryan is in store this Saturday, October 10 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. A show of original art from Ryan’s wild new graphic novel Prison Pit will be on display, along with colorful silkscreen prints and figurines. The event will feature a Ryan-inspired performance piece by Fantagraphics’ own Ardent Vein in full Prison Pit character. (Yeah, we can’t wait to see this either.) So join us this Saturday from 6:00 and 9:00 PM for beverages and meet the extraordinary artist behind Angry Youth Comix, Blecky Yuckerella and other unforgettable comics. This…

So I brought Al Columbia's astonishing new book PIM & FRANCIE to Jim Woodring's "Friends of the Nib" salon last week. A crowd of cartoonists gathered around and Jim immediately proclaimed it "the book of the year" among other superlatives. Words simply fail to communicate the breathtaking originality of Columbia's visionary renderings. Really. You can preview an advance copy of this remarkable book right now at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Check it out at Johnny Ryan's reception on Saturday. (And mark your calendars for Al's Columbia's appearance on November 7.) Speaking of amazing art: Ryan's PRISON PIT pages were a…