Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

Last-minute beer alert! Elysian Brewing Company debuts Fallout, the third in the series of 12 Beers of the Apocalypse featuring the artwork of Charles Burns, tonight at their Elysian Fields location in the SODO neighborhood of Seattle! Click the flyer above for legible details.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "The existence of serious rock criticism became central to the transformation of rock into art in the '60s; [Paul ]Nelson's artful criticism permitted this music to assume a high-culture position with swift ease…. His personal story defies alignment with the brilliance of the writings presented in this gorgeously designed book [Everything Is an Afterthought]. Nick Tosches writes in the foreword that Nelson 'never wrote about anything he didn't know to the full of its depths…' This book clearly supports what Tosches says. Avery has captured the mysterious life Nelson wound up living without…

Yet another honor for Wilfred Santiago's 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente — now it's been named one of Booklist's "Top 10 Graphic Novels: 2012" (so named even though it's all 2011 books), with Ian Chipman saying "Kinetic compositions washed with Pirate-yellow hues and a narrative that traces both Clemente’s personal and athletic triumphs combine in this biography of the pioneering Puerto Rican baseball great." We know it leads of the list because it's alphabetical, but we like the way it's part of the header graphic: The list appears in print in the new issue (cover dated March 15), which…

It's your new Nicolas Mahler Angelman page and a brand new Up All Night strip from Michael Kupperman: — Angelman by Nicolas Mahler (view at original size): Up All Night by Michael Kupperman (view at original size):

No, not that kind of doctor! Wonderful news via Gahan Wilson's official Facebook page: "Gahan Wilson is to receive an honorary PhD from his Alma Mater, The Chicago Art Institute, in May of 2012!" Congratulations Gahan! I can't think of a more well-deserved honor.

You might not think our two latest preview-copy arrivals have much in common (aside from striking artwork and the fact that both have covers with dwellings in the background and trees in the middle ground), but you'd be wrong. They both feature mysterious, ethereal, supernatural characters observing the actions and fates of mankind! Pretty uncanny, no? Interiorae by Gabriella Giandelli collects her beautiful and haunting 4-issue "Ignatz" comic series with the art now presented in its original full color. We're hustling this one out to premiere at TCAF in May, where Gabriella is a special guest! It should be in…

Now available for immediate shipment from our mail-order department: Kolor Klimax: Nordic Comics Now by various artists; edited by Matthias Wivel 250-page 8.5" x 10.75" flexi-bound softcover • $29.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-520-4 See Previews / Order Now In recent years Scandinavia has become a hotbed of cartooning activity, from the internationally acclaimed funny-animal stylings of Norway’s Jason to the hilarious slacker romps of Sweden’s Martin Kellerman and Dane Nikoline Werdelin’s Eisner-Award-nominated urban slice-of-life stories. This anthology of comics — many of them created especially for this book — offers an intoxicating and compelling sampling of current works from these countries. Skaal! Jenni…

The current issue of the Seattle Weekly features this über-creepy cover by Tim Lane starring Ted Bundy and far less well-known killer "Ray Jacobs" — I probably shouldn't post this late at night because I know someone who is going to read the article and then be up half the night (cough cough)… Anyway, Tim has a bunch of great recent updates on his blog including progress on a piece he's working on for The Believer — check it out! [Follow our Tumblr blog for lots more Things to See every day.]