Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

Library Journal Reviews has named Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson by Kevin Avery one of its Best Books 2011: "Chances are, even the most cultivated hipsters under 40 have never heard of Paul Nelson (1936–2006), who pioneered new journalism with noir undertones at Sing Out! and Rolling Stone. This lovingly constructed part biography, part anthology reanimates a self-defeating romantic and uncompromising critic who aspired to live inside his beloved films and music." Avery & Nelson share the list with the likes of J.G. Ballard, Jeffrey Eugenides, Tina Fey, David Foster Wallace… not too shabby!

Hummina hummina… Gary Panter has created a line of limited edition products for Pharmacy Boardshop with artwork on the theme of the Federal Reserve Bank, including this amazing skate deck, t-shirts and socks — SOCKS! — being released November 25. Passed along by our art director emeritus Jacob Covey, who found it via Dangerous Minds.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "With [Mark Twain's Autobiography 1910-2010] and the seventh issue of his Thrizzle series, Kupperman takes back the crown of Funniest Cartoonist Alive… Whatever direction he moves in, there is a consistent level of dizzying joy to be found in Kupperman’s work, a kind of humor that features dark and occasionally satirical edges but is mostly just a barrage of inspired wordplay, deadpan humor, and deceptively simple images." – Rob Clough, The Comics Journal • Review: "…Barks truly was a master at the medium. We all have been hearing this for so long and for…

Ron Regé Jr. says "I am still accepting donations to help complete work on The Cartoon Utopia. For a donation of any amount, I will send you a small drawing similar to one of these!" See more examples and find the donation link here. Ron is hoping to finish up the book for a Fall 2012 release from Fantagraphics! [Follow our Tumblr blog for lots more Things to See every day.] UPDATED to add: Bigger, personalized drawings for donations of $75 or more!

"Mr. Natural Does the Dishes" is a new R. Crumb screenprint now available from Wildwood Serigraphs. Wouldn't it look nice hanging in your kitchen?

(not final cover) Now that we've announced our Spring/Summer 2012 schedule, authors Blake Bell and Dr. Michael J. Vassallo (a.k.a. "Doc V.") are starting to reveal details and post updates on their upcoming book The Secret History of Marvel Comics, which investigates and documents the seamy pulp underbelly of Martin Goodman's publishing empire. Blake is posting updates on the project at his blog; here's his introduction of his collaborator and here's the first in a series of behind-the-scenes looks at the production of the book. Doc V announced the project on his blog as well. They've also started a Facebook…

We're doing a special cross-promotion with our colleagues at Americaware, producers of fine t-shirts (and now hoodies!) featuring artwork by Northwest comics legends Peter Bagge, Jim Blanchard, Basil Wolverton and Jim Woodring. With every order you make with us you'll get a $5 coupon to use on an Americaware order, and with every Americaware order you'll get a 20% off coupon to use when ordering from us! You could get into an endless loop of savings! I personally have several Americaware shirts and lemme tell ya, they are niiiiice.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Awards: Esperanza by Jaime Hernandez has been named by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association to the long list of nominations for the Over the Rainbow recommended reading list, one of only two (as far as I can tell from my quick skim) comics to be so included • Plug: Pamela Paul of The New York Times asks "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" creator Jeff Kinney about his favorite books from childhood: "…[T]he works that stood head and shoulders above the rest were Carl Barks’s ‘Donald Duck’…

The Beat presents 7 pages from Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Lost in the Andes, saying "This month’s release of the first volume of Fantagraphics’ Carl Barks reprints is call for rejoicing…. And these may be the seven of the greatest comics pages ever. Enjoy."

In this month's issue of Booklist you can find praise for three of our recent releases: The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz: "These early 1980s episodes see Snoopy reunite with his brother Marbles (who’s baffled by his sibling’s WWI fantasies), Linus and Lucy plant a garden, and Peppermint Patty apply to a school for gifted children (she thinks they’re going to give her presents). But the strip’s fragile heart remains good ol’ Charlie Brown, who faces a crisis when liability issues bar him and his team from their baseball field. In a moving introduction to the volume, cartoonist…