Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

We constructed this 3D image of the Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Vol. 1 & 2 Box Set to show you how the books look in the slipcase. Below, a look at both sides (click for slightly larger versions): Design for the series is by Jacob Covey. Stay tuned for more previews coming soon!

A new limited-edition giclee print of a reworked version of Mr. Natural #2 by Robert Crumb is now available from Wildwood Serigraphs. And there appears to be a new (I think) installment of "Crumb on Others" where the man holds forth his candid opinions on various prominent figures in comics and popular culture, from his underground contemporaries to Charles Schulz, from Walt Disney to Walt Kelly, from The Beatles to Bettie Page. Must read!

At his Cats Without Dogs blog, Jason is posting rough sketches and brief notes on each of the stories in his upcoming book Athos in America. Above, "So Long, Mary Ann," followed by "The Brain That Wouldn't Virginia Woolf," with more to come. There's something else great on his blog that we're saving for later. (You've seen it already if you follow our Tumblr.)

Via our colleagues at AdHouse, it's the cover illustration for the 2011 SPX program guide by newly-minted Mome contributor Jim Rugg… and what's that making a cameo appearance? It's Tim Hensley's Wally Gropius being read by the girl in the foreground, who, if she's to scale with the book, is about 9 feet tall (without the boots).

Daniel Clowes has been awarded the very prestigious 2011 PEN Literary Award for Outstanding Body of Work in Graphic Literature. Congrats Dan, and well done PEN Awards judges.

Prince Valiant Vol. 4: 1943-1944 by Hal Foster 112-page full-color 10.25" x 14" hardcover • $29.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-455-9 Ships in: September 2011 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now As this fourth volume begins, Prince Valiant, haunted by the lovely Aleta, seeks Merlin’s wise counsel. This brief episode segues into one of Hal Foster’s patented epics, “The Long Voyage to Thule,” which ran for seven straight months and featured Valiant’s return to his birthplace and reunion with his father. Of course, Foster’s astonishingly detailed and evocative depictions of Val’s home- land contribute greatly to this sprawling epic. After a series of shorter…

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "After far too long a hiatus the new incarnation of The Comics Journal is available and as inspired as ever. The Journal is the paramount English-language publication dedicated to the Art of graphic narrative, covering comics, cartooning and related fields domestic and global; interviewing creators, disseminating the facts and even advertising the best and most challenging product. They’ve done it competently, passionately and proudly for decades. You won’t always agree with the opinions expressed — editorial or from the many and various insiders and cognoscenti who have been featured — but you’d be…

Comic Book Resources presents this interview with Jaime Hernandez conducted at Comic-Con last month. Jaime talks about convention-going, Love and Rockets past, present and future, and how his creative process differs from brother Gilbert's. A must-watch!

The new Diamond Previews catalog is out today and in it you'll find our usual 2-page spread with our releases scheduled to arrive in your local comic shop in November 2011 (give or take — some release dates may have changed since the issue went to press). We're pleased to offer additional and updated information about these upcoming releases here on our website, to help shops and customers alike make more informed ordering decisions. Our Spotlight item this issue is the gorgeous oversized collection Mr. Twee Deedle: Raggedy Ann's Sprightly Cousin – The Forgotten Fantasy Masterpiece of Johnny Gruelle. Classic…