Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review/Interview: ESPN.com's Jim Caple looks at 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente — "Santiago has a stunning, cinematic style, and 21 is filled with gorgeous illustrations that capture the power and grace of Clemente as no standard book of black and white type ever has or could. […] By appealing to all ages, 21 is a wonderful way to introduce younger readers to one of baseball's most important players and a great way to introduce older readers to the story-telling power and sophistication of graphic novels." — and talks to its creator, Wilfred Santiago:…

Kristin Hersh tweeted this pic of a fan-made tote bag with a hand-drawn reproduction of Gilbert Hernandez's cover artwork for the Throwing Muses album Limbo. Nicely done! Anyone else out there have any DIY Fantagraphics-related handicrafts you've made? Tweet or Facebook 'em at us!

Stop by Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery today and wish Larry Reid a happy birthday! Larry's been one of the most influential figures in the Seattle counterculture scene for more years than he'd care for us to count, and has been instrumental in the establishment of alternative comix as a respected art form. The man's a giant, I tells ya, and we're privileged to have him on our team. If you want to make Larry happy today (and to make up for me embarrassing him here), first and foremost, buy lots and lots of comic books, and second, "like" the Fantagraphics…

I don't think I'd seen this 2010 Jaime Hernandez pin-up of Wonder Woman (based on issue 41 of her comic) at ComicArtFans before until Hey Oscar Wilde! pointed it out on Tumblr.

I wish Johnny would make a high-res version of this available so people could print it out and staple it to telephone poles everywhere. (P.S. Hey Johnny, it's "Miley." I don't know why I know this.)

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: At Comix Cube Kevin Czap praises Steven Weissman's "Barack Hussein Obama" (seen here on our website and in Mome Vol. 21): "It actually reminds me of Wally Gropius in terms of the structure, which is not surprising given its appearance in MOME. One can only hope that the whole thing will get collected, at which point I predict it to be one of my favorite comics ever." (Via The Comics Reporter) • Review: We almost missed this cartoon review by Casey Scieszka and Steven Weinberg at Unshelved Book Club: "…The Last Musketeer… is…

Hey nostalgia-hounds, Heidi MacDonald over at The Beat dug up this 2005 (!) blog post at Four Realities which runs down some highlights from every Amazing Heroes Preview Special.

Gary Panter will be in Paris for the opening of his art show at Galerie Martel on the 29th of April. On his blog he says "I am excited. I have many friends in France and it has been decades since I was there." 

We hinted at it before and now it's been revealed at danielclowes.com: the comic book prop cover illustration by Daniel Clowes used in the recent film Paul. Vigilant Clowes fans will note some references in the details. I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing the interiors of this comic existed.