Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

Just arrived in our warehouse and ready to ship: The Complete Peanuts 1977-1978 (Vol. 14) by Charles M. Schulz introduction by Alec Baldwin 344-page black & white 8.5" x 7" hardcover • $28.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-375-0 Ordering Info & Previews As the 1970s wind down, the last two recurring Peanuts characters have fallen into place: Snoopy’s brother Spike and the youngest Van Pelt sibling, Rerun. But that doesn’t mean Schulz’s creativity has diminished; in fact, this volume features an amazing profusion of hilariously distinctive new one- (or two-) shot characters! For instance, in an epic five-week sequence, when Charlie Brown is found…

Lucky in Love Book 1: A Poor Man's History Script by George Chieffet; art by Stephen DeStefano 120-page monochrome 6.5" x 8.5" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-354-5 Ships in: September 2010 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now This book is available with a signed bookplate as a FREE premium! The bookplate has been uniquely designed for this book, and each bookplate is printed on acid-free cardstock and hand-signed by the author. (Click here for more books available with signed bookplates.) Please select your preference above before adding the item to your shopping cart. Note: Signature plates are VERY limited in quantity…

Kim Deitch has treated his Facebook friends to a look at some in-progress pages from his next book, The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Katherine Whaley, which we will be publishing at a future date to be determined (Kim's gotta finish it first). I stole the images to share with you here! Click each page to view the images at original size:

While supplies last get a copy of Newave: The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s FREE from contributing artist J.R. Williams with an original art purchase of fifty dollars (or more) from his Comic Art Collective page. Whatta deal! More details here.

Online Commentary & Diversions: • Reviews: The Techland critical roundtable looks at Drew Weing's Set to Sea: "Set to Sea… is the real thing: a one-off nautical action book (a hardcover version of Drew Weing's sweet, lively web-comic) that's a real pleasure to look at and linger over. Every panel-as-page just radiates joy in drawing." – Douglas Wolk "I positively adore this format. […] I could pull half or more of the pages in this book and hang them as wall art. […] I gave this book one of my highest distinctions. I made my girlfriend read it."– Mike Williams…

The Minneapolis Indie Xpo takes place this Saturday, and the kick-off pre-party at Big Brain and the 501 Club on Friday night is doubling as a release party for a handful of new comics, including Zak Sally's Sammy the Mouse #3! More info at Zak's La Mano blog. Look for Zak, Tom Kaczynski and Noah Van Sciver at the fest as well. Looks like a fun show!

Enter to win a prize pack that includes The Artist Himself: A Rand Holmes Retrospective by Patrick Rosenkranz along with another book, 2 DVDs, and 6 CDs from the Logo cable network and pop-culture site Modern Tonic! Rules & entry form are here.

No lie: just a couple days ago I was wondering when they were going to announce this year's Ignatz Award nominees, and lo and behold, here they are today! Our artists & books received 8 nominations in 5 categories, and as per our typical M.O., we've put all the nominated titles on sale for a limited time! Congratulations to all; see the complete list of nominees here. Outstanding Artist: Al Columbia, Pim & Francie: The Golden Bear DaysOutstanding Graphic Novel: Pim & Francie: The Golden Bear Days by Al Columbia Outstanding Artist: John Pham, SublifeOutstanding Series: Sublife by John PhamOutstanding…

Love and Rockets: New Stories #3 by The Hernandez Brothers 104-page black & white 7.5" x 9.25" softcover • $14.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-379-8 Ships in: September 2010 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now After Jaime’s two-part super-hero epic from Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 and #2, we return to the enthralling minutiae of the “Locas” cast’s lives for the first time in three years. In the main story "The Love Bunglers" (presented in two parts) Ray finally gets his date with Maggie: The couple goes to an art opening and to dinner, they discuss the crazy world of dreams, and Maggie…

Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Set to Sea's one-panel-per-page layout lets Weing's visual storytelling shine, but only if you resist the urge to tear through the pages quickly. Go too fast, and you'll miss the touching, wordless way Weing communicates the death of a supporting character. Or, worse, you'll skim over a gorgeous arctic sunset clearly inspired by the Gustave Dore engravings for Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner." – Glen Weldon, NPR • Plug: "Drew Weing’s graphic novel debut [Set to Sea] is a Popeye-esque delight. Weing’s linework — and abundant crosshatching — is a visual feast that…