Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

Your daily allowance of Fanta-related cartoon art: • The Awesomenomicon posts 17 of Popeye's "Greatest Hits," saying "Of course we're all familiar with Popeye the Sailor Man and his penchant for fisticuffs, but unless you've read his origins in Segar's Thimble Theatre strip, you have no idea how truly dynamic and visceral his unique brand of cartoon violence could be. … Thankfully Fantagraphics has spent the last several years publishing those handsome oversized collections of Segar's Thimble Theatre, from which I have assembled this small repository of Popeye punching things. • More "Buongiorno" from Marco Corona • More "Abstraction House"…

Another day's worth of Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "…[Portable Grindhouse] is a nice book to have on the shelf, particularly for folks who love movies and are interested in how design has changed over the years. If you still spend time wandering around video stores looking for the weird and wonderful, check this book out." – Syung Myung Me, Kittysneezes • Review: "I love this book. I'm probably biased because I was a newave cartoonist and I was lucky enough to have two pages included (78 & 79) in this little slice of comix history. … The overall…

In light of our publishing announcement yesterday, the editors of The Comics Journal website have wisely chosen today to present the first in a four-part online serialization of Matt Thorn's feature interview with manga-ka Moto Hagio from TCJ #269.

Reminder! 1: Buy Chocolate Cheeks 2: Take a picture 3: Join YIKES! Friendship on Facebook 4: Post your picture 5: Get a free gift from Steven Weissman not unlike the print shown above! More deets (well, the same ones, stated differently) at Steven's blog.

Response to the news about our new manga line has been overwhelming. Series editor/curator/translator Matt Thorn speaks out on his blog, providing a bit of background and a few more details about the two inaugural releases, Moto Hagio's A Drunken Dream and Other Stories and Shimura Takako's Wandering Son Vol. 1. Be sure to bookmark Thorn's blog for ongoing updates on the project. Meanwhile, The Comics Journal's Dirk Deppey, who was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition, uses his ¡Journalista! pulpit to reveal much more information and background about the line. Both links are must-reads for anyone interested in…

Get ready for the HOTWIRE comics slide show! That’s right, the Eisner and Harvey nominated anthology comic is about to chew up the scenery live. Presented by HOTWIRE editor Glenn Head and Carousel host R. Sikoryak. Featuring these great artists performing their comics for your delectation: Danny Hellman, Sam Henderson, Michael Kupperman, Tim Lane, Jayr Pulga, David Sandlin, Chadwick Whitehead, plus Head and Sikoryak. This show is sure to offer both spontaneous cartoon funk and the slickest of production values. Live comic entertainment at its best! MoCCA Thursday, March 25, 2010. 7pmAdmission: $5 | Free for MoCCA MembersMuseum of Comic…

I might have to start posting these art-blog roundups on the weekends too… these Monday updates are outa control… • Airbrushed Zippy the Pinhead art (artist unknown)! Posting this on Facebook, Bill Griffith says "This is the 2-page spread ad for the 'Zippy Movie' from Variety magazine, 3/29/90. The ad was taken out by the Aspen Film Society (at that time they were the producers of the movie) in hopes of attracting a studio/distributor. Are we in turnaround yet?" More about it (and the likewise never-to-be Zippy TV show series) here • Check out all the artwork from the Covered…

The latest Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Dash Shaw seems set to become a name to be reckoned with in comics… [The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.] is a wonderful introduction to Shaw’s work, and should certainly find its way into the hands of those craving more." – Grovel • Review: "I'm so glad I started reading this series and can't wait to catch up. Usagi Yojimbo is that rare breed of animal comic that works for me, blending Sakai's cartoon style with a story that would not be out of place in Lone Wolf and Cub….

GARY PANTER "NEW PLANET" EXHIBITION: MARCH 15 – MAY 1, 2010 Public lecture by the artist: Monday, March 15, 7 PM Reception for the artist: Monday, March 15, 8:30 – 9:30 PM Related event: In conjunction with his residency, Gary Panter is presenting an artist's talk by Bob Zoell, Wednesday, March 17, 3 PM More info here.

Drew Friedman's astonishing rendition of the great Groucho Marx, now available as a limited-edition fine art print.