Fantagraphics Blog Mike Baehr

Beyond Palomar: A Love and Rockets Bookby Gilbert Hernandez Beyond Palomar collects two of Gilbert's groundbreaking works about the Central American hamlet of Palomar in one affordable book. "Poison River" is a dizzying period piece often hailed as one of Hernandez's masterpieces. It traces the pre-Palomar childhood of Luba, her teenage marriage to gangster Peter Rio, the secrets behind her mysterious mother, all the way up to her subsequent escape and arrival in Palomar. "Love and Rockets X," set in the early 1990s (in the waning years of Bush I's post-Reagan hangover, with Gulf War I in the background), takes…

November is Classic Comic Strip Month!20% Off Comic Strip Reprint Books Fantagraphics Books is celebrating national Classic Comic Strip Month in November with a 20% discount on all strip reprint titles. Now is the time to explore the delightful works of timeless artists like Winsor McCay (Little Nemo in Slumberland), E.C. Segar (Popeye), Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace), George Herriman (Krazy Kat), and the incomparable Charles M. Schulz (Peanuts), among countless others. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle will feature these and other titles all month long at 20% off our already bargain prices. Look for similar promotions at your…

Hear Joe Sacco's entire half-hour discussion of Palestine: The Special Edition and his other works at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery last weekend by downloading this 20 MB MP3. (Pardon the low-fi quality; the tape recorder had a few glitches and speed issues, and I think some of the quieter moments might have been dropped, but I tried to correct what problems I could and de-chipmunk it as much as possible.) Photos and video clips can be seen on this page.

The Forbidden Planet blog reports that Igort will appear on the "Clear Spot" program on Resonance FM at 8 PM (presumably UK time) tomorrow, discussing his personal themes and techniques. Check the above links for more details.

The Comics Journal #286 Our cover this issue spotlights Paul Gravett's extensive and fascinating conversation with one of Britain's national treasures, Gemma Bovary author Posy Simmonds. It's a career-spanning discussion ranging from Simmonds' early days as a compulsive comicker to her career at The Guardian, her children's books, all the way to her forthcoming graphic novel Tamara Drewe. (Click here to read a lengthy series of excerpts from the interview.) Join Shaenon Garrity for a chat with one of the finest writers currently working in genre comics, Wonder Woman scribe Gail Simone. The two discuss Simone's controversial "Women in Refrigerators"…

Jimb-o-lantern by Eric Reynolds: Cyril Root (from Richard Sala's The Chuckling Whatsit) by Rhea Patton: J.R. Williams' entry in my Yoda sketchbook says it all: Don't forget to send us your photos! Email them to mbaehr at fantagraphics blot blob or add them to our groups on Flickr or Facebook.

Palestine: The Special Editionby Joe Sacco Fantagraphics Books is pleased to present, for the first time, the definitive, expanded, hardcover collection of Sacco's landmark of comics journalism. Palestine: The Special Edition is more than a new edition: consider it the "Criterion" Palestine. In addition to the original, 288-page graphic novel and introduction by the late Edward Said, The Special Edition includes a host of unique material never before published, including many of Sacco's original background notes, sketches, photographic reference, and much more. The book also includes a new, introductory interview with Sacco about the making of the book as well…

Congratulations and thanks to Flickr user Besacalles of Bogotá, Colombia for being the 1000th person to add us as a contact and winning $25 worth of books! Sharpen up your stabbiest pumpkin-carving knife and get rummaging through your closet for costume ideas — we'll be accepting entries for our Fanta-ween contest through Sunday, November 4.