Fantagraphics Blog Jen Vaughn

Suit up with your finest threads, comics fans. Saturday, December 6th at 8 pm, head over to the friendly Bergen Street Comics at 470 Bergen Street and check out the latest graphic novel from Marguerite Van Cook and James Romberger.    The Late Child and Other Animals is the latest graphic novel from this two-person cartoonist machine (a nice follow up to Romberger and Van Cook's Eisner-nominated 7 Miles a Second along with David Wojnarowicz). A generational autobiography written by legendary punk diva and award-winning poet Van Cook, adapted by Romberger. The journeys and struggles over decades of this mother and daughter are linked in five…

  CAKE 2015 in Chicago is already rolling out the announcements of special guests and we are very excited to tell ya that Wilfred Santiago will be storming the court with his new graphic novel about the local legend, Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade. This is Santiago's latest graphic novel since his homerun hit (oh yes, we know you love those sports references), 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente.   CAKE's announcement gives a nice summary of Santiago's career as well: His first professional work was seen in the DC Comics/Milestone Media series Static, and since then he has gone on to create the…

Time to hustle out and then back in the train car! And you heard right from that bum who jumped the train with you from here to St. Louie, cartoonist and hobo historian Tim Lane IS coming to the West Coast starting with Portland, just in time for First Thursday. On Thursday, December 4th from 6-10pm you can come get a copy of The Lonesome Go signed and sketched in at Floating World Comics. Floating World will also feature an art show of Lane's noir-drenched comic pages.  In addition to an art show and cartoonist signing, Lane has been going around the country getting…

Next Wednesday, November 26th Marguerite Van Cook and James Romberger will be holding a release party for their brand new graphic novel The Late Child and Other Animals at JHU Comic Books in NYC, 6-8pm. Wednesday is ALSO the first day it is available for sale at all comic book stores around the country. In this generational autobiography, the journeys and struggles over decades of this mother and daughter (Van Cook) are linked in five episodes that veer between lyricism, wry wit, and harrowing suspense.   So pop by JHU for this exploration in family and feminism. Get in on the fun and invite your…

This week, we're all about Miss Lasko-Gross! The sold-out edition of Escape from "Special" is available digitally now thanks to comiXology! It is the coming-of-age story of Melissa, who we first meet as a small child and depart from at the end of the book just before she enters high school. Drawn in black and white and washed in moody blues and full spectrum grays, Lasko-Gross's art, with its detailed backgrounds and expressive characters, exquisitely conveys the story's blend of humor (sometimes of the gross-out variety) and keenly observed insights. Miss Lasko-Gross, who has the sensibility of a love child of Linda Barry…

This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new title. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators and web-savvy comic shops are saying about them (more to be added as they appear), check out our previews at the links, and contact your local shop to confirm availability.     Aces High by George Evans, Al Feldstein, and Harvey Kurtzman 216-page black & white 7.25" x 10.25" hardcover • $29.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-784-0    "Does anyone draw airplanes better than the late great George Evans? Heck no! And the new Fantagraphics EC spotlight does this craftsman's work proud. Outstanding comics presented in rich detail…

The gorgeous Melrose Market Studios is hosting local businesses on Sunday, November 30th for a bazaar called The Seattle Collective. At this creative market and bazaar, Fantagraphics will be tabling and selling our classic and new classic comics directly to you! From 11-6pm browse the businesses while sipping some local coffee from Slate Coffee Roasters all day and some sumptuous cocktails from Still Liquor during Happy Hour time 4-6pm (the poster says 5 but we have the inside scoop!). Find only the best comics and graphic novels for your loved ones this holiday season (that includes YOU too!)   The…

Tuesday, November 18th   New York City, NY – Cartoonist super team-up of Marguerite Van Cook and James Romberger (of 7 Miles a Second) will release their newest graphic novel The Late Child and Other Animals complete with a reading at First Person Plural at Silvana (300 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026). Think you're a part of the Literati? If so, your butt will be glued to the seat. The free fun starts at 7pm. (more details)   Los Angeles, CA – The Hip Hop Family Tree Volume 2 tour continues down the West Coast as Ed Piskor heads to Meltdown Comics. BoingBoing Founder Mark Frauenfelder will be in conversation…

  Over the weekend, Drew Friedman signed his new book, Heroes of the Comics, at Book Soup for fans of his caricatures and many years of MAD magazine illustrations. During a festive after-party with close friends, Drew continued to sign books for Los Angeles' finest. Here is Drew with Dana Gould, right after Dana interviewed him for his podcast, The Dana Gould Hour (keep your eyes peeled for that episode when it's released!)   Drew signing books for clamoring fans and party-attendees.  Drew Friedman, comedian Dana Gould, and The Dana Gould Hour podcast producer Jeff Fox. Tom Gammill, Dana Gould, Jeff Fox, Drew Friedman. Drew's signature…

Ed Piskor hits San Francisco with a BOOM this Thursday, November 20th at City Lights. At 7pm you should stop, drop and caterpillar over to 261 Columbus Avenue to get a copy of Hip Hop Family Tree Volume 2 AND get it signed by Piskor himself.    This is Ed's second to last tour stop on the Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2 tour and your last chance to see him this year, West Coast! Come on out to City Lights, the nations first ALL-paperbackstore, as it sells you Piskor's sexy flexi-bound book. City Lights 261 Columbus Avenue at Broadway San Francisco, CA 94133