Fantagraphics Blog Jen Vaughn

Completely seperate from Alt.Latino, the LatinoUSA radio show interviews Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez while performing art on stage at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Carolina Gonzalez asks them questions about how the punk movement appealed to them. Another snippet from the the Hernandez interviews features writer Junot Diaz speaking about the first time he found 'himself' in a book. That book was comic Love and Rockets and Diaz credits the Hernandez Brothers for making his life's work possible. There is a full Junot Diaz interview available on Volume 1 Brooklyn where he talks about the Hernandez Brothers at length as…

The unbroken bottom ring of your three-ring binder Online Commentaries & Diversions:   • Review: Patrick Smith over at Spandexless cracks his knuckles and reads all of The End of the Fucking World mini-comics by Charles Forsman. Smith states,"Overall though, it’s a story about extremes and the kind of nihilistic worldview that only a teenager could have, while also adding on certain discerning touches that separates this book from so many other teenage melodramas." Forsman's complete The End of the Fucking World is slated for release in 2013. • Review: Zap #2 gets Boing-Boinged. Adam Parfrey speaks on the series…

Waffle days are BACK at Fantagraphics thanks to a hearty group of staffers: Stephanie, Jacq, Kristy, Steph O. and Jen. The waffles proceeded, of course, a staff meeting because we like our sweet AND sour here.   Featuring delicious chicken and some heart-shaped vegan waffles, we chowed down with the regular condiments too like Nutella, peanut butter, fruit, whipped cream and good ol' Vermont maple syrup. Ian nibbles in anticipation of that perfect golden brown waffle. Emory and Tony talk turkey (bacon). Grillmasters Jen and Jacq.   Interns were not locked in the basement as per our usual when free…

The saltiest sounds of the ocean's Online Commentaries & Diversions:    • Interview: Dubbing them "The Four Horseman of AltComix" Sean T. Collins interviews Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Chris Ware and Dan Clowes all in one go on Rolling Stone. What a beautiful meetup of minds. Ware says, "Well, there are better cartoonists now than there ever have been. I firmly believe that. There's some amazing work being done." While Gilbert laments the change in alt comics, "That's what was missing from alternative comics after us: The art got less and less good." • Interview (video): George O'Connor with co-host…

Following SPX in Bethesda, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez were asked to be NPR's Alt.Latino show to celebrate their 30th Year Anniversary of Love and Rockets. Hosted by Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd, the show focuses on Latin Alternative music and rock in Spanish, from classics to new bands even you haven't heard of. Jaime and Gilbert talked SO LONG about many songs, including some outside of the format of the show, that we had to switch studios. The NPR building is mega sweet to say the least. While waiting for the show hosts, we were all escorted into the THINKING…

  Today we are happy to announce the digital release of Prison Pit: Book 3 for with our on-going partnership with comiXology. This 120 page digital book continues with a mysterious new asshole who descends into the Prison Pit, looking for revenge on Cannibal Fuckface. But first he’s got to battle his way through some pretty vicious motherfuckers. Shit’s about to get real. This Johnny Ryan graphic novel combines his love for WWE wrestling, Gary Panter’s “Jimbo” comics, and Kentaro Miura’s “Berserk” Manga into a brutal showcase of violence, survival and revenge. Imagine a blend of old-fashioned role playing fantasy…

  You remember of the horrors of Josh Simmons from Jessica Farm or House. That copy of The Furry Trap sits on your bookshelf behind a picture or totem of any kind so when you pass it at night you don't recall images of "Demonwood" or "Night of the Jibblers." Now there is a new type of Simmons horror and it is the kind that arrives as a small, unassuming mini-comic. Flayed Corpse is the first in a line of new Simmons mini-comics published by Charles Forsman's micro publishing company, Oily Comics. Dip your toes in the eerily calm lake…

Recently, the Association for Recorded Sound Collections announced the winners of the 2012 ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. Kevin Avery was awarded a Certificate of Merit due to the exceptionally high quality work he accomplished researching and writing the book Everything is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson. Everything is an Afterthought follows the father of contemporary rock criticism, Paul Nelson, on his journey from Rolling Stone and beyond. 'Since 1991, the awards are presented to authors and publishers of books, articles, liner notes, and monographs, to recognize outstanding published research in the…

The furtherest-traveled Bethesda-sent postcard of Online Commentaries & Diversions: • Review: NPR's Glen Weldon looks at The Hypo by Noah Van Sciver. "Although The Hypo is painstakingly researched, the book is no dry accretion of biographical detail. That's because Van Sciver approach's is so deeply, palpably personal, even idiosyncratic. . . Inspiring? No. But achingly familiar, relatably human and — most of all — profoundly real." • Interview: Comic Book Resources and Ryan Ingram pulled Noah Van Sciver aside to talk about The Hypo. Van Sciver says, "My reason for spending so much time working on The Hypo was an…

  Creator of The Cartoon Utopia, Ron Rege will be hosting a workshop at SAW, the Sequential Artists Workshop, in March 2013. In this week-long workshop, students will work with Ron from morning to evening, expanding their minds and vision and translating their ideas and stories to the finished page. Rege has created autobiography, true stories, comics from dreams and histories and lately, intricate spectacles and essays on magic and the unknown. Students will get to work with Rege for a week, to learn his process and connect to The Cartoon Utopia! Ron's workshop follows a week-long intensive with John…