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This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new titles. 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.   Sucker Bait and Other Stories (The EC Comics Library)Illustrated by Graham Ingels; written by Al Feldstein et al. 216-page black & white 7.25" x 10.25" hardcover • $28.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-689-8  "Even sixty years on Ingels grisly pages still hold the power to shock and delight in equal measure. Not for the faint of heart, but anyone…

Here's a clearer view of the box art for The EC Comics Slipcase Vol. 1, coming in April, featuring the artwork of Jack Davis, Harvey Kurtzman, Al Williamson, and Wallace Wood on the outside and their respective EC Comics Library volumes inside. Nice, right? That's gold ink on there, as befitting the quality of the material inside and the luster of our unique and impeccable presentation. For those of you who plan on replacing your standalone copies of each book with the box set (since we're not able to offer empty boxes), might we suggest "paying it forward" by donating your duplicate books to a good…

"Pow! Zam! Comics aren't for kids anymore because of Cannon! Cannon is like a punch in the face with a cement-filled giant salami. Ugly description? Wait'll you see Cannon’s ugly mug! And the gals? Wood style, of course! What else do you need?" – Gilbert Hernandez "I bow to no man in my appreciation for Cannon." – Daniel Gillespie Clowes Cannonby Wallace Wood 296-page black & white/color 11" x 7.5" hardcover • $35.00ISBN: 978-1-60699-702-4 Due to arrive in about 4-6 weeks. Click the thumbnails for larger versions; get more info, see more previews and pre-order your copy here: http://www.fantagraphics.com/cannon

Wednesday, February 5th • Seattle, WA: Seattle, this is your last chance to see our insanely beautiful exhibit of work from the legendary Ron Regé, Jr., including these exquisite fold-out drawings which are just 1000% more beautiul in person! Get thee to the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery while you can! (more info) Thursday, February 6th • Portland, OR: And Portland, don't miss the opening reception for Julia Gfrörer's exhibit Play Dead at Floating World Comics, showcasing the original art to her exquisite book, Black is the Color! If you haven't picked this up yet, now is the time: she might…

Ted Stearn, the cartooning mastermind behind Fuzz & Pluck 2 has won his own prize at Angouleme! On Saturday night this album published in French by Cornélius, brought home the award for best series. This second volume follows the bizarre further adventures of an irritable plucked rooster and an awkward but lovable bear take them on separate paths to the gladiatorial ring and a Quixotic task, with an unlikely climactic convergence. Grab a copy of the international award winning book today (from us if you want to read it in English)!  "This epic tale of a hapless li'l bear and his defeathered…

Cannonby Wallace Wood 296-page black & white/color 11" x 7.5" hardcover • $35.00ISBN: 978-1-60699-702-4 Ships in: March 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Your mission, should you choose to accept it… is CANNON by the legendary Wallace Wood (Mad, EC Comics, Daredevil)! CANNON appeared every week for two and a half years in Overseas Weekly, a newspaper distributed exclusively to U.S. Military bases around the world. Uncensored by commercial editorial restrictions, Wood pulled out all the stops — producing a thrilling and salacious Cold War spy serial run amok with brutal violence and titillating sex all in an effort…

More good news out of the ALA Midwinter meeting: The Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio (translated by Matt Thorn) has been named to the YALSA (Young Adult Library Service Association) "Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2014" list! Their one-line summary: "An enigmatic suicide note sets off a chain of drama at a German boarding school." Support your local library and check out a copy of this bewitching, mysterious, and emotional story (or, you know, buy one for yourself).

"Schulz was truly one of the game’s great ambassadors." – Former National Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey "Seeing [Schulz's] work isolated and expanded only reinforces the sheer timelessness and brilliance inherent; Schulz was a master of mood and line in equal measure…" – Paste "Charles Schulz was an American treasure — an artist, philosopher, and keen observer of human life." – Bill Clinton "The world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated." – Umberto Eco Batter Up, Charlie Brown! by Charles M. Schulz 64-page black & white (with spot…

Join us this Saturday, February 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery as rising star Julia Gfrörer signs her sensational new book Black Is the Color. The story of a castaway sailor’s attraction to a sinister mermaid examines the dubious value of maintaining dignity to the detriment of intimacy, and the erotic potential of the worst-case scenario. (The perfect Valentine’s gift, right?) Saturday is also one of your last opportunities to see the enchanting Ron Regé, Jr. exhibition The Cartoon Utopia. Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown industrial arts community….

Batter Up, Charlie Brown! by Charles M. Schulz 64-page black & white (with spot color) 5.75" x 5.75" hardcover • $9.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-725-3 Ships in: March 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Charlie Brown may not be the best pitcher, batter, or team manager, but his love for the game is boundless, no matter how many home runs he gives up, how many games he loses, how many errors his team makes, or how many times the game is rained out. This delightful gift book features three complete baseball stories starring good ol’ Charlie Brown and his frustrating (and frustrated) teammates Lucy,…