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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.   50 Girls 50 and Other Stories (The EC Comics Library) illustrated by Al Williamson et al.; written by Al Feldstein et al. 264-page black & white 7.25" x 10.25" hardcover • $28.99 ISBN: 978-1-60699-577-8 "these comics still matter, at least to hardcore fans. I think they look great, and I enjoy these comics for what they are…

Wilfred Santiago's baseball biography comic is ready to read on the way to your next away game at comiXology. 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente follows Clemente's life from his early days growing up in rural Puerto Rico, the highlights of his career (including the 1960s World Series where he helped the Pirates win its first victory in 33 years, and his 3000th hit in 1972 during the last official at-bat of his life) as well as his private life and public mission off the field. Named one of Library Journal's Best Books 2011: Graphic Novels, one of Booklist's Top…

"I stand in awe of Drew Friedman's technique and the certain flavor of sad old America he captures. I love his stuff… He's such a wacko!"—R. Crumb  Old Comics, Old Freaks, Old Jews, and LOTS of fun! Join graphic humorist Drew Friedman on Wednesday, April 24th for the third in a series of Weekly Comic Book Round Table Talks at the Soho Gallery for Digital Art in New York City!  Host Danny Fingeroth will ask this master cartoonist and satirist about his life and career, and Drew will unveil previews of new, unreleased work, including his "Legends of Comic Books"…

Don’t miss the opening of our fabulous exhibition "Dash Shaw: Stories" with music by Lexi Lee at Fantagraphics Bookstore this Saturday, April 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The show includes more than a dozen original drawings by the provocative contemporary cartoonist together with an array of his comix, graphic novels, and small press publications. Banjo player Lexi Lee will perform traditional folk melodies with a modern twist. This event coincides with the festive Georgetown Art Attack, featuring challenging art, music, and more at locations throughout the historic industrial arts corridor. Mark your calendars for Friday, April 19 at 7:00 PM as Lucy Knisley presents Relish:…

Wandering Son (放浪息子 / Hourou Musuko) Vol. 4 by Shimura Takako; edited and translated by Matt Thorn 224-page black & white 7” x 9.5” hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-605-8 Selected views of the book (hint: they're organized right-to-left), which should be on shelves in 5-7 weeks; click thumbnails for larger versions and get more info, see more previews and pre-order your copy here: http://www.fantagraphics.com/wanderingson4

Cathy Malkasian is back with Wake Up, Percy Gloom!, the sequel to her award-winning 2007 graphic novel Percy Gloom, which charmed and beguiled readers of all stripes (with the equally amazing Temperance in between). Don't just take our word for it; listen to two of comics' greatest world-builders and creators of lovable iconic characters: "Cathy Malkasian's Percy Gloom shines a light on a hidden world, using language and ideas that are daringly naked and vulnerable, evoking something real, rare, and relevant. Such exquisite drawing, in the service of such rich ideas, sustained for such a long, lovely dance! The world looked differently to me after…

Wednesday, April 10th • New York City, NY:  Our own James Romberger will be part of the infamous CAROUSEL series hosted by R. Sikoryak!  Join James and this all-star cast at Dixon Place [ 161A Chrystie Street (btwn Rivington & Delancey) ] starting at 7:30 PM! (more info) Saturday, April 13th • Seattle, WA:  The Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery launches its brand new exhibit, Dash Shaw: Stories, featuring 14 original artworks! Come get a first look at the show, and then join us again on Saturday, May 4th when Dash Shaw joins us in person for a film screening, discussion,…

Wandering Son (放浪息子 / Hourou Musuko) Vol. 4 by Shimura Takako; edited and translated by Matt Thorn 224-page black & white 7" x 9.5" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-605-8 Ships in: May 2013 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Wandering Son Vols. 4 – 6 Subscription Price: $65.97 $52.78 POSTPAID Wandering Son has garnered extensive praise (from the GLBT community, from manga fans, and from comics fans in general) for its uniquely funny, warm, and sensitive treatment of the travails of two Japanese tweens who find themselves coping with the knotty issue of gender identification as they slowly realize that maybe they aren't…

Anders Nilsen is a unique and fearless cartoonist: on one hand, he's an innovative and boundary-expanding experimenter with the comics form; on the other, his emotional and philosophical explorations of being human are deeply felt and enormously powerful. No work of his better exemplifies these qualities than The End. Produced in the aftermath of a devastating personal loss several years ago, The End is a wrenching, sometimes abstract, sometimes angry, sometimes bitterly funny meditation on grief, loss, mortality, and hope. For this new hardcover edition, due out late next month, the original 32-page comic from 2007 has been expanded to 80…

The rules have changed! We can now offer upcoming volumes of The Complete Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz for presale, which means we can extend this special offer: Pre-order The Complete Peanuts 1987-1990 Gift Box Set now and we will send you Volume 19 (1987-1988) right away, and Volume 20 (1989-1990) with the slipcase when they are available in Fall 2013! (Sorry, our contract with Peanuts prevents us from selling to customers outside the U.S. and Canada.) Not only do you get to read each volume as they come out, you get them at the box set price (cheaper!) and the deal even saves you…