Fantagraphics Blog FantaBlog

Artwork from the collection of the late SPX Executive Director Jeff Alexander, who passed away last year, is being auctioned to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund this Saturday at 4:30 at SPX. Internet bids will also be accepted via email — see the link for details. Among the pieces being offered in this year's first annual auction are the original Billy Hazelnuts page by Tony Millionaire shown here, a couple of original Roger Langridge pages featuring Fred the Clown, and a Peter Bagge sketch which I couldn't find an image for. Preview the artwork and get more information…

The Joost Swarte exhibit Trafic at Galerie Champaka in Brussels which Kim posted about a couple of weeks ago is set to open tomorrow (which is today if you're in Brussels), and the gallery has posted some mighty handsome preview images of the artwork on their public Facebook page.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "In this Golden Age of Comic Strip Reprints, Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse was, I had long assumed, the one that had gotten away…. It should go without saying that Fantagraphics has done their usual stellar job in regards to editorial presentation… and design… In addition to over two and a half year's worth of the strip, the book contains an impressive amount of introductory material and contextual essays… There are other neat bonus features, such as cover images from foreign editions collecting storylines from the strip. As for the comics themselves, they entertain on…

Bardín the Superrealist cartoonist Max created the story and visuals for Malasombra, a dance piece choreographed and performed by the AuMents Contemporary Dance Company at the at.tension Theater Festival taking place this weekend at Flugplatz Lärz near Neustrelitz, Germany. Info via the Reprodukt blog; hat tip to The Comics Reporter. UPDATE: Via Twitter Brian Kolm of Atomic Bear Press sent us this video trailer of the piece — boy does it ever look fun, and I love the Raymond Scott-esque music!

Mome 22 is finally out, and is quickly making its way into your favorite comic book stores, and your mailboxes. While you wait, we've been taking a look at some of the artists making their debut, and taking a bow, in our grand finale edition of Mome! Today, we shine the spotlight on Victor Kerlow! As I was putting together this Flog post, Mike looked over my shoulder and said, "His stuff looks like it's from The New Yorker…" AND GUESS WHAT? His stuff HAS been in The New Yorker! You can't get anything past that Mike Baehr. This kinda…

The Alternative Press Expo have unveiled the poster and program cover for the 2011 APE festival featuring artwork by special guest Shannon Wheeler, who we'll have at our table debuting his new book with Steve Duin, Oil and Water. Stay tuned for more APEy details and announcements!

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. The Hidden by Richard Sala 136-page full-color 8.25" x 8.25" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-386-6 "Then there’s also Richard Sala’s new book The Hidden ($19.99) about a group of strangers [description redacted due to being based on preliminary and out-of-date info – Ed.] during a global crisis. I’m going to want…

Lots and lots of images to share, and lots and lots of overflow spilling over into links: • We linked to this a while back in Daily OCD, but the interview with Lilli Carré at art:21 includes the first glimpse of her sketchbook I've ever seen (along with other art) and daaaang; Lilli also drew Groo the Wanderer for Matthew J. Brady 's theme sketchbook (there's a good one by Jeremy Tinder too) AND did this illustraton for The New York Times AND this amazing letterpress print • Is Barack Obama losing his indie cred? Drew Friedman shares his illustration…

Noah Van Sciver drew this poster for the annual pre-SPX "SPXplosion" party/comics reading/Nerdlinger Awards ceremony at Atomic Books in Baltimore on Friday night (Sept. 9, 2011, 7-9 PM)! And he will be there in person along with all the other fine folks listed on the poster and surely many others! And so should you be!

Lilli Carré made this illustration for the bookplate/prints to be affixed in books acquired by the Montgomery County Public Library through a donation from SPX's 2011 Graphic Novel Gift Program — man oh man, that is one lucky library, for the books AND the prints!