Georgetown Art Attack Springs into Action on Saturday April 9

The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack encourages adventurous Northwest art mavens to encounter the colorful creativity of one of our region's most seductive urban environments. On the second Saturday of each month, Georgetown's resident artists and surrounding businesses welcome the public to explore this enchanting industrial arts corridor. Among the highlights of the April 9 installment: An improvisational music performance by accomplished experimental sound artist Rob Angus at Georgetown Records; "Assemblages: Form and Fragments" by collage artist Ken Torres at All City Coffee; the Nautilus presents "Wasteland," a collaborative show by Corey Urlacher and Kat Houseman includinglive music and belly…

Mini-Diaflogue: 1 Q, 1 A with Johnny Ryan

Ever since Book 1 of Prison Pit came out in 2009 I've had a question for Johnny Ryan and I finally asked him over email yesterday: Q: Is there any chance we'll ever see a Prison Pit prequel where we see what CF did to get thrown into the pit and how he was captured? A: No, I don't think so. You can probably already tell it was something pretty heinous. That's all you really need to know. Well there you have it.

The Comics Journal panel at the Strand Bookstore pre-MoCCA

The infamous Strand Bookstore in New York City is known for its "18 miles of books," and on Friday, April 8th, they're devoting at least one of those miles to Strandicon, a celebration of comics! The Strand will be hosting an afternoon of special appearances (including a 6:00 pm appearance by Dash Shaw), and the evening concludes with a celebration of The Comics Journal, featuring a panel with editors Tim Hodler and Dan Nadel, along with founding editor Gary Groth and longtime cartoonist and TCJ interviewee Kim Deitch. So, if you live in New York, or if you'll be town…

Peter Bagge at the Scott Eder Gallery

Peter Does New York! Comics legend Peter Bagge returns to his east coast roots with a release party at Desert Island on Friday, April 8th, signings at MoCCA that weekend, AND the opening of a new exhibit at the esteemed Scott Eder Gallery! This exciting exhibition will feature published drawings and works on paper from all phases of Peter's long career in alternative comix and non-commercial illustration, including his album and CD art. Join us on Saturday, April 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  (If you can't make the opening reception, you have until May 5th to view the show!)…

Peter Bagge and Leslie Stein at Desert Island

Celebrate Hate with the legendary Peter Bagge on Friday, April 8th at Desert Island in Brooklyn, NY!  We'll be debuting the latest adventures of Buddy, Lisa, and Harold in Hate Annual #9, AND we'll have hot-off-the-presses copies of the teengirl-sensation Yeah! for Peter to sign for you. Plus, Desert Island will have a stunning seven-color screenprint designed by Peter that you won't want to miss! And as a special bonus, Peter will be joined by one of our newest artists, Leslie Stein! Pete sez: “Leslie Stein’s comics inhabit a charming and semi-autobiographical (in the most ‘semi’ sense of the word)…

Take a Joke by Johnny Ryan – Previews, Pre-Order

Take a Joke: Vol. 3 of the Collected Angry Youth Comix by Johnny Ryan 128-page black & white/color 7" x 10" softcover • $18.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-464-1 Ships in: May 2011 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Johnny Ryan’s transgressive masterpiece Prison Pit has been the talk of altcomics circles since its debut in the summer of 2009. But before Prison Pit, Ryan garnered a considerable following via his one-man humor anthology (which doubled as a one-man War Against Political Correctness), Angry Youth Comix. Take a Joke collects many of the best stories from this inimitable series as well as many strips…

New Comics Day 3/30/11: 21, Peanuts, R.I.P., Mome

After previous mentions in this space — see previous posts for additional blogger-blurbs — and possible early appearances at some comic shops, the following titles are on the official Diamond Comics Distributors shipping list for this week. Please check with your local shop to confirm availability. (Ordering in advance is always a good idea, too.) Previews and more info about each book, as always, at the links below: 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente by Wilfred Santiago 200-page two-color 6.25" x 8" hardcover • $22.99ISBN: 978-1-56097-892-3 "Wilfred Santiago's beautiful, intricately-told biography of the Pittsburgh Pirates icon manages to come out…

Daily OCD: 3/29/11

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Technically (or so says Fantagraphics!) [Toys in the Basement] is a children's book. A children's book by way of your worst adult nightmare. Seriously if there's a child out there who could read this all the way through without pissing his pants, I would like to meet that child and lock him up before he does the rest of society some harm. Because this 'children's' book is twisted. And that's why I enjoyed it so much." – P.D. Houston, Renderwrx Productions • Review: "…[Unlovable] is crushingly funny and achingly sad. […] Drawn in…