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Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Though the episodic flow and gung-ho patriotism of the strips are simplistic in both content and conception, the depth they lack is greatly made up for by the vast, epic compositions that contain Crane’s spring-coiled bigfoot cartooning, the explosive you-are-there immediacy of his dogfights and shootouts, and the sensuous intensity of form and shape he brings to gorgeous women and vehicles of war alike. […] Crane worked in broad strokes, which is what made him a great cartoonist; but in Buz Sawyer he also sometimes discovers quieter places, ones truly worthy of the…

Following their vinyl figurines of music/literary visionaries Bob Moog, Raymond Scott, and Allen Ginsberg, all of which were designed by Archer Prewitt, the good people at Presspop have pressed Prewitt into service again for a new figurine of dub inventor Lee "Scratch" Perry, coming this summer! Above, Archer's concept art (final product subject to change).

The Comics Journal is proud to announce the relaunch of TCJ.com with new editorial oversight. Redesigned, reorganized, with an incredible lineup of new contributors — it's pretty amazing. Read a welcome message from new editors Dan Nadel and Tim Hodler (formerly of Comics Comics) here; our press release is here. There's a lot to see already.

In their March 15 issue, Booklist announces their Top 10 Graphic Novels in Adult and Youth categories. We're honored that they've chosen the following books in the former category: Artichoke Tales by Megan Kelso A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by Moto Hagio It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi And in the latter category: Set to Sea by Drew Weing The issue also includes the reviews excerpted below: The Arctic Marauder by Jacques Tardi: "A strong Jules Verne flavor dominates the story’s stew of mystery farce and sci-fi adventure, from the ship named the Jules Vernez…

Us neither! But you've only got a couple more days to check out the "Lovesick" exhibit from Seattle's own Bureau of Drawers cartoonist collective.  If you haven't had a chance to see this collection of original art, handmade books and prints, get yrself down to the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery tout de suite! (Mais oui! 'Cause Larry's gonna start installing our Tardi exhibit next!)   And THANK YOU to everyone who made it out to our opening night on Valentine's Day weekend!  It was, indeed, lovely to see everyone out, supporting our local comic scene, and show-goers were serenaded by…

News comes via the Chicago Comics newsletter that the wonderful Ivan Brunetti will be making a rare public appearance at the Chicago Comics store on April 1st 5:00 – 7:00 PM to promote the new edition of his book Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice. Unless you're somehow debilitated, you'll certainly not want to miss that!

We're having a sale on books in our Art & Illustration category! Save at least 30% on art books, illustration collections, exhibit catalogs, sketchbooks, pin-ups and more. Featuring artists such as Nell Brinkley, Al Columbia, Dave Cooper, R. Crumb, Jim Flora, Drew Friedman, Femke Hiemstra, Paul Hornschemeier, Robert Williams, Barry Windsor-Smith, Basil Wolverton, and Jim Woodring; anthologies like Arf, Beasts!, and Blab!; and much much more spanning vintage classics and cutting-edge contemporary work — save on dozens of our best and most beautiful books! It runs 3 days only — March 7-9, 2011 — so don't miss out!

Ray Fenwick is documenting his residency at Struts Gallery in New Brunswick on a Tumblr blog he's dubbed Le Moat Juice. Follow along!

Here's this week's Weissman, plus links to other strips from around the web: — Barack Hussein Obama by Steven Weissman (view at original size): — And elsewhere: Amazing Facts… and Beyond! with Leon Beyond by Kevin Huizenga: Ectiopiary by Hans Rickheit: Maakies by Tony Millionaire: Mugwhump the Great by Roger Langridge (at Act-i-vate):

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Interview: Comic Book Resources' Alex Dueben talks to Carol Tyler about You'll Never Know: "I believe the damage leveled upon an entire generation of (primarily) men by WWII absolutely defined our Baby Boom generation. All that so called indulgence we've been accused of. Emotionally shut off children love hula-hoops! And drugs! Look at the bloody trail of bad relationships and general self-destructive behaviors we got into. Book I says, 'I hurt you to harm your children.' This is the legacy of war." • Commentary: No list of "great non-superhero comic book fights" would be…