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No lie: just a couple days ago I was wondering when they were going to announce this year's Ignatz Award nominees, and lo and behold, here they are today! Our artists & books received 8 nominations in 5 categories, and as per our typical M.O., we've put all the nominated titles on sale for a limited time! Congratulations to all; see the complete list of nominees here. Outstanding Artist: Al Columbia, Pim & Francie: The Golden Bear DaysOutstanding Graphic Novel: Pim & Francie: The Golden Bear Days by Al Columbia Outstanding Artist: John Pham, SublifeOutstanding Series: Sublife by John PhamOutstanding…

Love and Rockets: New Stories #3 by The Hernandez Brothers 104-page black & white 7.5" x 9.25" softcover • $14.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-379-8 Ships in: September 2010 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now After Jaime’s two-part super-hero epic from Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 and #2, we return to the enthralling minutiae of the “Locas” cast’s lives for the first time in three years. In the main story "The Love Bunglers" (presented in two parts) Ray finally gets his date with Maggie: The couple goes to an art opening and to dinner, they discuss the crazy world of dreams, and Maggie…

Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Set to Sea's one-panel-per-page layout lets Weing's visual storytelling shine, but only if you resist the urge to tear through the pages quickly. Go too fast, and you'll miss the touching, wordless way Weing communicates the death of a supporting character. Or, worse, you'll skim over a gorgeous arctic sunset clearly inspired by the Gustave Dore engravings for Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner." – Glen Weldon, NPR • Plug: "Drew Weing’s graphic novel debut [Set to Sea] is a Popeye-esque delight. Weing’s linework — and abundant crosshatching — is a visual feast that…

From Shadow to Light: The Life & Art of Mort Meskin by Steven Brower (with Peter and Philip Meskin) 220-page full-color 9" x 12" hardcover • $39.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-358-3 Ships in: September 2010 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now From Shadow to Light: The Life & Art of Mort Meskin is a coffee table art book, biography, and critique of one of the 20th century’s most influential and unjustly neglected Golden Age comic book artists. Mort Meskin’s comics career spanned almost 30 years, from the 1940s to the 1960s. His drawing, chiaroscuro technique, and storytelling are considered by connoisseurs of the…

The Museum of Cartoon and Comic Art in NYC is raising funds from individual donors via Kickstarter for their upcoming Fall 2010 exhibit of Al Jaffee artwork. There are some pretty sweet pledge gifts, including VIP events with Al.

Our Summer 2010 Ignatz Series titles, which we just got in stock yesterday, are also scheduled to land in comic shops this week! Let's see what the comics bloggers are saying about their imminent arrival, collectively and individually: "This summer's four new Ignatz releases from Coconino/Fantagraphics, and examples of one of the great comics formats of the last 15 years. I liked the Sammy the Mouse book the best, but they're all beautiful." – Tom Spurgeon, The Comics Reporter "I've been digging Fantagraphics' Ignatz imprint for a while now, so I'm quite happy that Wednesday sees the release of four…

Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Underground feminist comic artist Farmer’s account of how she looked after her aging parents [Special Exits] is a quiet wonder. … Farmer renders everything in busy, densely packed black-and-white frames whose cluttered look mimics the dusty house, its surfaces thick with cat hair and memories. The story is stunning for its antisentimental realism, as well as for the glimpses of fantasy… that flicker by like ghosts." – Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) • Review: "Billy Hazelnuts and the Crazy Bird is kind of horrifying, but hilarious nonetheless, and so lovingly detailed that one can’t help…

Periodic clips & strips — click for improved/additional viewing at the sources: • On Facebook Esther Pearl Watson gave this glimpse at her new work-in-progress graphic novel, a "Lady Rambo" style action-adventure! • A self-portrait circa late-1990s and another uncollected strip by Jason; also, he's blogging about the films of Audrey Hepburn, beginning with Funny Face • Jim Woodring presents "A matinee from CONGRESS OF THE ANIMALS" • Drew Friedman recounts an evening at Mickey & Val Rooney's variety show • Sergio Ponchione did the album cover & interior art for the debut album by Orangeproject • Noah Van Sciver…

See two great image-makers, Gary Panter and Peter Saul, in conversation at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in NYC this Thursday evening, August 19, at 7 PM. More info at the MoCCA website. Update: Gary writes about Peter on his blog.

Behold Jaime Hernandez's cover art for the 2nd issue of Marvel's Strange Tales Vol. 2, solicited for November 2010. (Pointed out by someone on Twitter whom I've since forgotten, sorry!) Looks like Gilbert's in the issue as well, along with Paul Hornschemeier and others. Update yer pull lists!