Fantagraphics Blog FantaBlog

…the story that Anime News Network broke and is spreading like wildfire is true. We'll have a full announcement and press release as soon as tomorrow. Stay tuned, manga-lovers.

We apologize for once again being tardy in presenting our weekly batch of new online strips: Wet 'n' wild in this week's The House of No by Derek Van Gieson… …Wedgie to the rescue in this week's Blecky Yuckerella strip by Johnny Ryan…. …and in this week's Barack Hussein Obama strip from Steven Weissman: Hillary! More colors!

More like Alien Lovin' Form, am I right? Gabe from Desert Island reports that the 4th issue of the free broadsheet comics anthology Smoke Signal is off to the printer. With work by cover-boy Johnny Ryan, Michael Kupperman, Dash Shaw, our own Jason T. Miles and many more.

Your daily art bloggery: • Reminder: the Covered art show at Secret Headquarters opens tomorrow night! Here's a piece by show curator/organizer Robert Goodin as revealed on Steven Weissman's blog… • …and Richard Sala posts his own contribution • Tim Lane's serialized strip Myth of Jack Theatre Presents: Belligerent Piano begins running this week in the St. Louis Riverfront Times and on Tim's blog • Corporate motivation, Jim Flora style, 1956 • Paul Hornschemeier on the Oscars for the WSJ, with process art on his blog • Pucker up for some Renee French — and this one too, ooh •…

Wrapping up another week of Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Fantagraphics sets a high standard for quality in all of their products, and [Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons] does not disappoint. … It's just amazing…this is a product with a real 'wow' factor. … If you're an admirer of Wilson's work like I am then this will be a must-have, something you'll want to look at again and again." – Matt Staggs, Suvudu (Random House) • Interview: Johnny Ryan interviewed by Royal Jelly • Edumacation: Iowa art teacher Molly Evans Sofranko has developed a lesson plan based…

Now open: The Forlorn Funnies Shirt Shop, for all your Paul Hornschemeier apparel needs. Two designs available now in various styles, with more coming soon. Guaranteed sartorial success. See Paul's introductory blog post for more info.

EMOTI-COMICS (in the comments)!! Above is my first entry. It's a relationship comic in the vein of Blankets.

The colorful Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack enters its third year resolved to draw attention to the historic industrial arts district in an effort to generate public sentiment towards preservation of this enchanting civic asset. As many of Seattle's formerly artist-friendly neighborhoods fell victim to frenzied gentrification over the past decade, Georgetown remains the last bastion of a cohesive creative community in the city. We believe activities like the monthly Art Attack will advance our preservation efforts. Among the highlights of the March 13 Art Attack: The grand opening of the Miller School of Art with a show of student…

Via Eric; I don't know where he found it. It seems like it starts out half-assed, but I think that's "in character" as Enid. It gets pretty great when “Jaan Pehechaan Ho” kicks in, so stick with it. Thanks, Ms. Jewels! We look forward to your turn as Rebecca. Or how about a duo act? (YouTube link) [EDIT: Hey, it’s been pointed out to me that the original wording of my post suggesting the duo act could be seen as disparaging to this particular performer. That wasn’t my intent at all! Looking back, it did read kinda harsh and lacked…

For your viewing and clicking: • A quashed illustration by Marco Corona for an article about a festival of African cinema. Now there's an ass R. Crumb could get behind, if you'll pardon the expression • A bit of a departure for Debbie Drechsler, who draws the gear she takes on her nature/sketch walks (also, I didn't know she was on Flickr) • I've gotta get me a copy of this nutty book Derek Van Gieson keeps posting previews of • Ha! It's Steven Weissman's latest "I, Anonymous" spot • A Covered contribution by fresh Mome face Jon Adams •…