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Just a few Online Commentary & Diversions links: • List: I'm a little short on time so I'm afraid I'll just have to link to Rob Clough's Top 100 Comics of the '00s Part One at The Comics Journal without quoting or outlining the Fantagraphics entries but rest assured there's plenty of them • Review: "[King of the Flies Vol. 1: Hallorave] features a series of short stories which at first seem completely unrelated but eventually begin to tie together to reveal a larger picture of depravity, lust, drug abuse and other sinister events taking place in a town that…

Well, today was the first of many Waffle Wednesdays here in the Fantagraphics office. We had two kinds of waffles: regular Belgian waffles and gluten free waffles (for our wheat-free designer). Steph, our new office manager, brought in a myriad of fruits and three different kinds of syrup! Even our very own Kim Thompson brought two types of orange juices, no pulp and some pulp. I used Emeril Lagassse's recipe of waffles, because it was the first one to pop up in my Google search. In the coming weeks I plan to spice things up by adding special ingredients. My…

If you’re passionate about comix, there’s no place like Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We’ve got “50 Years of Playboy Cartoons” with Gahan Wilson. Meet the living legend from 6:00 to 9:00 PM this Saturday, February 13 for a book signing and reception for his exhibition of original drawings and prints.   To commemorate the occasion we’re offering a bookstore-only 20% discount on the exquisite 3-volume slipcase edition of GAHAN WILSON: 50 YEARS OF PLAYBOY CARTOONS and an even more generous offer on the limited deluxe edition. Look for specials on other alluring comics and graphic novels….

Gaze in wonder (and click for expanded/complete wonderment): • Official images for the 2010 MoCCA Art Festival by Dash Shaw: poster (top), booklet (middle; hilarious) and t-shirt (bottom); Dash comments on his blog • XOY, a new print by John Hankiewicz • Don't miss Debbie Drechsler's frequent updates to her sketch blog, such as these lovely birds • Steven Weissman's artwork for the "Year of the Tiger" show at GR2; also, the original sketch • Paul Hornschemeier's cover art for the paperback edition of James Kennedy's novel The Order of Odd-Fish • Is "Focus" a new mini from Kevin Huizenga?…

Online Commentary & Diversions: • List: At The Comics Journal, the back half of Rob Clough's Top 50 Comics of 2009 includes: #29, The Complete Peanuts 1971-1972 by Charles Schulz: "Twenty-two years into his run on this strip, Schulz was still at his peak even as Peanuts was moving into a new phase." #31, Mome Vol. 14: "The most consistently excellent anthology in comics, issue after issue." #39, Uptight #3 (misidentified as #2) by Jordan Crane: "Both [stories] were perfectly suited for this lo-fi yet gorgeously designed comic…" #43, The Red Monkey Double Happiness Book by Joe Daly: "Daly didn’t…

Our warehouse manager/poet-in-residence Nico Vassilakis has a new book of visual poetry and drawings out from Ireland's Red Fox Press, part of their "C'est mon Dada" series. Fans of our Abstract Comics anthology would do well to check it out. We also neglected to mention in a timely fashion that Nico was shortlisted for the 2009 Stranger Genius Awards in Literature. Time to add "Resident Genius" to your business card, Nico.

Here's your reminder in the form of the official press release: Limited Ed Silkscreen print of the above image available! Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC – February 12th: opening reception 6-9 pm and continuing to March 31st, 2010 – Scott Eder Gallery BROOKLYN, February 12, 2010- HOTWIRE #3 features a dynamic selection of artwork from the upcoming all-new third volume of Hotwire Comics! Following the success of last year's Hotwire #2 show, this seminal show features paintings, works on paper in all media from some of the heaviest hitters in the alternative comix scene, including Tim Lane, David Sandlin, Glenn Head, Mark…

Looky (and clicky for better lookies): • Newave! contributor Molly Kiely poses for a self-portrait with the book • These and more sketchbook wishbones by John Hankiewicz • The Skittish Horse by Jim Flora • An unpublished commissioned portrait of Johnny Cash by Jim Blanchard • What's this, new Fight or Run art from Kevin Huizenga? (click for full image) • Hans Rickheit 's Ectopiary, page 10 (plus more on his blog) • Ooh, Tim Hensley does Hitchcock: Frenzy (above), Marnie, Lifeboat • A 2009 diary strip from Gabrielle Bell

Hoy, it's a marathon Monday Online Commentary & Diversions post: • List: The Comics Journal's Rob Clough begins counting his Top 50 Comics of 2009: #1, You'll Never Know, Book 1: A Good and Decent Man by C. Tyler: "A mash-up of family portrait, generational analysis, autobiography and scrapbook, this book was not only the most emotionally powerful work of the year, it was the most attractively designed. The first part of what will likely be Tyler’s masterwork." #6, Like a Dog by Zak Sally: "This was a stunningly honest account and collection of early work by one of the…

Richard Krauss of Midnight Fiction has an excellent writeup and photos (such as the one of Al Greenier above) from the scene the Jan. 30 Newave! book launch and exhibit opening at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery.