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Online Commentary & Diversions for today: • Plug: Chris Mautner of Robot 6 declares Hotwire Comics Vol. 3 his Pick of the Week: "Here's another hefty sampling of edgy, in-your-face alternative comics, edited by Glenn Head, who provides the cover as well as a couple of interior stories as well. This volume boasts a rather impressive A-list of contributors, including Mary Fleener, Michael Kupperman, R. Sikoryak, Mack White, Johnny Ryan and more. The Sikoryak story in particular — a mash-up between Dennis the Menace and Hamlet — is worth checking out, as is the great, surreal tale from White. If…

Squint no more! (Plus I got the issue number right this time.) The new issue of Tales Designed to Thrizzle comes out in May! UPDATE: Michael Kupperman lets us know that this is not the finished version, so some changes may be made between now and when it goes to press.

  … Sophie Crumb has an art blog.

Scheduled to arrive at enlightened comic shops across the land tomorrow: Hotwire Comics Vol. 3 By various artists; edited by Glenn Head The Comics Reporter says: "A boon for fans of a certain kind of energetic, restless, profane comic book making — for the rest of us it's an exquisitely curated, controlled visit to that particular comics world." Jog calls it "a distinctly old-fashioned scattershot alternative comics production" and "a louder, more comedic, more visually-driven" sibling to Mome. We have previews-a-plenty both here on our site and on the official Hotwire website; check them out while you're contacting your local…

The Seattle Public Library's popular "Comixtravaganza" celebration concludes this Saturday, January 30. The Rem Koolhaas-designed central branch hosts a comics creating workshop with Fantagraphics friends Greg Stump and David Lasky at 1:00 PM, followed by a career-spanning media presentation by alternative comics titan Peter Bagge at 3:00 PM. Later that evening Lasky and Bagge will be featured guests at the fabulous book launch party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini Comics of the 1980s at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Admission is free to all events. If you live in the Northwest, you won't want to miss these wildly entertaining spectacles.

Another short Online Commentary & Diversions update: • Feature: Publishers Weekly spotlights King: The Special Edition. Calvin Reid talks to King creator Ho Che Anderson and Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth about the development of the book • Review: "Whatever the case, [The Squirrel Machine] is a compelling, fascinating journey through an often creepy and always striking world, one that's regularly quite hilarious… What can one make of that sort of thing? You might be able to attempt an interpretation, one that will be just as valid as any, but it's just as legitimate to go along for the ride and…

Blake Bell is plowing ahead with his forthcoming, highly-anticipated book Fire & Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics (preliminary cover art shown above subject to change), and you can track his progress on his Bill Everett Facebook page. In this update, he outlines the contents of each chapter and gives a general idea of what to expect in the book, which is on track for a September release.

Michael Kupperman is featured on Desktops of the Stars — look closely for what appears to be a teeny tiny icon of what might possibly be the cover to Tales Designed to Thrizzle #5 of course I meant #6 (enlarged above).

Yeah, you.  We need a publicity & marketing intern.  Although this is an unpaid gig, what you don't receive in money, you'll gain in knowledge.  Ah, doesn't knowledge sound like a good time? There are lots of perks…like…umm…well…fancy office, fun coworkers, free coffee!   Just follow this link and get some details.  I promise to be really nice to you.  :•D 

Tim Lane's posted another page from his next book, Folktales, on his blog. That's a heck of a splash page — click through for the whole thing.