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Drew Friedman tackles the scandal that launched a thousand "Worldwide Pants" jokes for the New York Observer. See the full page on Drew's blog.

Most regular Flog readers are already familiar with Al Columbia's massive talent as a visual artist. But he's also an equally talented musician and filmmaker. I met Al when we were both 23 year-old punks who'd just scored jobs at Fantagraphics in 1994. We became fast pals, and I distinctly remember the first time he played for me a cassette tape of some of his musical recordings in my car as we were taking a ride somewhere. They blew me away, and I've been inspired by his music (not to mention his art) ever since. Thankfully, he's started putting a lot…

Your daily dose of Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Maybe it’s because blood and brain matter look somewhat more disturbing in the chunky, primitive black and white favored by famed French cartoonist Tardi, but there’s something particularly creepy about his adaptation of the late Manchette’s crime novel [West Coast Blues] that wouldn’t have been well served by color. … Manchette’s plot is pure pulp, with a driving engine for a plot and a Lee Marvin-like inclination toward swift and unreflective action. Tardi’s art delivers the action with admirable punch and attitude to spare." – Publishers Weekly • Review: "Rock…

We just wrapped up our listings for the November issue of Previews, for our releases scheduled for January 2010. The issue's not even printed yet, but we've already posted the listings over in our News section! Get the details on King of the Flies Vol. 1: Hallorave by Pirus & Mezzo, the new volumes of our Mome and Hotwire Comics anthologies, the second volume of Unlovable by Esther Pearl Watson, and our collection of out-of-print Jason stories, Almost Silent! Follow Fantagraphics as we forge ahead into the second decade of the 2000s!

So I brought Al Columbia's astonishing new book PIM & FRANCIE to Jim Woodring's "Friends of the Nib" salon last week. A crowd of cartoonists gathered around and Jim immediately proclaimed it "the book of the year" among other superlatives. Words simply fail to communicate the breathtaking originality of Columbia's visionary renderings. Really. You can preview an advance copy of this remarkable book right now at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Check it out at Johnny Ryan's reception on Saturday. (And mark your calendars for Al's Columbia's appearance on November 7.) Speaking of amazing art: Ryan's PRISON PIT pages were a…

Dan Clowes contributes one part of a three-part cover for the new issue of The New Yorker, with a video explanation wherein the artists and art director Françoise Mouly discuss the concept: And Jaime Hernandez has an illustration inside (via The Beat):

Lots of Online Commentary & Diversions today: • Review: "The graphic novel, it turns out, is a form especially well-suited to the noir genre. Maybe this isn’t surprising — comics have always run the gamut of moods from goofy to autobiographical to just plain smutty. But it still gives a shiver of pleasure to stumble upon a graphic novel that captures the hardboiled tone of classic noir as perfectly as West Coast Blues, Jacques Tardi’s adaptation of a 1976 crime novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette. … The plot includes bursts of bruality, dark realizations, alluring women and grizzled observations from its…

Johnny did a bunch of illustrations for an October Cinefamily flyer. It was hard picking one to feature here. One word of advice for Johnny: t-shirts.

It's my pleasure to share the following announcement from C. Tyler: Hello Friends! Two things this Fall: Saturday, October 17 from 10 – 4 come see me at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati. "Books By the Banks" is the name of the event and I will be there signing my newest book You'll Never Know. Miami International Book Fair , November 8 – 15. I'll be signing all weekend as part of the "Comix Galaxy" and on Friday afternoon giving a talk to education professionals: "What's So Funny About Teaching Comics." I will be hauling all those corny…

Pressure Printing has announced a new limited-edition print titled "Haniwa" from Rock Candy artist Femke Hiemstra. Go to their blog for more info and lots and lots of photos, from art in progress to print in progress to finished product.