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A fresh batch of Online Commentary & Diversion: • Profile: Andrei Molotiu talks to Artforum about abstract comics and Abstract Comics • Interview: Sean T. Collins's series of interviews with Marvel Strange Tales MAX contributors at Marvel.com continues with Johnny Ryan. The imagination reels: "Well, there was one joke, now that I think of it, with Galactus that had to be altered a little bit. I don't know if I should reveal the joke—it might ruin the experience. But it was this little detail for that joke that I initially put there, and they were like, 'Eh, can you change…

Kupperman cover! The Comics Reporter has the scoop on the Charles Burns-selected contents. Can't argue too much with that lineup.

Saturday August 15: Dash Shaw, Austin English & Lisa Hanawalt in discussion at Union Pool in Brooklyn as part of the Conversational Comics series.

Comics Savant David Lasky documented the opening of the Comics Savants exhibit at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this past Saturday; click here for more photos. Thanks David! Megan Kelso & Russ Battaglia: Jim Blanchard & Jason T. Miles:

Are you ready to enter the PRISON PIT? The first original graphic novel from master of the gross-out Johnny Ryan is an over-the-top orgy of escalating ultraviolence and perversity as intergalactic monster criminals battle for supremacy in a barren negative zone! This book is now available for pre-order in our online shop following its sell-out debut at Comic-Con last month. Dip your toe in the Pit by downloading our 12-page PDF preview. This book will be in stock and shipping in about 2-3 weeks, and in stores approximately 4 weeks later (subject to change).

It begins! Our much-ballyhooed new series of Jacques Tardi translations launches with West Coast Blues, adapted by Tardi from the book by master crime novelist Jean-Patrick Manchette, now available for pre-order in our online shop following its hit debut at Comic-Con last month. An aimless family man is sucked into a spiral of violence involving an exiled war criminal and two hired assassins. Get a taste of this hard-boiled crime thriller with our 10-page PDF preview. This book will be in stock and shipping in about 2-3 weeks, and in stores approximately 4 weeks later (subject to change).

Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "[Abstract Comics: The Anthology] is designed beautifully… The content serves as a great introduction to a genre of comics that few people knew existed. [Editor Andrei] Molotiu takes somewhat of a scholarly approach to the content, placing the concept of abstract comics within art history in his introduction. He makes a good case… Overall, this is a cool concept and I was surprised by it. I think it’s definitely going to cause some debates about what comics are and are not, and that’s a good thing." – Eden Miller, Comicsgirl • Review: "The status…

Via The Beat.

Here's our final batch of overdue photo previews, at least for the time being: You Shall Die by Your Own Evil Creation! by Fletcher Hanks. Watch the preview in the slideshow player embedded below; if it's not visible to you, or to see it full-screen (recommended), click here; if you don't like slideshows, browse here. I went a little nuts snapping eye-catching panels, as you can see. There's just so many of them! I want to highlight two of my favorites below; the first one reminds me of Tim Lane, and the second for obvious reasons.