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Sweet mercy, I'm finally up to date on Online Commentary & Diversions! • List: Graphic Novel Reporter names You'll Never Know Book 1: A Good and Decent Man by C. Tyler ("gorgeous… beautifully illustrated") and the Abstract Comics anthology ("a visual experience unlike any other… a magical, wonderful trip") to their list of "The Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2009," in the nonfiction category • List/Review: "Shouldn't we build a monument of some kind to John Benson? He is responsible for some of the best research, compiling and editing of comics history. [Confessions, Romances, Secrets & Temptations] is… full of…

Yes, we're late picking this up, but in further "mainstream properties kyping our talent" news: In case you were wondering how the Bongo Comics folks could top last year's The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror contribution from Gilbert Hernandez, this year they asked Sammy Harkham to guest-edit (I guess he and Matt Groening hit it off after Sammy asked Matt to be in Kramer's Ergot #7) and he's put together an unbelievable roster for this year's issue. In the words of Krusty the Clown, "Oscar Homolka!" Robot 6 has the solicitation copy and further details, and I'll echo J.K. Parkin's assessment…

Johnny Ryan is now taking pre-orders for the new issue #3 of New Character Parade, due in July. How could you not want to meet Erotic Art Collecting Squirrel, Berserkenstocks, Metalliban, Sammy Hagar the Horrible, and many more, wrapped up in a three-color letterpress print cover (with different colorways)? Go, buy! By the way, Johnny's all out of his self-published Angry Youth Comix Vol. I #11, but we still have a handful of copies available exclusively at our Seattle storefront, so c'mon down if you need one!

From embroidery-art powerhouse Sublime Stitching, a new kit featuring the artwork of Jim Woodring. Frank on your jean jacket? Manhog on your tea towels? That dream can be reality.

I have now done the reconnaissance: Gahan Wilson is a pleasure to chat with and damned if he doesn't have a head full of ideas and the guts to try things out. Long live Gahan Wilson.

Marvel Comics just keeps on poaching our talent: Tales Designed to Thrizzle's Michael Kupperman contributes a story starring Marvex the Super Robot to All Select Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1, and Sean T. Collins interviews him about it on the Marvel website (with additional previews).

Bob Fingerman was in attendance when legendary cartoonists Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth, two of the co-creators of Humbug, discussed the magazine's short lifespan with el jefe Gary Groth at the Strand Bookstore in NYC on April 14, 2009, and was kind enough to pass along his photos! Roth/Groth/Jaffee: Jaffee: Roth: See a whole bunch more in our Flickr set right here. Thanks Bob!

I've run out of time again! Hopefully we'll finally be caught up with our Online Commentary & Diversions tomorrow. For now, here's a few links that were sent to me: • Review: "…Low Moon is the best work I’ve seen from [Jason] yet… I don’t care that 'Emily Says Hello' is illustrated fiction, because it deserves to be on any year-end list of 2009’s finest crime stories, no matter what the format… One and all, these are excellently told tales from a unique talent." – Rod Lott, Bookgasm • Review: "[Nell] Brinkley was praised for her writing (it’s easy to…

YouTube user furryisthenewedgy has posted video of Paul Karasik questioning Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth at the "Ah, Humbug!" panel at the 2009 MoCCA festival. Paul says, "The sound is not very good, so in case you can't hear it, when I ask Al Jaffee the 'Stupid Question': "Are you Al Jaffee?", his 'Snappy Answer' is, 'No…I'm Paul Karasik!' Biggest laugh all night. The guy is 88."  Part 1: Part 2:

Sunday, June 21, 8PM An event featuring Jules Feiffer, Elliott Gould, and Little Murders!    Family presents: A Tribute To Jules Feiffer (feat. Little Murders)Cinefamily hosts another "Family Sunday", where our good friends at Family Bookstore will bring in one of their favorite people to curate and introduce a night of films. This time around, Family brings us Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist/author Jules Feiffer (who in turn is bringing Elliott Gould!), whose pieces appeared in the Village Voice for over 40 years, and whose film adaptation of his stage collaboration with Elliott Gould resulted in one of the funniest, most vicious social satires of the '70s….