Fantagraphics Blog FantaBlog

  Now you know about the books you want to get but WHAT about getting them signed?! These cartoonists' hands have been certified by the State of California to touch black ink to paper and spin it around a bunch! Come get your books 'notarized' by these official cartonists and special guests at the designated times their 'offices' are open. Don Rosa, Eleanor Davis, Lucy Knisley and Drew Friedman are all Special Guests of SDCC (everyone else is just a Rad as Hell Guest). Find us at the usual spot booth #1718     Wednesday, July 23rd 6:30-8pm: Don Rosa Thursday, July…

This week's pink cotton candy goodness of Online Commentaries and Diversions: Review: How to Be Happy by Eleanor Davis "A mix of evocative, geometric watercolors and fluid pen-and-ink cartoons, How to Be Happy tells stories of sad people, lonely people, strong people, confident people, all trying to find a tiny bit of happiness in life…Davis’ clever and sometimes jaw-droppingly beautiful artwork makes those stories feel real." – Dan Kois, Slate Book Review "The use of Adam and Eve’s human bodies to communicate to one another, to seek the bliss that’s coming, to lift that weight, is the image Davis wants…

The London Film and Comic Con held its inaugural awards ceremony for the True Believer Awards over the weekend. The Secret History of Marvel Comics by Blake Bell and Dr. Michael J. Vassallo received an award for the Best Comics Related Book Category    Exposing the seamy underside of Martin Goodman's publishing empire, this never-before-told history of Goodman's pulps and scandal sheets and the Marvel artists who worked for them is chock full of unseen art. Blake Bell is also the editor for our sumptuous Steve Ditko Archives. Congrats!

  This is your official warning to bring your heavy duty bags and library book carts because here are our San Diego Comic Con graphic novel and comic debuts. Need a workout? Well, you're gonna get it by grasping our beautiful tomes to your chest as you happily leave, arms full from a fun time at Fantagraphics, booth #1718!   How to Be Happy is Eleanor Davis's first collection of graphic/literary short stories collecting the best stories she's drawn for Mome, Nobrow, and Lucky Peach, as well in her own self-published comics. Davis achieves a rare, subtle poignancy in her narratives that are at once…

Joe Sacco has long been known and praised for his work in comics journalism, with such titles as Palestine, Safe Area Gorazde, and The Fixer garnering widespread acclaim in The New York Times, TIME magazine, NPR, and The Los Angeles Times Book Review. Now, Sacco is returning to his satirist and underground cartoonist roots with the upcoming title BUMF Vol. 1: I Buggered the Kaiser. This in-your-face, no-holds-barred book is expected out later this fall. Feast your eyes on our downloadable 17-page excerpt (4.9 MB) here. And get ahead of the game — pre-order your copy now!

  Saturday, July 19th  To call this a mega signing might actually be selling this Meltdown Comic event short. Their week of preview events leading up to San Diego Comic-con is kicking off with a signing that literally has too many people to fit on a marquee, and they're not even done adding more comic super stars! But here are just a few of the people you can expect to chit chat with this Saturday: Jaime Hernandez, Gilbert Hernandez, Gerard Way, Becky Cloonan, Jim Mahfood, Eric Esquivel, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Felipe Smith, Hannah Partlow, Tom Pinchuk, and the best up-and-coming comic talent, Natalie…

Saturday, July 12th Just because it's last minute, doesn't mean it's not worth the mention, because according to this flyer, it's going to be the GREATEST SIGNING OF ALL TIME. Beloved Chapel Hill Comics is switching ownership hands, but before current owner, Andrew passes off the keys, he's going out with a bang. Come help support local comic books stores, artists and the industry by hanging out with some of the best in the biz. We're patiently waiting for the second volume of Ed Piskor's New York Times Bestseller, Hip Hop Family Tree. But in the mean time, he's taking the time to sign books with…

Oh happy day! Just arrived and shipping now from our mail-order department: How to Be Happyby Eleanor Davis 152-page color/b&w 7.75" x 10.125" hardcover • $24.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-740-6 See Previews / Order Now Write a story. A story about yourself. A story about your life. Now, believe it. This is Eleanor Davis's first collection of observational, graphic short stories. Tinged with science fiction and fantasy, these stories are grounded in contemporary life: middle management goes searching for Eden; two sisters, inside environmental suits, say goodbye to their father; people try to fill inner voids with babies and yoga and gluten-free bread….

Here in all its unfettered glory: the final slipcase cover art for Daniel Clowes' highly anticipated The Complete Eightball 1-18! This mouthwatering, two-volume hardcover slipcase will include over 450 pages of vintage Clowes artwork, some never before reprinted, AND brand new artwork that Clowes created specifically for this set! The Complete Eightball will be out later this fall. Keep your eyeballs peeled for more news and previews in the following weeks. But really, you want to make sure you have your copy safely pre-ordered, right?

In honor of Joe Shuster's 100th birthday, which would have been today, Drew Friedman created this portrait of Siegel and Shuster working on their creation: Superman. Writer Jerry Siegel would have also been 100 this year in October! For more amazing portraits of comic book and newspaper strip greats, check out Friedman's new book Heroes of the Comics, available for pre-order AND debuting at San Diego Comic-Con (details of Drew's signing schedule at our booth #1718 soon!).