Fantagraphics Blog FantaBlog

Artist Femke Hiemstra has launched a fantastic new website, FEMTASIA. If you haven't heard of her yet, Fantagraphics will be publishing Hiemstra's first art collection, ROCK CANDY, in the late Spring of this year, so you will soon.

 In the February 2009 issue, DISCOVER magazine will launch the first in a series of comic strips illustrated by our good pal Peter Bagge.  Bagge's "History of Science" comic will present the characters and events of science history in a fresh and irreverent light, sure to capture the eyes of DISCOVER's readers and blind them with science. DISCOVER's February issue hits newsstands January 13, 2009.  

  Over the holidays John Kerschbaum sent me an amazing poster that he recently completed for NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's a Family Guide/Map of the entire museum with seemingly every artifact in the museum drawn into it, a maze of detail that would make Will Elder proud and that will spellbind kids in ways that I bet the Met has trouble doing sometimes, unfortunately. Cartoons to the rescue! The poster is available for free at the museum.  Just ask for a "Family Map" at the main info desk in the Great Hall.  The Museum is currently working on a swanky version available…

  Esther Pearl Waston – "Visons of the Future"Exhibition: January 10 – February 7, 2009Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10th, 7-10 pmwith a performance by Party People.  billy shire fine arts5790 washington blvd.Culver City, CA3232970600 "Visions of the Future" opens January 10, 2009 with a performance by the "Party People; " space-themed music will play through a Commodore computer-the perfect complement to Watson's father's futuristic visions using outdated engines and computers. Of particular interest to comics fans: the opening reception will include the world premiere of Esther's new book, UNLOVABLE, in limited quantities! I love this book so much and hope you will, too….

I recently purchased this original art by Jefferson Machamer, whom I first disliked, then loved. And here I talk about my impressions of his approach in general and this piece in particular in both analytical and personal terms, should the Flog reader be interested. [PS: Are there any great comics writers out there who want to do a book on Machamer?]

Our lull continues, with no new Fantagraphics releases scheduled to arrive in comic shops this week. Check back each week for updates.

 The Seattle Public Library will be hosting "Comixtravaganza," a series of events celebrating comics, manga, graphic novels and artists. Events will take place at several Library branches in January, with the finale taking place Jan. 31 at the Central Library. Check out their blog for updates. We're taking part, as always, and the great Linda Medley is coming up for the finale — I believe it will be her first ever event in Seattle. The events are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Doors will open 15 minutes before the events. Parking in the Central Library garage will be…

Jim Blanchard will have 16 recent paintings on exhibit at Wall Of Sound Records in Seattle from January 9 through February 28. The show is titled EYEBALL FATIGUE, as apt a descriptive of what Blanchard's seizure-inducing detail will do to you as any. Opening Night is this Friday, January 9, from 7-9 PM. Jim will be there with his goat "Earl," I'm told. Wall Of Sound is located in Capitol Hill at 315 East Pine Street, right by the Bauhaus coffee shop.

I would love to put out this work-in-progress:  It doesn't hurt that I am close, personal friends with all of the animals in this book. 

  More info here. I'm told "the dude Andy who runs things goes insanely in-depth," so it should be fun to see what he pulls out of Publishers Weekly's Graphic Novel of 2008.