Fantagraphics Blog FantaBlog

Mark Toddfragmentsnew worksLa Luz De Jesus GalleryLos Angeles, CAJanuary 2nd – February 1st, 2009artist reception Jan. 2nd 8-11 PMwww.laluzdejesus.comwww.marktoddillustration.com Official announcement: In this new exhibition Mark Todd shows an ever deepening interest in deconstructing comic art from his childhood. "The main difference between 'Fragments' and my last showing at La Luz de Jesus is that the works seem to be getting more abstracted and there is more collage elements working into the pieces on paper," states Todd who took his first creative cues from comic books and Star Wars. In this collection of works it is apparent that these two…

• Entertainment Weekly ranks Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw #5 on their "Best Fiction of 2008" list • The Oklahoman's Nerdage blog names Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw and The Education of Hopey Glass by Jaime Hernandez two of the top ten of "2008's best graphic novels" • comiXology's "Top Ten Comics of 2008" includes Tales Designed to Thrizzle #4 by Michael Kupperman (#8), Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw (#3) and Ganges #2 by Kevin Huizenga (#1) • Newsarama's "Top 5: Best Archival Comics, 2008" includes Jules Feiffer's Explainers (#3) and E.C. Segar's Popeye Vol. 3: "Let's…

As part of a series highlighting Seattle poets, The Stranger features the work of Nico Vassilakis, who daylights as Fantagraphics' warehouse manager. (Above, Nico's most recent book, Text Loses Time.)

More on this story as it develops.

Above, part 1 of a 4-part VBS.TV interview with Gary Panter (wherein he discusses, among other things, the status of our long-delayed collection of his Dal Tokyo strips). Link to part 2, part 3 and part 4, plus a bonus clip.

• In The Patriot-News, Chris Mautner bestows his "Moxie Awards" for best comics of 2008, with several of our titles awarded top honors or runner-up status, including Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw, Willie & Joe: The WWII Years by Bill Mauldin, Explainers by Jules Feiffer, Where Demented Wented by Rory Hayes, Love and Rockets: New Stories by the Hernandez Brothers, Most Outrageous by Bob Levin and more And some holiday greetings from: • Tom Kaczynski • Steven Weissman • Steve Brodner

  From now through the end of the year, take 25% OFF EVERYTHING  on Fantagraphics.com by using the following coupon code at checkout: 25OFF08 PLUS, select FREE STANDARD U.S. SHIPPING (UPS Ground or USPS Media Mail to P.O. boxes) on all orders of $50 and over! It's our biggest and best sale ever and it only lasts through December 31, 2008!  The discount is applied only at checkout and you must use the coupon code when you order to get it, so spread the word and write yourself a sticky note so you don't forget!

Only one today:  • Duncan Cumming looks at Joe Sacco's Palestine

I thought I saw one source say that Beasts! Book 2 was going to arrive in comic shops this week, but it's not on the official list. Maybe give a call to your local shop — you'll want to do that anyway, to confirm their holiday hours. Otherwise, nothing from us is scheduled to ship this week.