Fantagraphics Blog FantaBlog

• Inside baseball: in a must-read slice of industry history from the mid-1980s, former Fantagraphics staffer Dave Olbrich comes clean about the debacle of the Jack Kirby Awards. Be sure to check the comments for official reaction from Kim Thompson • Cartoon Brew recommends Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville by Ted Stearn • Comics – History & Price Guides takes note of Krazy & Ignatz 1931-1932 by George Herriman • Stella Matutina says Castle Waiting by Linda Medley would "make a great present for the fairy tale-loving feminist in your life" • Rob Clough reviews Sublife Vol. 1 by John Pham • Jim…

Secret Headquarters Presents: Ted Stearn'sFuzz and Pluck: SplitsvilleJoin us for drinks this Friday the 19th at 8pm Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville tells the hilariously bizarre adventures of Pluck, an irritable and featherless rooster, and his best pal, the awkwardly unsocialized but lovable teddy bear known as Fuzz. These two usually inseparable and co-dependent misfits find themselves suddenly separated and alone. Pluck vows to establish his place in the world's pecking order by becoming a champion gladiator, while the more demure Fuzz finds himself a POW in a stuffed animal collection, only to escape and befriend a mercurial ferryman who recruits…

This has already made the internet rounds a bit but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention it: Jeremy Eaton reflects on drawing under the influence. Just what the heck kind of debauchery was going on at those Action Suits recording sessions, anyway?

If you want your order to arrive before Christmas, tomorrow (Friday, December 19) is the FINAL day to get your order in and you MUST select the 2nd Day UPS shipping option! Hop to it! Our handy Holiday Gift Guide will help you find lots of gift ideas for every interest and budget!

… spot Fred the Clown in this Futurama Comics #39 page?   Thanks to Chris Reilly! 

• The Village Voice places Where Demented Wented: The Art and Comics of Rory Hayes and Most Outrageous: The Trials and Tespasses of Dwaine Tinsley and Chester the Molester by Bob Levin on its list of "2008's Best Comics, Clip Art, and Pedophilia" • Pol Culture looks at The Lagoon by Lilli Carré • Bob Fingerman presents outtakes from his upcoming book with us, Connective Tissue

This week comics shops across the U.S. are scheduled to receive one new book from us: Zippy: Welcome to Dingburg by Bill Griffith. Hit that link for more info and previews of this brand new Zippy the Pinhead collection.

From J. Otto …

But isn't that what the internet and Photoshop were made for? * Thank you Eric Buckler for always sharing the mail.

…is the superb Day Four entry of Thomas Allen's "12 Days of Tasteless Christmas Ornaments," which I believe you can follow on his Facebook page. (I don't know Facebook so if you're interested in the rest of the days, go search for him there.)