Wow. Jim has arrived in our office, and we can't put it down! Page after page of Jim Woodring's surreal, fantastical drawings await you as you follow the author's eponymous alter-ego through a continually-shifting landscape and delve into his myriad collection of images and prose. Here is a brief glimpse to whet your appetite before this 'notorious autojournal' hits stores in September. Go here for the 21-page preview and to pre-order your copy. Go on. Delight your senses. You deserve it.
Cartoon Art Museum Highlight: Andrew Farago
The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco has featured artwork by many of our caroonists from Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez to a future M.K. Brown show. Currently on exhibit is Pretty In Ink: The Trina Robbins Collection from now until August 24th, 2014 (postcard pictured above). We pulled Andrew Farago, curator at CAM, aside for a few quick questions about the process of getting a show ready. What do you look for when choosing works from a singular artist/cartoonist? Is it a plan to arrange them visually by era or area (like if they did paintings, cel animation, comics)? "It depends" is my basic answer…
Friedman, Baseball, Fantagraphics and You
Casey Stengel had a blunderously beautiful career in baseball. From inconsequential outfielder in the '20s, to worst won-lost record as a mangaer of the Dodgers, to winning five consecutive world championships as Yankees manager. Drew Friedman, hailed as the most prolific portraitist, captured the 1966 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in his Bronx Bomber blues, and is selling high quality prints in a limited set. The signed and numbered beauties are available from Friedman's fine are website for only $150. A necessitiy for history and baseball buffs. As a lover of sports and art, you know that we at Fantagraphics love…
Seattle WA: Short Run Presents GRIDLORDS
Saturday, June 21 Seattle, WA: The multi-sensory live performance art show, Gridlords, will be debuting performance #23 on June 21st, a special presentation by the ever expanding independent comic show, Short Run. What is Gridlords? No two performances are the same, but in essence, this monthly experimental art show based out of Portland combines various artistic mediums built around a narrative. Mediums in the past have included live music, comic readings, animations, and artist lectures. Seattle is honored to host their first show outside of Portland, and Fantagraphics is honored to watch Mome cartoonist, Andrice Arp's presentation of a film that inspirationaly highlights the…
Quimby’s might have found the TWELVE GEMS
Cartoonist and all around badass, Lane Milburn, will be appearing at Quimby's Bookstore in August for his Twelve Gems launch party. August 30th at 7pm, you better have your intergalatic party hats on or ELSE. Somewhere in the outer cosmos, beyond reckoning or observation, the mysterious Dr. Z has enlisted three space heroes, Furz, Venus, and Dogstar, to search the galaxy for the fabled Twelve Gems of Power. Milburn's book is is full of wall-to-wall humor and action for science fiction fans, adventure-lovers and connoisseurs of the undergroun comix aesthetic. You do not want to miss this rad cartoonist or his debut Fantagraphics graphic novel! Quimby's…
An Age of License by Lucy Knisley – Excerpt
August just keeps looking better and better! Among the dizzyingly beautiful books we're excited to bring to you in two months is best-selling cartoonist Lucy Knisley's newest book, a travelogue documenting her trip throughout Europe in the fall of 2011. An Age of License follows Lucy as she navigates new countries, new experiences, and new romance, all rendered in an often-whimsical, sometimes stream-of-consciousness style that perfectly captures her moments of introspection between the memories she captures on the road. This part narration, part sketchbook format takes us right into Lucy's thoughts and revelations. Download the 22-page excerpt and, to continue…
Heroes of the Comics by Drew Friedman – First Look
High quality paper stock, full-page color plates, legendary comic creators — that's right, Drew Friedman's finely curated portraits of the comic book pioneers of our time, Heroes of the Comics, is hot off the printers! We are thrilled to give you this sneak peek before its August debut. Inside, you'll find over 80 lovingly rendered portraits alongside a short essay that summarizes each person's life, work, and contribution to the world of comics. This homage to comic book history is not to be missed — pre-order yours today!
This Week in Fantagraphics Events: 6/2-6/8
Thursday, June 5th Phoenix, AZ: It's supposed to be 109F in Phoenix, so if you're looking to escape the heat in a large air conditioned convention center, consider going to Phoenix Comicon! Fantagraphics artists Don Rosa (Donald Duck) and Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree) will be on hand to sign, and chat about their upcoming releases with Fantagraphics! This four day show runs from June 5th-8th. (More details) Saturday, June 7th Olympia, WA: The birthplace of alternative everything, Olympia, will host the 2014 Olympia Comics Festival on Saturday, June 7th, and special guests include Jesse Reklaw and Charles Burns! They will be signing books and participating…
Employee Highlight: Keeli McCarthy
We've recently had some new blood join our satanic circle in comics and are proud to highlight them. Meet Keeli McCarthy, one of our designers. She's currently working on many books for us, too many but she's a tough nut. What other jobs and experiences have you had in comics?I was the first female employee at a shop called Atomic Comics in the mid-90s in Phoenix. I was hired as the "alternative comics" person. I diverted a lot of questions about Image release dates with "um, how about checking out that Julie Doucet book there in the corner?" What was…
Cork High and Bottle Deep by Virgil Partch – Photoset Preview
"The dazzlingly demented Virgil Partch was seemingly born with a drink in one hand and a brush in the other." — Comics Bulletin "Hilarious, subtly subversive, and unique for his time, Virgil Partch was a 20th-century gag cartoonist whose 'pleasingly grotesque style' still delights people today…" — The Rumpus "Partch's madcap — often bawdy and even a little naughty — style was immediately recognizable and oft times laugh out loud funny." — Heroes Online Cork High and Bottle Deepby Virgil Partch 184-page black & white/color 6.75" x 6.75" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-716-1 Due to arrive in about 2-4 weeks. Click…
