Let the chill of the early evening air fill your lungs as you head over to Challengers Comics + Conversation on Sunday, March 22nd to get all* your comics signed by Peter Bagge. His newest book is a collection of the DC comic, Sweatshop, which discusses seedy underbelly of the comic book industry. Originally published as a six-issue series by DC Comics in 2003 this is one of the best and most undervalued works of one of the key voices of his generation. This Sunday evening soiree starts at 6pm. Sweatshop focuses on the unhappy, out-of-touch cartoonist, Mel Bowling. As the hand behind a…
Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize nominees
We are a lucky company to have such fantastic cartoonists at Fantagraphics. Olivier Schrauwen's Arsene Schrauwen, Jaime Hernandez's The Love Bunglers AND Eleanor Davis' How to Be Happy are up for an award. This time it is the Slate and the Center for Cartoon Studies Studio Prize. The dual team released shortlists for the print and webcomic divisions. "The winner in each of our two categories will be announced April 6; each winner will receive $1,000 and, of course, eternal glory. The shortlists were selected by Slate Book Review editor Dan Kois; the faculty and students at the Center for Cartoon Studies, represented by CCS Fellow Sophie Yanow; and…
Dripping with Fear: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 5 – Photoset Preview
Praise for previous volumes in The Steve Ditko Archives: "Even though he'd only been working in comics for a couple of years when he drew these 1956 tales, they already display Ditko's distinctively cockeyed style and his characteristically powerful compositions. […] As Bell remarks in his insightful introduction, what makes Ditko's early work notable is 'the dichotomy between what he was given and what he was able to accomplish.'" – Gordon Flagg, Booklist "[In] Fantagraphics' second volume of Ditko's portfolio… Ditko moves away from gore to short sci-fi tales, yet his grasp at relaying natural character depth and dramatic heft…
Peter Bagge: Conversations
Hear ye, hear ye! Fans of Peter Bagge, Hate, the Bradleys and comics history will be happy to hear that a new book has just hit the bookstores: Peter Bagge: Conversations by Kent Worchester and the University Press of Mississippi. Get the quippy and quirky interviews that also include some previously unavailable material! We can add this to Bagge's growing list of publishers carrying his comics and work: Fantagraphics, D&Q, IDW, Dark Horse…. From the University Press of Mississippi description: "For fans of Peter Bagge (b. 1957) and his bracingly satirical writing and drawing, this collection offers the perfect means to track his career choices,…
Chicago: Lucy Knisley at Women & Children First
Friday, March 20th Chicago, IL – "Shop as Independently as You Think" is a handy moto for the progressive Chicago bookstore, Women & Children First. Though they take their name from an adage of weakness, nothing could be more empowering than the books you'll find lining the walls of this Northside store. And on the 20th of March, you'll also find a Lucy Knisley participating in a Q&A session about her newest Fantagraphics release, Displacement: A Travelogue. Her full color autobiographical journey captures the heartbreak and motivation of caring for your aging family as she accompanies her eldery grandparents on a weeks long…
Food (Comics) for Thought
Cartoonist Wilfred Santiago recently highlighted a recipe inspired on a scene from Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade. Cook some of MJ's Peaches French Toast to please not only your taste buds but your loved ones. It looks so tasty but only if you use fresh peaches as Jordan recommends. Ella Woods also wrote a short article on fanzines and how the Michael Jordan epiloque was based off some physical fanzines about music. She poses the question, how does one finish a biography when the subject is still living? If you want to find out, you'll need to read Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade!
EC Comics Slipcase Volume 2 – Photoset Preview
"EC Comics' output of crime, horror, and war comics have been reprinted and collected multiple times, but never like in Fantagraphics’ new 'EC Comics Library,' which repackages some of the most influential comics ever published in writer/artist-driven volumes, printed in black and white." – The A.V. Club "Fantagraphics' current series of handsome hardcovers makes familiar material fresh by focusing on individual artists… it's never been easier to appreciate the contributions of these iconic inkslingers." – Chicago Tribune "Fantagraphics has been inventing unique ways to publish [this] treasure trove of '40s and '50s crime, horror and war comics." – The Toronto…
Wuvable Oaf by Ed Luce – Excerpt
The exceptionally hairy ex-wrestler Oaf lives in San Francisco, taking care of his 27 cats while looking for romance in the City by the Bay. Wuvable Oaf is a unique romance story and artist Ed Luce's debut graphic novel. We are pleased to present this 14-page downloadable excerpt for your perusal, which includes the first chapter of "Oaf's Story" plus the first of Luce's ongoing single-page "Worst Dates Ever" strips. Wuvable Oaf delivers laughs, sweet romance, and a diverse cast of characters—both human and feline. Look for the book this April, or do one better and pre-order it today!
LOS ANGELES: The Kurdles Art Show and Release Party
LOS ANGELES – This April, the one and only Secret Headquarters is hosting an art show and release party featuring watercolor pages from Robert Goodin's most excellent new comic, The Kurdles. The opening reception for the exhibition is on Friday, April 3rd at 7pm. The show will remain up from April 3rd-April 30th. When Sally the bear gets tossed by her own owner, she finds herself helping a rag-tag group of characters when their house threatens to grow legs and leave! Reminiscent of The Brave Little Toaster or Herge's Tintin, The Kurdles is an all-ages comic spiced up with a teaspoon of strange and is…
Angry Youth Comix by Johnny Ryan – Photoset Preview
"More than worth its price in pure mirth. But there’s more! …This newest issue sees the artist’s signature series move further than ever into straight-up horror/exploitation territory, without losing a lot of ground in comedy. …Fascinating work." – Jog The Blog "A lot of people’s Top Ten Favorite-est Comics of the Year lists this year will involve comics about Israel or the exquisite sadness of being an Asian man who likes blondes, all that stuff; mine will involve cheeseburger-flavored semen…? I got dropped on my head a lot as a baby." – Abhay Kholsa, The Savage Critics "The new Angry…
