Embroidered Johnny Ryan

Jenny Ryan embroidered this awesome cover for Nickelodeon Mag's "Comic Book" section this month, based on a drawing by her husband, Johnny Ryan. Very cool. From Jenny's Flickr page.

Fanta-ween

Jimb-o-lantern by Eric Reynolds: Cyril Root (from Richard Sala's The Chuckling Whatsit) by Rhea Patton: J.R. Williams' entry in my Yoda sketchbook says it all: Don't forget to send us your photos! Email them to mbaehr at fantagraphics blot blob or add them to our groups on Flickr or Facebook.

New Release: Palestine: The Special Edition

Palestine: The Special Editionby Joe Sacco Fantagraphics Books is pleased to present, for the first time, the definitive, expanded, hardcover collection of Sacco's landmark of comics journalism. Palestine: The Special Edition is more than a new edition: consider it the "Criterion" Palestine. In addition to the original, 288-page graphic novel and introduction by the late Edward Said, The Special Edition includes a host of unique material never before published, including many of Sacco's original background notes, sketches, photographic reference, and much more. The book also includes a new, introductory interview with Sacco about the making of the book as well…

30 Seconds of Spooky

In the service of Halloween (and brevity), Neil Gaiman and several other "personalities" read a tale of terror on the Public Radio this past Saturday. Spooky!

* Giggle

Since I designed the Fantagraphics "Complete Dennis" books, Devlin Thompson sent me the following image thinking I'd be amused. He was right: I really am. There are so many things I mean to be posting and have no time for that this makes me feel guilty… but haw-haw guilty.

Mister Wonderful, Part 7

In Chapter 7 of Mister Wonderful, the action moves out of the cafe while Marshall just tries to hold on for dear life. I hope everyone is reading this strip, it's really been great. It's a slightly different strip for Clowes, and seems perfect for its NYT audience. The main character, Marshall, is already shaping into one of Clowes' most fully realized and endearing characters after a brief seven pages, and the subtle formal play between Marshall's interior monologue, the visual "action" (this week's simple "HA-HA"s hit like brick), and dialogue has been masterful and shows Clowes at the peak…

The Power of Peanuts

Forbes' annual top-earning deceased celebrities list is out, and once again, Charles M. Schulz is near the top of the list, coming in at #3, behind #1 Elvis Presley and sandwiched between two Beatles (after John, ahead of George). I don't know why this thrills me every year, but it does. I mean, the Beatles and Elvis? Sure. But a shy cartoonist from Minnesota? The mind reels. Schulz really was the Beatles of comics. There is one conspicuously absent name not on this list: are we to infer that the Beatles aren't the only celebs more popular than Jesus? (Just…

Flickr contest winner!

Congratulations and thanks to Flickr user Besacalles of Bogotá, Colombia for being the 1000th person to add us as a contact and winning $25 worth of books! Sharpen up your stabbiest pumpkin-carving knife and get rummaging through your closet for costume ideas — we'll be accepting entries for our Fanta-ween contest through Sunday, November 4.