Local literary luminaries light up Fantagraphics Bookstore on Sunday, April 2 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Danny Bland, Tom Hansen, and Jonathan Evison have deep roots in Seattle’s punk rock music scene. They’ll be joined by Phoenix author Brian Jabas Smith reading from his new book Spent Saints & Other Stories. Tom Hansen has a long association with Seattle’s music scene, having performed in some of the seminal punk bands of the early 80s. His sensational 2010 autobiography, American Junkie, launched an unlikely literary career that includes the novel This is What We Do. Jonathan Evison also has a…
What’s in Store: Socially Relevant Art, Comix and More!
The next few months at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery will feature an amazing array of accomplished artists from across the country and around the world. Please support our efforts at elevating the discussion on important issues facing our global society in these unsettling times. Enlightening entertainment for everyone. This Saturday, February 11, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, Regina Schilling presents Hey Lady #7, a small press publication and exhibition focusing on Sylvia Rivera, the civil rights pioneer who was a crucial voice for people of color, transgendered, and low income communities throughout her life. Over 30 original works by…
What’s in Store: Wood Work
The enduring influence of the late Wallace Wood can’t be overstated. From his work at EC, MAD, Marvel, and beyond, Wood left an indelible mark on American culture that resonates to this day. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery celebrates the legacy of this amazing artist through February 9. Wallace Wood came to prominence with his work for EC comic books, which enjoyed circulation in the millions, but were vilified by politicians, preachers, and crusading child psychologist Dr. Fredric Wertham. Together, they convinced the public that these comics were the cause of juvenile delinquency and social deviance. The establishment of the Comics…
What’s in Store: The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood on January 14
Join us at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, January 14 as we celebrate one of midcentury America’s most influential artists. The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood debuts with an exhibition and slide talk by J. Michael Catron. Wallace Wood was among the most prolific and diverse artists of his era. His work included colorful covers for 1950s science fiction magazines and romance comics before contributing to the wildly popular war, crime, horror, and suspense comics on the notorious EC imprint, prior to its demise as result of the draconian restrictions imposed by the Comics Code Authority. He went…
What’s in Store: Ed Luce at Fantagraphics Bookstore on January 7
Join us at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, January 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM as Bay Area artist Ed Luce presents his latest comix collection, Wuvable Oaf: Blood & Metal. Luce chronicles the adventures of Oaf Jadwiga, a gay former wrestler looking for love in unlikely places. The oversized Oaf lives in The City with a cluster of kittens and a fondness for Morrissey, queercore, and black metal music. The comical adventures and colorful characters in Luce’s work make for a wildly entertaining modern romance – at once outrageous and charming. With a background in fine art, Luce…
What’s in Store: Top Ten of 2016
It’s come time for Fantagraphics Bookstore curator Larry Reid to select my favorite comix of 2016. A tough task this year with so many wonderful new books – a little like choosing which of my children I love the most. The choices are so close this list could easily be reversed. 10. Hey Lady. With a button affixed to the cover of each issue, I was immediately attracted to Regina Schilling’s zines. When I was able to fully absorb the contents, it became clear there was more to these creations than a clever premise and seductive artwork. Schilling selects a…
What’s in Store: 40 Years of Comics As Art
Fantagraphics Books commemorates its 40th anniversary with a series of talks, exhibitions, book signings, performances, and parties celebrating four decades of publishing the world’s greatest contemporary cartoonists. The impressive record of accomplishment and immeasurable influence of this Seattle-based enterprise are chronicled in the new book, We Told You So: Comics as Art, An Oral History of Fantagraphics Books. The festivities begin with a panel discussion on Fantagraphics’ first 40 years on Friday, December 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the elegant Folio library, located at 384 Marion Street in downtown Seattle. Moderated by Fantagraphics publisher and co-founder Gary…
What’s in Store: Short Run Marathon Exhibition
Seattle’s Short Run Comix & Arts Festival has become one of the country’s liveliest celebrations of the independent comix movement. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to again host the Short Run Marathon art exhibition and pre-festival reception this Friday, November 4 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The Marathon exhibition includes paintings, drawings, and prints by an international array of the festival’s featured artists: Dash Shaw, Vanessa Davis, Ivana Pipal, Brendan Kiefer, Phoebe Wall, Trevor Alixopulos, Hatem Imam, and Kerascoët (French cartoonists Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset.) Shaw will screen a clip from his new animated feature, My Entire High School…
What’s In Store: Jim Blanchard’s Visual Abuse
Fantagraphics Books continues its 40th anniversary celebration with a book launch party and exhibition for Visual Abuse: Jim Blanchard’s Graphic Art, 1982 – 2002 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, November 12. Blanchard relocated to Seattle in 1987 from Oklahoma City, where he self-published his popular punk fanzine, Blatch. He soon found work as an art director at Fantagraphics Books, while continuing to create posters and graphics for bands associated with Seattle’s emerging grunge movement. He published several comix on Fantagraphics’ provocative Eros imprint, and later worked as inker for Peter Bagge’s influential Hate comic book series….
What’s in Store: Rock is Not Dead
Join us on Saturday, March 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery as we celebrate the release of Rock is Not Dead, a collection of comix and prose inspired by contemporary pop music. This ambitious publication, from Canada’s 11th Dimension Press, comes complete with a CD of the songs referenced in the book. The event will include a performance by Amy Denio, who is featured on the project covering the Throwing Muses “Not Too Soon” which provided the inspiration for Seattle cartoonist Noel Franklin’s contribution to the book. Other subjects include songs by The Clash, Beatles,…
