Fantagraphics Blog

Saturday, September 27 We've been using the Latin alphabet since roughly 700 B.C., but as a language, and an art form, it's continuously evolving. Niko Vassilakis has been astutly aware of it's possibilies as an aural, oral, and ocular medium, and seeks to combine all those senses familiar with words and the alphabet into a visual display of poetry. Vassilakis compiled and edited the book The Last Visual Anthology: Visual Poetry 1998-2008 (or, Vispo), and is continuing his work with a new show titled, ALPHABETO DIGITALES, opening on September 27 with a reception! Join us at 100% Cafe in the Bronx from 6-8 pm, where…

EC Comics fans, rest easy! Here is the cover art for the next book in our highly regarded EC Comics Library series, Aces High. In this eleventh volume, we highlight cartoonist George Evans and his spectacular aviation-themed artwork, along with plenty of his crime and horror stories, written by himself, Harvey Kurtzman, Al Feldstein, et al. More previews of Evans' high flying tales of derring-do to come, but you can go ahead and pre-order your copy now.

In a Glass Grotesquely by Richard Sala 136-page color 7" x 7" softcover • $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-60699-797-0 Ships in: November 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now A suite of related short mysteries and thrills, all depicted in Sala's trademark colorful watercolor washes and sharp, detailed line-work. Rising from the crumbling pages of some forgotten (and nonexistent) pulp magazine comes the diabolical villain Super-Enigmatix. Following in the bloody footsteps of master criminals such as Fantomas, Fu Manchu, or Professor Moriarty, Super-Enigmatix is ruthless, cunning, and thoroughly evil. His only goal is to spread fear and cause chaos — but does…

This week's bone-crunchingly, lip-smackingly tasty platter of Online Commentaries and Diversions: Review: Heroes of the Comics: Portraits of the Legends of Comic Books by Drew Friedman "Shirt-sleeves rolled up, bent over drawing boards, puffing on cigarettes, the heroes of the remarkable artist Drew Friedman’s new book aren’t super ones, they’re the (mostly) guys who created Batman, Spider-Man, Plastic Man, and many others." – Ken Tucker, Playboy Interview: Gil Roth interviews Drew Friedman and Sara Lippmann in his podcast.   Review: Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2: 1981-1983 by Ed Piskor "Every name comes with a face attached, and Piskor’s nimble,…

Friday, September 19 Silvermine Arts Center of Norwalk, CT is hosting a month long art exhibit that is all about that funky art of Jim Flora. An opening reception is scheduled for September 19th, from 6-8 pm to celebrate and groove to the iconic jazz inspired pieces. Currated by the co-archivist of the Jim Flora collection, Irwin Chusid has included some never seen before original paintings, woodblock carvings and intaglios.  The exhibit, The Mischievious Art of Jim Flora: A Fine Art Retrospective will run from September 20 – November 2. But if you can't make it out to Connecticut (though you really…

Fresh from the gothic-surreal mind that brought us The Squirrel Machine, Cochlea & Eustachia collects artist Hans Rickheit's newest mindbending, beautifully cryptic work. Two scantily-dressed twin girls explore the shabby, labyrinthic Victorian mansion that appears to be their home, making mischief with the house's other denizens and prying deep into the myriad mysteries that seem to occupy every crook and nanny of this strange building. Stay tuned for upcoming previews for this haunting, surreal book. We're almost-but-not-quite ready to start taking pre-orders, but will let you know as soon as the presale goes up.

Hot on the tail of our first, recently released Don Rosa Library book, here is the cover for Volume 2: Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: Return to Plain Awful, filled with another dozen or so tales spun by the great Don Rosa. In the titular story—and a direct nod to Carl Barks's Lost in the Andes—Rosa takes us back to the angular world of Plain Awful, where square chickens hatch square eggs, and round objects are the single worst sacrilege imaginable. Pre-order the book now for a November delivery, and stay tuned for more previews to come!

Tuesday, September 16 Philadelphia, PA: The Wild Boyz Tour is wildin out in Philly tonight with a signing at Locust Moon Comics. In addition to Hanselmann, Deforge, and Kyle, they will be joined by Annie Mok, Noel Freibert, and Portland extraordinaire, Farel Dalrymple. This signing begins at 7 pm, but the good times continue the next day (17th) at LAVA Space when everyone magically turns into musicians! (More Details)   Friday, September 19 Seattle, WA: The highly anticipated follow up to the acclaimed books, The Hive and X'ed Out, is finally being released and long time friend-of-Fanta and author, Charles Burns will be back in…

One of the best parts of Austin, Texas is its extreme love for good art and great design. Whether it's a local band playing, new shirt shop or the annual Flatstock or Mondo, the boutique line from Alamo Drafthouse, there is a lot of good stuff on hand. But NOW the aforementioned Mondo is having its own con! And guess who's going to be there? Our great pals, Secret Headquarters! The Daves and Julie of Secret Headquarters sent us some sweet photos of some of the prints they are carrying including the Winsor McCay print called When Black Death Rode (with a horse face…

Monday, Monday, Monday! Eleanor Davis is giving her LAST performance of the How to Be Happy tour at Brooklyn comic shop, Desert Island, 7-9m. You may have gotten your book signed at Brooklyn Book Festival but you haven't L I V E D until you've seen Eleanor give her talk on the relationship of art and the artist.    How to Be Happy is a New York Times Best Selling book that we are already reprinting! Here's what some critics have recently said about Eleanor's fine work:   "…her stories often feature tremendous longing and sadness, but they also lushly suggest what a blessing it…