Fantagraphics Blog

The Public Library of Cincinnati is kicking off their very first Comic-Con this Sunday, May 5th, and they couldn't have chosen a better guest than our own Carol Tyler! From 1:00 to 5:00 PM, they will feature a panel discussion with writers and illustrators working in the field (like Carol!), free comic books (in celebration of Free Comic Book Day), a comic book swap, artist and writer's booths, the Comic Con Drawing Contest award ceremony, and more. It's an all-ages event, and a wonderful way to celebrate comics! The Main Cincinnati Library is located at 800 Vine Street. You can…

This month's issue of Booklist reviewed three recent releases by Fantagraphics creators, excerpted below: Barnaby Vol. 1 by Crockett Johnson, edited by Eric Reynolds & Philip Nel (Starred Review) "…his paramount creation was the celebrated if obscure newspaper strip Barnaby, which, from its distinct visual look (minimalist, Thurberesque drawings; typeset word balloons) to its wry, understated humor, was unlike anything else ever to hit the comics page…There have been sporadic reprintings, but this effort, the initial installment in a five-volume series, is the first to collect it in its entirety. Even Mr. O'Malley couldn't conjure up a more welcome endeavor." –…

Just arrived and shipping now from our mail-order department: The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 5: Happy Hippy Comix (New Softcover Ed.) by Robert Crumb 144-page black & white/color 8.5" x 11" softcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-0-930193-92-8 See Previews / Order Now Available with a limited-edition bookplate signed by R. Crumb for an additional $30. The bookplate has been uniquely designed for this book, and each bookplate is printed on acid-free cardstock and hand-signed by the author. Please indicate your preference when adding the item to your shopping cart. Another year's worth of prize Crumb here, folks — including the second issue of…

We're still keeping tabs on our Mome-veteran Andrice Arp, and tonight, Thursday, May 2nd, she has some original artwork debuting at the SoHiTek Gallery in Portland, OR! To celebrate the gallery's birthday, they have curated a show dedicated to our astrological sign, the Taurus. Dig In Your Heels: A Taurus Art Show features work from Sean Christensen ABT, Cameron Hawkey, Graham Kahler, Marsuplala, Mark Quemada, Amber Smith, Daria Tessler, Rebecca Urias, as well as Andrice! She explains on her blog: So maybe I've been looking at too many sci-fi paperback covers from the '70s lately. Whatever, I think maybe it's OK….

Portland, if you missed Dash Shaw last weekend at Stumptown Comics Fest, or if you simply can't get enough of him (we understand),  join him tonight, Thursday, May 2nd, at Floating World Comics for a signing of both his new graphic novel, New School, as well as the one-shot comic book, 3 New Stories. If you weren't one of the lucky few to get your hands on a copy of New School, then you definitely don't want to miss this chance! Library Journal and Paste both named it one of their most-anticipated books of the year. And, as Mike put…

Come one, come all! It's time to spend those tax refunds on something good like some original art from Charles Forsman. You may have first seen his art in the Mome anthology from Fantagraphics but Forsman is a prolific cartoonist with many, many mini-comics under his belt. Above is a page from Snake Oil #6, below from a story in Mome, clocking in just at $100. Get a page or two now before Forsman's two books, The End of the Fucking World and Celebrated Summer come out later this year (and the prices on this type of artwork skyrocket!).

The tantric release of Online Commentaries & Release: • Review: The LA Times and Noel Murray interviews Gilbert Hernandez about Julio's Day, Marble Season (from D&Q), plus the future books Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 and Maria M. LA Times: Gilbert says " ‘Julio’s Day’ is very simple. I mean, there’s a lot of heavy stuff going on, but I wanted it to read like a very simple, direct story." • Interview: comiXology interviews Gilbert Hernandez about his most recent comic Julio's Day on their podcast. • Review: Tom Spurgeon looks at Gilbert Hernandez's latest work, Julio's Day, on…

Don’t miss the action at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, May 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The incomparable Dash Shaw appears to screen animated shorts, discuss his work, and sign comix including advance copies of his ambitious new graphic novel New School. An exhibition of original Shaw drawings will be on display. This event coincides with national Free Comic Book Day. Fantagraphics Bookstore will issue an exclusive 16-page Freak Comic Book mini featuring a stellar cast of local alternative artists. Edited by Intruder contributor Marc Palm, the book includes new works by Max Clotfelter, Kelly Froh, Eroyn Franklin, Tom Van Deusen, Ben…

One of the world's great cartoonists, Jacques Tardi, revisits the subject which drives some of his most passionate work in Goddamn This War!, a chronological, infantry-eye view of the first World War. Our edition of Goddamn's predecessor, It Was the War of the Trenches, was one of the most acclaimed graphic novels of 2010, earning two Eisner awards and a spot on numerous "best of the year" lists. Here's just a sampling of the praise, which could just as well apply to Goddamn:  "The potency of the soldiers' tragic stories is enhanced by the elegance of Tardi's lucid drawing and keen compositions… This…