Fantagraphics Blog

The fresh-popped Online Commentaries & Diversions: • Review: Publishers Weekly discusses The Hypo by Noah Van Sciver, "Van Sciver’s psychologically astute examination of what might be termed Abraham Lincoln’s “lost years” (1837–1842) is as gripping and persuasive as the best historical fiction. . .This characterization of Lincoln is thoroughly human and identifiable, tracking a shadowy but formative period in the very uneven life of a man who shows little signs of becoming known as one of the greatest Americans. A thoroughly engaging graphic novel that seamlessly balances investigation and imagination." Wow! • Plug: Publishers Weekly also posted a 6 page…

Word's been buzzing around for a while that Dave Cooper & Johnny Ryan were developing an animated show for kids together and once we picked the pieces of our heads up off the floor we've all been eager to see the results. Well here it is, and now we have pieces of head all over the place again. PigGoatBananaMantis! was written by Johnny, art-directed by Dave, and animated by Nick Cross. (See the full list of credits on the YouTube page.) What do they call this, a pitch reel? Demo? I dunno, but whatever cable network executive passed on this…

    GOOD GRIEF! Exhibition of Original Art from 50 Years of Charles M. Schulz’s PEANUTS This just in from Ben Saunders, Professor of English, at the University of Oregon about an upcoming show of original Charles Schulz artwork at U. of O.'s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) on exhibition from September 1st, 2012 through December. Charlie Brown is nowadays immediately recognizable as an archetype of pop-existentialism. He is a loser-everyman, a cartoon representation of perennial human disappointment; but even at his most desperate, he has somehow never lost the capacity to make us laugh. His canine companion, Snoopy,…

  Wilfred Santiago of 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente is at it again but this time with book Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade. Driven, frenetic panels and art from Santiago's new book are online and updated regularly until its release in late 2013. Check it out today! And just in case, the picture above also shows you how to scroll through these larger than life pictures.

  In the third series of comics to be released digitally after Love and Rockets going digital, Johnny Ryan's favorite thing to draw in public restrooms and critically-acclaimed humor series Angry Youth Comix #1-4 are now available to download via comiXology. Taboo-tackling cartoonist Johnny Ryan raises the bar on what you can and can't do in comics, so much so that these titles too extreme for iTunes. The ground-breaking issues of this series are pillars — wait, sinking cement blocks of exactly how low you can go and are available for $1.99 each at the comiXology store. Join friends like…

Just arrived and shipping now from our mail-order department: The Complete Peanuts 1985-1986 (Vol. 18) by Charles M. Schulz 344-page black & white 8.5" x 7" hardcover • $28.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-572-3 See Previews / Order Now Peanuts reaches the middle of the go-go 1980s in this book, which covers 1985 and 1986: a time of hanging out at the mall, “punkers” (you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Snoopy with a Mohawk), killer bees, airbags, and Halley’s Comet. And in a surprisingly sharp satirical sequence, Schulz pokes fun at runaway licensing with the introduction of the insufferably merchandisable “Tapioca Pudding.” Also in…

Just arrived and shipping now from our mail-order department: Captain Easy, Soldier of Fortune: The Complete Sunday Newspaper Strips Vol. 3 (1938-1940) by Roy Crane 152-page full-color 10.5" x 14.75" hardcover • $39.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-529-7 See Previews / Order Now SPECIAL OFFER: Order this volume and get Vol. 1 and/or Vol. 2 for $29.99 each; that's 25% off! Make your selection when ordering. “Crane’s work is sheer energy. It’s somewhere between Crane and E.C. Segar that (Carl Barks’ beloved) Donald Duck got forged; the kind of ruddy-cheeked adventurousness that underlies the content is certainly the same work that moves Donald and…

The Fantagraphics family is saddened by the loss of Australian musician Eric "Ren" Reynolds. Former bandmate of current Fantagraphics sales manager Martin Bland (Lubricated Goat) and former warehouse worker Mark Arm (Bloodloss), Reynolds was a longtime Seattle resident. Known affectionately as "Ren," [and commonly as Renestair E.J., Martin informs us – Ed.] we trust people won't be alarmed by his sharing the name of our very-much-alive associate publisher Eric Reynolds. "Ren" was a funny dude and talented musician. We'll miss him. 

It's no coincidence that those Friedman Brothers are funny, funny fellas! (Their Dad happens to be the legendary Oscar-nominated Bruce Jay Friedman!) Find out for yourself how fantastic Josh Alan Friedman is on Friday, September 8th, as he signs copies of the newly-reissued Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead Is Purely Coincidental, a collection that had been out-of-print for twenty years! Not only that, but Josh will be performing a solo, acoustic Blues concert on this occasion! Damn, those Friedmans have some talented genetics. The festivities will be held at The Mason Bar (i.e. Hi-Lo Cabaret), located at 2701…

My best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read. — Abraham Lincoln Be the kind of friend Abe Lincoln would want to have! Join Noah Van Sciver for the release party for The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln! He'll be signing on Tuesday, August 28th at Kilgore Books in Denver, starting at 6:30 PM. Be one of the first to get your hands on the debut graphic novel from this excellent 2012 Ignatz-nominated artist!  Kilgore Books is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, CO at 624 E. 13th Ave (between Washington and Pearl),…