Is That All There Is? by Joost Swarte (Softcover Ed. & 2nd Hardcover Ed.) – Previews, Pre-Order

Is That All There Is? (Softcover Ed.) by Joost Swarte 144-page full-color 7.5" x 10.25" softcover • $25.00ISBN: 978-1-60699-628-7 Ships in: September 2012 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Order this book and receive this FBI•MINI comic shown at left as a FREE bonus! Click here for details. Limit one per customer while supplies last. By appropriating and subverting Tintin creator Hergé’s classic “clear line” style, Joost Swarte revitalized European alternative comics in the 1970s with a series of satirical, musically elegant, supremely beautifully drawn short stories — often featuring his innocent, magnificently-quiffed Jopo de Pojo, or his orotund scientist…

The Cavalier Mr. Thompson by Rich Tommaso – Previews, Pre-Order

The Cavalier Mr. Thompson: A Sam Hill Novel by Rich Tommaso 144-page two-color 6" x 9" softcover • $16.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-610-2Published by Recoil Graphic Novels Ships in: September 2012 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Welcome To Big Spring, Texas and The Cavalier Hotel. A place brimming with all manner of colorful characters – horse thieves, roughnecks, shady lawmen, con men, oil barons, gamblers, bootleggers, flappers, dappers, wildcatters, railroad men, drunkards and murderers… But Frank Hill, the proprietor of The Cavalier, has a new hotel dick (Nick Ford) to keep a sharp eye on folks who may cause trouble. Along with…

Daily OCD 8/6/12

 The hottest, sweatiest Online Commentaries & Diversions:    •Review: Ray Olson continues the reading journey of Joe Daly's Dungeon Quest Vol. 3 and reviews it on Booklist Online:  "For at times, the yarn becomes seriously exciting, especially during the travel and fight scenes when everybody clams up. . . Because of Daly’s cartooning chops, nonpareil entertainment." •Plug: Comics Reporter only needs 140 characters sometimes, especially when talking about Joe Daly's work. Tom Spurgeon says on Twitter, "Dungeon Quest Vol. 3 is so good at one point 1000 copies danced around my bed like in an old Warner Brothers cartoon." •Review:…

This Week in Fantagraphics Events: 8/6-8/13

 Thursday, August 9th • Portland, OR: Our lovely editor Justin Hall will be signing No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics at Floating World Comics with special guests Erika Moen, Robert Triptow, and Vaughn Fricke! (more info) Friday, August 10th • Brooklyn, NY: The great Lewis Trondheim is coming all the way from France to help Bergen Street Comics celebrate the world premiere of Ralph Azham Vol. 1: Why Would You Lie to Someone You Love?!!! (more info) Saturday, August 11th • Seattle, WA:  Join Fantagraphics at Booth 214 at the 2nd annual GeekGirlCon! Signing with us today will…

Daily OCD 8/3/12

The newest (and one old one*) Online Commentaries & Diversions:   •Review: The Hypo by Noah Van Sciver gets the Boing-Boing treatment. Brian Heater states,"The Hypo's relatively limited scope afford the cartoonist the ability to approach the historical giant as a human, offering an empathetic examination of a troubled individual destined for greatness."   •Review: Heidi MacDonald is excited about The Hypo as well. On The Beat she thinks,"This could be one of the sleeper books of the fall."     •Review: NPR gives Jaime Hernandez's God and Science the run-around and Glen Weldon states, ". . .a book that…

Lewis Trondheim Book Signing in Brooklyn!

It's no lie! Get ready for the world premiere of Ralph Azham Vol. 1: Why Would You Lie to Someone You Love?, the brand new English-translation from French artist Lewis Trondheim! And, yes, it's true! Lewis Trondheim himself will be in attendance at the book release party on Friday, August 10th at Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn, NY!  Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet one of the greatest living cartoonists of our time! The signing starts at 8:00 PM and is open to the public. Bergen Street Comics is located at 470 Bergen Street, between Flatbush & 5th Avenues….

No Straight Lines Signing in Portland!

We're so excited to have the west coast tour for No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics running (not-)straight through the Pacific Northwest! Join editor Justin Hall for a signing and reading at Floating World Comics in Portland, OR on Thursday, August 9th!  He'll be joined by cartoonists Erika Moen, Robert Triptow, and Vaughn Fricke from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Floating World Comics is located at 400 NW Couch St. in the the heart of the Pearl District. Tell 'em we say hi!

The Crackle of the Frost by Lorenzo Mattotti & Jorge Zentner – Previews, Pre-Order

The Crackle of the Frost by Lorenzo Mattotti & Jorge Zentner 120-page full-color 8" x 10" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-543-3 Ships in: September 2012 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now When confronted with his girlfriend’s request that they have a child together, Samuel fled that relationship. But now, a year later, when he receives a letter from Alice announcing she is expecting a baby, old emotions flare up and he embarks on a long journey to see Alice again — to re-open, or perhaps close forever, that important chapter of his life. The Crackle of the Frost is the story…

Best Comic Book Store in Seattle (read: World)

  In December of 2006, the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery opened its doors. Several hundred signings, shows and new comic Wednesdays later, alt-weekly comic The Seattle Weekly awarded this Georgetown storefront as the Best Comic-Book Store in this year's "BEST OF SEATTLE" issue. Above, the Best of Seattle mascot reads Love and Rocket: New Stories #1 as comic book store curator and impresario Larry Reid looks on in the  fantastic photo popping from the newsprint. Gwendolyn Elliot says, "With current and vintage titles at times political, whimsical, or just downright dirty, this isn't some geeky, grimy comic book store—it's a…