Congratulations to all of the 2017 inductees and nominees for the Eisner Hall of Fame! This years judges have already chosen four names to include in the induction including cartoonist Milt Gross, Golden Age Wonder Woman co-creator H.G. Peter, Spy vs Spy‘s Antonio Prohias, and underground cartoonist Dori Seda. Four more inductees will be chosen by voters from the following list of 17 nominees, and announced at the 2017 Eisner Awards Ceremony during Comic-Con International in San Diego. The Nominees: Peter Bagge Howard Cruse Steve Englehart Justin Green Roberta Gregory Bill Griffith Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez Francoise Mouly Jackie Ormes George Pérez P. Craig…
A Digital Dose of Elder and Sala
Today’s digital releases present us with a new look at old work by two of the all-time great cartoonists. The Million Year Picnic and Other Stories is another fantastic collection in our EC Library and the very first highlighting the work of Will Elder. The collection includes all 15 of Elder’s humorous Panic stories (“The Night Before Christmas” got the first issue banned in the entire state of Massachusetts!), all seven of his tales from the pages of Weird Science and Weird Fantasy, and a special horror story that hasn’t been seen since its original publication more than 60 years ago….
Re/Read: Like a Dog by Zak Sally
Re/Read is a periodic feature by Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid that examines backlist books you may have missed or are worthy of another read. I recently had a conversation with Fantagraphics editorial assistant (and Yeti Press publisher) R. J. Casey where we discussed our mutual admiration for pioneering small press publisher, musician, educator, and cartoonist Zak Sally. I was reminded of my fondness for his wildly entertaining and enlightening anthology, Like a Dog. Zak Sally is a modern Renaissance artist. A former member of indie rock band Low, he is also proprietor of the adventurous La Mano press in Minneapolis,…
First Digital Release of 2017
Welcome back for another year of tablet-tempting digital releases as well as backlist barnburners. This week, we’ve got both! Up first is the second giant collection in the Complete Crepax project: The Time Eaters and Other Stories. Spanning the 1960s–1980s, this science fiction themed volume features Guido Crepax’s adventuress Valentina as well as two more of the famed Italian erotic artist’s heroines. Marianna is a mysterious friend, Belinda is a motorcycle-driving, pop art action star, and in “The Time Eater,” Valentina meets a curious couple in an asylum and is caught in a Rube Goldberg-like death trap. All of this…
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…
Re/Read: No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics
Re/Read is a regular feature by Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid drawing attention to backlist books you may have missed or deserve another look. This time we’ll discuss No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics, edited by Justin Hall. Comics frequently play a prominent role in social justice movements. Such is the case in the LGBTQ community, as demonstrated by No Straight Lines. Cartoonist Justin Hall carefully curated a comprehensive anthology of contemporary comics covering themes of coming out, the response to the AIDS crisis, and current issues and attitudes facing the LGBTQ community. His insightful introduction…
The Year’s Last Digital Backlog Bonanza
We’re in the last week of the year, but we’ve got time for one more backlog dump before you hang up the new calendars. Working with comiXology and Google Play, we’re attempting to provide you with the best of our back catalog including these four books that are available digitally for the very first time: Nijigahara Holograph by Inio Asano Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental by Drew Friedman and Josh Alan Friedman From Shadow to Light: The Life and Art of Mort Meskin by Steven Brower Mascots by Ray Fenwick HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU…
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…
Re/Read: Palestine by Joe Sacco
Re/Read is a regular feature by Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid examining backlist books you may have missed or are worth another look. As much of the world’s attention turns to developments in the Middle East over two thousand years ago, I engage in my annual ritual of re-reading Joe Sacco’s Palestine. Shortly after arriving at Fantagraphics Books in 1992 as marketing and promotions director, Kim Thompson handed me blue line proofs of a new project by Joe Sacco. I remember thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” There was precious little precedent for this type of treatment of…
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…
