Fantagraphics Blog

Black Images in the Comics (Softcover Ed.) by Fredrik Strömberg 304-page black & white 6" x 6" softcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-562-4 Ships in: May 2012 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now This book spotlights over 100 comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels to feature black characters from all over the world over the last century, and the result is a fascinating journey to, if not enlightenment, then at least away from the horrendous caricatures of yore. The book begins with the habitually appalling images of blacks as ignorant “coons” in the earliest syndicated strips (Happy Hooligan, Moon Mullins, and…

The latest Online Commentary & Diversions: • Commentary: "The completion of Fantagraphics's Krazy [Kat] Sunday series also means, quite possibly, the end of Krazy Kriticism — a brand of writing that, as far as I can tell, only the Kat engenders. Critic Gilbert Seldes first articulated its credo in the 1924 article 'The Krazy Kat That Walks by Himself.' After comparing Herriman to Dickens, Cervantes, and Charlie Chaplin, Seldes threw up his hands: 'It isn't possible to retell these pictures; but that is the only way, until they are collected and published, that I can give the impression of Herriman's…

Study Group editor/impresario Zack Soto recounts his trip from Portland to Seattle last weekend for the opening of the art show he curated at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, which remains on display through June 6. Head on over for fun-time stories and pics of comics pals! And if you haven't checked out the exhibit yet, get yourself down to Georgetown — it's a great show and there are still some pieces left for sale at ridiculously affordable prices!

Join us on consecutive Saturdays in June as Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery welcomes two remarkable cartoonists back to Seattle. Jeffrey Brown will appear on Saturday, June 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. He'll discuss his role as co-writer of the romantic comedy "Save the Date" (which will screen the night before at the Seattle International Film Festival) and sign copies of his new book Darth Vader and Son.    The following Saturday, June 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM we're pleased to present Joe Sacco celebrating his new book Journalism. Visitors to this signing will be among the first in the nation to see the…

What Is All This? (Softcover Ed.) by Stephen Dixon 568-page 5.75" x 8.25" softcover • $22.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-527-3 Ships in: May 2012 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Stephen Dixon is one of the most acclaimed authors of short stories in the history of American letters. His work, characterized by mordant humor and a frank attention to human sexuality, has earned him a Guggenheim Fellowship, the American Academy Institute of Arts and Letters Prize for Fiction, the O. Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Fantagraphics Books is proud to re-present his 2010 hardcover collection of short stories, What Is All This?,…

The opening of Drew Friedman's "My Way" art show at Scott Eder Gallery in Brooklyn last month was JAM PACKED! Drew's family was there! (Brothers Josh, Kipp & Drew; dad Bruce Jay & Kipp): A bunch of cool stuff was on display in addition to the art on the walls! Get the whole report and see a whole slew more photos at Drew's blog. Wish I coulda been there!

Late last year Gary Groth interviewed the recently-departed Maurice Sendak for the forthcoming next issue of The Comics Journal (#302, due toward the end of this year). At TCJ.com, Gary shares the story of how his encounter with Sendak came together along with a sneak peek of a few choice snippets from the interview.

Editor Pat Thomas at the infamous Rough Trade record store, London // photo credit: Dave Weller London Calling! Pat Thomas, editor of our acclaimed title Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975, spent the first weeks of May bringing those sights and sounds to the UK!  You can read an excellent report of his presentation at Cafe OTO at whisperinandhollerin.com. And you can click here to hear an interview Pat did on BBC London! The show is three hours long, but Pat's segment is in the last half-hour, so you can click to fast-forward. Note: this link…

Richard Sala has just made available for sale the entirety of the original art for his classic strip from BLAB!, "The Prestigious Banquet To Be Held In My Honor." I always loved this strip, and the price is right. Go here to BUY NOW! Heck, even if this particular strip is more than you can afford, Richard has a variety or other art for sale on the Comic Art Collective site as well, along with art for sale by many other great cartoonists.

Angelman by Nicolas Mahler 96-page full-color 7" x 9.75" hardcover • $18.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-534-1 Ships in: May 2012 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Easily the funniest super-hero comic to come down the pike since Harvey Kurtzman and Wally Wood’s “Superduperman!,” Angelman is Austrian cartoonist Nicolas Mahler’s sardonic take on super-heroes, their fans, the businessmen behind them, the current media obsession with them, not to mention fancy-ass “Ultimate” collections of dopey super-hero comics. Created by Korporate Comics in a flash of money-grubbing cynicism appalling even by their standards, Angelman’s powers (which include empathy and the ability to be a good listener)…