Fantagraphics Blog

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "David B.'s newest, The Armed Garden and Other Stories, finds the creator turning his gifts to the world of historical legend. The subject may be different but the artist's mysterious and melancholy style saturates every panel; what's more, the three graphic novellas collected in The Armed Garden provide him with plenty of opportunities to draw the epic battle scenes he so loves…. The Armed Garden and Other Stories is the witty, finely executed work of an artist uniquely capable of capturing both the fervid ecstasy of belief and the dull, heartsick ache left…

We gathered up some press reaction and commentary to our announcement last week that we're publishing Moto Hagio's The Heart of Thomas next year: • Lissa Pattillo of Kuriousity, who inadvertently helped break the news on Twitter, comments: "I’m really looking forward to reading Heart of Thomas. It piqued my interest after coming up a number of times during conversations re: Moto Hagio and Drunken Dream. We’ve got a year to wait but for almost 500+ pages, hardcover, and a classic manga we’d only dream of any other publisher releasing, it’ll be well worth it!" • The mighty Anime News Network…

Our new David B. collection The Armed Garden and Other Stories has landed at #3 on this week's New York Times Best Sellers list for Graphic Hardcover Books! On the Times' Arts Beat blog Adam W. Kepler offers a brief review of the book: "The comics medium has grown adept at translating legendary stories from history… In The Armed Garden and Other Stories, the French artist David B. adapts less well-known, but no less interesting, mythic tales of man and their interactions with god(s)…. The stories are held together by the artist’s sense of humor and tone, not to mention…

Comics Alliance has an exclusive 7-page sneak peek of Michael Kupperman's brand new blockbuster hit Mark Twain's Autobiography 1910-2010. Read all about Twain's hobo exploits!

I am pleased to announce that we have amended our territorial contract with the respective licensors and are now able to sell all of our Jacques Tardi books throughout the world, including in the United Kingdom. Mail order, distribution through wholesalers and retailers, etc. And in the "my life is better than yours" gloating category, I believe I am the only person in the world who has read both Jason's next book (Athos in America, going to the printer in a week or two) and Tardi's next book (the new Manchette adaptation Ô Dingos! Ô Châteaux!, which we are planning…

Gary Panter's psychedelic-rock combo is hitting the streets of Brooklyn this weekend! Catch Devin, Gary & Ross at Union Pool [ 484 Union Ave ] on Saturday, September 24th. Don't miss the merch table — Gary usually brings some customized one-of-a-kind collage-style CDs!

WOW! From all the reports we've been seeing online, it sounds like Drew Friedman's book party at the legendary Friars' Club was a legend in its own right! Thanks to everyone who came out for the event, and thanks so much to The Friars Club for hosting the release party for Even More Old Jewish Comedians! [ All photos courtesy of Drew Friedman's blog! ] Just look at that line outside The Friars Club! The event was packed! According to a report from Ronald L. Smith, comedian/cover model Stewie Stone remarked, "If you told 'em there was a buffet today,…

California! Get ready to look into the Eye of the Majestic Creature as Leslie Stein kicks off her West Coast mini-tour TONIGHT at Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles! The event starts at 7:00 PM, and the staff promises "boozy beverages" will be in supply. I'll bet Leslie will also have a supply of her latest comic, Eye of the Majestic Creature #5! It's a beaut! Secret Headquarters is located at 3817 W. Sunset Blvd. Don't miss this rare West Coast appearance from this Brooklyn-based artist!

Yesterday & today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "This latest in Fantagraphics' line of books featuring Jacques Tardi and the second of those books to feature an adaptation of the work of Jean-Patrick Manchette is lovely-looking, stylish and bleak as hell…. The short third act, where we learn what becomes of the assassin, proves so ruthlessly depressing it's almost a human rights violation. Tardi's artwork is beautiful here, although you probably already knew that. No one in comics does the frowning face better than Tardi, and Like a Sniper [Lining Up His Shot] proves to be an absolute showcase…