Fantagraphics Blog

R. Sikoryak presents a supercharged version of his Carousel comics performance series tomorrow at noon at Cooper Union with readings by Kate Beaton, Nick Bertozzi, Kevin Colden, Mike Dawson, Ludovic Debeurme, Dean Haspiel, Michael Kupperman, Benjamin Marra, R. Sikoryak, Jeff Newelt, and Harvey Pekar (RIP) as part of the PEN World Voices literary festival in NYC — details and discount code here, tickets here.

Our weekly strips from Kupperman & Weissman, plus links to other strips from around the web: — Up All Night by Michael Kupperman (view at original size): Barack Hussein Obama by Steven Weissman (view at original size): — And elsewhere: Belligerent Piano by Tim Lane: Ectiopiary by Hans Rickheit: Maakies by Tony Millionaire: Mugwhump the Great by Roger Langridge (at Act-i-vate): Smashing Crayons by Steve Brodner at SlateV: Truth Serum by Jon Adams:

I've watched it a few times now, and I can still scarcely fathom it. Legendary music interviewer Nardwuar presents rap superstar Lil Wayne with some gifts of the Northwest, including Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind. Quoth an appreciative Mr. Carter: "I collect these type of things, so this is a good thing right here." The whole thing's worth watching, but jump ahead to 2:20 for the Taking Punk stuff. (YouTube link.)

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Interview: The L.A. Times Hero Complex blog's Noelene Clark talks to Jim Woodring about his L.A. Times Book Prize-nominated Weathercraft: "Art is always so reductive, and what I have going on in my comics is so simple and relatively easy to understand compared to real life, which is infinitely complex. So it might relate to real life in the same way that a chessboard would relate to a chessboard with an infinite number of squares on it. It’s sort of similar in some ways, but it’s much, much, much, much, much simpler and reductive…

Aha! An image of an uncut sheet of Daniel Clowes "Stinckers" stickers available at Meltdown Comics in L.A. and more info about 'em at the Stinckers blog! UPDATE: How to buy an uncut sheet!

Michael Kupperman tweeted this pic , saying "Almost done with my Twain book. Here he and Einstein join Oscar and Felix to become 'The Awkward Quartet.'" Mark Twain's Autobiography 1910-2010 comes out this Fall!

Peter Bagge is the guest on the latest episode of The Dusty Wright Show video podcast, filmed back on April 10 at Scott Eder Gallery in Brooklyn the day after Pete's exhibit opening there. It's a funny and opinionated chat — classic Pete! Check it out embedded above or on the Culture Catch website.

Charles Peterson: Taking Punk to the Masses exhibition at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery opening Saturday, May 14 with special guest Peter Bagge. April 28, 2011 – Seattle, WA. As the Northwest's grunge generation examines the implications of their misspent youth, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present "Charles Peterson: Taking Punk to the Masses." Inspired by the recent Fantagraphics book, Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind, published in association with the acclaimed Nirvana exhibition at EMP, Peterson's photography show will focus on the seminal musicians and social milieu that evolved into a global youth movement. The…