Fantagraphics Blog

It is with great sadness that we have learned, and feel we should pass along, that one of the members of the Fantagraphics family died last year. CRAIG MAYNARD, who worked on staff here in Seattle in the early 1990s, passed away last September and we just learned about it from his family (through a reply to a rerouted Christmas card). Craig had been suffering from a number of debilitating illnesses for years and the news was not exactly a shock, but all of us from that era who worked with Craig (Gary G. and me, of course, and also…

Here's this week's Weissman, plus links to other strips from around the web (to which we have a couple of new hopefully semi-regular additions): — Barack Hussein Obama by Steven Weissman (view at original size): — And elsewhere: Amazing Facts… and Beyond! with Leon Beyond by Kevin Huizenga: Ectiopiary by Hans Rickheit: Lucky by Gabrielle Bell: Maakies by Tony Millionaire: Majestic Creature by Leslie Stein: The Pain — When Will It End? by Tim Kreider:

This past week on TCJ.com: Rob Clough on World War III and Borderland. Marc Sobel on reading comics with your Android phone. Part 1 (Seth’s Palookaville #20)and Part 2 (Jason Lutes’ Berlin #17) of Rob Clough’s 3-part series on Drawn & Quarterly’s recent single issues. R.C. Harvey continues his survey of fall’s comic strips with Brett Koth’s Diamond Lil. Rich Kreiner’s  Minis Monday: The Widow Reminisces Over a Plate of Vegetables, Mimi’s Doughnut Zine #19: Health Nathan Wilson reviews The Rat Catcher by Andy Diggle and Victor Ibanez R. Fiore on Doug Wright Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3…

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Among the highlights of [Usagi Yojimbo:] The Special Edition is the ease of witnessing Sakai’s growth as a writer, artist and storyteller. While the illustration in the earliest chapters is already solid, Sakai’s linework grows visibly more assured and looser, giving the pages a liveliness not seen in many comics. Similarly, the layouts evolve to capture the quiet elegance of the Japanese countryside, the gut-turned terror of Jei (comics’ best villain) or the kinetic ballet of a samurai duel in pitch-perfect fashion. …Fantagraphics makes Usagi look great with this collection. …[F]or [hardcore] Usagi…

Our pals at Presspop share these photos of the mocked-up cover and slipcase design by Chris Ware for their upcoming collected edition of Gajo Sakamoto's classic Tank Tankuro manga. Purty.

Tony Millionaire reveals this teaser image from the live-action Sock Monkey something-or-other.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Commentary: At Robot 6, Chris Arrant lists the major Daniel Clowes stories that haven't been adapted for film yet and speculates on what those hypothetical films might be like • Coming Attractions: Library Journal's "Graphic Novels Prepub Alert" spotlights Isle of 100,000 Graves by Jason & Fabien Vehlmann ("Looks like a peg-leg captain and his mates have to fight aliens on a desert island-it's a trap. […] Jason specializes in droll yet melancholy stories with a cast of goofy, anthropomorphic animals…") and Mr. Twee Deedle: Raggedy Ann's Sprightly Cousin: The Forgotten Fantasy Masterpieces of…

Just arrived in our warehouse and ready to ship: The Strange Case of Edward Gorey (Expanded Hardcover Edition) by Alexander Theroux 168-page black & white 6.25" x 9.25" hardcover • $19.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-384-2 Previews & Ordering Info The Strange Case of Edward Gorey is the most authentic portrait yet of this truly enigmatic American artist and writer of macabre, ghoulish illustrated books. It is a respectful and insightful consideration not only of the intriguing pen-and-ink drawings but of the inventive, opinionated and eccentric person himself. A balletomane, cat-lover, unbelievably wide reader, collector of many and surprising objects, and mad filmgoer, Gorey…

Paul Hornschemeier officially announces the grand opening of the Forlorn Funnies Store, an online emporium of original artwork and other merch. Go give the guy some of your money why don't you?