Fantagraphics Blog

Back from holiday hiatus and making up for lost time! Here's this week's Weissman, plus links to other strips from around the web: — Barack Hussein Obama by Steven Weissman (view at original size): — And elsewhere: Belligerent Piano by Tim Lane: Lucky by Gabrielle Bell: Maakies by Tony Millionaire: Ectiopiary  pages 51 & 52 by Hans Rickheit: Truth Serum by Jon Adams: Amazing Facts… and Beyond! with Leon Beyond by Kevin Huizenga:

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • List: Cathy Malkasian's Temperance is one of Largehearted Boy's Favorite Graphic Novels of 2010: "I have been creating a list of my favorite graphic novels of all time, and as the list grows smaller, one title remains near the top of the pile. Cathy Malkasian's debut, Percy Gloom, skillfully told (and illustrated) its story, and wholly transported the reader into an alternative world. Malkasian is back with another stellar graphic novel, Temperance, a dark and literate dystopian fable centered on themes of violence and control." • Review: "…Joyce Farmer… in the ’70s contributed to the…

(Click image to embiggen) Behold! A never-before-seen Daniel Clowes sketch from 1992 provided to us by the great Barbara Manning, who (as previously noted) is playing a show at the Sunset Tavern here in Seattle in mere hours, sharing the bill with Peter Bagge's band Can You Imagine?! It's all a big circle of comics and music and love! Thanks to Barbara for sending us this image!

Progress update from Jim at The Woodring Monitor: it's painted!

The Oslo Comics Expo has announced 3 Fantagraphics artists as special guests for the 2011 show taking place May 27-28: Dave Cooper, Tony Millionaire, and Dash Shaw. Also on hand: our own Kim Thompson, whose activities at the Expo (beyond smuggling beer for Tony) are TBD.

It's that time of year, and as with past years for your browsing and shopping reference we have created a handy page of 2010 Critics' Picks, listing books that are being selected by critics, fellow artists, readers and other comics professionals as the Best of 2010. (See also the 2008 and 2009 lists — these lists can also be found under "Award Winners" in our "Browse Shop" navigation tab.) This page will continue expanding as the year winds down and more lists appear. And of course we're noting the critics' selections here in our "Daily OCD" posts on Flog —…

We're proud to be a sponsor of the WXPFL (World Extreme Pencil Fighting League) Championships tonight at the Rendezvous JewelBox Theater in Seattle. It's extreme! It's fighting! With pencils!

Drew Friedman sent along this delightful illustration of Bob Dylan which ran in today's Wall Street Journal.

Tickets officially go on sale today for the Emerald City Comicon, which takes place March 4 through 6, 2011 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. The popularity of the convention allowed producers to expand to 3 days next year. Advance tickets, ranging from $15 to $35, are available at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Featured guests this year include Star Trek's William Shatner from the original series and Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes from The Next Generation, as well as a substantial presence by alternative comix publishers and artists. [Image from Destroy All Movies!!! – Ed.]

As you hopefully know, many of our books are available with exclusive signed bookplates as a free bonus when you order direct from us — there's a whole great big list here, and we're currently adding and replenishing plates for many titles, including (in no particular order): • 8 different titles by Jason • Buddy Does Seattle and Buddy Does Jersey by Peter Bagge• Temperance by Cathy Malkasian• Artichoke Tales by Megan Kelso• The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. by Dash Shaw• Zippy: Ding Dong Daddy from Dingburg by Bill Griffith• The Search for Smilin' Ed and Deitch's…