Fantagraphics Blog

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "So, big shit poppin’ in Mome 20. Good thing it’s also pretty good! …[W]hat works works really well thanks mostly to bravura cartooning. […] Here’s to 20 more volumes of this occasionally frustrating, occasionally fascinating, always worth reading series." – Sean T. Collins, Attentiondeficitdisorderly • Review: "Time travel is impossible but a good anthology can sometimes be ordered in such a way that we can get a better sense of how works of art looked to their earliest audience. That’s something Supermen! achieves, so it’s a book I’m holding on to." – Jeet…

Here's a cool thing that Ray Fenwick has done: pattern designs for a series of books from Houghton Mifflin in which two of an author's works are bound together as one volume. See them individually on Ray's Flickr. [A brief meta note: I'm trying a different approach to "Things to See," spotlighting certain things with individual posts, rounding up regularly-featured items in omnibus posts as before, and possibly moving some links to the "Weekend Webcomics" posts. Feedback is welcome.]

We are currently offering on eBay (go HERE for full listing and scan) a rare piece of original art by the great RUSS HEATH from page 27 of 1957's HUMBUG #4, edited by Harvey Kurtzman. The actual illustration measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" on a piece of illustration board measuring 12 3/4" x 16 3/4". A rare chance to own a piece of original art from one of the great comic magazines of all-time. This piece is being sold by Fantagraphics Books on behalf of Mr. Heath; all proceeds from this auction will go to Mr. Heath himself. Bid early and often!

This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new titles. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators are saying about our releases this week, and contact your local shop to confirm availability. Bent by Dave Cooper 80-page full-color 10.25" x 9" hardcover • $22.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-378-1 "And on the other side of things, barring a continuation of Weasel (which by the end had basically turned into this), Fantagraphics brings a new 80-page, 10.25″ x 9″ hardcover collection of the best of Dave Cooper’s most recent paintings, drawings and photographs." – Joe McCulloch, Comics Comics "Bent is a new…

This handmade cover letter we recently received with a submission from Japan wowed everyone in the office:   

  Bilocal is an art project bringing together 12 writers from Seattle and New Orleans to present new original work on the theme of community. Each artist will present their own stories in their hometown. Cartoonist Megan Kelso will be one of the artists representing Seattle and will present a brand new work titled "The Golden Lasso" on November 13 at Seattle's Town Hall. Tickets are $20. The money raised from this project will be given to an a non-profit organization in New Orleans called The Lens that does investigative journalism in the Gulf region.  Read more about Bilocal HERE.

Castle Waiting Vol. 2 384-page black & white 5.75" x 8.25" hardcover • $29.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-405-4 Ships in: November 2010 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now With its long-awaited second volume, this witty and sublimely drawn fantasy eases into a relaxed comedy of manners as Lady Jain settles into her new life in Castle Waiting. Unexpected visitors result in the discovery and exploration of a secret passageway, not to mention an epic bowling tournament. A quest for ladies’ underpants, the identity of Pindar’s father, the education of Simon, Rackham and Chess arguing about the “manly arts,” and an escape-prone goat are…

Jules Feiffer gives a talk at the Society of Illustrators in NYC on Wednesday, November 10 at 6:30 PM. More info and tickets here.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: [The following reviews of Lucky in Love Book 1: A Poor Man's History come via artist Stephen DeStefano, who posts the links along with some unpublished Lucky artwork as a nice bonus.] • Review: "Lucky in Love is an oddly charming book. It takes the tradition of immigrant fiction and wartime stories and channels them through archetypal cartooning styles, crafting a book that looks lighthearted but is actually darker in tone and theme than it might appear on the face of it. […] My rating: 4 of 5 stars." – Jamie S. Rich, Confessions of…

From Anders's blog. Hopefully your local polling place is still open.