Fantagraphics Blog

Southern California residents will have three chances to meet Mitch Schauer, Mike Vosburg, Michael Lessa and Justin Yamaguchi, the creative team behind Rip M.D., the new graphic novel from Lincoln Butterfield Animation and Fantagraphics Books. First, Borders Glendale will play host a ghoulishly fun Halloween party and creator signing for the launch of Rip M.D. Taking place on Friday, October 22, between 6-7:30pm, the evening's events will consist of a creator book signing, Rip M.D. Monster Costume Contest, Ghoulish Trivia, prizes and Halloween themed refreshments. All four creators will attend the Borders Glendale event to sign copies of the graphic…

My longtime friend Bruce Pavitt has been contemplating purging himself of some material possessions for a few years now. (As an obsessive collector myself, I appreciate the impulse.) We recently concluded that the Charles Burns event on October 30 would provide an ideal opportunity to find new homes for a few of his amazing artifacts. As the founder of Seattle's storied Sub Pop record label, his collection is impressive, to say the least. You might want to shield your eyes to for protection from the brilliance that's below. Many people are unaware that Bruce Pavitt created Subterranean Pop as a fanzine while an undergraduate at…

Online Commentary & Diversions returns after a post-APE hiatus and subsequent sick day: • Review: "Good Jaime Hernandez comics are always just about the most satisfying books that money can buy, and I was so impressed with how the pleasure of seeing contemporary Maggie again for the first time in far too long [in Love and Rockets: New Stories #3] gave way to the satisfaction of seeing another building block in her curious history, and then everything turned unpleasant in a way that was equally bleak and fascinating. Watching Jaime fit everything together the way he does is breathtaking. Recommended…

The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log calls these Converse Chuck Taylors featuring Charlie "Chuck" Brown "an absolute abomination" — me, I want a pair. (Too bad they're only available from trendy French shop Colette [warning: autoplaying music at site] and cost €240.)

Here's a nice shot of Frank Santoro and Kevin Huizenga at the Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo (PIX) this past weekend, from Jessica Heberle of Uncovered Space. (Via The Beat.) My own photos from APE are on their way.

We're painfully overdue for a new "Things to See" post, but in the meantime, holy moly, soak in Eleanor Davis's incredible new sketch blog We Be Ouija.

Jim Woodring is tracking the progress of his giant nib pen project at the United States Artists Project Site; in this post, follow along as he develops the working prototype.

Are you reading Uno Keratin's VIVIAN VAGICORN, the apotheosis of webcomicery? I am.

Our weekly strips from the Steves (running late this time, sorry): — Monday's Strip by Stephen DeStefano (view larger) Originally run as an experiment on Stephen's blog starting in 2008, Monday's Strip is re-presented here. — Barack Hussein Obama by Steven Weissman (view at original size):