Fantagraphics Blog

After years of development, Fantagraphics is unveiling a new line of manga. Kicking things off in September 2010 is a collection of short stories from the mother of shōjo (young girl) manga, Moto Hagio. Next, is a multi-volume series from the GLBT manga-ka Shimura Takako. Each book will be released in hardcover form, keeping the original "right to left" manga style for a deluxe, yet authentic reading experience. The first book, entitled A Drunken Dream, is a collection of literary short stories by Hagio falling into multiple genres, created between 1971-2007. This tome travels through several of Hagio's most revolutionary…

I might have to start posting these art-blog roundups on the weekends too… these Monday updates are outa control… • Airbrushed Zippy the Pinhead art (artist unknown)! Posting this on Facebook, Bill Griffith says "This is the 2-page spread ad for the 'Zippy Movie' from Variety magazine, 3/29/90. The ad was taken out by the Aspen Film Society (at that time they were the producers of the movie) in hopes of attracting a studio/distributor. Are we in turnaround yet?" More about it (and the likewise never-to-be Zippy TV show series) here • Check out all the artwork from the Covered…

The latest Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Dash Shaw seems set to become a name to be reckoned with in comics… [The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.] is a wonderful introduction to Shaw’s work, and should certainly find its way into the hands of those craving more." – Grovel • Review: "I'm so glad I started reading this series and can't wait to catch up. Usagi Yojimbo is that rare breed of animal comic that works for me, blending Sakai's cartoon style with a story that would not be out of place in Lone Wolf and Cub….

GARY PANTER "NEW PLANET" EXHIBITION: MARCH 15 – MAY 1, 2010 Public lecture by the artist: Monday, March 15, 7 PM Reception for the artist: Monday, March 15, 8:30 – 9:30 PM Related event: In conjunction with his residency, Gary Panter is presenting an artist's talk by Bob Zoell, Wednesday, March 17, 3 PM More info here.

Drew Friedman's astonishing rendition of the great Groucho Marx, now available as a limited-edition fine art print.

Why look, it's Messrs. Hornschemeier & Kupperman at the "Strange Tales Saturday" signing event at Chicago's Challengers Comics. Many more photos here.

…the story that Anime News Network broke and is spreading like wildfire is true. We'll have a full announcement and press release as soon as tomorrow. Stay tuned, manga-lovers.

We apologize for once again being tardy in presenting our weekly batch of new online strips: Wet 'n' wild in this week's The House of No by Derek Van Gieson… …Wedgie to the rescue in this week's Blecky Yuckerella strip by Johnny Ryan…. …and in this week's Barack Hussein Obama strip from Steven Weissman: Hillary! More colors!

More like Alien Lovin' Form, am I right? Gabe from Desert Island reports that the 4th issue of the free broadsheet comics anthology Smoke Signal is off to the printer. With work by cover-boy Johnny Ryan, Michael Kupperman, Dash Shaw, our own Jason T. Miles and many more.

Your daily art bloggery: • Reminder: the Covered art show at Secret Headquarters opens tomorrow night! Here's a piece by show curator/organizer Robert Goodin as revealed on Steven Weissman's blog… • …and Richard Sala posts his own contribution • Tim Lane's serialized strip Myth of Jack Theatre Presents: Belligerent Piano begins running this week in the St. Louis Riverfront Times and on Tim's blog • Corporate motivation, Jim Flora style, 1956 • Paul Hornschemeier on the Oscars for the WSJ, with process art on his blog • Pucker up for some Renee French — and this one too, ooh •…