Fantagraphics Blog

A variety of Online Commentary & Diversions: • List: The Comics Journal's R.C. Harvey names Sam's Strip ("because its spoof of comic strip cartooning is a joy to behold and because it has been so long awaited") and Humbug ("because, like Sam’s Strip, we’ve waited so long for a reappearance and because of the exquisite care Fantagraphics took in making the copies of the magazine’s pages as exact as possible") as two of the Best Reprints of 2009 • Review: "…[T]he handful of short stories [in The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.] represent great leaps in, or at…

  First day of Angouleme, and Crumb covers the French paper, Libération.   

During our recent inventory count at our storied and labyrinthine warehouse, we discovered additional copies of several items thought to be sold out and unavailable for weeks, months — or years! Grab these gems while you can before they run out again — quantities are limited! The Bill Sienkiewicz Sketchbook Introduction by Alan Moore! The Comics Journal Special Edition – Summer 2002 The premiere second issue of the "supersized" Comics Journals, with a great Woodring interview and cover. The Complete E.C. Segar Popeye Vol. 9: 1934-1935 (Hardcover) Our original Popeye reprint series from the 1980s. Handsome clothbound volume. Dead End…

  Marc Maron is an absolutely brilliant comic talent who hosted the morning show on the ill-fated Air America radio network, and I guess he enjoyed that gig so much he's created the WTF podcast to continue to scratch that itch. His latest episode features the always-funny Peter Bagge, taped while Marc was recently doing a set of comedy gigs in Seattle. For some reason, Marc thought it would also be a good reason to have me on, too. The show was recorded at the Fantagraphics Bookstore, and we had a good time doing it. Thanks, Marc! Check out Marc's archives, too, the show is…

When I was taking photos for our preview of King of the Flies Vol. 1: Hallorave by Mezzo & Pirus, I observed that the endpapers might make a nifty desktop background. One request to the art department later, and presto! (Note that this image is Not Safe For Most Workplaces due to partial nudity.) Just click on the size that matches your monitor resolution and the image will open in a new window; if you're on a PC, right-click the image and select "Set As Background"; if you're on a Mac, control+click and select "Set As Desktop Background." (We don't…

Online Commentary & Diversions for today: • Plug: Chris Mautner of Robot 6 declares Hotwire Comics Vol. 3 his Pick of the Week: "Here's another hefty sampling of edgy, in-your-face alternative comics, edited by Glenn Head, who provides the cover as well as a couple of interior stories as well. This volume boasts a rather impressive A-list of contributors, including Mary Fleener, Michael Kupperman, R. Sikoryak, Mack White, Johnny Ryan and more. The Sikoryak story in particular — a mash-up between Dennis the Menace and Hamlet — is worth checking out, as is the great, surreal tale from White. If…

Squint no more! (Plus I got the issue number right this time.) The new issue of Tales Designed to Thrizzle comes out in May! UPDATE: Michael Kupperman lets us know that this is not the finished version, so some changes may be made between now and when it goes to press.

  … Sophie Crumb has an art blog.

Scheduled to arrive at enlightened comic shops across the land tomorrow: Hotwire Comics Vol. 3 By various artists; edited by Glenn Head The Comics Reporter says: "A boon for fans of a certain kind of energetic, restless, profane comic book making — for the rest of us it's an exquisitely curated, controlled visit to that particular comics world." Jog calls it "a distinctly old-fashioned scattershot alternative comics production" and "a louder, more comedic, more visually-driven" sibling to Mome. We have previews-a-plenty both here on our site and on the official Hotwire website; check them out while you're contacting your local…

The Seattle Public Library's popular "Comixtravaganza" celebration concludes this Saturday, January 30. The Rem Koolhaas-designed central branch hosts a comics creating workshop with Fantagraphics friends Greg Stump and David Lasky at 1:00 PM, followed by a career-spanning media presentation by alternative comics titan Peter Bagge at 3:00 PM. Later that evening Lasky and Bagge will be featured guests at the fabulous book launch party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini Comics of the 1980s at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Admission is free to all events. If you live in the Northwest, you won't want to miss these wildly entertaining spectacles.