Fantagraphics Blog

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • List: On the Forbidden Planet International Blog Log, guest critic Chris Marshall's top 10 graphic novels of 2009 places Blazing Combat in a tie for 4th place: "There was a time when War Comics told War Fact. They showed us the blood, death, camaraderie and horror. [This] series did just that and didn’t hold back." • Review: "Fantagraphics has truly pulled out all the stops on the production of [Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons], giving it such marvelous style and pizzazz. … But it’s the content, of course, that is truly king….

This recent commissioned portrait of Joy Division's Ian Curtis by Jim Blanchard blows me away. Hit Jim's blog for the larger version.

The clock is ticking down on our New Years Hangover Sale — you have mere hours left to get 20% OFF everything on our website (including our already-discounted clearance items) by using the coupon code HANGOVER when you check out. (If you prefer to shop by phone, just mention this offer when you call — 1-800-657-1100 or 206-524-1967 outside the U.S.) 20/20 Club members get a double discount of 36%, so join up if you haven't already. If you need some guidance, comics blogger Sean T. Collins over at Robot 6 has some great suggestions for you. Thanks Sean!

Is Denis Kitchen legendary because he's no longer relevant? or because he wrote the ad copy?  Worst Comics Industry Crime of  2009

It's almost the weekend, friends. Here's a sampling of the brilliant lyricism in Dr. Dre's "The Watcher" from his album 2001: "Things just ain't the same for gangstas.Times is changing, young n****s is aging,Becoming OG's in the game and changing,To make way for these new names and faces, butThe strangest things can happen from rappin, whenN****s get wrapped up in image and actin,N****s get capped up and wrapped in plastic,Zipped up in bags, when it happens, that's it."  

Now available for preview and pre-order: King – A Comics Biography: The Special Edition by Ho Che Anderson. This bold, vivid, and widely-acclaimed recounting of the life of Martin Luther King is back in print in a new, redesigned hardcover edition with the added materials and features you've come to expect from our Special Edition releases. Download an exclusive 18-page PDF excerpt depicting events from 1960-61 right here (7 MB). This book is scheduled to be in stock and ready to ship later this month and in stores roughly the same time (subject to change). View a photo & video…

Online Commentary & Diversions • List: Any best-of list that leads off with a Maria Bamford reference is all right with me. NPR's Glen Weldon rounds up his best graphic novels of 2009, including You'll Never Know, Book 1:  A Good and Decent Man by C. Tyler ("…Tyler lets her warm, fluid art draw the parallels between herself and her father, and hint at a darker story behind it all") and Low Moon by Jason ("The deadest of deadpan humor. Jason's cartoony, utterly affectless characters interact is ways that are horrible, hilarious and sad — often at the same time.")…

I was wondering how to post about the series of rejected New Yorker comics that Michael Kupperman recently posted on his Twitter feed, but then Robot 6's Sean T. Collins beat me to it and did a more thorough job than I would have, so go read his post.

The advance copies of the King Special Edition came into the office recently. They look SO killer. Eric put them on our shelf, and now everybody who walks by stops to gawk at the awesomeness. I consider this a true WIN for designer Adam Grano. And, people say that the book is dying. Well, take that eBook readers. This is not only an amazing piece of nonfiction comics, but also a beautiful art object. I dare anyone to pick out King Special Edition and not marvel at its beauty. Just try it. I triple dog dare you. Yeah, that's right….