Fantagraphics Blog

Making poor Lucy cry… Hägar, you truly are horrible. (I guess Dick Tracy is no longer the only one getting coal in his stocking this year from cartoonist/The Complete Peanuts designer Seth.) And in the cosmic coincidence department:  This first volume of Hägar covers the 1973 – 1974 strips, which just happen to be the same years covered in our most recently released collection of The Complete Peanuts. Make of that what you will.

The third anniversary celebration for Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, December 12 promises to be an unforgettable affair. The event features appearances by an international cadre of compelling cartoonists and artists as well as the world premier of PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE with editor Jacques Boyreau. Guest stars include the lovely Femke Hiemstra (ROCK CANDY) from Amsterdam, Paul Hornschemeier (ALL & SUNDRY) and Jay Ryan (BEASTS!) from Chicago, Portland's Dame Darcy (MEAT CAKE), and Seattle's own Peter Bagge (HATE), Jim Woodring (FRANK) and – just added – Jim Blanchard (TRUCKER FAGS IN DENIAL.) Musical entertainment will be provided by Bagge's pop…

Is this really it for Online Commentary & Diversions today? I feel like someone's pulling a gotcha on me: • Plug: "I really loved Zak Sally’s Sammy The Mouse, so it sounds like I have a good reason to buy [Like a Dog]. And so do you." – Corey Blake • Things to see: More Frank-in-the-jungle art from Jim Woodring … 'nuff said

Look, it's a teeny weeny Jaime Hernandez drawing of Santa Claus at the beginning of the new Bob Dylan video "Must Be Santa"! (Embedding is disabled, so click to watch.) Jaime sez: "Not a bad song either."

A Johnny Ryan superfan named Andrea stitched up the cuddliest little slorge you ever did see, with removable fecid and everything: More info and photos at Johnny's blog. If we can get Ardent Vein to re-don the C.F. outfit for a Book 2 performance next year, we might have to commission one of these.

Now available for preview and pre-order following its buzzed-about blockbuster debut at APE: The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. by Dash Shaw. This nifty hardcover volume compiles Shaw's storyboards, backgrounds, production art etc. for his IFC.com animated short of the same name alongside his acclaimed Mome short stories and more, all wrapped in a clever animation cel-inspired clear acetate overlay dustjacket. Download an exclusive PDF excerpt with the first 5 pages of 2 stories (10 pages total) right here. This book is scheduled to be in stock and ready to ship sometime in the next few weeks and…

Check out this killer Al Columbia print produced by Floating World Comics.  From the Floating World Comics website: "TOYLAND by Al Columbia Pim & Francie is already receiving advance praise from folks like Spike Jonze.  Jim Woodring’s drawing group, Friends of the Nib, is calling it 'book of the year.'  Al’s always working on something new and amazing, whether it’s music, filmmaking, comics, or in this case, painting.  Al showed me a photo of this new painting he was working on and I became immersed in the labyrinth of frayed facade and haunting beauty.  We were proud to feature it as the centerpiece of the…

A few quick hits of Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Hornschemeier obviously draws a lot of inspiration from Chris Ware, especially in terms of color scheme and alternating between naturalistic and iconic styles. There's a different level of emotional impact in his comics, however, a certain distance that reminds me more of what Daniel Clowes or Art Spiegelman do in their work. … All and Sundry is less about the work itself and more about the artist as worker." – Rob Clough • Review: "…Zak Sally's collection of his Recidivist material and other works [Like a Dog] was positively…

Bagge fans will want to scamper on over to the Vertigo blog for the first sneak peek at his forthcoming original graphic novel Other Lives.

Paul Hornschemeier & Jay Ryan's tour continues tonight in NYC: Monday, Nov. 16, 6-8pmGiant Robot437 East 9th St.New York, NY