Fantagraphics Blog

A bedraggled group of travelers finds an abandoned storehouse full of rations, fresh water, alcohol, and supplies. They celebrate, even as one of them uncovers a dead body in a dark corner. Anyone who has read Josh Simmons' previous work can already guess that such celebration will be short-lived. In his latest full-length graphic novel, Black River, Simmons takes us to a post-apocalyptic world of desperation, survival of the most brutal, and chaos in the form of gangs, a drug called Gumdrop, and resource scarcity. In the midst of this, a group of nine travelers and their two dogs do…

Wednesday, February 25th New York, NY – It's new comics day! Though Massive, a beast of a comics anthology, isn't exactly new, it's exactly perfect. Making it even more perfect is your chance to pick it up at Kinokuniya NYC and meet editor Anne Ishii and designer Chip Kidd! They'll be giving a presentation and following it up with a Q&A session plus signing. There's no shortage of knowledge on gay manga at this event, and you'll be able to wow your friends with the knowledge that'll seep into your brain when you read Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make…

Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in Americaby Bill Schelly 644-page 6" x 9" hardcover$34.99 | 978-1-60699-761-1 Ships in: April 2015 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Harvey Kurtzman created MAD, and MAD revolutionized humor in America. Kurtzman's groundwork as the original editor, artist, and sole writer of MAD provided the foundation for one of the greatest publishing successes of the 20th century. But how did Kurtzman invent MAD, and why did he leave it shortly after it burst nova-like onto the American scene? Bill Schelly's heavily researched biography finally and fully answers these question for the…

This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new title. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators and web-savvy comic shops are saying about them (more to be added as they appear), check out our previews at the links, and contact your local shop to confirm availability. Inner City Romance by Guy Colwell 200-page black & white 8" x 10" softcover$24.99 | 978-1-60699-813-7  "These gritty, sometimes hedonistic short stories about multiracial prison and low-income life spare no details of sex, drugs, or radical activism….Adults only; good for historical and social justice collections." –Martha Cornog, Library Journal    BONUS?! Guy Colwell is appearing…

This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new title. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators and web-savvy comic shops are saying about them (more to be added as they appear), check out our previews at the links, and contact your local shop to confirm availability. Inner City Romance by Guy Colwell 200-page black & white 8" x 10" softcover$24.99 | 978-1-60699-813-7  "These gritty, sometimes hedonistic short stories about multiracial prison and low-income life spare no details of sex, drugs, or radical activism….Adults only; good for historical and social justice collections." –Martha Cornog, Library Journal    BONUS?! Guy Colwell is appearing…

It's storytime at Fantagraphics headquarters: we've just received our advance copies of Robert Goodin's all-ages graphic novel, The Kurdles. Between the stunning watercolors and laugh-out-loud dialogue between characters, The Kurdles has immediately captured our hearts—especially those of us with wee ones. We're confident that this quirky little tale of a lost teddy bear will become a fast favorite. You can pre-order The Kurdles now and expect it delivered to your doorstep by April!

Before appearing at the Seattle Public Library last Friday, basketball legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was photographed at an elementary school last week hefting a nice stack of comics including basketball-friendly Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade and baseball-lovin' 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente by Wilfred Santiago. West Seattle Blog covers more of the story of Kareem's writing career but rest assured, the man has great taste in comics. Pick up a copy of Michael Jordan for yourself today! (Photo by West Seattle Blog's Patrick Sand)

Who or what are Kurdles? Are they man or beast—or something else entirely? As it happens, Kurdles are the denizens of Kurdleton, and Sally the bear runs into them as she tries to find her way home after being separated from her owner. So begins this 60-page all ages tale, and we have here a 9-page, downloadable excerpt for your viewing pleasure. At a generous 8.75" by 12", the oversized format of The Kurdles allows you and your little ones to be fully immersed in the lush watercolor world that Robert Goodin has created, not to mention all the individual details that one…

We're always looking for more reasons to scream Dame Darcy's names to the stars and she has new mermaid comic in the The Graphic Canon of Children's Literature: The World's Greatest Kids' Lit as Comics and Visuals (The Graphic Canon Series) edited by Russ Kick. In this anthology, all the greatest fairy tales are presented pre-censorship and pre-sanitization. Hence, Darcy's fine sensual work will shock and amaze. Pick up the latest volume for new DD! Check out her website too for more on-going work or Facebook where every Thursday you get a new Voyage of the Temptress comic, like below!

This week from comiXology you can now enjoy the finest graphic novels: Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade by Wilfred Santiago (21). A thrilling, kinetic bio-epic about Michael "Air" Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time and most influential athlete in history, from the creator of the acclaimed and best-selling 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente. This tour de force explores Jordan's public successes and private struggles, with the depth of Santiago's passion for his subject shining through on every full-color page. Feel the sweat as you swipe for only $18.99!   "From a scuffle with Patrick Ewing in the book's opening pages to the…