Fantagraphics Blog

The impact of MAD magazine on the landscape of American absurdism, satire and parody is undeniable. In Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in America, this thoroughly researched biography takes us behind the scenes of the larger-than-life man who created MAD, contributed to EC Comics, and drew Playboy's Little Annie Fanny comic strips. Here is a 27-page, 2.3 MB downloadable excerpt to give you a taste of the tome that awaits you inside, including Terry Gilliam's foreword and the first 14 pages of Bill Schelly's biography. Take a peek, then head over to our book page to pre-order your copy….

Invitation to Openness: The Jazz & Soul Photography of Les McCann 1960-1980curated by Pat Thomas and Alan Abrahams 200-page black & white 9" x 12" hardcover • $39.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-786-4 Ships in: March 2015 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Throughout Les McCann's incredible jazz career, he took hundreds of photos — at clubs, studios, and festivals around the world — and unwittingly documented a side of the vibrant cultural life of jazz and soul between 1960 and 1980 that includes a very young Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sammy Davis Jr., John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, Tina Turner,…

Wilfred Santiago's most recent dance in the comics world is on the basketball court with Michael Jordan: Bull on Parade. His kinetic and gorgeously painted graphic novel is sitting pretty for the second week in a row on the NY Times Best Seller's list. "This biography focuses on the public and private life of the superstar basketball player during his professional career…" Michael Jordan: BOP focuses on, as Santiago puts it, a fascinating figure who was never too interested in satisfying people, other than his own personal drive. Grab a copy before they are all gone!   Here's what some recent reviewers and…

February 28th, 2015 Copenhagen, Denmark – Cities all over the world have vibrant hip hop scenes that are as diverse as the music itself, and Denmark is no exception. Unique to Denmark though is an extremely strong comics scene that incorporates the history and technique of graphic storytelling into their exceptional higher learning programs. Which is why it makes beautiful sense that a top tier cartoonist and hip hop historian, Ed Piskor will be teaching for several weeks at The Animation Workshop in their Graphic Storytelling BA program. He just finished the third volume of Hip Hop Family Tree, so there's no shortage of material…

What started out as a really cute way for libraries to get patrons to check out books sight-unseen has turned into a pop quiz for Fanta employees about our books. See a description of a book you like? Try to figure out what it is and then click on the link, order it and fall in love.  "Pretty….gross; loves brand names, make-up and hairspray!; Sometimes desperate but in a totally good way." "Leads a double life; likes mind-bending experiences; occasional non-verbal spells." "Has had a lot of schoolin'; owns a very small business; into medically-supervised lucid dreaming."  "Frustrated & looking…

Invitation to Openness: The Jazz & Soul Photography of Les McCann 1960-1980curated by Pat Thomas and Alan Abrahams 200-page black & white 9" x 12" hardcover$39.99 | 978-1-60699-786-4 Due to arrive in 2-4 weeks. Click on thumbnails for larger versions; get more info, see more previews, and pre-order your copy here: http://www.fantagraphics.com/invitationtoopenness

Ever had a terrible boss? One who never appreciated you or gave you personal space outside of work? SWEATSHOP is all about it. Meet MEL BOWLING, and his team of overworked cartoonists helping him hack out a bad comic strip, Freddy Ferret. Real-life cartoonist Peter Bagge will be at Arcane Comics tonight at 6pm signing copies of Sweatshop. Complete with an art jam wall, you can immortalize one of your own bad basses or draw one of the bad jobs you've had yourself. Refreshments will be provided (Mel's drinking to that below).   In addition to the many cartoonist characters, Sweatshop also features a cosplayer, often called…

Angry Youth Comixby Johnny Ryan 424-page color 7.25" x 10.75" hardcover • $49.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-811-3 Ships in: March 2015 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Johnny Ryan's utterly unpretentious taboo-tackling is an infectious and hilarious bombardment of political incorrectness, taking full advantage of the medium's absurdist potential for maximum laughs. In an age when the medium is growing up and aspiring to more mature and hoity-toity literary heights, Ryan builds on the visceral tradition that cartooning has had on our collective funny bone for over a century. Now, for the first time, all fourteen issues of Ryan's career-defining comic book series Angry…

We know you've been on the edge of your seats waiting for the next volume of Shimura Takako's acclaimed manga series, Wandering Son. Here is our finalized cover art for Wandering Son Volume 8, in which our beloved protagonists continue to navigate through their gender identities while maneuvering through another school year. Takatsuki-kun works up the courage to go to school in a boy's uniform, and Nitori-kun confesses his desire to wear girl's clothes to Anna-chan, his girlfriend. And Doi-kun, a character of questionable motives, finds himself drawn to Nitori's adult trans friend, Yuki-san…but to what end? Grab your pre-order of Wandering…

In Solidarity — Bodé