Fantagraphics Blog

• Review: Comics Waiting Room on Ho! The Morally Questionable Cartoons of Ivan Brunetti: "…[I]f the material printed Ho! had been created in, say, Soviet Russia, Ivan would be the biggest star in the gulag. As it is, he’s one of the most twisted and funny motherfuckers putting pen to paper right in the U.S. of A. And I’m damned proud he’s one of us… Brunetti’s latest work is as strong as ever, and maybe even sicker. He’s an amazing cartoonist, and I respect his work immensely, even when some of it makes me queasy… especially if it makes me…

How about some new webcomics for your weekend? You know things aren't going to end well in this week's Blecky Yuckerella strip by Johnny Ryan… It's maybe the most shocking develoment yet this week's installment of Steven Weissman's in-progress pages from "Blue Jay," an epic 50-page story from Chocolate Cheeks, the next collection of the Yikes! gang's adventures…. And it's Rocky's latest breakup in our current 5-day chunk of Martin Kellerman's hilarious Swedish smash-hit Rocky, updated Monday-Friday!

ALERT! Unofficial word has it that Adult Swim will air the (heretofore-only-streaming-on-their-website) pilot of Michael Kupperman's Snake 'n' Bacon TV program on May 10 at 12:45 AM! As when they aired the pilot for Tony Millionaire's The Drinky Crow Show, it's likely that the network will be gauging viewer response in order to decide whether to pick up the show for a series, so we'll definitely be posting more information about that as it becomes available. For now: mark your calendars and TUNE IN FOR TELETHRIZZLE!

The Complete Crumb Comics Slipcase By Robert Crumb These handsome, sturdy clothbound slipcases are designed to hold 5 volumes of the softcover editions of The Complete Crumb Comics series. (Note: Hardcover volumes will not fit. Books not included.) They are stamped in gold with a Crumb logo and art on the front and spine. Thought to be out of stock for several years, a cache of these exclusive items was recently discovered hidden inside the Ark of the Covenant in our warehouse. Supplies are limited, and you'll want multiples for your whole collection, so order today! Don't let our melted…

• Review: Inkstuds preps for a chat with Jaime Hernandez at Emerald City ComiCon tomorrow by catching up on Love and Rockets: New Stories #1: "The two brothers are certainly masters of the form and this is a great example of them having fun with their work." • Review: Sean T. Collins on Supermen! The First Wave of Comic Book Heroes 1936-1941: "…[T]his… anthology of early superhero comics is, like Paul Karasik's Fletcher Hanks collection and DC's Jack Kirby omnibuses before it, a real 'here's how it's done' moment. Entertaining, left-field subject matter; eye-pleasing design; tactile paper stock; color technique…

Andrei Molotiu, editor of our forthcoming anthology Abstract Comics, the first book to trace the history and survey the contemporary landscape of abstract sequential art, has started a blog to showcase the book and other work by some of the book's contributors. Bookmark/subscribe at abstractcomics.blogspot.com. Above: Jacob Covey's cover design for the book (updated: now in 3D!).

If you thought you'd never see a new Love and Rockets comic book again: surprise! Our 2009 Free Comic Book Day offering is a preview of this summer's second annual issue of Love and Rockets: New Stories! Official description: "This preview edition includes a sizeable chapter of the second half of Jaime's amazing super-hero romp 'Ti-Girls Adventures,' as well as Gilbert Hernandez's typically unique 'Chest Fever,' both from the upcoming Love and Rockets: New Stories #2, plus selections from #1 and a new cover by Gilbert and Jaime!" Head to the FCBD website for an exclusive sneak preview download, and…

From this week's STRANGER…