Fantagraphics Blog

From his blog, an announcement from Robert Goodin: I have a solo show at Secret Headquarters called The Monster Show that will feature 14 new paintings/drawings. Opening reception is Feb. 6, from 8 – 10 pm and the show will be up until Feb. 27th. For those not in the Los Angeles area, Secret Headquarters will have the paintings online for purchase as well. Secret Headquarters3817 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, Ca 90026(323)666 2228 I've seen some of these works in person and they are wonderful.

• Profile: Meathaus presents a feature article on Dash Shaw • Blurb: Welcome Friend or Foe gives a nod to Unlovable by Esther Pearl Watson • Blurb: Irregular Orbit takes a quick look at Krazy and Ignatz 1943-1944 by George Herriman • Things to hear: The Inkstuds radio programme hosts a 4-way roundtable on the best comics of the year with über-critics Paul Gravett, Tom Spurgeon, Douglas Wolk and host Robin McConnell, with much discussion of Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw • Oddity: Courtesy Paul Di Filippo (Jim Woodring's Cosmocopia collaborator), "Life Imitates Jules Feiffer"

News from Anders's blog, which features more of the originals as shown above: The current issue of The Believer features 14 small drawings I did from items in my collection of broken and discarded toys. The drawings are scattered throughout the magazine in the margins. They also printed three different inside covers, each featuring a different painting of mine.

Just when I thought the storm of year-end critics' lists had subsided, three heavy-hitters and one up-and-coming cartoonist have posted theirs, leading off today's update: • List: Jeet Heer names his "Best Comics of 2008," including the fraternal one-two punch of Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 by the Hernandez Brothers and Deitch's Pictorama by the Deitch Brothers • List: Frank Santoro posts his "Top 9 of '08," with Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 at #3 and Abandoned Cars by Tim Lane at #2 • List: Douglas Wolk lists his favorite book-length comics of 2008, with Bottomless Belly Button…

The blogosphere's loss is the book lover's gain!

Whoops, forgot to post yesterday… the only thing we had scheduled to arrive in comic shops this week is a reoffer of Mome Vols. 7-10, so if you're missing any of those issues and your local shop hasn't had them for a while, now would be a good time to check back in with them!

What says romance more than comics? If there is anything, we don't want to know about it. Once again we're offering a special selection of romantic and/or erotic gift books with which to woo your sweetie this Valentine's Day. From classic romance comics to cutting-edge erotica, from sweet to twisted, from timeless to unexpected (zombies?), these comics are fluent in the many dialects of love. From now through the day in question (February 14, 2009), SAVE 15% on all of our Valentines Day gift selections!

From start to finish. Currently on display for UNLOVABLE author Esther Pearl Watson's exhibition at Billy Shire Fine Arts in Culver City, CA. Bonus Matt Groening cameo at end.