Fantagraphics Blog

 The Seattle Public Library will be hosting "Comixtravaganza," a series of events celebrating comics, manga, graphic novels and artists. Events will take place at several Library branches in January, with the finale taking place Jan. 31 at the Central Library. Check out their blog for updates. We're taking part, as always, and the great Linda Medley is coming up for the finale — I believe it will be her first ever event in Seattle. The events are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Doors will open 15 minutes before the events. Parking in the Central Library garage will be…

Jim Blanchard will have 16 recent paintings on exhibit at Wall Of Sound Records in Seattle from January 9 through February 28. The show is titled EYEBALL FATIGUE, as apt a descriptive of what Blanchard's seizure-inducing detail will do to you as any. Opening Night is this Friday, January 9, from 7-9 PM. Jim will be there with his goat "Earl," I'm told. Wall Of Sound is located in Capitol Hill at 315 East Pine Street, right by the Bauhaus coffee shop.

I would love to put out this work-in-progress:  It doesn't hurt that I am close, personal friends with all of the animals in this book. 

  More info here. I'm told "the dude Andy who runs things goes insanely in-depth," so it should be fun to see what he pulls out of Publishers Weekly's Graphic Novel of 2008. 

  We hosted the release party for our pals Jim Woodring & Paul DiFilippo's Cosmocopia in October, but I've only just begun to dive into this amazing book and objet d'art from our esteemed neighbors at Payseur & Schmidt. It has to be seen to be enjoyed fully, but it includes Di Filippo's new short novel enclosed in a box (with belly band) also containing a 513-piece jigsaw puzzle, "The Artist's Eye," by Jim Woodring. This is a limited first edition of 500 numbered sets, signed by DiFilippo and Woodring. Typical Payseur & Schmidt awesomeness (I actually stole that from their web hype, but it's true). Above is…

Barely a month after Bill Griffith graced our emerald city with a fantastic exhibition and book release party, less than a week after he published an homage to our quirky town and his visit, the Seattle P-I has returned the favor by unceremoniously dropping Zippy the Pinhead from its daily print edition, effective this morning. This should be considered an affront to Mr. Griffith, to Seattle's own Fantagraphics, and to all remaining conscious and literate readers of the newspaper. With Zippy gone, enjoy your Funky Winkerbean when you're stuck waiting somewhere with nothing to read but that section of the paper.  We would be most grateful if you would consider writing…

• In the day's biggest news, the winner of Publishers Weekly's annual Critic's Poll of graphic novels is Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw, with The Education of Hopey Glass by Jaime Hernandez in a 6-way tie for 2nd place and Honorable Mentions to Abandoned Cars by Tim Lane, The Lagoon by Lilli Carré, and Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 by the Hernandez Brothers • Ben Ostrander sends The Comics Reporter his Top Books of 2008 list, which has Willie & Joe: The WWII Years by Bill Mauldin on it • Marc Sobel lines up his Top Ten Books…

D.C., get your D.D. this Friday: CIVILIAN ART PROJECTS is pleased to begin the New Year with two spirited solo exhibitions: Carole Wagner Greenwood's "Ghosts and Circumstance" and Dame Darcy's "Gasoline." The exhibitions will open to the public January 9, 2009 and will be on view until February 7, 2009. Exhibition hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. There will be an opening reception for the artists on Friday, January 9, 2009 from 7pm to 10pm with a free music performance at 9pm. Civilian Art Projects 406 7th Street NW, Third FloorWashington, DC 20004202-347-0022