A Real Comet Press catalog, designed by Art Chantry
Our beloved Store Manager/Curator Larry Reid has already written about our phenomenal opening night for the Real Comet Press Retrospective, but I couldn't resist sharing a few more photos, and some video that Mike captured:
A sampling of Real Comet Press publications.
What?! Not only did she run a publishing house, but she ran a club? Stop being so cool, Cathy! Matchbooks designed by Lynda Barry.
Rad flipbooks by Ruth Hayes.
Michael Dougan shares a Texas motto.
I am so grateful to Larry for bringing Real Comet Press into the spotlight, because it's an amazing, inspiring chapter in Seattle's small-press history. I'm totally enamoured with its founder Cathy Hillenbrand: she built this little publishing empire out of her home, supporting the works of artists like Michael Dougan, Art Chantry, Ruth Hayes, and one of my heroes, Lynda Barry. As you can see in this video that Mike captured, I'm not the only enamoured of Cathy (she's the one in the striped dress):
Our look back at this influential indie publisher continues this weekend at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery as Portland author Susan E. Kirtley will be discussing her new book, Lynda Barry: Girlhood Through the Looking Glass, with Cathy, who published Barry’s first four books. Join us for that on Saturday, March 24, at 6:00 PM.
And Cathy Hillenbrand will also be at the Emerald City Comicon for our panel "Northwest Noir: Seattle's Legacy of Counterculture Comix." Comicon attendees can check that out on Friday, March 30th at 6:00 PM in Room 3AB.
And our Real Comet Press Retrospective will be up through April 10th, so come by the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery to catch this exhibit while you can! If you can't make it to Seattle, we've got even more pics from opening night at the Fantagraphics Flickr.