What’s In Store: Hot Off the Press Book Fair July 10!

Join some of Seattle’s most talented cartoonists, comics presses, and other artists for the Fantagraphics Bookstore’s first in-store event in a year!

What’s in Store: Days to Remember

For the past decade, we’ve been privileged to share space with our retail partners at Georgetown Records. The shop specializes in vintage vinyl – everything from early punk, power pop, prog, soul, industrial, electronica, garage, psychedelic, rock n roll, and more. This Saturday, April 22 marks the 10th annual Record Store Day, a national celebration of record shops. To commemorate the occasion, Georgetown Records presents live music by two Seattle bands: the blue-eyed soul of Bonneville Power featuring our own Martin Bland on drums, and roots rockers Paper Dolls. The music starts a 4:00 PM, but drop by early to…

What’s in Store: Top Ten of 2016

It’s come time for Fantagraphics Bookstore curator Larry Reid to select my favorite comix of 2016. A tough task this year with so many wonderful new books – a little like choosing which of my children I love the most. The choices are so close this list could easily be reversed. 10. Hey Lady. With a button affixed to the cover of each issue, I was immediately attracted to Regina Schilling’s zines. When I was able to fully absorb the contents, it became clear there was more to these creations than a clever premise and seductive artwork. Schilling selects a…

Re/Read: Jim Blanchard’s Beasts and Priests

   Re/Read is an occasional column by Fantagraphics Bookstore curator Larry Reid examining backlist titles you may have missed or are worth another look. This time we’ll focus on Beasts and Priests by former Fantagraphics art director Jim Blanchard. As the title suggests, Beasts and Priests documents both divine and demonic personalities of American pop culture: from Rat Pack louts and rogue politicians to revered rock ‘n’ rollers and stars of the silver screen. Blanchard employs ingenious treatments to capture the cult of personality that surrounds these figures. Mod fashion model Twiggy, Manson murder victim Sharon Tate, and sixties sex symbols…

What’s In Store: Jim Blanchard’s Visual Abuse

    Fantagraphics Books continues its 40th anniversary celebration with a book launch party and exhibition for Visual Abuse: Jim Blanchard’s Graphic Art, 1982 – 2002 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, November 12. Blanchard relocated to Seattle in 1987 from Oklahoma City, where he self-published his popular punk fanzine, Blatch. He soon found work as an art director at Fantagraphics Books, while continuing to create posters and graphics for bands associated with Seattle’s emerging grunge movement. He published several comix on Fantagraphics’ provocative Eros imprint, and later worked as inker for Peter Bagge’s influential Hate comic book series….

Digital Releases: New Love and Rockets and more!

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Love and Rockets and heralds in a collection of one of punk rock’s best artists—all on your tablets and personal reading devices! Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez are back with brand-new stories in Love and Rockets Vol. IV #1! You get Maggie and Hopey! You get Princess Animus! You get Fritz and Pipo! You get it all! The punk friends and family drama begins again right here—catch the first issue of the new ongoing series on comiXology today.           Also, to continue celebrating the return this series, we’re…

What’s in Store: Fantagraphics at 40!

   Fantagraphics Books begins our celebration of 40 years publishing the world’s greatest cartoonists with an exhibition of the world’s greatest cartoonist. R. Crumb: Early Works, 1965 – 1967 documents the artist as he develops his signature style with original drawings, comix, and related ephemera. Most of these works have never been displayed publicly, so you’re in for a treat. The show opens on Saturday, September 10 and continues through November 2, 2016. The 40th year festivities continue on Saturday, October 8 as Seattle native Charles Burns discusses his graphic masterpiece Black Hole. This arresting story is set a short distance…

Digital Hip Hop and More Backlist Titles

All good things must come to an end and today marks the digital release of the final monthly issue of Hip Hop Family Tree. Ed Piskor’s monthly examination into hip hop music is coming to an end today, but not going out without a bang. Issue #12 features a collaboration between Rick Rubin and LL Cool J, the arrest of KRS-One, and Run DMC heading out on tour. Find this milestone issue on comiXology. A few more books from our backlist have also found their way on comiXology, and they include: Beasts and Priests by Jim Blanchard Jack Davis: Drawing…