Floating World Comics and Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery are proud to present two special events with Steven Weissman, creator of Yikes!, for his newest release Chocolate Cheeks. First in Portland, Floating World Comics will have an entire exhibition of orginal art plus Steven signing books. Then, the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle has Steven selling prints and signing like a madman.

LISTING INFORMATION:

Who: Steven Weissman
What: CHOCOLATE CHEEKS signing & art exhibition
When: Thursday, Feb. 4th, 6-10pm
Where: Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave. #101 Portland, OR 97209

Who: Steven Weissman
What: CHOCOLATE CHEEKS signing & art selling
When: Saturday, Feb. 6th, 7-8pm
Where: Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. Seattle, WA 98108

Hilarious, frightening, mysterious, adorable and utterly bleak, Chocolate Cheeks has arrived to disgust and delight comic-book readers of all ages. "Sweet" Chubby Cheeks and the Pullapart Boy (a 21st Century Frankensteinʼs monster for kids) are driving each other crazy. Forced together by their dating parents, these two bitter enemies have alienated-or otherwise disposed of-most of their social circle, leaving them with plenty of quality time for each other. They go camping, start a business, form a band, join a team, try to make some new friends, and engage in a "holy war." Things go from worse to worst when the two boys find a cat one hot summer day in the harrowing 51-page story "Blue Jay" (as previously serialized at Fantagraphics.com).

Steven Weissman, modern master of light tragedy, is at his most horrible with Chocolate Cheeks. Juxtaposing gag-driven, newspaper-fashioned strips that are just gross enough to delight younger readers and sophisticated enough to be appreciated by grown-ups alongside the symbolically rich extended narrative of "Blue Jay," this is the most superb Yikes! book to date.

BIO INFORMATION:

Steven Knight Weissman was born in California in 1968. He has written and drawn comics for Marvel Entertainment, Nickelodeon Magazine and, most TRIUMPHANTLY, Fantagraphics Books. He currently lives in Los Angeles's "Little Armenia" neighborhood with his wife, Charissa, and their son, Charles.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to host an exhibition and publication party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s on Saturday, January 30 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This event promises to be both entertaining and enlightening. The public is invited to join us for this festive reunion of influential independent cartoonists.

Self published mini comics in the 1970s and 1980s were the direct descendants of the Underground Comix movement of the 1960s hippie era. Early practitioners photocopied, stapled and distributed their miniature zines at comic book conventions and emerging comic book specialty shops. The immediacy and independence of these publications gave rise to today's popular alternative comics movement.

Mini comics creator Michael Dowers, former publisher of Starhead Comix and editor at Fantagraphics Books, compiled this impressive anthology. Included are interviews and commentary by the artists as well as the rare mini comics themselves.

The exhibition will feature original art and graphics by underground mini comix pioneers Jaimie Alder, Jim Blanchard, Wayne Gibson, David Lasky, Wayno, J.R. Williams, Steve Willis, Dennis Worden, and XNO. NEWAVE editor Michael Dowers will produce and distribute a mini comic on site. A comix jam by contributing artists will be accompanied by music from local indie rock band "iji."

Don't miss this splendid occasion on Saturday, January 30. Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street at Airport Way in the heart of Georgetown.

Listing Information

NEWAVE! Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s exhibition and publication party.

Featuring Jaimie Alder, Jim Blanchard, Wayne Gibson, David Lasky, Wayno, Steve Willis, Dennis Worden, XNO. Mini comic demonstration and giveaway by Michael Dowers. Music by iji.

Saturday, January 30, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 - 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present a remarkable series of exhibitions, signings and receptions on successive Saturday evenings January 30 through February 13. These amazing events will feature both emerging talent and legendary masters of the comics medium.

Fantagraphics Books celebrates the publication of NEWAVE! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s with an exhibition, book signing, and mini comix workshop on Saturday, January 30 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The show will feature original art and graphics by underground mini comix pioneers Jaimie Alder, Jim Blanchard, Wayne Gibson, David Lasky, Wayno, Steve Willis, Dennis Worden, and XNO. NEWAVE editor Michael Dowers will produce and distribute a mini comic on site. This festive reunion also includes live music, a comix jam, and the debut of the NEWAVE! anthology.

On Saturday, February 6 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, prolific comics creator and illustrator Steven Weissman appears on the occasion of the debut of his latest book CHOCOLATE CHEEKS. The award-winning Weissman explores a peculiar alternative to traditional childhood relationships. Influenced by classic comic strip characters and pop culture icons, this wonderful artist appeals to readers of all ages.

Please join us on Saturday, February 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, when Fantagraphics Bookstore is honored to host an art exhibition and reception for living legend Gahan Wilson. His delightfully demented sense of humor is celebrated in GAHAN WILSON: 50 YEARS OF PLAYBOY CARTOONS, an exquisite 3-volume slipcase edition that includes over 1,000 comics and illustrations by the acknowledged master of the macabre. Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet one of America's most incredible idiosyncratic artists.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street, only minutes south of downtown Seattle. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110. See you all soon.

Don't miss an opportunity to get a sneak peek at some of the great books you'll be reading later this year at the FANTAGRAPHICS 2010 PREVIEW event this Saturday, January 9 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle.

On display will be work from Fantagraphics favorites like Peter Bagge (HATE ANNUAL #8), Tony Millionaire (BILLY HAZELNUTS AND THE CRAZY BIRD), Jim Woodring (WEATHERCRAFT), Jason (WEREWOLVES OF MONTPELLIER), Michael Kupperman (TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #6), Richard Sala (THE HIDDEN), and Gilbert Hernandez (LOVE & ROCKETS NEW STORIES #3), as well as new offerings from masters like Jacques Tardi and Carol Tyler and relative newcomers like Joe Daly and Nate Neal, among many others. 2010 promises more of the amazingly diverse yet cohesive line of compelling comics you've come to expect from Fantagraphics Books. See for yourself this Saturday.

The opening from 6:00 to 9:00 PM coincides with the colorful Georgetown Art Attack featuring visual and performing arts presentations at several locations throughout the historic neighborhood. For details and a map visit www.georgetownartattack.com.

Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.) only minutes south of downtown Seattle. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.