• Review: "Riveting... Fingerman [is] one of the meatiest cartoonists going... Fingerman makes [Connective Tissue protagonist] Darla so smart and funny and draws so distinctively, like Daumier might for Playboy..." - Booklist (no link; from print)

• Review: "Boody... is a compilation of the wonky comics work of that overlooked genius, Boody Rogers... Rogers' quirky cartooning style is faintly reminiscent of Al Capp crossed with Basil Wolverton, and his creations are wild and strange to say the least. This is an attractive compilation, wonderfully designed by Jacob Covey, that captures the charm and feel of 1940s-era comic books." - Gary Sassaman, Innocent Bystander

• Review: "Humbug is... sumptuous... It is quite possibly the best designed book I've ever seen come out of any comics company, clean and attractive and perfectly suiting its late 1950s time period. ...[I]t's a perfect little time capsule by five cartoonists and humorists at the top of their respective games." - Gary Sassaman, Innocent Bystander (same link as above)

• Review: "Sam's Strip is a whimsical little humor strip... It's a giant in-joke, charming in its inception and invention... and again, it's one damn fine-looking book." - Gary Sassaman, Innocent Bystander (same link as above)

• Review: "Supermen! [is]... in a format (designed by the editor) that perfectly complements its source material... I'm hoping for a second volume." - Gary Sassaman, Innocent Bystander (same link as above)

• Plug: Decider previews our FCBD Love and Rockets comic: "While this teaser doesn’t feature any of the series’ most beloved characters (save superhero wannabe Penny Century), it’s still a good introduction to Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez’s blend of magical realism, goofy wit, and surprising poignancy."

• Discussion: The Ohlone College "Bibliophiles Anonymous" book club is reading Ghost World in May

Last night the Mr. Media internet radio program interviewed Trina Robbins, editor of our upcoming collection The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley's Cartoons 1913-1940. Listen to the archived broadcast using the embedded player above or, if it's not visible, at this link.

Steffen Maarup, editor of our forthcoming anthology of contemporary Danish comics From Wonderland with Love, has been posting extensive preview images over on The Comics Journal message board. If you're at all curious about what to expect from this book, this is the place to go!

Please have your people call our people. It is... your destiny.

Jim Blanchard will be in Bellingham, WA with an exclusive blend of paintings on canvas and framed goodies at JINX ART SPACE from May 1 through May 31-- The show is called Mutant Amour, and the opening night shindig this Friday, May 1 should be a corker: A belly dancing troupe and 3 electronic music bands in the downstairs area, and Jim's show upstairs with bro Richie Boyer spinning the punk and free jazz! Go get it on, god dammit! 

JINX ART SPACE
306 Flora St.
Bellingham, WA
360.920.4216

http://jinxartspace.com/

http://beaf.org/

http://jimblanchard.blogspot.com/

If you're anywhere near Ann Arbor on Free Comic Book Day (May 2nd), stop by Vault of Midnight and say hello to Paul Hornschemeier, who will be signing books, selling some odds and ends and trying to remember where he got those great pancakes last time he was in town.

"The event happens on the massive penthouse floor of the California Market Center (110 East Ninth Street, LA, CA) on May 2nd and 3rd. There's a whole lot of great stuff there, and you'll want to give yourself several hours to shop the wares of all the designers and vendors. Be prepared, admission costs $5, but it's well worth it!"

Be sure and drop by Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, May 2 between 11:30 and 8:00 PM to take full advantage of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Who knew?

To celebrate, Fantagraphics Books is offering a free sampler of Love and Rockets: New Stories by eminent alternative cartoonists Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez. Included is a special preview of Gilbert's "Sad Girl" saga, which introduces the character "Killer."

Also free is a limited supply of the coveted Unseen Peanuts comic from the 2007 Free Comic Book Day promotion, featuring rare strips by American master Charles M. Schulz. Not to mention the I.G.N.A.T.Z. sampler from last year's Free Comic Book Day featuring comics by David B., Zak Sally, Kevin Huizenga, Richard Sala and more. If that's not enough, we'll be handing out Comic Strip Masterpieces, a cool collection of classics including Little Nemo, Popeye, Krazy Kat, Terry & the Pirates and more presented in their original tabloid newsprint format.

Saturday's Free Comic Book Day coincides with the delightful Georgetown Super 8 Film Festival with screenings of locally produced short films at various locations in the neighborhood throughout the day and evening. Oh, and SAVE THE DATE: Tony Millionaire's Drinky Crow art show and book signing on Saturday, May 9, 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. at the corner of Airport Way S., only minutes from downtown Seattle. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.

See you all soon.

Slow day:

• Plug: Corey Blake spotlights Blazing Combat

• Things to see: Bob Fingerman posts a set of thumbnail sketches from the development of Connective Tissue

• Oddity: Twitter-er mackbrad tells us "You guys should totally bid on this auction"

Courtesy of UGK featuring Akon (via Minneapolis City Pages).