FLOG! Entries - January 2009

Daily links: 1/30/09

mike

• Interview: On the Comicon.com message boards, Jennifer M. Contino gets all the Usagi Yojimbo scoop from Stan Sakai

• Things to see: The ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog re-runs a great article on Walt Kelly

• Things to see: A hilarious doodle by Steven Weissman

• Things to see: A page from Doug Wolk's con sketchbook by Jordan Crane

• Things to see: On the Covered blog, Richard Sala takes on Batman #197

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery Announces Winter/Spring 09 Schedule

LarryR

Mark your calendars: An exciting offering of diverse exhibitions, performances and signings are on tap in the coming months at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle. These and other lively events will keep the space jumpin' into the summer.

Esther Pearl Watson
UNLOVABLE
Opening reception and book signing Saturday, February 7, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues through March 4, 2009
(more event info)

HUMBUG
Original art, artifacts and ephemera from Harvey Kurtzman's classic humor magazine.
Public preview Saturday, March 7, 11:30 to 8:00 PM
Exhibition continues through April Fools Day, 2009
(more about Humbug)

Dame Darcy
Music performance and book signing
Saturday, March 14, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
(more about Dame Darcy)

Jaime Hernandez and Stan Sakai
Original art by two masters of the medium.
Opening reception and book signing Saturday, April 4, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues through May 6, 2009
(more about Jaime Hernandez and Stan Sakai)

Tony Millionaire
DRINKY CROW
Opening reception and book signing Saturday, May 9, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues through June 10, 2009
(more about Tony Millionaire)

JASON
Opening reception and book signing Saturday, June 13, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues through July 8, 2009
(more about Jason)

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at the corner of Airport Way S.) in Seattle's Georgetown arts community. Phone 206.658.0110. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM.

Webcomics update for 1/30/09

mike

Time for the new installment of Steven Weissman's in-progress pages from "Blue Jay," an epic 32-page story from Chocolate Cheeks, the next collection of the Yikes! gang's adventures. In this week's installment: springing into action!

And don't forget to catch up on our current 5-day chunk of Martin Kellerman's hilarious Swedish smash-hit Rocky, updated Monday-Friday! This week: Rocky's ignominious homecoming to Sweden.

Daily links: 1/29/09

mike

• Review: The Chicago Reader says that Beasts! Book 2 will "[set] loose something that will devour your still-palpitating innards"

• Review: ComicMix approves of Ghost World: Special Edition by Daniel Clowes & Terry Zwigoff

• Review: An older one that we missed - Thmazing reads The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8 by Thomas Ott in the store without buying it, declares it "terrific"

• List: Kiel Phegley's "The Ten Best Comics I Read in 2008" includes Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 by the Hernandez Brothers at #7 and Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw at #1

• Analysis: Consequentialart examines a multi-page spread by Pat McEown from Dave Cooper's Weasel #1 (link via Sean T. Collins)

• Excerpt: Entrecomics posts some of Jason's Darth Vader gag strips from Meow, Baby! (as also seen in our 2006 Free Comic Book Day offering) and a page of his juvenilia as printed in The Comics Journal #294

• Preview: The Star Clipper Blog looks ahead to Everybody Is Stupid Except for Me and Other Astute Observations, our forthcoming collection of Peter Bagge's Reason strips

• Events: Comic Book Resources has the announcement of "The Art of Stan Sakai" at the Cartoon Art Museum (we'll have our own related event to announce in the not-too-distant future)

Prince Spam is the Best Spam

Eric

Valentine's Day Art Attack!

LarryR

Artwork by John Ohannesian

LOVER'S LANE: FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGETOWN SECOND SATURDAY ART ATTACK ON VALENTINE'S DAY, FEBRUARY 14!

Please join us for a romantic evening of exceptional art and entertainment on Valentine's Day in our enchanting arts community for the first anniversary of the Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack. In the span of a single year this colorful art walk has established itself as among the most idiosyncratic cultural outings in our region. This monthly promotion is distinguished by its diversity - featuring visual, performing, film, media and applied arts, as well as a wide variety of dining, drinking and shopping experiences. More than 30 creative enterprises in close proximity participate; programming events featuring accomplished artists from Georgetown and beyond.

Among the highlights of the February 14 Georgetown Art Attack: Drawing by Georgetown artist Doug Parry, including studies for his recent exhibitions in New York and Miami, at Georgetown Tile Works; The Grand Opening of Georgetown Studios in the historic Engine Room of the Original Rainier Brewery featuring art by Tim Ticehurst, Kathryn Barnard and others, curated by Gretchen Johnson; Mark LaFalce's "Economic Stimulus Package Open Studio (ESPOS) - New Oils for a Greener Economy," together with multimedia artist Deborah Stachowic, ceramicist Pamela Hathaway and special guest Claire Brown in the north compound of the Rainer Cold Storage complex; local painter Loren Lavinthal plus fabulous ceramics and tiles from Sherri Scott at George; Short and feature length films at the Mix; Jill Alba's multi-media custom frames at Full Throttle Bottles; Rebecca Bolte's "Couples in Love," a lovely display of wedding and engagement photography at Bolte Creative; "Tokyo Micro/Macro," an intimate photographic portrait of contemporary Tokyo featuring the work of Nicholas Vroman and Virginia Sorrells at Calamity Jane's; Paintings by John Ohannesian, including the original piece commissioned for the February Art Attack, at the Stables; Open studios of over 40 resident artists at Equinox Studios; "Figruary," a show of figurative works by Angielena Chamberlain and Jeff Mihalyo at Bella Vitale Studio; "Unlovable," an exhibition of narrative drawings by Los Angeles artist Esther Pearl Watson, and a Valentine's Day sale of comix and graphics novels at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; "Resident Artist Show" featuring original works by the instructors and artists at Georgetown Art Center; Intimate dining and exotic drinking at wonderfully diverse Georgetown establishments including Smarty Pants, All City Coffee, Via Tribunali, Stellar Pizza & Ale, 9 Lb. Hammer, Georgetown Liquor Company; Squid and Ink, Jules Maes Saloon, Calamity Jane's, and Hanger Café.

The Second Saturday Art Attack is a monthly production of the Georgetown Merchants' Association. For more information visit: www.georgetownartattack.com.

Daily links: 1/28/09

mike

• Review: J. Caleb Mozzocco likes Colleen Coover's "girly porno" comic Small Favors

• Analysis: The Groovy Age of Horror takes an in-depth look at House by Josh Simmons (link via Sean T. Collins)

• Tourism: The Reading Copy Book Blog recounts a recent visit to the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery

• Things to see: Jim Blanchard re-creates the cover of Blatch #14

Psst... Pass it on.

Eric

Full news release soon, but I'm excited so here's a teaser:

Hornschemeier's Inauguration Diary

Eric

Paul Hornschemeier attended the Obama inauguration and wrote a very touching blog post about the experience that I very much enjoyed. Now, if I can just get Gary Groth to write something about his inauguration experience in DC last week...

Huffing acetone for Luba.

covey

Distressed type the new old-fashioned way.

Daily links: 1/27/09

mike

• List: Same Hat! Same Hat! names the "Best X of Everything 2008: Comics!" with Tales Designed to Thrizzle #4 by Michael Kupperman in the #5 position

• Review: Optical Sloth likes Johnny Ryan's Angry Youth Comix so much, he's willing to buy you $5 worth of stuff from our website if you don't like it too

• Things to see: For The Boston Globe, Alexander Theroux reviews a recent book about Edmund Wilson and Mary McCarthy

• Things to see: In Douglas Wolk's convention sketchbook, a page by Charles Burns

Daily links: 1/26/09

mike

Buckle in:

• Review: The Beat says "You should be reading Rocky"

• Profile: Shameless looks at the collaborative comics of Ellen Forney

• Analysis: Vibrational Match finds Jack Kirby parallels in Gilbert Hernandez's XXX comic Birdland

• Interview: The Daily Cross Hatch posts the second of their three-part chat with Lilli Carré

• Blurbs: At Robot 6, Chris Mautner and Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac) both declare that they're currently reading recent volumes of The Complete Peanuts

• Birthday: On the Jim Flora blog, Irwin Chusid commemorates the 95th anniversary of Flora's birth yesterday

• Birthday: Relatedly, The Comics Reporter notes Jules Feiffer's 80th birthday today

• Things to see: It appears that Michael Kupperman has a new blog under construction; the Internet might be about to get measurably funnier

• Things to see: This slideshow of photos by Lou Siroy at FOTO8 is accompanied by an introductory essay by Alexander Theroux

• Things to see: More sketchbook pages (a.k.a. "Doodle Dump") from Tom Kaczynski

• Things to see: More Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-themed desktop wallpaper from Ellen Forney

• Things to see: Rare vintage animation by Hank Ketcham (via The Daily Cartoonist)

• Things to see: A new book cover illustration by Anders Nilsen

Bottomless Belly Brussells

mike

Belgians, catch American cartoonists Dash Shaw and Alec Longstreth at Librarie MultiBD in Brussells on February 6 - click here for more information.

A Note From Our President

Eric

Adam Grano says, "I've been working here for more than six years and this is the first time I've been privileged enough to receive a note on Gary's personal stationery." I've been here 16 years years and I've never been so lucky; I'm enormously jealous. I'd like to believe that Gary designed it himself.

Critics' Picks Sale ends soon!

mike

Just a reminder that tomorrow (Jan. 26) is the last day of our 2008 Critics' Picks sale, wherein all of our 2008 titles that have been selected as the best of the year by the pundits and pros are marked down 20%! Click here for the full selection and don't delay in placing your order -- the clock's a-tickin'!

Comics of Note 2008

mike

Here are some thoughts on last year's comics that I would like to share with you. I don't dare call this a "Best Of" list -- these are merely some comics that I read and that stand out to me, excluding Fantagraphics releases because it's my job to love them all equally, though you'll find some stuff from Fanta folks in here. Listed more or less alphabetically:

• Against Pain by Ron Rege Jr. (D&Q) - A nice hefty slab of Ron's unique vision. I'm always compelled by Ron's stuff and it's great to have this much of it in one place.

• Capacity by Theo Ellsworth (Secret Acres) - A warm, cleverly constructed, visually stunning tour through the artist's amazingly fertile creative imagination. Ellsworth synthesizes his mind-bogglingly detailed fantastical world-building with autobiography in a really natural and satisfying way without seeming like a crazy person, which is quite a feat.

• Dead Ringer by Jason T. Miles (La Mano) - A big, haunting slab of swampy beauty, mortality, cartoon gore, poetry and lovely chipboard. Morbid, funny, sublime, and lowbrow all at once. I get to sit next to this guy at work.

• Fight or Run: Shadow of the Chopper by Kevin Huizenga (Buenaventura) - Huizenga makes an experimental comic and the result is pure, distilled, uncut, unadulterated Comics Fun. Nifty!

• The Man Who Loved Breasts by Robert Goodin (Top Shelf) - Like a master class in expressive cartooning. Just look at George Olavatia's face from panel to panel, for Pete's sake.

• Trubble Club (online and self-published mini) - Cute, weird, gross, sad, funny jam comics from over a dozen participants (including Laura Park and Lilli Carré). Almost every panel goes in a delightfully unexpected direction.

• Welcome to the Dahl House by Ken Dahl (Microcosm) - His story in Papercutter hooked me on his acerbic worldview and crackerjack cartooning. This is mostly earlier stuff and as such a little rougher but it brings you up to where the greatness is.

• Renee French's blog - I look forward to Renee's daily drawings more than anything else in my RSS feeds. I especially love her lo-fi cameraphone (?) doodle snapshots and she occasionally flat out blows my mind.

New poll: overdue collections?

mike

We've brought our previous website poll to a close. In answer to the question "Following Palestine and Ghost World, what should get the Special Edition treatment next?" the top response is "The Bradleys / Buddy Bradley saga" after an early lead for "Complete (non-Frank) Jim Woodring" and a long period of domination by "Complete Eightball." See the final results here. (UPDATE: apparently we've been the victims of ballot-stuffing -- see the comments for details.) So does your top choice have a chance of being made? Well, they've all been discussed at one point or another, but so far the only one to make it onto our schedule is Usagi Yojimbo: The Special Edition, debuting at Comic-Con this summer as a two-volume slipcased hardcover set with loads of extras -- our biggest Special Edition re-issue yet!

Our new poll asks "What never-reprinted Fantagraphics series would you most like to see collected?" Vote in the right-hand column here on Flog or on our home page. As far as I know, none of the choices have actually been discussed as a possibility, but who knows, if we get an overwhelming response...

New Jim Flora print: Kid Ory

mike

The newest release from Jim Flora Art is this fine art screenprint of Flora's cover for Kid Ory and his Creole Jazz Band. More details and ordering info here.

Daily links: 1/23/09

mike

• List: The Comics Reporter posts Rich Tommaso's Best of 2008 list, which includes Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 by the Hernandez Brothers

• Review: Swedish blog Weltklasse Serier says Ganges #1 by Kevin Huizenga is "a blue anemone in the great series of forest," according to the Google translation

• Blurb: Irish illustration blog Scamp takes note of Beasts! Book 2

• Things to see: Getting excited for the imminent release of our Humbug collection? Whet your appetite with some original pages, courtesy of Joey Anuff

Webcomics update for 1/23/09

mike

And don't forget to catch up on our current 5-day chunk of Martin Kellerman's hilarious Swedish smash-hit Rocky, updated Monday-Friday! This week, Rocky has his last hurrah in New York City.