One of the most "unusual" references to Roberto Clemente can be found on the cover of Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual LP. The Pittsburgh Pirates legend's name appears prominently above the doorway behind the twisting pop diva in the photograph by Annie Liebovitz. Go figure. This 1983 recording sold over 9 million copies, yet won only a single Grammy award for album packaging. Apropos of little, other than a reminder to read Wilfred Santiago's wonderful graphic novel biography 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente.

Join us this Saturday, June 18 at 6:00 PM as two of the country’s most gifted young cartoonists debut their recent publications at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Paul Hornschemeier, from Chicago, presents Life with Mr. Dangerous and Seattle’s own Eroyn Franklin premieres the highly anticipated Detained.  

Paul Hornschemeier’s latest book, Life with Mr. Dangerous, was serialized in Fantagraphics Books Mome anthology before being collected by Random House/Villard. It follows the saga of a newly single woman in her mid-20s stuck in an unfulfilling job as she struggles to find meaning and order in her life. The story is insightful and often funny, filled with situations that anyone who was ever young will recall.

Eroyn Franklin’s Detained explores immigrant detention centers in Washington State. Each side of the book is a continuous panorama that follows two immigrants as they navigate Seattle’s former INS building and the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma — a powerful and evocative examination of cultural isolationism and the politics of xenophobia. This self-published book is exquisitely topical and extremely cool.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s enchanting Georgetown arts community.  Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110. See you all soon.

Don’t miss Jim Woodring signing his latest work of genius, Congress of the Animals, at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Jim’s appearance is part of the lively Georgetown Carnival festivities featuring attractions that will appeal to all: circus entertainers, sideshows, aerial acts, carnival games, confections, music, alluring art, power tool races, and more! The Georgetown Carnival promises free fun for everyone from noon to 8:00 PM, rain or shine.  So plan to arrive early and stay late. For details see www.georgetowncarnival.com.

You’ll want to see Larry, Bella and Stacey defend their title at Hazardfactory’s annual Power Tool Races. Last time out they terrified the crowd with the “Georgetown Chainsaw Massacre.” This year it’s “Monstrosity” — a Hate inspired Black & Decker “Dragster” model belt sander. (I swear that’s the factory brand.) A wicked quick, bad ass machine.

The Carnival caps off with a reunion of Seattle’s seminal proto-grunge band Feast, performing right outside the bookstore. (Inside, you can view a vintage photo of Feast circa 1985 in Charles Peterson’s “Taking Punk to the Masses” exhibition.)

See you all on Saturday at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Georgetown. Phone 206.658.0110. Skip the traffic and parking problems by taking a Metro bus (routes 131, 134, 106, or 60.)

Cartoonists Paul Hornschemeier and Eroyn Franklin Present New Books on June 18 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle.

June 7, 2011 – Seattle, WA – Two of the country’s most gifted young cartoonists will debut their recent publications at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, June 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Paul Hornschemeier, from Chicago, presents Life with Mr. Dangerous and Seattle’s own Eroyn Franklin debuts the highly anticipated Detained.

Eroyn Franklin’s Detained explores immigrant detention centers in Washington State. Each side of the book is a continuous panorama that follows two immigrants as they navigate Seattle’s former INS building and The Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma — a powerful and evocative examination of cultural isolationism and the politics of xenophobia. The accordion-fold format lends a creative conceptual perspective to the protagonists’ poignant stories. This self-published work was supported in part by Artists Trust of Washington and the 4Culture lodging tax.

Paul Hornschemeier’s latest book, Life with Mr. Dangerous, was serialized in Fantagraphics Books' Mome anthology before being collected by Random House/Villard. It follows the saga of a newly single woman her mid-20s in an unfulfilling job as she struggles to find meaning and order in her life. The story is insightful and often funny, filled with situations that anyone who was ever young will recall. Hornschemeier has previously published three titles on Fantagraphics Books: The Three Paradoxes, All and Sundry, and Mother, Come Home.

Listing Information

Paul Hornschemeier and Eroyn Franklin book signing

Saturday, June 18, 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 98108
206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM

Iconoclastic cartoonist Jim Woodring will be touring the Northwest in June behind the release of his latest masterpiece, Congress of the Animals. Woodring will appear in Minneapolis, Portland, and Seattle to sign books and illuminate the allusions in his second full-length graphic novel.

In Congress of the Animals we are treated to the pitiful spectacle of Woodring's signature protagonist Frank losing his house, taking a factory job, falling in with bad company, fleeing the results of sabotage, escaping in an amusement park ride, surviving a catastrophe at sea, traveling across hostile terrain toward a massive temple seemingly built in his image, being treated roughly by gut-faced men and intervening in an age-old battle in a meadow slathered in black and yellow blood. We trust the artist's book tour will be more sedate.

Woodring's journey begins at midnight on Saturday, June 5 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN. Woodring will demonstrate his giant pen, discuss his work, and sign books as part of the unorthodox "Nightshift" festival of art. The tour continues on Friday, June 10 with a book signing at the illustrious Powell's City of Books in Portland, OR at 7:30 PM. Woodring returns to Seattle on Saturday, June 11 where he will appear at 1:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery as part of the amazing Georgetown Carnival. Washingtonians and British Columbians alike will not want to miss Jim's signing at Village Books in Bellingham, WA on Wednesday, June 29. He concludes the Northwest leg of his tour with a signing at Elliott Bay Book Company on Capitol Hill in Seattle on Thursday, June 30 at 7:00 PM.

Don't miss an opportunity to meet America's most visionary cartoonist. Look for more public appearances by this remarkable artist as the summer progresses.