Wrapping up another week of Online Commentary & Diversions:

• Review: "Fantagraphics sets a high standard for quality in all of their products, and [Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons] does not disappoint. ... It's just amazing...this is a product with a real 'wow' factor. ... If you're an admirer of Wilson's work like I am then this will be a must-have, something you'll want to look at again and again." – Matt Staggs, Suvudu (Random House)

• Interview: Johnny Ryan interviewed by Royal Jelly

• Edumacation: Iowa art teacher Molly Evans Sofranko has developed a lesson plan based on the Beasts! books — cool

Now open: The Forlorn Funnies Shirt Shop, for all your Paul Hornschemeier apparel needs. Two designs available now in various styles, with more coming soon. Guaranteed sartorial success. See Paul's introductory blog post for more info.

Via Eric; I don't know where he found it. It seems like it starts out half-assed, but I think that's "in character" as Enid. It gets pretty great when "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" kicks in, so stick with it. Thanks, Ms. Jewels! We look forward to your turn as Rebecca. Or how about a duo act? (YouTube link)

[EDIT: Hey, it's been pointed out to me that the original wording of my post suggesting the duo act could be seen as disparaging to this particular performer. That wasn't my intent at all! Looking back, it did read kinda harsh and lacked the positivity it should've had. My apologies to Ms. Jewels and anyone else I might've inadvertently insulted.]

For your viewing and clicking:

• A quashed illustration by Marco Corona for an article about a festival of African cinema. Now there's an ass R. Crumb could get behind, if you'll pardon the expression

• A bit of a departure for Debbie Drechsler, who draws the gear she takes on her nature/sketch walks (also, I didn't know she was on Flickr)

• I've gotta get me a copy of this nutty book Derek Van Gieson keeps posting previews of

• Ha! It's Steven Weissman's latest "I, Anonymous" spot

• A Covered contribution by fresh Mome face Jon Adams

• Kitty portraits by Andrice Arp (part of a group show that's up now)

• Recent sketches and a 2007 comic from Sophie Crumb

Spot the common thread in today's Online Commentary & Diversions:

• List: At The Truth About Comics Mario Z. Alipio (aka MZA) posts his top 11 comics of 2009, including You'll Never Know Book 1: A Good and Decent Man by C. Tyler at #6 ("A brilliant and disarmingly vulnerable historical memoir that converts a family's personal anguish into adult wisdom and grace. Part documentarian and part emotional wreck, Tyler examines her secretive father's WWII past and her own disintegrating marriage w/ an enviable balance between sensitivity and fearlessness"), Pim & Francie by Al Columbia at #9 ("Gorgeously reproduced — rough pencil marks, taped edges, discolourations, and all — this might be the sweetest thing to stare at, dumbly, in my whole library"), and Ganges #3 by Kevin Huizenga at #10 ("Huizenga conceives brilliant new methods of shorthand comix communication the way monkeys learn sign language to get the banana") (via The Comics Reporter)

• List: Library Journal's Martha Cornog names The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley's Cartoons 1913-1940 as one of "27 Graphic Novels for Women's History Month," saying "Brinkley’s gloriously rococo line art introduced fun-loving, energetic gals who paved the way for modern American action heroines like Brenda Starr and Wonder Woman."

• Plug: Esther Pearl Watson's Unlovable Vol. 2 is a Pick of the Week at Meltdown Comics in L.A.

If you've attended any events at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery you've no doubt seen and perhaps met John Ohannesian. In addition to being the store's upstairs neighbor and occasional handyman/helper-outer guy, John's a talented surrealist painter whose latest series of "Paintoons" are inspired by daily comic strips and Mad magazine with an underground comix sensibility. At the store you can buy a print of his popular "gods-playing-poker" painting out of the print bin that he built for us, and if you run into him he'll be happy to give you a studio tour.

Your daily art blips:

• Kevin Huizenga ponders the philosophy of domestic architecture

• Part 8 of Steven Weissman's "This Already Happened" at What Things Do

• It was hard to pick just one of Paul Hornschemeier's three contributions to the Game Over 3 art show at GRSF to feature here

• Ben Catmull provides a status update and glimpse of the eagerly-awaited-by-me Monster Parade #2

• "Things to See" Prose Corner: A very short Twain & Einstein (& Oscar & Felix) story by Michael Kupperman

Slow-news-day all-square edition of Online Commentary & Diversions:

• Review: "The book reminds me a bit of my childhood memories, where one gives nicknames to everyone and everything, and the smallest events become epic journeys. Chocolate Cheeks is a fun read, recommended to anyone who is interested in art prints or comic books." – Steven Swigart

• Review: "Esther Pearl Watson’s Unlovable is a rude, crude and frequently hilarious portrait of suburban teenage life in the 1980s. The book’s narrator, Tammy Pierce, is probably the most hapless 15-year-old girl imaginable. ... Her life is miserable, but she is anything but depressed. Every moment has urgency for her. She’s crazy-giddy when she’s in a good mood, and drama-queen petulant when upset. Watson makes Tammy comedy gold." – Robert Martin, The Comics Journal

New Yorkers! Gilbert Hernandez will be signing his new Love and Rockets collection High Soft Lisp at Midtown Comics' Times Square location (200 West 40th Street, 2nd Floor) on Saturday, April 24 at 2-4 PM. I can't recall the last time Gilbert did a signing in NYC, so don't miss it!

Guaranteed to be the glitteriest book slated to arrive in comic shops throughout the land today:

Unlovable Vol. 2
by Esther Pearl Watson

416-page two-color 5.75" x 5.75" hardcover • $22.99
ISBN: 978-1-60699-314-9

Being the second and final installment of the hilarious and humiliating adventures of high school misfit Tammy Pierce. In their weekly recommendations new Comics Comics correspondent Joe McCulloch admits "I didn’t read the first one, but it seems to have been well-received for its gangling verisimilitude" and Robot 6's Chris Mautner calls it "Poignant, cringe-inducing comics, to be sure."

Catch up with more info and extensive previews here, and verify availability with your local shop.