Video and photo looks at our most recently reprinted volumes of The Complete Crumb Comics, slightly belated, but as promised — if they're not displaying for you below, click the titles to view them on their respective product pages (where you'll find more info about each book, natch):

The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 13: The Season of the Snoid (New Softcover Printing)
by Robert Crumb

128-page black & white/color 8.5" x 11" softcover • $19.99
ISBN: 978-1-56097-413-0

Order Now!

The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 15: Mode O'Day and Her Pals (New Softcover Printing)
by Robert Crumb

128-page black & white/color 8.5" x 11" softcover • $19.99
ISBN: 978-1-56097-413-0

Order Now!

Drop by our bookstore on Wednesday for an extraordinary event. Wilfred Santiago will discuss his recent graphic novel biography of Roberto Clemente with sports journalist, bestselling author, and comics aficionado Rob Neyer.

21: The Story of Roberto Clemente documents the unlikely career of the Pittsburgh Pirates legend and his inspirational rise from the barrios of Puerto Rico to the highest levels of our national pastime. Over the course of his storied career, Clemente overcame the racial discrimination of the era to win awards in nearly every category, including the World Series MVP in 1971.

For all his staggering athletic accomplishments, it was his unflinching humanitarianism that cemented Clemente into our culture's consciousness. Major League Baseball honors the player that best exemplifies his commitment to public service with the Roberto Clemente Award. Santiago's sensitive portrayal of this amazing story is rendered seamlessly with cinematic verve.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street, minutes south of Safeco Field. Phone 206.658.0110. See you then.

And mark your calendars for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 7. Come to the store to pick up a free preview of our forthcoming Mickey Mouse anthology and other goodies.

Artwork from Gary Panter's solo show at Galerie Martel in Paris — well over 100 drawings and paintings spanning 4 decades — is now visible on their website, along with photos of the exhibit installation. Wow wow wow.

At The Beat, Brady Russell reports and shares photos from a recent exhibit of never-before-seen sketches and correspondence by Charles M. Schulz at SPACE 1026 in Philadelphia. I have mixed feelings about sharing this link: it's fascinating, but also a bit voyeuristic, as the material is highly personal in nature and was obviously never intended for public consumption, and I can't imagine Sparky would consent to having it displayed if he were alive.

• Old strips, illustrations, sketches and movie reviews by Jason at his Cats Without Dogs blog

• A nice set of sketches from John Hankiewicz

• Lilli Carré shares a recent illustration for the New York Times and some alternate sketches

• Sergio Ponchione illustrates John Cooper Clarke's "I Married a Monster from Outer Space" for Retrophobic

• From Kevin Huizenga , something Ganges-esque and a labor of Hercules

• Pages, sketches and updates from Derek Van Gieson at his These Days I Remain blog

And more Things to See from the past week:

• Steven Weissman's latest "I, Anonymous" spot and church sketching on his Chewing Gum in Church blog

• Vintage Jim Flora artwork and illustrations (and cake) at the Jim Flora blog

• Sketches by Mark Kalesniko for his new graphic novel Freeway at his blog

• "Flapface" by Renee French

• Daily storyboards & production art from Dash Shaw at The Ruined Cast blog go on a short hiatus

• Old sketchbook drawings of medical oddites by Hans Rickheit

• New Trubble Club!

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions:

• Review: "More than anything, ...21 is a book of huge ambition and formal daring. The storytelling is kaleidoscopic, leaping from Clemente’s final game in 1972 to his childhood to his 1960s heyday and back again, with time out for portraits of both the steel city and the Caribbean island that he loved so much. But for all his overt displays of (admittedly dazzling) technique, Santiago never loses track of his story. Though it’s not an ideal starting point for readers unfamiliar with Clemente’s life and significance — the treatment is far too idiosyncratic and personal for that, though newcomers will find the extensive bibliography useful — it hangs on strong narrative threads. [...] 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente is a mammoth achievement..." – Jack Feerick, Kirkus Reviews

• Interview: Comic Book Resources' Shaun Manning talks to Jim Woodring about the Nibbus Maximus and his new graphic novel: "'The story Congress of the Animals is one I've wanted to tell for a long time. In a lot of ways it's the most personal of the Frank stories and it breaks some aspects of the Frank mold,' Woodring said. 'There's a lot going on that may not be apparent, but I operate on the theory that is, there is something there people will pick up on it even if they don't see it directly. And that if they are sufficiently interested in puzzling it out, the meaning will become apparent.'"

• Interview: The Daily Cross Hatch continues serializing the transcript of Brian Heater's MoCCA panel conversation with Peter Bagge: "I still have ideas for [Buddy] and Lisa. I always have ideas for them. But what I also told myself is that I never want to just do the same character forever. You’re fortunate if you wind up doing something that’s popular. It’s rare for a cartoonist to land on something that’s popular enough that you could do it forever. Maybe I’m projecting, but I always felt sorry for daily strip cartoonists, who — you think up the Lockhorns, and you have to do the Lockhorns forever. They must always be on the verge of suicide."

• Commentary: Robot 6's Chris Mautner takes you to "Comics College" with a reader's guide to the work of Joe Sacco: "The novelty of Sacco’s particular niche tends to obscure some of his rather significant qualities as an artist and storyteller. He’s an endlessly inventive cartoonist, capable of creating incredible detailed vistas that give readers a definitive sense of place and time. He’s capable of moving from near-photo-like realism to a Basil Wolverton-ish exaggeration that can perfectly capture, say, a sweaty, crowded night club. In short, he’s an amazingly gifted craftsman, one of the best people making comics out there today."

• Analysis: "...Prince Valiant is so lush, so rich on a panel by panel basis that I often find a nine-grid of it is just enough for the day, something that unfolds and unfolds in your head long after you've set it aside. Foster makes a world with his artwork, layering in meticulous details that are never arbitrary or belabored, always enhancing the impact of the pictures' content." – Matt Seneca, Death to the Universe

• Commentary: At The Comics Journal, Sean Rogers on the work of Kim Deitch as illuminated by The Kim Deitch Files

• Craft: Frank Santoro 's latest Layout Workbook for TCJ.com looks at the proportions of his Mome stories

• Tribute: Margalit Fox pens the New York Times obituary of Bill Blackbeard

Some great news: Dash Shaw and his producing and creative partners for their in-development animated feature film The Ruined Cast have hit the fundraising goal they set for themselves on Kickstarter with several days remaining before the deadline! There's still time to contribute: "Exceeding our goal will allow us to go even deeper into the dark pre-production and production phases — create even more backgrounds, maybe even cast and record all of the dialogue for the film. We will put any funds raised to good and thrifty use." Plus you'll get in on the pledge incentives, which include postcards, prints, or being drawn into the movie.

Got comics questions? Head on over to The Stranger's Questionland, where you can get your queries answered all this week by our friendly staff as well as comics luminaries Peter Bagge, Tony Millionaire, Jason Lutes and Matthew Southworth.

As the saying goes, they like 'em big in Texas, so it was surely appropriate that Jim Woodring brought the giant pen to Houston for its first public demonstration outside the Seattle area! (Was it brought as a carry-on??)

The appearance took part at the opening night of Walpurgis Afternoon, a joint art show with Mike-Baehr-doppelgänger Marc Bell at Houston's Lawndale Art Center. We've got some pictures from the show, thanks to attendee Alex Barber. Check out his entire set of photos on his Flickr set.

The internet says a "walpurgis" is, "the eve of May Day, observed in some European countries and in some Scandinavian communities in the United States in celebration of spring and marked by music, singing, and bonfires." ...And giant pens.

Jim, keeping it kid-friendly.

Jim invites Marc up to draw.

Marc, inking a drawing of liquid paper.

Jim invites the crowd up for a go. (You can see Marc's finished liquid paper drawing here, too!) [Update: The man wielding the pen here, Jason Willis, has stepped forward on Twitter to identify himself. Thanks Jason! – Ed.]

This Wednesday, May 4th, our own Ellen Forney will be the life of The Reading Party! Join Ellen and fellow artist Derek Erdman as they lounge about the Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel, starting at 6:00 pm.

The Reading Party is a monthly soiree, organized by our friends at Seattle's weekly alt-paper The Stranger. (As you'll recall, Lust is a collection of Ellen's past illustrations for their personal ads section!) It's a free event, the special is a $4 Manhattan, and apparently, everyone is invited to read! But, don't be surprised if everyone just wants to hear Ellen.