Are you reading Uno Keratin's VIVIAN VAGICORN, the apotheosis of webcomicery? I am.

You like Steampunk? weird, crazy oddities? secret fraternal initiation rituals? You MUST get Catalog No. 439: Burlesque Paraphernalia and Side Degree Specialties and Costumes!

To celebrate the release of Catalog No. 439, author Charles Schneider will be making an appearance at the DeMoulin Bros. Museum in Greenville, IL as well as Hometown Comics in Edwardsville, IL on Oct. 15-16! 

Schneider, whose career has included acting in the movies "Tombstone" and "Ghost World" and writing Tom & Jerry cartoons, will appear at a fund-raiser for three local organizations. "An Evening with Charles Schneider: DeMoulin Goats, Hollywood Tales and Some Sleight of Hand" will be held Friday October 15 at Cunetto's Restaurant in Greenville. Proceeds from this unique program benefit the Bond County Historical Society, Greenville Public Library, and DeMoulin Museum.

Catalog No. 439 is a new paperback book about DeMoulin Bros. & Co. that was released by Fantagraphics. The DeMoulin company was founded in 1892 as a manufacturer of lodge regalia and initiation devices. Catalogs featuring these gadgets are highly sought by collectors. The new book, "Catalog No. 439," is a reprint of the most famous of these catalogs. Originally issued in 1930, Catalog 439 featured such gimmicks as the trick chair, lung tester and traitor's judgment stand. All of which were used in initiation rites by fraternal lodges of the day. Schneider visited Greenville in January for research at the DeMoulin factory and the DeMoulin Museum.

During the dinner program, Schneider will talk about his career in Hollywood and explain how he became involved in the reprint of Catalog 439. The evening will include a few magic tricks and other surprises. Tickets are $20 each and include the meal and Schneider's presentation. They can be purchased through October 8 at Watson's Drug Store, the First National Bank in Greenville, the Greenville Public Library and the DeMoulin Museum. Schneider will also be signing copies of the new book which retails for $22.99. Copies may be purchased that night. Those unable to attend on Friday night may also have their books signed on Saturday October 16 from 10 until Noon at the DeMoulin Museum. For more information, call (618) 664-4115.

The, the next day, get your copy signed by Schneider at Hometown Comics!

Saturday, October 16 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Hometown Comics
110 East Vandalia
Edwardsville, IL

STEPHEN DIXON
MEGAN SNYDER-CAMP

Thursday, October 7
7- 9PM @ Atomic Books.

As part of the Atomic Fiction Series, Stephen Dixon will be reading from his new collection of stories, What Is All This? (Fantagraphics) and Megan Snyder-Camp wil read from her new book of poems, The Forest of Sure Things (Tupelo Press). This should be a rare treat for Dixon fans, his first reading in some time and the first-ever from his new book.

From Harlan Ellison's website:

HARLAN ELLISON
- Wednesday, September 29 2010 18:36:3

DREW FRIEDMAN

Due to the (uh)(ahem) inordinately "strained" relations passim one of his publishers and me, I never got a chance to tell the astonishingly wonderful artist/caricaturist Drew Friedman that I am, and was from the beginning of his career, a cockeyed fan of his merciless honesty. He once did a caricature of me and I always wanted to tell him that I considered it a memento mori of exquisite meanness. His is absolutely imperial iconography, and next to his hilarious portrait of my friend Patton Oswalt, his two books of Old Jewish Comedians are so dear to me, that I had them Lucite-boxed. I mention this now, in hopes someone will impart yet another Old Jew's admiration, because I have just now finished gasping, giggling, guffawing and geshrying over his latest collection of portraits.

Being a bit of a bohkun myself, it has been delightful to watch Drew Friedman chase Hogarth, Kley, Nast and them guys over the hill. He is to fine art what Guernica was to human observation.

Pass it on, yeah?

Yr. Pal, Harlan