Our own Gary Groth and Mike Catron will be pillaging and plundering at VikingCon 2013 in Bellingham, WA, on Saturday, May 11th! 

VikingCon describe themselves as, "a cultural convention that serves as a place for individuals involved in the comic world across all levels of experience to come together and engage in meaningful conversations and explorations." And with that in mind, go engage in meaningful conversations with Gary and Mike in the following panels!

11:00 - 12:00 PM // The Age of Modern Comic: The Modern Age of Comics is a period in the history of American comic-books that began in the mid-1980s around the time of the publication of Watchmen, and has gone on to see the revival of the comics industry in the twenty-first century. This panel is a round-table discussion about the Modern Age, focusing on the multimedia popularity of comic books and addressing key issues about the changing nature of comics today. (Room VU 565A)

1:45 - 2:45 PM // Getting Into the Industry: Come meet industry professionals from many different aspects of the comic world, and learn what it takes to get in the business. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, artist, publisher/editor, or simply interested in how to get a career in the film, gaming, comic and graphic novel-inspired industry, this panel is a unique opportunity to ask and learn from people who have been in your shoes. (Room VU 565A)

VikingCon 2013 will be held in the Viking Union building at Western Washington University [ 516 High Street, Bellingham ].  Click here for driving and parking instructions. Parking is free of charge.

Montreal, get ready to laugh so hard you choke on your poutine. Michael Kupperman and Lisa Hanawalt, two of the funniest people in comics, will be signing at the Librarie Drawn & Quarterly on Monday, May 13th!

Join them starting at 7:00 PM for a slideshow presentation, jokes, drinks, and for a signing of Kupperman's greatest works, including his most recent, Tales Designed to Thrizzle, Vol. 2!

The Librarie Drawn & Quarterly is located at 211 Bernard Ouest in Montreal, Quebec.

The Public Library of Cincinnati is kicking off their very first Comic-Con this Sunday, May 5th, and they couldn't have chosen a better guest than our own Carol Tyler!

From 1:00 to 5:00 PM, they will feature a panel discussion with writers and illustrators working in the field (like Carol!), free comic books (in celebration of Free Comic Book Day), a comic book swap, artist and writer's booths, the Comic Con Drawing Contest award ceremony, and more. It's an all-ages event, and a wonderful way to celebrate comics!

The Main Cincinnati Library is located at 800 Vine Street. You can check out directions and parking information here.

We're still keeping tabs on our Mome-veteran Andrice Arp, and tonight, Thursday, May 2nd, she has some original artwork debuting at the SoHiTek Gallery in Portland, OR!

To celebrate the gallery's birthday, they have curated a show dedicated to our astrological sign, the Taurus. Dig In Your Heels: A Taurus Art Show features work from Sean Christensen ABT, Cameron Hawkey, Graham Kahler, Marsuplala, Mark Quemada, Amber Smith, Daria Tessler, Rebecca Urias, as well as Andrice! She explains on her blog:

So maybe I've been looking at too many sci-fi paperback covers from the '70s lately. Whatever, I think maybe it's OK. I'm also super excited to be OIL PAINTING again! I've been thinking about it for quite a while, and this show seemed like a good opportunity to pull out my box of oil paints that I haven't opened since I moved to Portland.

Nice! SoHiTek Gallery is located at 625 NW Everett St #102, in the Everett Station Lofts in downtown Portland.

Portland, if you missed Dash Shaw last weekend at Stumptown Comics Fest, or if you simply can't get enough of him (we understand),  join him tonight, Thursday, May 2nd, at Floating World Comics for a signing of both his new graphic novel, New School, as well as the one-shot comic book, 3 New Stories.

If you weren't one of the lucky few to get your hands on a copy of New School, then you definitely don't want to miss this chance! Library Journal and Paste both named it one of their most-anticipated books of the year. And, as Mike put it, it's a big honkin' book!

Dash will be signing copies of his new books from 6:00 to 10:00 PM, with a gallery full of original artwork. At 7:00 PM, he'll do a presentation of his animation works (including the Sigur Rós video, “Seraph”). The exhibit of his work will be on display through May 31st.

Floating World Comics is located at 400 NW Couch St. in downtown Portland.

Release the hounds! Graham Chaffee will be premiering his latest graphic novel Good Dog on Friday, May 17th at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles!

We can't wait for everyone to see Graham's latest work!  Over the past few years, he's been devoting himself to the art of tattooing, but he's back with this beautiful story about Ivan, a good dog, who is plagued by terrible nightmares about chickens and rabbits. Readers accompany the stray as he navigates dog society, weathers pack politics, and surveys canine-human interactions.

And while supplies last, you can also get a copy of the FBI•MINI comic Bad Dog, a charming story of Ivan's buddy Kirby! 

So, sit! And, stay! For this exciting book launch, starting at 7:00 PM! Meltdown Comics is located at 7522 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles.

* Other People's Publications
** Yeah, You Know Me.

This Saturday, May 4th, we're thrilled to present a signing with acclaimed artist Dash Shaw for his latest Fantagraphics titles 3 New Stories and his ambitious hardcover graphic novel New School.

We'll also have this new mini-comic available, New Jobs, published by Tom Kaczynski’s mighty imprint Uncivilized Books. This limited edition mini measures a mere 1/2 page, but packs in as much emotional resonance as the brick-sized Bottomless Belly Button.

A couple living in Bed-Stuy are going to have a child. To support the child, they need to get new jobs. It's a story any of us could relate to. My heart especially went out to the panel with a stack of stark bills piled on a table. 

Dash will be signing with us from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, and will discuss his work and screen short animations, including Seraph, which premiered at the recent Sundance Film Festival. Hurry out here and get your copies of his new work while they last, especially this limited edition mini!

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle's Georgetown district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone: (206) 658-0110.  

April showers bring May events at Fantagraphics!

Thursday, May 2nd

• Portland, OR:  Dash Shaw will be signing New School and 3 New Stories at Floating World Comics, starting at 7:00 PM! (more info)

Friday, May 3rd

• Seattle, WA:  It's your last chance to see Jen Vaughn's exhibit (with her best friend Nomi Kane) at Chocolati Cafe [ 1716 N. 45th Street ]. Not only is she an amazing Marketing/PR/Outreach Fiend, but she's a kick-ass artist, too! (more info)

Thursday, May 2nd

• Seattle, WA:  Join us at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery for a signing with Dash Shaw for New School and 3 New Stories!  It's also your chance to see our exhibit Dash Shaw: Stories, featuring 14 original pieces of artwork! (more info)

And it's another busy-ass week for Fantagraphics!

Monday, April 22nd

• New York City, NY:  The magnificent Michael Kupperman is doing a special presentation tonight at the comedy series Special Presentation, presented at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre East! (more info)

Wednesday, April 24th

• New York City, NY:  Get ready for Old Comics, Old Freaks, Old Jews, and LOTS of fun with graphic humorist Drew Friedman at the Soho Gallery for Digital Art. Host Danny Fingeroth will ask this master cartoonist and satirist about his life and career, and Drew will unveil previews of new, unreleased work, including his "Legends of Comic Books" series! Get your tickets now before this sells out! (more info)

Saturday, April 27th

• Portland, OR:  Join Fantagraphics at the 10th Annual Stumptown Comics Fest at the Oregon Convention Center!  We'll be joined by special guests Dash Shaw and Patrick Rosenkranz, and we'll packing tons of excited debuts into the van! (more info)

Sunday, April 28th

• San Francisco, CA:  Remember I See What You Say: Visual Stories and Narrative Art, that dreamy exhibit I told you about featuring work by Lilli Carré and Mome-veteran Eleanor Davis? Well, today they'll be holding their public reception at the Cartoon Art Museum, and while Lilli and Eleanor won't be there themselves, it's a fun chance to see their work while meeting lots of other nice artists and writers, like Lemony Snicket! (more info) 

• Portland, OR:  It's your last chance to visit us at Booth Q1 at the Stumptown Comics Fest at the Oregon Convention Center! Don't miss your chance to get your books signed by Dash Shaw and Patrick Rosenkranz! (more info)

Join us this weekend for the 10th Annual Stumptown Comics Fest at the Oregon Convention Center this Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th!

We're thrilled to announce that we'll be joined by special guests Dash Shaw, in town all the way from New York, and Portland's own Patrick Rosenkranz!

Speaking of Dash, we're also excited to present the debut of his latest books, along with a few other exciting debuts! Such as...

• 3 New Stories by Dash Shaw

• New School by Dash Shaw

• Castle Waiting Vol. 2: Definitive Edition by Linda Medley

• Julio's Day by Gilbert Hernandez

• Today Is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust

• Walt Disney's Donald Duck: The Old Castle's Secret (The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 6) by Carl Barks

• 50 Girls 50 and Other Stories (The EC Comics Library) illustrated by Al Williamson et al.; written by Al Feldstein et al.

• 'Tain't the Meat... It's the Humanity! and Other Stories (The EC Comics Library) illustrated by Jack Davis; written by Al Feldstein

Our artists will be partaking in programming throughout the weekend, so check out their panels!

Saturday, April 27th

12:00-12:45 pm // Meathaus Reunion: Becky Cloonan, Brandon Graham, Farel Dalrymple and Dash Shaw: A reflective spotlight on Meathaus luminaries, Becky Cloonan, Brandon Graham, Farel Dalrymple and Dash Shaw whose work has appeared in various Meathaus anthologies since 2002. These artists have each maintained their own strong modern stylistic identity receiving both critical and commercial acclaim. Marc Arsenault (Alternative Comics) will introduce the panel with a look at the SVA art groups and graduates that led to the creation of the Meathaus comics collective. (Room B114)

1:00-1:45 pm // Angels and Demons: The Mythology of S. Clay Wilson: Mythology may be the key to understanding the work of highly influential underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson, from the self-mythology that Wilson invented and polished over the years as a dashing and dangerous figure, to his personal inner landscape where his archetypal characters dwell when they arena gracing the pages of Zap Comix, Thrilling Murder, or Insect Fear, to the body of language and lore passed down from his hillbilly ancestors. With Patrick Rosenkranz. (Room B117)

2:00-2:45 pm // Two-Faced Artist Lives Double Life in Single Body!: The joys and perils of straddling the worlds of fine art and comics with cartoonists Jon McNaught, Julia Gfrörer, and Daniel Duford, moderated by Chloe Eudaly. Join us for a conversation with our panel of artists, each of whom are experienced in the realms of fine art and comics. We'll explore how they came to work in two seemingly disparate mediums, how their work in each converges with, diverges from, and influences the other, and the the sometimes arbitrary or artificial distinction between the two. (Room B117)

5:00-5:45 pm // Dylan Williams Tribute Panel: Share some time with the friends and colleagues of comics' best friend as we all recount our favorite stories about the late Sparkplug publisher's life and celebrate his philosophy and work as an artist, scholar and publisher. Time permitting, we will also attempt to make sense of his passion for unsettling any and everyone who dared point a camera at him at festivals like this one. Panelists include:  T Edward Bak, Julia Gfrörer, Tim Goodyear, David Lasky, Tom Neely; moderated by Milo George. (Room B114)

Sunday, April 28th

1:00-1:45 pm // Submissions Do's and Don'ts: Jen Vaughn (Fantagraphics), Jamie Rich (formerly Oni Press), Bob Schreck (Legendary Comics), Allison Baker (Monkeybrains Comics), and Sina Grace (Image/Skybound) will share their experiences slogging through the submissions pile, everything from finding a diamond in the rough to bartering with the mailman to stop delivering submissions. Your questions? Answered! Your comics published? We^'ll see. (Room B114)

2:00-2:45 pm // Dash Shaw's New School: Dash Shaw is a cartoonist and animator whose graphic novel New School debuts at Stumptown from Fantagraphics Books. In this spotlight presentation, he will screen and discuss his animations, including his Sigur Ros video and Sundance short Seraph, and show slides of the process behind creating New School as well as some of his other comics. Moderated by Fantagraphics^' Jen Vaughn. (Room B111)

4:00-4:45 pm // DIY Publishing: For many micropublishers, making good books is easy; it's the marketing and the selling that's hard. Panelists Tom Kaczynski (Uncivilized Books), Zack Soto (Study Group), Chloe Eudaly (Reading Frenzy), Jason Leivian (Floating World Comics), Keenan Keller (Drippy Bone), and moderator Milo George will look at different printing processes and their costs and compare notes on production/distribution issues including pricing and sustainability. (Room B111)

5:00-5:45 pm // Spain Tribute Panel: Spain Rodriguez, legendary underground cartoonist, tore his way into hearts of readers like the beloved motorcycles that grace the pages of his comics. Patrick Rosenkranz, Jen Vaughn, Eric Reynolds, and Charles Brownstein take you though the wild days of Spain's work from his groundbreaking ZAP anthology contributions to adapting the life of Che Guevara. Get acquainted with this revolutionary cartoonist and his award-winning work. (Room B117)

So, stop by the Fantagraphics Booth this weekend at Stumptown, Booth Q1 right down the aisle when you first walk in!

The Oregon Convention Center is located at 777 NE ML King Blvd, several blocks away from the Lloyd Center Shopping Mall, and conveniently located next to a Portland Tri-Met MAX Line stop for accessibility.