Behold a host of images, moving and still, from Daniel Clowes' visit to Seattle this past weekend. First up, the opening of the Ghost World exhibit at the Fantagraphics Bookstore (click here if the slideshow doesn't appear below):

Here's a snippet of the Q&A with Gary Groth and Dan at the exhibit opening (video link):

And here's the "Comix Sub-Heroes" panel discussion with Dan and Adrian Tomine, moderated by Ivan Brunetti, at the Bumbershoot festival (slideshow link):

I'll let the images speak for themselves except to say that everybody and everything was delightful and wonderful. I've said this before, but it bears repeating: what a great month it's been to be a graphic novel fan in Seattle.

TONIGHT! SEE Daniel Clowes in a rare in-store appearance! GAZE upon an exhibit of original art from Ghost World! HEAR Dan answer questions from our fearless leader Gary Groth! MEET other special unannounced guests! PURCHASE the very first copies of Ghost World: Special Edition and our special signed limited-edition silkscreen exhibit poster (VERY limited quantities of both - get there EARLY to secure your copies)! GET your Clowes books and paraphenalia signed! CLICK here for more details!

It all happens from 6 to 9 PM TONIGHT at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S. Vale St., Seattle WA USA. Phone 206-658-0110.

Wondering what's so Special about Ghost World: Special Edition by Dan Clowes? Watch this video/photo slideshow teaser and find out! (Hint: snazzy hardcover format, complete graphic novel and film screenplay, extensive extras including new annotations and rare/never-seen artwork...) Click here if the slideshow doesn't appear above. (And don't miss our pre-order poster giveaway contest!)

Announcing our Ghost World: Special Edition poster giveaway contest! Pre-order Ghost World: Special Edition by Daniel Clowes directly from Fantagraphics.com and your name will be placed in a random drawing to receive a signed copy of the ultra-limited-edition silkscreen show print (shown below) for the Ghost World: Special Edition exhibit opening this Friday, August 29, at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. (The poster will be available for purchase ONLY in person at the FB&G and is sure to sell out.)

Some rules: limit one entry per person (multiple orders, or ordering multiple copies, while appreciated, will not increase your chances); to be eligible for the drawing, orders must be placed via the Fantagraphics.com website and received before midnight Pacific time the night before Ghost World: Special Edition is listed as "in stock" on the New Releases page of Fantagraphics.com (currently expected to be the week of September 15, but this is subject to change up until the last minute); if you've already placed your order, YES, you're automatically eligible for the drawing; we only have one (1) poster to give away; the winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Good luck!

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery proudly presents the return of Daniel Clowes on August 29. His appearance marks the premiere of Ghost World: The Special Edition. The reception will feature an exhibition of Clowes’ meticulously rendered original graphics related to the book, as well as a brief discussion of the artist's cinematic approach to cartooning moderated by Fantagraphics Books co-publisher Gary Groth. Admission is free, as always. Please join us on August 29, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM to welcome this extraordinary artist. Click here for more details and the full media release!

(NOTE: The exclusive limited-edition silkscreen print shown above will be available ONLY at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Out-of-towners, now is the time to call in favors to your Seattle-area friends.)

AUGUST GETS HOT AT FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKSTORE & GALLERY WITH ZAK SALLY, DAVID B., AND DANIEL CLOWES!

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery welcomes three compelling cartoonists in August with appearances by artist/musician Zak Sally on August 2, French cartoonist David B. on August 15, and the incomparable Daniel Clowes on August 29. These talented artists further enhance the growing perception of Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery as one of our region’s most colorful and diverse cultural assets.

Zak Sally, a notorious Minneapolis-based musician and cartoonist will perform music and sign books on Saturday, August 2 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. A veteran of celebrated alternative rock band Low (recently featured at the Sub Pop 20 shindig), Sally is the creator of acclaimed comics Recidivist and Sammy the Mouse, as well as publisher of independent La Mano books. Sally’s work also appears regularly in Fantagraphics Books' highly regarded MOME anthology. This event will feature the debut of the second issue of his Sammy the Mouse comic book published on Fantagraphics Books' international Ignatz imprint. Sally will perform music with his associate Nate Denver and special guests. Denver is author of the amazing Wait, You're Not a Centaur book/CD, and performs with Nate Denver's Neck and Total Shutdown. The event will also offer the public an opportunity to preview the first U. S. exhibition of original art by French cartoonist David B.

Best known by his pseudonym David B., Peirre-François Beauchard is one of the prominent artists of the bande dessinée, a genre whose style and standing he has greatly advanced. The exhibition “My Story, My Stories” includes original art from his critically acclaimed comic memoir “l’Ascension du Haut Mal” (published in English as Epileptic), contributions to Fantagraphics Books’ MOME anthology, works from his Ignatz series Babel, and many pieces previously unpublished in the U. S. This exquisite exhibition runs from August 2 through August 25, 2008. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery will host a reception for this exceptional artist on Friday, August 15 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This event is associated with "La Semaine de la Bande Dessinée - A Week Celebrating the French Graphic Novel," supported by Fantagraphics Books, the 4Culture King County Lodging Tax, the Alliance Française of Seattle and the Cultural Development Fund of the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA.

On Friday, August 29, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery proudly presents the return of Daniel Clowes. His appearance marks the premiere of Ghost World: The Special Edition. The second in a series of deluxe publications from Fantagraphics Books, this edition of the phenomenal graphic novel includes special features available for the first time. Ghost World first appeared in Clowes’ award-winning Eightball comic book series, and the feature film, directed by Terry Zwigoff, earned the pair an Academy Award™ nomination for Best Screenplay adaptation. This event will feature an exhibition of Clowes’ meticulously rendered original graphics related to the book, as well as a brief discussion of the artists’ cinematic approach to cartooning. Please join us on August 29, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM welcome this extraordinary artist.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S, Vale St. in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community. Open daily, 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sunday until 5:00 PM. Phone: 206.658.0110. A selection of images in a variety of formats is available for publication. For additional information contact Eric Reynolds at Fantagraphics.

Listing Information

ZAK SALLY
Book signing and music performance
Saturday, August 2, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

DAVID B.
My Story, My Stories
Artist reception and book signing Friday, August 15, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Art exhibition August 2 - August 25, 2008

DANIEL CLOWES
Ghost World: The Special Edition
Artist reception and book signing Friday, August 29, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Art exhibition August 29 - October 7, 2008

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street, Seattle
206.658.0110 www.fantagraphics.com
Open daily 11:30 - 8:00 PM. Sundays until 5:00 PM.

Go figure.

I couldn't help but think of Ghost World while reading this rather melancholy news bit out of England.