This summer ends with a blast at Bumbershoot! The Northwest's foremost arts festival features the premiere of Fantagraphics Follies, showcasing diverse works from some of Seattle's most notorious cartoonists. Don't miss your favorite Fantagraphics artists appearing on stage in the lively variety show format of a late-night talk show at the colorful Labor Day weekend event.

The entertainment begins big with Jim Woodring demonstrating his prowess with a giant quill pen. Fine artist (and finer cartoonist) Eroyn Franklin puts on a shadow puppet show, followed by the hilarious comix comedy routine of Kelly Froh. Ellen Forney plays Marbles before her stint on the couch, and Danny Bland reads In Case We Die. Peter Bagge's pop combo Can You Imagine? featuring Steve Fisk performs the role of house band as Fantagraphics Bookstore curator Larry "Letterman" Reid plays host. Big fun for all ages.

Events are "springing" at Fantagraphics!

Wednesday, April 17th

• Auburn, WA:  Our own Ellen Forney will be a guest speaker at the Holman Library [ 12401 SE 320th Street ] on the campus of the Green River Community College at noon, followed by a comics workshop from 1:00 to 3:30 PM! Larry Reid will be on site to sell you Ellen's books from the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery! (more info)

Thursday, April 18th

• Baltimore, MD:  Join Dash Shaw from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Atomic Books for a signing of his new graphic novel, New School, as well as the one-shot comic book, 3 New Stories! He'll be joined by noneother than Tim Kreider for a two-fer-Thursday signing!  (more info)

• Chicago, IL:  The legendary Gilbert Hernandez will be signing at the infamous Quimby's! Join him at 7:00 PM for the slideshow “From Funnybooks to Graphic Novels” featuring the comics of his childhood, in addition to a Q+A and signing. It's a can't-miss evening, for sure! (more info)

• Seattle, WA:  New York cartoonist Lucy Knisley will be serving up fun at the book-signing party for Relish: My Life in the Kitchen at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery! Lucy will give a slideshow presenation, and our own Larry Reid will be providing snacks made from recipes in the book! I got to sample a cookie yesterday --- delish!!! (more info)

Saturday, April 20th

• Pittsburgh, PA:  Dash Shaw will be signing New School and 3 New Stories at Copacetic Comics from 7:00 to 11:00 PM! (more info)

Sunday, April 21st

• Gainesville, FL: Today is your last day to view the Ron Regé, Jr. exhibit at F.L.A. Gallery, hung in honor of his week-long workshop with SAW, the Sequential Artists Workshop!  (more info) 

• Brooklyn, NY:  Dash Shaw wraps up the East Coast springtime portion of his book tour! Join him at Light Industry at 7:30 PM for a signing of New School, 3 New Stories, and an animation screening!  (more info)

Photos by Janice & Jen!

Thank you to everyone who visited Fantagraphics at the Emerald City ComicCon earlier this month!  It was good times! Our local legend and store empresario Larry Reid manned the booth all weekend long, fueled by coffee and his lifelong love of comics.

Peter Bagge drew this adorable sketch of a cosplayer as Miyazaki's Kiki! Speakin' of Pete, we've still got a few of the exclusive t-shirts he designed for ECCC at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, while they last.

Here's Bill Schelly and Michel Gagné, comparing the printing on Weird Horrors & Daring Adventures: The Joe Kubert Archives Vol. 1 and Young Romance: The Best of Simon & Kirby's Romance Comics. If you attended Michel's book launch at the store last Spring, you'll recall, he is meticulous about reprinting! And, good news: Michel turned in his next book to Gary at the show, which will feature an introduction by, whaddaya know? Bill!

And here's the lovely Ellen Forney with our also-lovely booth volunteers Bella and Lilian. We can't keep her memoir Marbles in stock!

Whoops! Gary caught the paparazzi (me) in the act! Moving along... 

We swung by the Prism booth where No Straight Lines-contributor Ed Luce was all smiles!  We were happy to see some signed copies of Life's A Bitch from Roberta Gregory, and the new second edition cover of Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever #1 by Mome-veteran Jim Rugg.

Speaking of Mome-veterans, it's always a good day when T. Edward Bak is in the house. Look how hard he's working at the Floating World booth! Why, this photo is not staged AT ALL!

There were tons of other awesome people we saw, but Mike got distracted by the 25 cent bins, and I got too busy stalking Gillian Anderson. You can check out more photos from ECCC on our Flickr and Instagram accounts.

If you saw a book that you're kicking yourself for not picking up at the con, it's most likely still available at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 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.

See you next year at Emerald City ComicCon! (Scully...! Call me!)

Yes! We are all set-up and ready for you to come buy some comics from us at Booth 510 at the 11th Annual Emerald City Comicon! We'll be joined by our wonderful guests:

Friday, March 1st
4:00-6:00 PM            Peter Bagge

Saturday, March 2nd
11:00-1:00 PM            Bill Schelly
1:00-3:00 PM             Peter Bagge
3:00-5:00 PM            Ellen Forney
5:00-6:00 PM            Michel Gagné

We've got our exclusive limited-edition Peter Bagge t-shirt in stock, featuring our anti-superhero, Buddy Bradley! Get yours while supplies last, along with a debut copy of Peter Bagge's Other Stuff, not due in stores until May!

Buy the book, and the tee is yours for only $10! Or just get the tee for $15!

In fact, all our t-shirts are on sale for a mere $15, including our highly-sought-after Love & Rockets t-shirts! 

So, be sure to come see us at Booth 510!  We're right by the superhero stuff... no, literally...

Fantagraphics is in the North Lobby this year for a change, near the photo ops area, and across from our friend, local artist Augie Pagan (Booth 506).

The Emerald City Comicon is held at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center at 800 Convention Place in bustlin' downtown Seattle.

Residents of the Pacific Northwest are in for a pop culture bonanza this weekend at Emerald City Comicon. The action begins on Friday with an appearance by the legendary Peter Bagge, signing from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at booth 510. Fans in attendance will be the first in the country to get advance copies of Peter Bagge's Other Stuff, as well as the exclusive Buddy Does Emerald City tee shirt at a premium price. Bagge was largely responsible for creating the atmosphere that attracted dozens of aspiring cartoonists to Seattle in the 1990s. Come celebrate that legacy with us.

The action continues on Saturday at 11:00 AM with comix scholar Bill Schelly signing copies of his three volumes on the late Joe Kubert, who we lost last year after a stellar career that began at the age of 12! Bill has an amazing grasp of comix history and is a wonderful conversationalist. Featured guest Peter Bagge returns to the booth from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, followed by Ellen Forney,  signing copies of her runaway bestseller Marbles and other books. Cartoonist and archivist Michel Gagné rounds out the entertainment from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.

Come meet our knowledgeable staff and mingle with pop culture personalities like Carrie Fisher, Patrick Stewart, Gillian Anderson, Adam West, Burt Ward, Wil Wheaton, and countless others. See you in Seattle at Booth 510. Cheers!

Monday, February 25th

• New York City, NY: Tonight! James Romberger gives a slide show presentation on 7 Miles a Second at the NY Comics and Picture-story Symposium! Starting at 7:00 PM! (more info)

Tuesday, February 26th

•  Brooklyn, NY:  Join the mighty Michael Kupperman at Book Court for the book launch celebration of Tales Designed to Thrizzle, Vol. 2, with special guest Ted Travelstead! (more info)

Wednesday, February 27th

•  Seattle, WA:  The Richard Hugo House presents an evening of original music inspired by Ellen Forney's 2007 collection Lust: Kinky Online Personal Ads from Seattle's The Stranger! Doors and bar at 7:00 PM. Showtime at 8:00 PM. (more info)

Friday, March 1st

•  Seattle, WA:  It's the first day of Emerald City Comicon! Today, our special guest Peter Bagge will be signing from 4:00 to 6:00 PM! (more info)

•  Seattle, WA:  More, more, more Emerald City Comicon! Today, we'll be joined by special guests Bill Schelly, Peter Bagge, Ellen Forney, and Michel Gagné! (more info)

•  New York City, NY:  It's your last chance to check out the The Pen-Ultimate Arnold Roth: 60 Years (and Counting) As a Freelance at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art! Exhibit closes today! (more info)

Sunday, March 3rd

•  Seattle, WA:  It's the final day of Emerald City Comicon! No special guests, but lotsa very special comics! Come say hi to Larry and the gang at Booth 510. (more info)

•  Portland, OR:  It's your last day to check out the exhibit Fighting Men: Leon Golub, Peter Voulkos, and Jack Kirby at the Ronna and Eric Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art! (more info)

Monday, March 4th

•  Gainesville, Florida:  The magic begins as our own Ron Regé, Jr. will begin a week-long intensive workshop at SAW, the Sequential Artists Workshop! (more info)

Fantagraphics Books is bringing the Hate to the 11th Annual Emerald City Comicon here in our hometown of Seattle!

Join us from Friday, March 1st through Sunday, March 3rd at Booth 510, along with our very special guests Peter Bagge, Ellen Forney, Michel Gagné, and Bill Schelly! 

Friday, March 1st
4:00-6:00 PM            Peter Bagge

Saturday, March 2nd
11:00-1:00 PM            Bill Schelly
1:00-3:00 PM             Peter Bagge
3:00-5:00 PM            Ellen Forney
5:00-6:00 PM            Michel Gagné

We're excited to present an exclusive limited-edition Peter Bagge t-shirt, featuring our anti-superhero, Buddy Bradley! (That's the design above, a take on the official ECC logo.)

And we're also proud to present the debut of Peter Bagge's Other Stuff, not due in stores until May, and featuring collaborations with Daniel Clowes, R. Crumb, Danny Hellman, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Alan Moore, Johnny Ryan and Adrian Tomine! Get your copy quick, 'cause these are gonna go fast!

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery empresario Larry Reid will be behind the booth with our Jen Vaughn, Ian Burns, and intern Lillian Morlock.  

Booth 510 is located near the frontline of the exhibitor floor, in the second row as you cross the Sky Bridge. Please note: this is a condensed version of the map. You can view the full map here.

Our Outreach Fiend, Jen, will also be droppin' some knowledge at the panel "The Big Picture" on Friday from 4:20-5:15 PM in Hall C, where she'll discuss how the landscape of the comics field has changed along with fellow panelists Allison Baker, Shannon Watters, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Emi Lenox.

The Emerald City Comicon is held at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center at 800 Convention Place in bustlin' downtown Seattle.

While supplies last, you can still get tickets at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Georgetown.  (But, you better hurry, 'cause as of this typing, quantity is dwindling quickly!)

See you there!

Seattle simply can't get enough of Ellen Forney, and we want more, more, MORE!  On Wednesday, February 27th, we will get what we want: an evening of music inspired by her 2007 collection Lust: Kinky Online Personal Ads from Seattle's The Stranger, presented by our friends at the Bushwick Book Club and the Richard Hugo House!

The evening features a talk from Ellen herself, and then local musicians will perform original material inspired by the book!  Come hear new songs from Levi Fuller, Robert Heyer, Karen Lindenberg, Darren Loucas, Kimo Muraki, Aaron Starkey, Mike Votava, Tekla Waterfield, Wes Weddell, and more.

The Fantagraphics Bookstore staff will be on site with copies of Lust and other tantalizing titles from Ms. Forney for you to get signed.

Doors and bar at 7:00 PM. Showtime at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door. The Richard Hugo House is located at 1634 11th Avenue in Seattle.  

Mingle with local comix luminaries at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, January 26 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM as the store plays host to participants in the Graphic Artists Guild annual Graphic Novel Panel, sponsored in part by Fantagraphics Bookstore and Emerald City Comicon. The party at the store is free and open to the public.

The stellar line-up includes David Lasky, artist of the sensational new graphic biography The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song; Ellen Forney, whose recent memoir Marbles: Mania, Depression Michelangelo & Me was named by the Washington Post as the Best Book of the Year; cartoonist, game designer, and comix archivist Michel Gagne; and well as Fantagraphics friends Phil & Kaja Foglio, Allen Gladfelter, Stefano Gaudiano, and Mark Monlux. A special guest is the store's current featured artist Jim Woodring! We also anticipate visits from our colleagues Ryder Windham, Edd Vick and others. Complimentary refreshments and snacks will be served. This'll be great fun!

Thursday, January 24th

• Minneapolis, MN: Join Tom Kaczynski for the launch of Beta Testing the Apocalypse, with special guests Zak Sally and Derek Van Gieson, as well as Vincent Stall, Dan Wieken, and Peter Wartman! (more info)  

Friday, January 25th

• Paris, France: An exhibition of original artwork from Fuzz and Pluck makes its debut at the Librairie Les Super Héros, including a reception with Ted Stearn himself! (more info)  

• New York City, NY: And an exhibit of paintings by Gary Panter launches at the Fredericks & Freiser gallery in Chelsea. (more info)   

Saturday, January 26th

• Seattle, WA: The Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery proudly hosts the after-party for the Graphic Novel Panel 2013, featuring special guests Ellen Forney, Michel Gagné, and Jim Woodring, along with many more artists! (more info)