Portland, get ready for a lot of cool accents in the comics community this weekend as the Rose City hosts the 2013 International Comic Arts Forum!

From Thursday, May 23rd through Saturday, May 25th, you are invited to attend this annual academic conference, featuring Fantagraphics special guests Megan Kelso, Tommi Musturi, and T. Edward Bak!

The entire weekend is jam-packed with wonderful panels, discussions, and papers, but here are a few highlights we thought you'd particularly enjoy! (... 'cause they feature our artists!... )

Thursday, May 23rd

7:30 - 9:00 PM // A Celebration of Finnish Comics at Floating World Comics: Comics illustrator Tommi Musturi, whose work is featured in Kolor Klimax: Nordic Comics Now, and editor Ville Hänninen will discuss their work on Finnish comics at Floating World Comics [ 400 NW Couch Street ]. A pre-talk reception begins at 6:30 PM, with a Q&A to follow the talk.

Friday, May 24th

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM // Women & Politics: Alisia Chase will present “Matrixial Graphics:  Motherhood and Politics in Megan Kelso’s Watergate Sue" at the University of Oregon's White Stag Building [ 70 NW Couch Street ].

Saturday, May 25th

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM // Self, Memory, Perception:  Josina Robb will present "The Spatiality of Voice: How Joe Sacco’s Palestine Takes Up the Ethos of New Journalism" at the University of Oregon's White Stag Building [ 70 NW Couch Street ].

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM // Roundtable: Comics and the Pacific Northwest:  With comics creators Megan Kelso, Greg Rucka, and T. Edward Bak. Moderated by Ben Saunders at the University of Oregon's White Stag Building [ 70 NW Couch Street ]. 

All these wonderful panels and events are totally FREE! All you gotta do is register online here. 

 The freshiest, just cleaned kitten of Online Commentaries & Diversions:

• Plug: TIME Magazine talks about You'll Never Know Book Three: Soldier's Heart by C. Tyler. "The book is as much about empty spaces--in history and on the page--as it is about the details she can fill in." See it in print next week!

• Review: Dal Tokyo by Gary Panter is listed in The Times of UK as one of the essential books for Chris Ware. Ware says "Gary Panter is the William Blake of comics; a true poet who sees and feels what the rest of us can't, and he's done more to expand the power of drawing in the medium thatn probably anyone else alive." Original article here.

• Interview: Cartoonist and creator of Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth Chris Ware is interviewed by Phawker by Rita Book.  

• Commentary: ArtVoice visits the Spain Rodriguez retrospective at the Burchfield Penney Center in Buffalo, NY. Jack Foran says,"Rodriguez was a kind of incorrigible rebellious type. . . when abstract expressionism with its two-dimensionality principle was dogma—he was into three-dimensionality, in spades—and his blue-collar employment in Buffalo area manufactories, where the curriculum was the much more interesting subject to him of simmering socioeconomic class warfare."

• Review: Rob Clough of High-Low reposted his Seqart post on Megan Kelso and The Squirrel Mother. Cough states, "What makes Kelso one of my favorite artists is her total devotion to the medium and a constant desire to improve. . . Kelso's art is all about the narrative. Every word and every line advances the story; there are no extraneous pyrotechnics. Indeed, Kelso's line is more elegant than spectacular."

• Review: Publishers Weekly enjoys Love and Rockets New Stories #5. "In the 30 years they’ve been writing and drawing Love and Rockets, Los Bros Hernandez have created wonderfully complex story lines and characters. . . This web of superior magical-realistic storytelling involves readers in the perplexed yearnings of a huge cast of unforgettable characters unaware of their own capacity for general self-delusion and occasional self-discovery."

• Commentary: Hannah Means-Shannon contines her SPX coverage with more on the Bros on The Beat.  On the "Life After Alternative Comics" panel, Jaime Hernandez and Daniel Clowes spoke about the past and present of their comics-making environment. "Dan Clowes addressed the 'wasteland' of comics in the early 1980’s and the origin of his LLOYD LLEWELLYN series and the strange, often intriguing piles of fan mail he received from readers and prison inmates."

• Interview: Also on Phawker is an interview of Charles Burns, creator of Black Hole. He weaves stories by "paying close attention to the way my brain functions. I sit and write every day and it amazes me how often I repeat myself – come up with the same “brilliant” solution to a plot thread only to discover notes from years earlier where I’ve already clearly laid out the same ideas."

Our local gals Ellen Forney and Megan Kelso are heading to New Smyrna Beach, Florida for a Graphic Novel Residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts!

While in town, and when not engaging in some Spring Break-style shenanigans, they'll be giving some "Illustrated Talks" that are free and open to the public!

Megan Kelso will be speaking on Monday, October 15th at the University of Central Florida [ Math and Physics Bldg, Room 206, Orlando ], and Ellen Forney will hold court on Thursday, October 18th at the Deltona Library Auditorium [ 2150 Eustace Avenue, Deltona ]. Both events start at 7:30 PM, and both nights will feature a reading from the artists, followed by a Q&A and book signing! Tell 'em we say hi!

 Thursday, August 9th

• Portland, OR: Our lovely editor Justin Hall will be signing No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics at Floating World Comics with special guests Erika Moen, Robert Triptow, and Vaughn Fricke! (more info)

Friday, August 10th

• Brooklyn, NY: The great Lewis Trondheim is coming all the way from France to help Bergen Street Comics celebrate the world premiere of Ralph Azham Vol. 1: Why Would You Lie to Someone You Love?!!! (more info)

Saturday, August 11th

• Seattle, WA:  Join Fantagraphics at Booth 214 at the 2nd annual GeekGirlCon! Signing with us today will be Ellen Forney, Megan Kelso, Justin Hall, and Roberta Gregory! (more info)  

• Seattle, WA: To celebrate GeekGirlCon and PAX Prime, Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery presents “GAME OVER,” an exhibition of “box art” of some of our most famous graphic novels reimagined as failed videogame adaptations. (more info) 

 • Montreal, QB:  He just can't stay away from Canada! Beloved artist Jason will be signing at the Planète BD! (more info) 

Sunday, August 12th

• Seattle, WA:  It's your last chance to visit Fantagraphics at Booth 214 at the 2nd annual GeekGirlCon! Check it out! (more info)   

Fantagraphics goes geeky at the 2nd annual GeekGirlCon in Seattle!

Visit us at Booth 214 on Saturday, August 11th and Sunday, August 12th! We're excited to announce our special guests who will be joining us on Saturday: Ellen Forney, Megan Kelso, Justin Hall, and Roberta Gregory!

Saturday, August 11th:
12:00 - 2:00 PM    Ellen Forney / Megan Kelso

Saturday, August 11th:
3:00 - 5:00 PM    Justin Hall / Roberta Gregory

You can find us at Booth 214:

We're selling tickets for GeekGirlCon at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery -- no service charge, cash only! The Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street at Airport Way South. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM.

GeekGirlCon ‘12 takes place at The Conference Center, located at 8th and Pike in downtown Seattle, WA, right across the street from the Washington State Convention Center (where Emerald City Comicon is held). Come say hi to our wonderful new marketing wizard Jen Vaughn, as well as myself and Jacq!

The latest Online Commentary & Diversions:

• Review: "Beyond the quality of the artwork, which remains amazingly detailed and perfectly perfect in its storytelling, Dungeon Quest is really funny, the humor sometimes seeming dissonant — but pleasingly so — given the seriousness with which Daly approaches, say, drawing a rock-strewn valley or depicting a slow, tiring march through a forest (It’s almost Tolkeinesque in his commitment to describing walking!) or choreographing a thrilling action scene." – J. Caleb Mozzocco, Robot 6

• Review (Audio): The guys at Washington, D.C.'s Big Planet Comics discuss Angelman by Nicolas Mahler on this week's episode of their podcast, declaring "if you're sensitive about your love of superhero comics, this is probably not for you, but if you want awesomely cool cartooning art by Mahler and something really different, here you go. It's funny too."

• Interview (Audio): Pat Thomas is the guest on this episode of "The Sidebar" podcast at Soul Sides, talking about his book Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975 and playing excerpts from the companion album

• Interview (Audio): The Nown podcast hosts "Melkorka and Kelli take a road trip up to Seattle for a visit with Evergreen alumni and cartoonist Megan Kelso"

Last Fall, Megan Kelso gave a presentation at Seattle's Richard Hugo House. As she describes it, "It's about a lot of stuff -- reading Moby Dick, my midlife crisis, financial woe and the creative process."

If you missed it, or if you loved it so much you want to see it again, you'll have your chance this coming Wednesday, May 16th as part of a local poetry series called "Breadline" hosted at Vermillion Gallery [ 1508 11th Ave, Seattle ]. This free, all-ages event kicks off at 7:00 PM!

Tuesday, January 24th

•  New York City, NY: The mighty Michael Kupperman hosts another installment of his monthly comedy series The Crime Stoppers Club, co-hosted with Kate Beaton, and this month, featuring Matt Koff, Lisa Hanawalt, Dyna Moe, Geoff Lapid, Anthony Wilson, and Sam Henderson! The fun starts at 7:00 PM at Luca Lounge. And stay tuned to the FLOG for some video sneak peeks tomorrow!

Saturday, January 28th

•  Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics is proud to co-sponsor the 2012 Graphic Novel Panel, held by the Seattle Graphics Arts Guild, featuring panelists Megan Kelso, Matthew Southworth, Brandon Jerwa, Emi Lenox, and Chuck Messinger. The panel is from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Seattle Design Center, and the after-party will be held at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery from 4:30-6:00 PM. (more info)

• Los Angeles, CA: Giant Robot kicks off the exhibit Year of the Dragon, featuring work from Andrice Arp, Renee French, and Steven Weissman, among many others! The opening reception is from 6:30 to 10:00 PM at GR2, and the exhibit runs until February 15th.

Fantagraphics is proud to be one of the sponsors of the 2012 Graphic Novel Panel, held by our friends at the Seattle Graphics Arts Guild! 

On Saturday, January 28th, join us at the Seattle Design Center in Georgetown for a discussion on creating, publishing and marketing the graphic novel.

And who better to be on this panel than longtime queen of the scene, our own Megan Kelso? She'll be joined by Matthew Southworth (Stumptown), Brandon Jerwa (Battlestar Galactica, Highlander, G.I. Joe), Emi Lenox (EmiTown), and Chuck Messinger (owner of Comic Evolution, Editor-in-Chief at Creative Edge Press).

Led in conversation by moderator Mark Monlux (The Comic Critic Presents Seldom Seen Films), they'll discuss:

Writing: structure, how to write a graphic novel, what tools you need to market your ideas.

Artwork: developing a storyboard, what to consider ahead of time, existing guidelines, examples, good & bad

Publishing & Marketing: establishing business, marketing, and production plans, how publishing is changing.

This event is open to the public, and you can get your tickets here. The Graphic Novel Panel runs from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Seattle Design Center [ 5701 6th Avenue South, Plaza Building, Suite 370 ].

And then join us for the after-party at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery from 4:30-6:00 PM.  It'll be a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists, and discuss what you've learned from the panel!

Fantagraphics co-sponsors this event with Emerald City Comicon and AIGA Seattle. See you there!

UPDATE 1/27/12: Our own Kim Thompson joins the panel discussion as a last-minute addition!

Think you know what these people might be Googling to get out of their respective predicaments? Create, rank and share captions to these cartoons by Lilli Carré, Megan Kelso, Richard Sala, Jim Woodring and a bunch of other cartoonists. Another fine "let's throw some money at cartoonists" project from the folks at Google!

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