But like most cartoonists, artists, people of note, Simmons can create for children too! So for the parent who wants an original drawing but needs G-rated content, Simmons has a sweet side too. Well, it's still spooky.

Cathy Malkasian thinks we're dirty. What else can we expect when she sends us a box of beautifully-crafted soap? We're working so hard on publishing books; its a sweaty business. To be fair, she sent the box to Eric Reynolds but he is nice and clean enough to share with the rest of us. Each soap is a charcter from Malkasian's 2007 hit, Percy Gloom. Look at those perfectly molded soaps, Percy even has his cute hat on!

Due to privacy concerns I'm slightly uneasy about posting photos of other people's babies, but this is too good not to share, so I'll just leave it anonymous and say that it came via Kevin Huizenga, who says "Wanted: more readers like [this]."

Matt Thorn, editor/translator of our manga books, tweeted: "Me with Moto Hagio at tonight's Japan Cartoonist Association award ceremony, where Hagio was a recipient." Hooray! (And love the new hairstyle!)

But here is the pièce de résistance: "A photo I took earlier tonight of Moto Hagio in cat ears. No, seriously. Not Photoshopped." Excuse me while I go DIE FROM CUTENESS.

Here's Nili, deeply engrossed in Steve Brodner's Freedom Fries. Via Steve's blog.

Stephen DeStefano and his wife Siobhan have announced that he will be selling some comics and animation art and other memorabilia from his animation career on eBay in an effort to defray escalating vet bills as his beloved kitty Lola battles what's looking like cancer.

Having had our own experience with kitty cancer over the past couple of years, Janice and I strongly encourage you to send your support Stephen and Siobhan's way.

Meet Princess Kitty

Look what I stumbled on when I went to watch a funny cat video: Johnny Ryan's illustration for the Found Footage Festival has been animated motion-comic style for the intro to the FFF's series of videos for The A.V. Club (see it following the commercial). Neat. Also: you tell 'em, kitty.

Flickr user Ben Herman shares this photo of his cat Squeaky perusing some issues of Love and Rockets Vol. II...

...and I may have posted this photo from Flickr user "Asimuth" of the appropriately-named Magpie using The Death of Speedy as a blanket when I first found it in 2007, but the current Flog archives don't go back that far, so here it is maybe again.

Send us photos of your adorable pets enjoying Fantagraphics comics and we'll post 'em here!

How do you know that L.A. independent bookstore Skylight Books is awesome (aside from the two magic words "independent bookstore" that is)? The fact that they feature closeups of Locas II AND kittycats in their new TV ad, that's how! (Via The Believer on Twitter.)

A few months ago, I was having dinner with a certain cartoonist and his family, we went to a lovely place near the Fantagraphics Bookstore that welcomed kids, and even gave the kids crayons and a coloring book. The kids took to the coloring like gangbusters, and it wasn't until some time had passed that any of the adults looked at what the kids were coloring. It turns out they had discovered a drawing that someone else had already started, of a large mushroom in the forest -- the perfect place for a group of elves to have a picnic under. 

It was a delightful evening, both for us and the elves.