This is sure to be a very special and poignant event: C. Tyler will be making a rare West Coast appearance to discuss her work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 31st!

Titled Scrapbooks, Army Surplus, Comics and Other Stuff: A Conversation with Graphic Storyteller C. Tyler, she will discuss her stunningly rendered and intensely personal series You'll Never Know: A Graphic Memoir, and will delve into comics, family memories, gender, and generations.

This event is FREE and open to the public. The discussion starts at 7:00 PM in the Annenberg Auditorium [ 3502 Watt Way ] of the University Park Campus. Reservations are recommended, so click here to RSVP!

Yo La Woodring // photo credit: Eric Reynolds

The Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is thrilled to announce that this Saturday, January 12th, as you admire our exhibit of original artwork by the legendary Jim Woodring, and while you get your copy of Problematic: Sketchbook Drawings 2004-2012 signed, you will be enjoying the sweet, sweet sounds of the not-even-released-yet Yo La Tengo album Fade in the background!

I don't even know where to start in listing all the ties between indie rock veterans Yo La Tengo and our own Uncle Jim. Jim did some of the illustrations in their CD The Sounds of the Sounds of Science. Their bassist James McNew has Pupshaw and Pushpaw tattooed on his arm. James' solo project Dump can also be heard on Jim's Visions of Frank DVD...

And this Saturday, you and Jim Woodring will be two of the first to hear their forthcoming album in its entirety, before it's even in stores! Fade officially comes out Tuesday, January 15th (or Monday, January 14th in Europe) on the fine Matador Records label.

Jim Woodring’s Problematic book launch is from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The 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. Thanks to my dear YLT and our friends at Matador Records.

Seattle is once again the center of the alternative comix universe with shows opening all over town this weekend. On Friday, January 11 at Roq la Rue from 6:00 to 9:00 PM is the post-apocalyptic group show "I'll Love You Til The End Of The World" featuring Fantagraphics favorites Camille Rose Garcia and Scott Musgrove. The same evening you'll find "Friends" at Cairo, featuring Intruder artists Max Clotfelter, Darin Shuler, Aidan Fitzgerald, Tom Van Deusen, Marc J. Palm, David Lasky, Nikki Burch, Ben Horak, Jason T. Miles, Tim Miller, James Stranton, Kazimir Strzepek and Alexa Kristine Koenings. (The future of alternative comix now.)

The comix action moves to Georgetown on Saturday evening, with a show of "Paintoons" by John Ohannesian at the One Night Stand Gallery (located directly above Fantagraphics Bookstore.) John has been busy in recent months as a Fantagraphics freelancer faithfully restoring classic strips like Nancy, Buz Sawyer, and Popeye for your reading pleasure. It'll be interesting to see how this exercise informs his cartoon paintings. Across the street at LxWxH Gallery is Bette Burgoyne's "Forest," a 30-foot narrative scroll drawing. And, of course, don't miss the Problematic reception with Jim Woodring at our bookstore. Lots of great surprises await.

Ooh la la! The loveable duo of Fuzz and Pluck are making their French debut this month from our fine colleagues at Éditions Cornélius!

And to celebrate, an exhibition of original artwork is being launched at Librairie Les Super Héros in Paris! Join artist Ted Stearn on Friday, January 25th as he heads to the City of Light for the opening reception and book signing. Ted also reports that 20 original pages will be available for purchase! 

Super Héros is located at 175 Rue Saint-Martin in Paris. The exhibit will be on display through Saturday, February 9th.

Our collection The Last Vispo Anthology: Visual Poetry 1998-2008 continues its global voyage with an entire weekend of events in San Francisco!

Join editors Nico Vassilakis and Crag Hill for signings and readings on Thursday, March 14th at The Poetry Center on the campus of San Francisco State University [ 1600 Holloway Avenue ] at 4:30 PM.

Nico and Crag will also present The Last Vispo on Friday, March 15th at 7:00 PM at Meridian Gallery [ 535 Powell Street ].

Bay Area residents, don't miss these very special performances celebrating 21st century international visual poetry!

Join us at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, January 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM for the book launch party of Jim Woodring’s Problematic. An exhibition of imagery not included in the book will be displayed, as well as the artist’s original sketchbooks, including examples of Woodring’s inventive pop-up drawing constructions. Get a rare glimpse inside the creative process of this iconoclastic master of modern cartooning. The artist will be available to sign copies of his exquisite new book.

This event coincides with the colorful Georgetown Art Attack, featuring festive art events and exhibitions throughout the neighborhood. Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Georgetown’s historic arts community. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110. See you soon.

Wednesday, January 9th

• Los Angeles, CA: As we've mentioned previously on FLOG, when the great Ron Regé, Jr. isn't making awesome comics, he can be found making music, and this Wednesday, he'll be making a rare, special appearance at the Hyperion Tavern as "The Discombobulated Ventriloquist," performing songs on his new Casiotone mt400v! Do not miss this! (more info)  

Thursday, January 10th

• Seattle, WA: Our extraordinary Love and Rockets 30th Anniversary exhibit comes to an end at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, so make a visit to see it in person while you can, or check out our Flickr gallery if you live outside the area! (more info)   

Friday, January 11th

• Santiago, Chile: Join co-editor Nico Vassilakis for the launch of an exhibition of The Last Vispo Anthology: Visual Poetry 1998-2008! Special guests include Crystal Curry, José Luis Bobadilla Acevedo and Gregorio Fontén, who will perform readings and book signings! (more info) 

Saturday, January 12th

1) Make your very own comics. 
2) Learn about graphic novels.
3) Party at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery.

It's the perfect weekend plan! So, join us on Saturday, January 26th for the Graphic Novel Panel 2013, held by our friends at the Seattle Graphics Arts Guild! 

The day begins at 10:30 AM with a panel on "How to Make Your Own Mini-Comic," led by beloved local cartoonist David Lasky, who will guide you through the book-constructing and storytelling process.

And then at 1:00 PM, learn the ins and outs of the Graphic Novel with a panel of local artists including our own Ellen Forney and Michel Gagné, along with Lasky, Stefano Gaudiano, Phil & Kaja Foglio, Allen Gladfelter, moderated by Mark Monlux.

And then join us for the after-party at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery from 4:30-6:00 PM.  Discuss what you've learned, share your comics, and have a drink with the panel!

This event is open to the public, and you can get your tickets here for either the class, the panel, or the whole darn day of events! Tickets are not needed to attend the after-party.

The Graphic Novel Panel 2013 takes place at the Seattle Design Center [ 5701 6th Avenue South, Plaza Building, Suite 370 ]. The Plaza Building entrance is on Orcas between 5th & 6th. Suite P370 is on three floors up from street level. Take the elevator to first floor, then glass elevator to third floor. From the Atrium Building cross the sky bridge to Plaza Building, take glass elevator to third floor. Free parking!

And you better know where the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located: 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle's Georgetown district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM.

Residents of Santiago, Chile: get ready to say "Bienvenido" to The Last Vispo Anthology: Visual Poetry 1998-2008!

On Friday, January 11th, co-editor Nico Vassilakis -- along with Crystal Curry, José Luis Bobadilla Acevedo and Gregorio Fontén -- will host an evening of readings, and the launch of an accompanying exhibition! Books will be available for purchase on site for signing by these wonderful poets!

The forthcoming exhibit Good Work looks, well, great!

The Nazareth College Department of Art is celebrating the country’s top commercial illustrators, such as our own Steve Brodner, Debbie Drechsler, Drew Friedman, and Richard Sala, along with about 50 other leading artists in the field.

Curators Kathleen Calderwood, associate professor, and David Cowles, lecturer, invited each participant to choose the illustration they think is their best work to date. Here's what Drew chose, but really, how can you possibly choose?!!:

The opening reception for the show is Friday, January 18th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, and the exhibit runs through March 1st.

The Arts Center Gallery at Nazareth College is located at 4245 East Avenue in Rochester, NY. H/T to Drew's excellent blog for news about the show!