(a partial assortment)

I always was very fond of the mini-comics format -- take two to four 8 1/2 x 11 sheets, fold them once, staple, and voilà! You have an adorable little 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 comic book for mere pennies. But I could never really figure out what to do with this old-school, low-tech format.

Until now!

For this catalog season, we have created 21 "FBI•MINI" booklets (most in this format, although there are a few oddities), as premiums for customers who order books directly from us. They are available free with the purchase of their "matching" book or books -- or for those customers who've already bought those books but are desperate to get the FBI•MINI, free with the purchase of $50 worth of any other Fantagraphics mail-order merchandise.

We've put together some pretty amazing stuff. For instances, there are four foreign FBI•MINIs featuring material that is being released in English for the very first time: an eight-page David B. story from the 1990s, an eight-page full-color Sibyl-Anne story by Raymond Macherot, a twelve-page collection of Joost Swarte's very earliest, most underground-y work -- the stuff that didn't make it into Is That All There Is? -- and most amazing of all, 21 pages of an abandoned Manchette/Tardi story that has only been printed once in an obscure French collection, and never in English. That's 49 page of prime European comics available here for the first time.

There are four sketchbook collections (an amazing gathering of Jim Woodring work preparing for Congress of the Animals, an intricate set of sketches and more by Stephen DeStefano for Lucky in Love, a collection of Kim Deitch's legendary pencilled conceptualization drawings... and a hilarious blurt of Prison Pit character doodles from Johnny Ryan).

There's a non-Segar Popeye strip from the Segar era that didn't make it into our Popeye series (since it wasn't by Segar)... a collection of terrific "coming attractions" pages from Golden Age comics to go with Greg Sadowski's upcoming Golden Age covers collection... a dozen great "Humorama" drawings that didn't quite get into the Humorama book... a striking facsimile of a Maurice Tillieux original Gil Jordan page, complete with watercolored color indications on the back... and a never-before published Joe Sacco strip.

Plus 16 pages of Alex Toth art from the Setting the Standard era, but here reproduced in crisp black and white from the original photostats... Tony Millionaire's hilarious illustrated essay on failing to secure a TV gig for Billy Hazelnuts, complete with a preview of his upcoming Billy Hazelnuts Volume 3... a collection of the legendary Ivan Brunetti Nancy strip try-out... and 12 gorgeous full-color pages of scary Richard Sala faces.

And we've also got some obscurities, such as 12 pages of Bill Griffith comics that got axed from his epochal Lost and Found, a never-before-reprinted Critters-era "Nilson Groundthumper" story by Stan Sakai, and some truly Jurassic-era comics from Peter Bagge and Los Bros. Hernandez.

If any of these catch your interest (and if you're reading this blog surely at least one of them will) you can click right on any of them to a more detailed listing on our website -- or just click right here and all 21 will pop up for you to peruse.

We're doing a special cross-promotion with our colleagues at Americaware, producers of fine t-shirts (and now hoodies!) featuring artwork by Northwest comics legends Peter Bagge, Jim Blanchard, Basil Wolverton and Jim Woodring. With every order you make with us you'll get a $5 coupon to use on an Americaware order, and with every Americaware order you'll get a 20% off coupon to use when ordering from us! You could get into an endless loop of savings! I personally have several Americaware shirts and lemme tell ya, they are niiiiice.

Our new Ultimate Catalog, arriving in mailboxes soon! Dig that glorious Floyd Gottfredson artwork. If you’re not already on our mailing list and like getting cool stuff in the mail, contact us to request your free copy. And if you want a tree-free version (although they're already all printed, so you wouldn't really be saving anything) we'll be making it available as a PDF download soon too.

From now through November 14, 2011, place an order of $25 or more and choose two comics from the list below as our FREE GIFT to you! Just state your selection when checking out, either in the comments field in our online shopping cart or to your friendly phone representative.

Now is the time to check out that series or creator you've always been curious about, or even take a plunge on something you've never heard of before. What have you got to lose?

Choose any two issues from the following list (shown in no particular order):

Goody Good Comics #1 by various artists, edited by Gilbert Hernandez
Hate Annual #1 or #7 by Peter Bagge
Self Loathing Comics #1 by Robert Crumb & Aline Kominsky-Crumb
Mystic Funnies #2 by Robert Crumb
Uptight #3 or #4 by Jordan Crane
Meat Cake #3, 13, 14, 16, or 17 by Dame Darcy
The Pogostick #1 by Al Columbia & Ethan Persoff
Holy Moly by Leah Hayes
Tales Designed to Thrizzle #4 by Michael Kupperman
Black Hole #2, 6-10 by Charles Burns
Love and Rockets Vol. 2 #1-7, 9-12, 14-19 by the Hernandez Bros.
Maggie and Hopey Color Fun by Jaime Hernandez
Raisin Pie #1-5 by Rick Altergott & Ariel Bordeaux
Death and Candy #1-4 by Max Andersson
Belly Button Comix #2 by Sophie Crumb
Schizo #3 by Ivan Brunetti
Fuzz & Pluck in Splitsville #1-5 by Ted Stearn
Angry Youth Comix #2, 4, 7-9, 12-14 by Johnny Ryan

Today's your last day to save at least 30% off comics and graphic novels by international creators! From manga to bandes desinées, classic to cutting-edge, we have masterpieces from every permanently-inhabited continent (if you count New Zealand as part of Australia, anyway). Our original announcement lists just a few of the amazing creators whose works are on sale. There's never been a better time to discover some of the best comics the world has to offer, and it's almost over, so don't delay!

Explore a world of comics! Columbus Day is upon us and we're celebrating the spirit of discovery (never mind the centuries of pillaging, genocide and other atrocities). From now through next Friday, October 14, 2011, take at least 30% off comics and graphic novels by international creators! From manga to bandes desinées, classic to cutting-edge, if it's "furrin" it's on sale.

Our slogan is "Publisher of the World's Best Cartoonists Since 1976," and we mean it when we say THE WORLD. Beyond the U.S. and Canada our creators hail from such far-flung locales as Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

This sale includes work from European greats like Jacques Tardi, David B., Jason, Martí, Lorenzo Mattotti, Lewis Trondheim and Joost Swarte; beloved manga-ka Moto Hagio and Shimura Takako; overseas English-speakers like Dave McKean, Joe Daly, Roger Langridge and Carol Swain; many titles in our deluxe and European-flavored Ignatz Series; our new line of all-ages Franco-Belgian comics including R. Macherot and M. Tillieux; recent discoveries like Olivier Schrauwen and Mezzo & Pirus; and a whole mess more. There's never been a better time to discover some of the best comics the world has to offer!

Did you know our website has a well-stocked bargain section of Clearance Sale items and Closeout Deals? Well now you do! Here's just a couple of the excellent items we have marked down & priced to move:

Conceptual Realism: In the Service of the Hypothetical (Softcover Edition) by Robert Williams — A catalog of the Fall 2009 solo exhibition of paintings and sculptures by the groundbreaking master of "lowbrow" art, with essays on each piece by the artist, sketches and other supplemental material. Comes with a free bonus signature plate while supplies last! $24.99 $16.66 — You Save: 33.33%! Order Now

Fred the Clown by Roger Langridge — Fred the Clown, the thinking man's idiot, has an eye for the ladies, but all they have for him is a carefully placed kneecap. Part Samuel Beckett, part Tex Avery; beautifully drawn, utterly inspired lunacy. Langridge's recent mainstream work has made him a critical darling — pick up this 2004 collection for some pure, unadulterated Langridge! $16.95 $11.30 — You Save: 33.33%!Order Now

Dear old golden rule days are back, and kids, even your grandparents knew that comics are WAY more fun than homework. In that spirit we're offering 30% OFF our kid-friendly All Ages and Young Adult categories for one week only!

For younger kids, save on classics like Peanuts, Popeye, Prince Valiant, and, yes, Pogo, not to mention Dennis the Menace, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse! Our full range of Usagi Yojimbo books is marked down, including the deluxe box set. Plus our new bande desinee reprints and modern classics from Belgium & France, a bunch of other kid-friendly but still cutting-edge stuff, and much more!

For teens and sophisticated tweens we've got heroic biographies like 21 and King, nautical adventures like Isle of 100,000 Graves and Set to Sea, the smart fantasy of Castle Waiting, bittersweet and hilarious high school misfit tales like Ghost World, A Mess of Everything and Unlovable, a whole bunch of Zippy the Pinhead collections for the teen who loves offbeat humor — and that's just for starters! We've got dozens and dozens of titles to choose from in both categories, and of course they can all be enjoyed by adults of all ages as well.

Some of these books might not fit inside the ol' math book for surreptitious classroom smuggling but they'll all provide plenty of quality reading for kids and parents alike. This sale ends next Friday, September 9, 2011, so don't miss the final bell! And don't be afraid to ask us about age-appropriateness if you have any questions.

Just arrived in our warehouse and ready to ship:

Mome Vol. 22 - Fall 2011
by various artists; edited by Eric Reynolds

240-page full-color 7" x 9" softcover • $19.99
ISBN: 978-1-60699-395-8

See Previews / Order Now

Special double-sized FINAL issue! After 6 years and over 2500 pages of comics, MOME heads into the sunset with an all-star, jam-packed farewell bonanza. Several past MOME favorites return for the swan song, including Kurt Wolfgang, Tom Kaczynski, Joe Kimball, Eleanor Davis, Anders Nilsen, Tim Hensley, Paul Hornschemeier, Gabrielle Bell, and Zak Sally (those covers!). Meanwhile, several newcomers get in just under the wire: Jesse Moynihan, Malachi Ward, James Romberger, Nick Drnaso, Joseph Lambert, Nick Thorburn, Victor Kerlow, and Ignatz Award-winners Jim Rugg and Chuck Forsman! Recent MOME favorites also return, such as Sergio Ponchione, Steven Weissman, Sara Edward-Corbett, Laura Park, Josh Simmons (plus collaborators The Partridge in the Pear Tree and Wendy Chin), Derek Van Gieson (with collaborator Michael Jada), Tim Lane, Nate Neal, Lilli Carré, T. Edward Bak, Dash Shaw, Ted Stearn and Noah Van Sciver. Over 30 artists in all, including a surprise contributor we don't want to give away!

SALE! Today through Friday September 2, 2011, save 30% OFF all single back issues of Mome (or save big with our 5- and 10-issue bundles), PLUS save 30% off an amazing selection of books by Mome contributors!

You may recall the special offer we made during Comic-Con this year for "sketch editions" of several of our books. While most of the sketches for that offer were done by their respective artists to-order, Frank Stack did a bunch of extras in advance, and so we're able to offer them once more FREE with purchase of Frank's book The New Adventures of Jesus: The Second Coming! Order while supplies last and you'll get a randomly-selected sketch at no extra charge. We made sure we got scans of the sketches before we send 'em out — he drew them 4 to a page, as shown below, but they've since been quartered. Click each image for a larger version. Oh my gosh they sure are great — you can't go wrong with any of 'em!