Fantagraphics

Fan of the curious antics of Michael Kupperman have been enjoying his "Mark Twain meets Einstein" adventures on his blog for a while, but it turns out that it's turned into a book, Mark Twain’s Autobiography, 1910-2010 which will be published in August from Fantagraphics. The cover hasn't been released yet but a few preview images have.

NOT inked with a giant pen but incredible nonetheless, 10 pages of Jim Woodring's first ever Frank graphic novel, CONGRESS OF THE ANIMALS. For those unfamiliar with Woodring's work, it is set in a strange world of hope and cruelty, where strange creatures enact tales as deep as time, not even needing words. Few artists of any kind have ever limned the subconscious with such terrifying accuracy and beauty.

In an interview that would be notable enough just for talking about his new Frank graphic novel CONGRESS OF THE ANIMALS, Jim Woodring drops even more bombshells, revealing that the giant steel nib pen -- which the world watched created with bated breath -- is not very easy to ink with.

In an interview that would be notable enough just for talking about his new Frank graphic novel CONGRESS OF THE ANIMALS, Jim Woodring drops even more bombshells, revealing that the giant steel nib pen -- which the world watched created with bated breath -- is not very easy to ink with.

The just arrived issue of PW Comics Week has a nice preview of Celluloid, Dave McKean's first graphic novel since Cages. You'd think an undertaking of this sort might have gotten a little but more hoopla. Perhaps when people start looking at the art, it will Celluloid is described as a "pornographic work of art" about a man, a woman and a porn film that all intersect. It's out from from Fantagraphics next month.

Wow! Lots of great books coming out this month!

As long rumored, the much maligned Comics Journal website has re-launched with a new editorial team: Dan Nadel and Tim Hodler, founders of the Comics Comics website and zine, will bring their view of contemporary comics to the hallowed brand of TCJ.com. Hodler started things off with an editorial which, amazingly, did not talk about how crappy websites are; insead it laid out a pretty exciting vision for the new site:

This site is divided into several sections which will continue to grow over the days and weeks and months to come: Feature articles, including lengthy interviews, investigative journalism, and long-form critical and historical essays; regular columns on a variety of subjects; a steady stream of book reviews; thorough and easily navigated event listings; an ever-growing archive of The Comics Journal‘s thirty-plus years as a print magazine (by the end of 2011, each and every issue will be online)—this will be available in full to magazine subscribers only; and of course this daily blog, which will be a catch-all for short items, selective link-blogging, and a forum for guest voices and bad jokes.

...unless you read old comic strips. Fantagraphics' Floyd Gottfredson reprint project was a big news item at last year's San Diego, and you can bet that the book (due on April 15th) will get people talking some more. FBI released a pdf of the promo materials and here's a sneak peek.

What is the great Italian cartoonist up to?

A new graphic novel by Jim Woodring? A mere year after the great WEATHERCRAFT? Yes, somehow, in between dreaming about his giant steel nib pen, Woodring managed to draw a whole new book. And Flog just debuted the cover. As WEATHERCRAFT dealt with Manhog, this tome deals with Frank -- CONGRESS OF THE ANIMALS is the first ever all new Frank OGN and it's coming in May.

An astonishing icepunk adventure by the great French cartoonist Jacques Tardi is coming in March from Fantagraphics. It looks incredible.

Tony Millionaire at Desert Island -- let do this!