Fantagraphics

...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!

So, this month is a bit light. There are always some significant titles every month, so here's the list for January.

I see Saruman was at the Fantagraphics Bookstore Anniversary party on Saturday. It's good to see him getting out of Isengard more. [Via twitter but lost the link!]

The much-beloved cult strip Barnaby by Crockett Johnson is getting a quality reprint, courtesy of Fantagraphics, The Comics Reporter reports. Eric Reynolds will edit while Dan Clowes supplies the art direction. First volume is due in April 2012. Spurge has all the history and details:

Well here we are, the final month of the year. Most publishers have already launched their big titles last month, so that titles would be...

Were you a good boy or girl this year? Did you avoid Internet snark, practice goodwill towards your fellow human being, and cross with...

This profile of the Seattle Fantagraphics store in a college newspaper gives us all a chance to admire their gold leaf signage, but it also presents yet another example of the eternal conflict of art and people with mustard in their goatees as they argue the merits of graphic novels in bookstores and what that means for bathroom privileges.

Paul is a comedy due next year that follows two English comics nerds -- played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost -- on a cross country trip that includes Comic-Con. But along the way they meet up with a cute little alien named Paul, portrayed by CGI and voiced by Seth Rogen. Hijinks ensue. It's directed by Greg Mottola who made Superbad and Adventureland, so color this promising.