At this time of year, as the attention of much of the world turns to events in Palestine 2,000 years ago, it’s instructive to revisit Joe Sacco’s masterwork of comics journalism, Palestine. The book illustrates his observations in Gaza and the West Bank (including the town of Bethlehem) on two trips to the region in the early 1990s. A current reading reveals little has changed in the nearly 25 years since Sacco’s visits. Here’s hoping the new year brings progress on the elusive promise of Peace on Earth. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery will be open on Christmas Eve until…
What’s in Store (Affordable Gift Edition)
If you’ve been procrastinating on your holiday shopping, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is the perfect place to painlessly complete this annual ritual. The store stocks a delightfully diverse selection of comix, graphics novels and badass books, with many exquisite gifts under $20. Among them… Fante Bukowski by Noah van Sciver is a wildly entertaining and cleverly conceived story by one of the masters of alternative American comix. Lucy Knisley chronicles her adventures on a European book tour in the engaging memoir Age of License. At under 10 bucks, Charlie Brown’s Christmas Stocking is the perfect stocking stuffer (and you’ll save an…
What’s in Store (Best of 2015 Edition)
It’s time that I select my favorite comix of 2015. Lots of incredible books to choose from this year. I was particularly impressed with the quality of self-published and small press editions, which I’ll list separately on the bookstore’s Facebook page. – Larry Reid, Curator, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery Black Light: The World of L.B. Cole. The colorful covers of golden age comix are the focus of this exceptional and long overdue volume on mid-century master L. B. Cole. Essential. We Are Gypsies Now. Tacoma-born media artist Danielle de Picciotto chronicles her nomadic adventures with husband and collaborator…
What’s in Store (Anniversary Edition)
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery celebrates its 9th anniversary in wild style with the Cheech Wizard Show, Mark Bodé, Laura Knetzger, and more! Our festive holiday gala on Saturday, December 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM marks the debut of Cheech Wizard’s Book of Me featuring a fabulous show of tributes to the alluring art of the late Vaughn Bodé and a rare reunion of his extended family. The Cheech Wizard Show includes original drawings by Vaughn and Mark Bodé in addition to an amazing array of local and regional artists: Michael Leavitt premieres a new piece from his ongoing HiPop…
Support Small Business this Saturday at Fantagraphics Bookstore
Small Business Saturday on November 28 encourages consumers to patronize small local shops in response to the breathless hyperbole surrounding “Black Friday.” Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery fully supports this effort (while appreciating the irony of the campaign’s sponsorship by some of the world’s largest corporations.) The bookstore commemorates the occasion in appropriate fashion with an appearance by Seattle cartoonist Colleen Frakes signing copies of her recent small press graphic memoir Prison Island. The book chronicles the artist’s unconventional upbringing on a remote island penitentiary near Tacoma, Washington, where her parents worked in corrections. Join us this Saturday from 6:00…
The Captivating Comix of Colleen Frakes at Fantagraphics Bookstore
Seattle cartoonist Colleen Frakes grew up on McNeil Island near Tacoma, Washington – the last functioning federal island penitentiary – where both of her parents worked in corrections. Her unorthodox adolescence is the subject of a new graphic memoir Prison Island. Frakes will sign copies of the book at Fantagraphics Bookstore on Small Business Saturday, November 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The isolation of a small island community magnified the complexities of adolescence. Employing a spare rendering style, it soon becomes clear the convicts weren’t the only people held captive on the remote prison island. Ordinary teenage activities…
Wizards and Lizards at Fantagraphics Bookstore
I’m like Vaughn Bodé, I’m a Cheech Wizard, Never quittin’, So won’t you listen. – Beastie Boys, “Sure Shot” The enduring influence of the late Vaughn Bodé is the subject of a fascinating exhibition at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery opening Saturday, December 12. The Cheech Wizard Show celebrates the store’s 9th anniversary and the debut of Cheech Wizard’s Book of Me, the most comprehensive volume to date of this amazing American artist. Special guest Mark Bodé will appear to present this important publication. Vaughn Bodé’s mystical motifs became ubiquitous in the underground comix and science fiction scenes of the 1960s…
What’s in Store (Celebrity Edition)
Prepare for a wild weekend of art, music and mayhem in Georgetown. In the words of Seattle’s preeminent lit critic Paul Constant, “You might as well camp out in the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery all weekend long.” The action begins this Saturday with an appearance by Seattle cartoonist Tatiana Gill. Her comix chronicle the seemingly mundane circumstances of daily existence, but when taken together reveal a highly complex and appealing character. She’ll be signing three recent publications from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This event coincides with the lively Georgetown Art Attack featuring visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic…
Best of the Northwest in November at Fantagraphics Bookstore
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present some of Seattle’s most compelling cartoonists throughout the month of November. On Saturday, November 14, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, Tatiana Gill debuts her latest collection of revealing journal comix Omnibusted: Stories I Told Myself 1999-2009. Her work is characterized by courageously confronting issues of social anxiety and substance abuse in an accessible, often humorous fashion. This self-published book represents her most ambitious work to date. This event coincides with the entertaining Georgetown Art Attack featuring exciting visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic neighborhood. The following day, Sunday,…
Short Run Marathon Returns to Fantagraphics Bookstore on Friday
Come celebrate our amazing comix community on Friday, October 30 as Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery hosts Short Run Marathon III, a pre-fest reception and art exhibition. The show includes the work of Short Run featured artists Charles Forsman, Melissa Mendes, Jim Woodring, Krish Raghav, Bruce Bickford, and special guest Sam Alden, with live music by Lisa Prank.
