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FANTAGRAPHICS TO PUBLISH FIRST PEANUTS COMIC BOOK IN 40 YEARS - AND
IT’S FREE!

For the first time in more than 40 years, good ol’ Charlie Brown and
the entire PEANUTS gang will be featured in the traditional American
comic book format, when Seattle’s Fantagraphics Books publishes THE
UNSEEN PEANUTS. The last issue of Gold Key Publishing’s PEANUTS
series, published in 1964, sold for 12 cents. On May 5, 2007, when
THE UNSEEN PEANUTS is released, the price will be - FREE!

THE UNSEEN PEANUTS is one of the most exciting offerings in this
year’s sixth annual Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). As the name implies,
FCBD is a single day when participating independent comic book shops
in the United States and some 25 other countries around the world
give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their
stores. This year Free Comic Book Day is Saturday May 5th.

Several years after the passing of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz,
PEANUTS continues to be the world’s most popular comic strip,
appearing in more than 1500 newspapers worldwide, with literally
hundreds of collections having been published in the last 50 years.

Despite its seemingly ubiquitous status, hundreds and hundreds of
PEANUTS strips, after their initial appearance in the daily or Sunday
papers, have never been reprinted. Fantagraphics Books THE COMPLETE
PEANUTS has been rectifying this, and THE UNSEEN PEANUTS is a special
collection of over 100 of these rare strips. Fantagraphics will be
presenting some of the most amusing and interesting “lost” strips
that were “saved” by the first seven volumes of the COMPLETE PEANUTS
(Vol. 7, although not released, will be out by the time THE UNSEEN
PEANUTS is distributed), and in addition will also be previewing
“lost” strips from the upcoming eighth book - strips that have NEVER
appeared anywhere else since being originally published in daily
newspapers four decades ago!

THE UNSEEN PEANUTS works as both a great introduction of the strip to
new readers and as a fascinating trove of rarities to surprise and
delight even the most diligent PEANUTS fan. It’s a perfect PEANUTS
sampler for both neophyte and old hand, and an eye-opening “gateway”
into the delights of the best-selling COMPLETE PEANUTS series.

2007 also marks the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of
original PEANUTS material in comic books (in Dell’s Nancy issue 146),
and the 55th anniversary of the first appearance of PEANUTS in comic
books at all (strip reprints in an issue of Tip-Top). THE UNSEEN
PEANUTS is a wonderful and surprising addition to Charles M. Schulz’s
brilliant legacy in the comics.

“THE UNSEEN PEANUTS provides a unique opportunity for re-discovering
the sublime timelessness of “Sparky” Schulz’s classic comic strip,”
said Joe Field, owner of Concord CA’s Flying Colors Comics and the
founder of Free Comic Book Day. “I’m hoping this free PEANUTS comic
book stirs a lot of people to exploring the diverse and entertaining
medium of comic books.”

Free Comic Book Day serves as opportunity for new and curious readers
to experience comic books for the first time, while also calling back
former readers and thanking current comic book fans. More information about the
May 5, 2007 event can be found at Free Comic Book Day featuring a customized
database listing participating stores worldwide.

A selection of imagery in a variety of formats is available for
publication.

PEANUTS - 2007 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

A totally amazing comic by David Lasky that was published in the Chicago Ready’s year-end comics issue.

David is also cool enough to dress his cat Bear and take him out for walks on a leash.

The Drinky Crow Show created by cartoonist Tony Millionaire and Eric Kaplan will have its debut on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim on May 13th. 

Tony Millionaire is best known for his Maakies comic strip which has appeared in The New Yorker and The Stranger.  Seattle’s own Fantagraphics has published six Maakies collections as well as two of Millionaire’s graphic novels.

Eric Kaplan has been a writer for Malcom in the Middle, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Futurama.  He was also creator of the animated web series Zombie College (which our own Matt Tamaru/Rodriguez was the Flash Animation Director).

Watch the trailer for the show on the Fantagraphic’s Blog.

Come down to the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle to support comics! Emerald City Comicon features many local publishers and artists.

Here’s just a small list: Fantagraphics Books, Top Shelf Comix, Oni Press, Jim Woodring, Jim Blanchard, Peter Bagge and Ellen Forney.

The Qwest Field Event Center is located at 1000 Occidental Ave S. in the SODO neighborhood of Seattle.

Show hours are Saturday, 3/31 from 10am - 6pm and Sunday, April 1st from 10am - 5pm.

Fantagraphics Books is pleased to present the visionary work of internationally recognized Seattle-based artist Jim Woodring.

“Seeing Things: The Art of Jim Woodring,” opens on Saturday, March 24th, with a reception for the artist from 5-8pm. The exhibition continues through May 15th, 2007 at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way) in Seattle’s Georgetown district.

The exhibition will include rarely displayed prints, manufactured sculptures, and drawings inspired by subliminal visions. Woodring’s aesthetic is characterized by a delicate rendering style and singular palette of sensuous color. The library of books published by Fantagraphics include the autobiographical collection “The Book of Jim,” the dreamscapes of “The Frank Book” (with an introduction by Francis Ford Coppola), and “Seeing Things,” available in both hard and soft cover editions, in addition to assorted comic books and trade paperbacks currently in print.

The artist was recently honored with the prestigious United States Artist Fellowship, an award he shared with his collaborator, acclaimed improvisational jazz composer and musician Bill Frisell.

In a related event, Woodring and Frisell will present their multimedia performance at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, April 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Woodring is currently exhibiting his work in Angouleme, France, where he was the featured American artist at the recent International Comic Strip Festival. Following his show in Seattle, he will mount an exhibition in Sydney, Australia at the end of May.

Fantagraphics is proud to present a show of works by the amazing Jim Blanchard. Blanchard is most well known for his low-brow portraits consisting of Benday Dots.

The reception will feature the music of the DT’s, starring Jim’s wife, Diana Young-Blanchard.

The opening reception takes place Saturday, March 10th, from 6-8 pm at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery, located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way), in the Georgetown district of South Seattle.

The portrait below of the legendary Curtis Mayfield is proudly hanging on the wall of yours truly. It’s amazing to see the intimate scale in which some of Blanchard’s pieces are done. Go support this show!

Friend O’ Plexipixel, David Lasky is teaching a comics workshop every Saturday beginning March 3rd at 826 Seattle.

826 Seattle is a non-profit writing center that helps students, ages 6-18, develop their creative and expository writing skills. They are dedicated to providing students with access to writing workshops, publishing projects, and one-on-one help with homework and English language learning - all free of charge.

826 Seattle is located at 8414 Greenwood Ave N. in Seattle.

January 22, 2007
Media Release
Contact: Larry Reid or Eric Reynolds
E-mail: larryjreid@comcast.net or Reynolds@fantagraphics.com
Phone: 206.329.1966 (Reid) or 206.524.1967 x218 (Reynolds)

CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WITH “25 YEARS OF LOVE & ROCKETS” ON FEBRUARY 10 AT FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKSTORE & GALLERY

As the romantic Valentine’s Day approaches, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present “25 Years of Love & Rockets.” This multicultural comic book epic by Los Angeles brothers Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez single handedly launched the alternative comics genre, and remains as fresh and relevant today as when it was introduced in 1982. A riveting combination of punk, futurism, Latino and North American pop culture, “Love & Rockets” inspired a generation of narrative artists. The publication of this title cemented the position of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books as the leading publisher of challenging comics and graphic novels. This exhibition of original artwork opens with a gala reception for Los Bros Hernandez on Saturday, February 10, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, located at 1201 S. Vale St., in the heart of Seattle’s lively Georgetown district.

In countless ways, the penetrating and poignant stories in “Love & Rockets” foreshadowed our nation’s rapidly changing cultural landscape. The Hernandez brothers’ literary style has been compared to the Magic Realism of Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, but their distinctive artwork is incomparable. Their work has been enormously influential on popular culture in America and abroad. The celebrated British rock band Love & Rockets took their name from the comic, and the work of Los Bros. Hernandez continues to have significant impact on contemporary artists in all disciplines.

The second volume in the “Love & Rockets” series is currently up to
18 issues. Stories from the first volume are collected in many handsome editions, including Gilbert’s Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories, and Jaime’s Locas: The Maggie & Hopey Stories. In addition to “Love & Rockets,” the artists have created several solo series including Jaime’s award-winning “Penny Century,” and “Luba’s Comics & Stories” by Gilbert. On Sunday, February 11, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez will be joined by longtime “Love & Rockets” editor Gary Groth at the bookstore to discuss the first 25 years of their remarkable comic book series. The artists will be available to sign books during both the festive reception on February10 and following the panel on February 11.
– more –

These topical events are free and open to the public. A selection of stunning images from “Love & Rockets” is available for publication.
For additional information, please contact Larry Reid at the numbers above, or Eric Reynolds at Fantagraphics Books:
Reynolds@fantagraphics.com. Phone 206.524.1967.

A limited-edition, sign-and-numbered silkscreen (not pictured) featuring the artwork of Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez will also be available exclusively at the Fantagraphics Bookstore beginning Feb.
10 while supplies last.

LISTING INFORMATION

“25 Years of Love & Rockets” by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez February 10 - March 7, 2007

Gala Reception Saturday, February 10th 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way)
Seattle, USA

www.fantagraphics.com

Hours: Monday - Saturday 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:30 to 5:00 PM

Related Event:
“25 Years of Love & Rockets” panel discussion and book signing Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, moderated by Gary Groth Sunday, February 11, 1:00 - 3:00 PM Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery

All events free to the public of all ages