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FIRST IMPRESSIONS - FANTAGRAPHICS EDITION
For over 27 years Fantagraphics has been at the forefront of Comics journalism and alternative comics publishing. Never kowtowing to mainstream publishers or commercialization - Fanta has remained a lone voice - the conscience of our industry. They've nurtured - and continue to publish - such comics superstars as Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Dan Clowes, Peter Bagge, Jessica Abel, Jim Woodring, Kaz, Charles Burns, Dave Cooper, Joe Sacco and numerous others. They are the main publishing force for the historical and current works of Robert Crumb. They are the only publishing company currently dedicated to keeping historical comics (PRINCE VALIANT, LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE, POPEYE, et al) in print. And, in the past three years, they have improved their production processes to produce simply some of the most elegant comics and illustrative books available anywhere (their Krigstein retrospective, Interviews with Jack Kirby, Quarterly Special editions).
Through surges and recessions in the economy and comics industry, Fantagraphics has continued - inspiring entire new generations of alt publishers (Alternative Comics, Top Shelf, Oni, Drawn & Quarterly). But now, Fantagraphics is having financial troubles. They were stiffed by a distributor for $70,000 - and to stay in business they need to sell a lot of books, very quickly.
I have always always enjoyed Fantagraphics Books. From AMAZING HEROES to every single POPEYE book - yes, I have them ALL! - to the extensive Dave Sim and Harlan Ellison issues of THE COMICS JOURNAL (and yes, I've still got the issue where Ellison calls Michael Fleisher (of JONAH HEX fame) a "Bugfuck"). So, I can proudly say I've been with Fanta since the beginning. But in my three years at PopImage, I've seen Fanta experiment - impressively - with new formats - all the while continuing to publish the World's Greatest Comics.
Here then, is a sampling of Fanta coverage we've done during my editing tenure. All these books are at least RECOMMENDED - and most HIGHLY RECOMMENDED And I'll bet you they're all still available at www.FANTAGRAPHICS.com. If you've got some spare change in your pocket - go get these books, NOW. All reviews by Alex Bernstein (AB) and Brian Cremins (BC).  LOVE AND ROCKETS VOL. 1 #21-26
"Human Diastrophism"
"Blood Of Palomar"
by Gilbert Hernandez
Fantagraphic Books
1989
di·as·tro·phism (d-str-fzm) n. The process of deformation by which the major features of the earth's crust, including continents, mountains, ocean beds, folds, and faults, are formed.
How true. Hailed as the Gabriel Garcia Marquez of comics, Gilbert Hernandez had been telling stories of the little village of Palomar in L&R, for years. Always, his "Heartbreak Soup" serial was wistful, poignant and rich in character moments. But in "Human Diastrophism" he crafted his most powerful, human and tragic story. Beginning with a plague of monkeys assailing the village, Beto moved from subplot to subplot - from Luba's love interests to Tonanzin's protests to murder mystery. The story was rich in symbolism. And it included, perhaps, the most horrifying denouement ever in comics. "Human Diastrophism" beat out Alan Moore's V FOR VENDETTA for a Harvey Award in 1989, which should give you an idea of the scope and quality of this material. (AB) [NOTE: This book one of AB's TOPS OF THE POPS - i.e. top 10 all-time favorite comix.]
"Human Diastrophism" can be purchased at Fantagraphics.com in the collected trade paperback BLOOD OF PALOMAR.
 MYSTIC FUNNIES #3
By Robert Crumb
Fantagraphic Books
$3.95
Hey look: Live from Paris - R. Crumb's first book in over three years! (#1 came out in '98. Was there ever a #2?) Nice to see that even though the guy isn't as prolific as - well, just about all his peers - he's still hands down a master of the form. Okay, it's not Zap Comics #0. But that being said, Mystic is as strong, writing and art-wise as anything Crumb - or any of his fellow "undergrounders" - have done for the last 20 years. Reading him, you're instantly reminded of where all the Art Spieglemans, Pete Bagges, Dan Clowes, Dave Coopers, Kazzes, Joe Matts, Evan Dorkins, etc. etc. etc. come from. All owe as much a debt to Crumb as modern superhero artists do to Kirby and Eisner. The book itself is mainly three stories: "The Hipman," "Don't Tempt Fate" and "Super Duck." All are peak Crumb: the long cultural commentary, the autobio and the comics parody - and all are hysterical and even touching. (Super Duck is as irreverent as anything Crumb's ever done - although, I suspect he would've satirized Donald or Mickey if he (and Fanata) weren't afraid of having the whole print run mulched by lawsuits). There are references to the Crumb movie - and Mr. Natural and Jim Shooter even make appearances! Put aside G.I. Joe for one week and invest in the return of a master! Now, if only he put out a few more books...! (AB)  THE STUFF OF DREAMS
By Kim Deitch
Fantagraphic Books
$3.95
If Crumb was obsessed with old toys and e-Bay it's conceivable that this would be the end result. And that's actually a complement. This is my first "Waldo" book from Kim Deitch (he's got a whole string of 'em) and it's very endearing. Deitch has an incredibly clean, cartoony style and the story is tremendously friendly and wistful for one of our original underground cartoonists. See, some of them do age gracefully. The book is several stories within stories of a search for an elusive Waldo doll (think Mickey Mouse/Felix the Cat), the history of where the doll came from and whether of not the character was really alive. (Yes, that's what I said.) Fun, different, engaging. Check it out. (And potentially win $1,000!) (AB)
 HATE #8-9
"Follow that Dream"
by Peter Bagge
Fantagraphics Comics
1993
Stinky sticks a feather duster up a certain part of his anatomy - resulting in a "gimmick" that turns his band, "Leonard and the Love Gods" into the hottest thing around. Loading up the van with best friend Buddy Bradley as their manager - the boys go on a raucous tour, picking up chicks and taking every advantage of their newfound grunge success. Depressed over the loss of his bitchy gal, Val, (a much more interesting girlfriend in my mind than whacked-out Lisa ever turned out to be), Buddy and Stinky argue across the heartland. Taking some cues from Crumb and other underground cartoonists of the day (but really leading most of them) Pete Bagge created the smartest, funniest, truest underground comic of the '90's. HATE should've become the new Simpsons, Beavis or South Park. But somehow it never evolved past the comic. Still, HATE was brilliant and hysterical; particularly these two issues, in light of where Buddy and Stinky's relationship would head in years to come. Let's hope it one day makes it to the big screen. AB [NOTE: This book one of AB's TOPS OF THE POPS - i.e. top 10 all-time favorite comix.]
"Follow That Dream" is available through Fantagraphics.com in the second HATE collection "Buddy the Dreamer."
 20TH CENTURY EIGHTBALL
by Dan Clowes
Fantagraphic Books
$19.95
I've read all this stuff before (except for the all-too-brief new strips) and it's as hysterical as it was the first time. Back in Clowe's earlier, "funnier" days - he was simply the master, post-Kurtzman, of satirizing the comics industry. "Tits" alone is completely worth the price of admission.(AB)
 RAISIN PIE #1
By Rick Altergott and Ariel Bordeaux
Fantagraphic Books
$3.95
I'm familiar with Rick Altergott from his short "Doofus" strips in the back of HATE. Doofus graduates to his own book here (or half a book, anyway) and it's bizarre and pretty amusing. Altergott's style is a cross between Wally Wood and Dan Clowes. This first story is - sort-of - about a drug dealer just out of prison getting his revenge on the judge who sent him up. But that description's selling the story short. There's a sense that somehow Doofus might save the day. Or not. Hard to tell at this point, as the story's continued. As it is, Doofus may have the makings of a latter-day HERBIE. We'll see. The second half of the book is taken up by short (also continued) stories by (I'm assuming) Rick's girlfriend Ariel Bordeaux. Ariel's slice-of-life cartooning is slight and uneven in places, but she's definitely developing and worth keeping an eye on. Her best piece is the very funny back cover. (AB)
 DEAD END
by Thomas Ott
$13.95
Fantagraphics Books
DEAD END is comprised of two stories: one "The Millionairs" - a moody, cinematic, noir-thriller in the best Hitchkockian vein; and "Washing Day" - a surreal, cinematic, noir-thriller. "Millionairs" follows a predictable (but enjoyable) path of murder and destruction, as a suitcase containing a million dollars is passed from wretch to wretch. The story, well-rendered in black and white ink, is impressive and wordless - leaving the reader wanting more. "Millionairs" could easily have continued for the length of the entire book. "Washing Day" is a short, cute, noir look at a hitman stalking a magician, but it has nowhere near the impact of the first tale. Overall, DEAD END is a treat for fans of crime cinema and comics. ADULTS ONLY
 THE COMICS JOURNAL #248
Writer: Various
Fantagraphic Books
$6.95
THE COMICS JOURNAL has added a square binding and some color pages to its layout. Not that either of these things was necessary. If you haven't checked out the JOURNAL in a while, please do. It's opinionated and almost too literary, but still the best comics reporting in the industry, bar-none. With articles covering Joe Matt and the DOOM PATROL, as well as extremely lengthy interviews with Andi Watson and Steve Rude (with killer artwork for both), this is an especially entertaining issue. Probably the best thing about TCJ interviews are the utter lack of fanboy mentality present, as shown in Tom Spurgeon's interview with the "Dude." Spurgeon deftly asks Rude if he ever thought there would be a problem pitching his and Mike Baron's brilliant comic NEXUS as a cartoon to the networks, considering that Nexus kills alls his enemies. ...I'll let you read the rest of the interview yourself. Highly recommended.(AB)
 LA PERDIDA - PART ONE
by Jessica Abel
Fantagraphics Books
$4.95
In the last few years Jessica Abel has made a name for herself with her Fantagraphics series ARTBABE. Her plain-spoken stories of young romantic artists, writers, and lovers trying to understand their lives in the big city should come packaged with a complimentary copy of The Smiths' Greatest Hits. Abel makes what she does look easy and that is part of her brilliance: her stories creep up on you slowly. Suddenly you find yourself wishing you could buy her characters a drink, walk them home, or tell them your own stories. Abel's new Fantagraphics series is LA PERDIDA, the "lost one." A young American woman named Carla travels to Mexico City to search for her Mexican roots and her ex-boyfriend Harry. After arriving in the city, she says, "I had this immediate feeling that everything would be OK, that I would find the Mexico I was looking for, that it still existed." What she finds is an alcoholic ex-boyfriend who ignores her, and his jaded American expatriate friends. Carla is determined not to be the usual "ugly American tourist" and decides to study Spanish and the rich culture which surrounds her. Abel is a master of characterization. Within the first few pages of Part One you will sympathize with Carla's confusion and cheer on her optimism. Abel also weaves in a number of cultural references which will reward the careful reader. Legendary American writers Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, who spent a great deal of time in Mexico in the 1950s, are used to powerful effect at the end of Part One. La Perdida is drawn in a fluid style which recalls the sketchy, spontaneous work of Milton Caniff or Hugo Pratt. Part One begins as a romance, continues as a travelogue, and ends as a ghost story. With Part Two scheduled for release in March, you'll have plenty of time to reread this beautiful, sometimes chilling story, and wait anxiously for what Abel has in store for us next.(BC)
 THE WIPEOUT
by Francesca Ghermandi
$19.95
Fantagraphics Books
Mixing childhood imagery (GUMBY is practically an icon, here) with adult themes and a noir-askew "frame-up" plot, Ghermandi's WIPEOUT is an intriguing, flippy, surreal thriller. Yes, there is a plot: down-on-his-luck chemist, Jo Tartaglia, discovers the ultimate bleach while falling dangerously in love with seductive neighbor Virgin Prune. Virgin enlists Joe's aid in getting out of an abusive relationship, all behind the back of Joe's nagging beach-ball (literally) of a wife, Belle. (Belle's one desire is to afford a luxurious hair transplant.) Is Virgin's love true - or is there more here than meets the eye? With high production values, soft malleable covers and lush coloring, Francesca Ghermandi's WIPEOUT reads like Pedro Almodover for comix. (AB)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS runs just about every other week at PopImage.com. All artwork copyright it's respective owners and creators, used for purposes of review. Now go buy the Fantagraphics stuff, already!
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