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Wikipedia / Fantagraphics

Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed several awards for achievement in comic books.

History

Founding

Fantagraphics was founded in 1976 by Gary Groth and Michael Catron in College Park, Maryland. The company took over an adzine named The Nostalgia Journal, which it renamed The Comics Journal, transforming it from an adzine into a magazine of news and criticism that just happened to carry advertisements.

Kim Thompson joined the company in 1977, using his inheritance to keep the company afloat. He soon became a co-owner.

The company moved from Washington, D.C., to Stamford, Connecticut, to Los Angeles over its early years, before settling in Seattle in 1989.

Beginning in 1981 Fantagraphics (under its Redbeard Inc. imprint) published Amazing Heroes, a magazine which examined comics from a hobbyist's point of view, as another income stream to supplement The Comics Journal. Amazing Heroes ran for 204 issues (plus a number of specials and annuals), folding with its July 1992 issue.

Comics publisher

Beginning in 1979, Fantagraphics began publishing comics, starting with Jay Disbrow's The Flames of Gyro. They gained wider recognition in 1982 by publishing the Hernández brothers' Love and Rockets, and moved on to such critically acclaimed and award-winning series as Acme Novelty Library, Eightball, and Hate.

The company moved operations to Greater Los Angeles in 1984.

Catron acted as Fantagraphics' co-publisher until 1985 (also handling advertising and circulation for The Comics Journal from 1982 to 1985), when he left the company.

The Kirby Awards and the Harvey Awards

From 1985 to 1987, Fantagraphics coordinated and presented (through their magazine Amazing Heroes) The Jack Kirby Award for achievement in comic books, voted on by comic-book professionals. The Kirby Award was managed by Dave Olbrich, a Fantagraphics employee (and later publisher of Malibu Comics). In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics each claimed ownership of the awards. A compromise was reached, and, starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued and two new awards were created: the Eisner Awards, managed by Olbrich; and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Awards, named for cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman.

Relocation to Seattle

In 1989, Fantagraphics relocated from Los Angeles to its current location in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.

In 1990, the publisher introduced Eros Comix, a lucrative line of erotic comics that provided a replacement revenue stream for Amazing Heroes and which helped the company again avoid bankruptcy.

Longtime employee Eric Reynolds joined Fantagraphics in 1993, first as news editor for The Comics Journal from 1993, before moving to marketing and promotion in 1996. Groth and Thompson acknowledged Reynolds was key to the company's rise to profitability.

Tom Spurgeon, later known as the publisher of The Comics Reporter, was editor of The Comics Journal from 1994 to 1999.

Financial ups and downs

In 1998, Fantagraphics was forced into a round of layoffs; and in 2003 the company almost went out of business, losing over $60,000 in the wake of the 2002 bankruptcy of debtor and book trade distributor Seven Hills Distribution. One employee quit during the subsequent downsizing while denouncing Fantagraphics' "disorganization and poor management." As journalist (and former Fantagraphics employee) Michael Dean wrote, "the publisher has alternated between flourishing and nearly perishing over the years."

Fantagraphics was saved by a restructuring and a successful appeal to comic book fandom that resulted in a huge number of orders. After restructuring, the company has had greater success with such hardcover collections as The Complete Peanuts, distributed by W. W. Norton & Company.

In 2009, Fantagraphics ceased publishing the print edition of The Comics Journal, shifting from an eight-times a year publishing schedule to a larger, more elaborate, semi-annual format supported by a new website.

European line

Starting in 2005, Fantagraphics began a European graphic novel line, starting with the co-publication of the Ignatz Series, edited and produced by the Italian artist Igort. The publisher announced a deal with Jacques Tardi in March 2009 that would see co-publisher Thompson translate a large number of his books.

New challenges

In 2006, Fantagraphics opened its own retail store, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.

In 2009 Jacq Cohen started as the publicist for Fantagraphics.

Co-publisher Kim Thompson left Fantagraphics due to illness in March 2013, and died of lung cancer a few months later. His absence left the company without a number of titles it had been counting on for the summer and fall of 2013; and, in November, Fantagraphics started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $150,000, which it surpassed in four days.

In August 2020 the company rebranded, from Fantagraphics Books to just Fantagraphics. At the same time it introduced a more compact logo featuring a stylized ink pen nib and a torch.

In 2023, Fantagraphics began reprinting comics from Atlas Comics under license from Marvel Comics. To date, they have released eight volumes devoted to series and three devoted to creators. In April 2025 they began a series of hardcovers called "Lost Marvels." The first volume, released in April, collects Tower of Shadows. The second, scheduled for August, focuses on Howard Chaykin and includes Dominic Fortune, Monark Starstalker, and Phantom Eagle. The third, scheduled for November, reprints Savage Tales (vol. 2).

Imprints

Ignatz Series

The Ignatz Series is an international comic imprint. It is published by Fantagraphics (U.S.), Avant Verlag (Germany), Vertige Graphic (France), Oog & Blik (Holland), Coconino Press (Italy), and Sinsentido (Spain). It is named for Ignatz Mouse, a character in the comic strip Krazy Kat.

The books in the Ignatz Series are designed midway between standard North American comic book pamphlet-size and graphic novel-size. Each title is 32 pages, two-color, saddle stitched, 8″ × 11″, with jacket, priced at $7.95.

The Ignatz collection is edited and produced by Italian artist Igort. Fantagraphics editor Kim Thompson frequently provided translations.

Eros Comix

Eros Comix was an adult-oriented imprint of Fantagraphics, established in 1990 to publish pornographic comic books like Gilbert Hernández' Birdland and reprints of work by Wally Wood and Frank Thorne. Eventually, Eros added to its catalogue dozens of comics titles, over 40 collected editions, anime videos, DVDs, and books of erotic art and photography. The 2006 Eros Comix print catalog sold over 470 items, including adult comic books and humorous cheesecake-style comics often featuring pin-up girls like Bettie Page. The Eros Comix imprint was popular enough that it is credited with making Fantagraphics financially solvent.

Notable Eros titles include Bill Willingham's Ironwood, SS Crompton's Demi the Demoness, Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss, Domino Lady; and the Italian series Djustine, Ramba, and Adult Frankenstein.

Writer-artist Tom Sutton contributed work to Eros titles under the pseudonym "Dementia". Other contributors to Eros titles included Eric Stanton, Mary Fleener, Mikael Oskarsson, Bill Pearson, Malachy Coney, Richard Bassford, Gary Dumm, Frank Stack, Bob Fingerman, Molly Kiely, Yanick Paquette, Robert Peters, John Workman, Colleen Coover, Marc Andreyko, Raulo Cáceres, Larry Fuller, Dennis Eichhorn, Dennis Cramer/Justine Mara Andersen, Jon Macy, John Blackburn, and Greg Budgett.

Eros' MangErotica line featured translated hentai manga by the likes of Isutoshi, Oh! great, Toshiki Yui, Teruo Kakuta, and Benkyo Tamaoki; and titles like Bondage Fairies, Hatsuinu, Hot Tails, A Strange Kind of Woman, Slut Girl, and Super Taboo.

In the beginning, there was some controversy over Eros titles featuring back cover ads with phone sex numbers. In 1994, Eros editor Tom Verre was replaced by Jeremy Pinkham.

By the late 1990s, the imprint was no longer profitable, and the publication of new material diminished rapidly. The Eros Comix website was no longer being maintained by 2017; its titles no longer appear on the Fantagraphics website under that label.

Titles

Comics anthology magazines

Magazines

Comic book series

# series

  1. 0: Babel #1 by David B. [France]

  2. Baobab #1 by Igort [Italy]

  3. Insomnia #1 by Matt Broersma [U.K./U.S.A.]

  4. Wish You Were Here #1: The Innocents by Gipi [Italy]

  5. Interiorae #1 by Gabriella Giandelli [Italy]

  6. Ganges #1 by Kevin Huizenga [U.S.A.]

  7. Chimera #1 by Lorenzo Mattotti [Italy]

  8. Insomnia #2 by Matt Broersma [U.K./U.S.A.]

  9. Babel #2 by David B. [France]

  10. Wish You Were Here #2: They Found the Car by Gipi [Italy]

  11. Reflections #1 by Marco Corona [Italy]

  12. Baobab #2 by Igort [Italy]

  13. Niger #1 by Leila Marzocchi [Italy]

  14. Delphine #1 by Richard Sala [U.S.]

  15. New Tales of Old Palomar #1 by Gilbert Hernández [U.S.]

  16. Interiorae #2 by Gabriella Giandelli [Italy]

  17. Calvario Hills #1 by Marti [Spain]

  18. The End #1 by Anders Nilsen [U.S.]

  19. Reflections #2 by Marco Corona [Italy]

  20. New Tales of Old Palomar #2 by Gilbert Hernández [U.S.]

  21. Delphine #2 by Richard Sala [U.S.]

  22. Sammy the Mouse #1 by Zak Sally [U.S.]

  23. Grotesque #1 by Sergio Ponchione [Italy]

  24. Niger #2 by Leila Marzocchi [Italy]

  25. Reflections #3 by Marco Corona [Italy]

  26. Insomnia #3 by Matt Broersma [U.K./U.S.A.]

  27. New Tales of Old Palomar #3 by Gilbert Hernández [U.S.]

  28. Ganges #2 by Kevin Huizenga [U.S.]

  29. Baobab #3 by Igort [Italy]

  30. Delphine #3 by Richard Sala [U.S.]

  31. Grotesque #2 by Sergio Ponchione [Italy]

  32. Interiorae #3 by Gabriella Giandelli [Italy]

  33. Sammy the Mouse #2 by Zak Sally [U.S.]

  34. Grotesque #3 by Sergio Ponchione [Italy]

  35. Delphine #4 by Richard Sala [U.S.]

  36. Ganges #3 by Kevin Huizenga [U.S.]

  37. Niger #3 by Leila Marzocchi [Italy]

  38. Grotesque #4 by Sergio Ponchione [Italy]

  39. Interiorae #4 by Gabriella Giandelli [Italy]

  40. Sammy the Mouse #3 by Zak Sally [U.S.]

  41. Ganges #4 by Kevin Huizenga [U.S.]

  42. To be released:

  43. XX: Babel #3 by David B.

  44. XX: Baobab #4 by Igort [Italy]

  45. XX: Calvario Hills #2 by Marti

  46. XX: The End #2 by Anders Nilsen

  47. XX: Wish You Were Here #3 by Gipi [Italy]

Graphic novels

Classic comics compilations

Disney comics

Other titles

Books

Eros Comix titles

MangErotica titles

Recognition

Kirby Awards

1986

Note: In 1988, the Kirby Awards was disbanded and replaced by the Harvey and the Eisner Awards.

Eisner Awards

List of won Eisner Awards:

1994

  • Best Archival Collection: Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland Vol. 6 by Winsor McCay

1995

  • Best Publication Design: The Acme Novelty Library, designed by Chris Ware

1996

  • Best Continuing Series: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware

  • Best Archival Collection: The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 11, by Robert Crumb

  • Best Coloring: Chris Ware - The Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Comics-Related Publication - Periodical: The Comics Journal

  • Best Publication Design: The Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware

1997

  • Best Comics-Related Periodical: The Comics Journal

  • Best Publication Design: Acme Novelty Library Vol. 7

1998

  • Best Coloring: Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Comics-Related Periodical: The Comics Journal

  • Best Comics-Related Product: Acme Novelty Library display stand, designed by Chris Ware

1999

  • Best Comics-Related Periodical: The Comics Journal

2000

  • Best Continuing Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware

  • Best Graphic Album - New: Acme Novelty Library Vol. 13, by Chris Ware

  • Best Writer/Artist: Dan Clowes, Eightball

2001

  • Best Writer/Artist - Humor: Tony Millionaire, Maakies

  • Best Coloring: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #14

2002

  • Best Single Issue: Eightball #22, by Dan Clowes

  • Best Writer/Artist: Dan Clowes, Eightball

  • Best Publication Design: Acme Novelty Library #15, designed by Chris Ware

2003

  • Best Single Issue or One-Shot: The Stuff of Dreams by Kim Deitch

  • Best Archival Collection/Project: Krazy & Ignatz by George Herriman

  • Best Writer/Artist- Humor: Tony Millionaire, The House at Maakies Corner

  • Best Comics-Related Publication (Periodical or Book): B. Krigstein Vol. 1, by Greg Sadowski

2004

  • Best Archival Collection/Project: Krazy & Ignatz: 1929–1930, by George Herriman, edited by Bill Blackbeard

2005

  • Best Single Issue or One-Shot: Eightball #23: "The Death Ray", by Dan Clowes

  • Best Archival Collection/Project: The Complete Peanuts edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Publication Design: The Complete Peanuts, designed by Seth

2007

2008

  • Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books: I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!, by Fletcher Hanks

  • Best U.S. Edition of International Material: I Killed Adolf Hitler by Jason

2009

  • Best U.S. Edition of International Material:The Last Musketeer by Jason

2011

  • Best Reality-Based Work: It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi

  • Best U.S. Edition of International Material: It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi

2012

2013

2014

  • Best Short Story: Untitled by Gilbert Hernández, in Love and Rockets: New Stories #6

  • Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Goddam This War!,by Jacques Tardi and Jean-Pierre Verney

  • Best Writer/Artist: Jamie Hernández, Love and Rockets: New Stories #6

2015

2016

2017

  • Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books (at least 20 years old): The Complete Wimmen's Comix, edited by Trina Robbins, Gary Groth and J. Michael Catron

2018

2020

  • Best Single Issue/One-Shot: Our Favorite Thing is My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris

  • Best U.S. Edition of International Material: The House by Paco Roca

2021

  • Best Graphic Album - Reprint: Seeds and Stems by Simon Hanselmann

  • Best Webcomic: Crisis Zone by Simon Hanselmann

  • Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Goblin Girl by Moa Romanova

  • Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips: The Flapper Queens: Women Cartoonists of the Jazz Age edited by Trina Robbins

  • Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books: The Complete Hate by Peter Bagge

2022

2024

  • Best Graphic Album - Reprint: Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus by Ed Piskor

  • Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips: Dauntless Dames: High-Heeled Heroes of the Comic Strips edited by Peter Maresca and Trina Robbins

  • Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Comics Journal #309 edited by Gary Groth, Kristy Valenti, and Austin English

Harvey Awards

List of won Harvey Awards:

1989

  • Best Writer: Gilbert Hernández - Love and Rockets

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernández

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb

1990

  • Best Writer: Gilbert Hernández - Love and Rockets

  • Best New Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernández

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Eightball #1, by Dan Clowes

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay

1991

  • Best Cartoonist (writer/artist): Peter Bagge, Hate

  • Best Letterer: Dan Clowes, Eightball

  • Best New Series: Hate by Peter Bagge

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Eightball #3, by Dan Clowes

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Helena Harvilicz

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: The Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay, edited by Richard Marschall, designed by Dale Crain

1992

  • Best Inker: Jaime Hernández, Love and Rockets

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Helena Harvilicz and Frank Young

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: The Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay, edited by Richard Marschall, art directed by Dale Crain

1993

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Frank Young

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb

1994

  • Best American Edition of Foreign Material: Billie Holiday by José Antonio Muñoz and Carlos Sampayo, edited by Gary Grot, Robert Boyd and Kim Thompson

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Little Nemo In Slumberland Vol. 6 by Winsor McCay, edited by Bill Blackbeard, packaged by Dale Crain

1995

  • Best New Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb, edited by Gary Groth and Robert Boyd, art direction by Mark Thompson

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson

1996

  • Best Letterer: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. II, by Robert Crumb, edited by Mark Thompson

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware

1997

  • Best Writer: Daniel Clowes, Eightball

  • Best Letterer: Dan Clowes, Eightball

  • Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Acme Novelty Library #13, by Chris Ware

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Tom Spurgeon

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware

1998

  • Best Colorist: Chris Ware, his body of work in 1997, including Acme Novelty Library

  • Best New Series: Penny Century by Janime Hernández, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Single Issue or Story:Eightball #18, by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware

1999

  • Best Artist or Penciller: Jaime Hernández, his body of work in 1998, including Penny Century

  • Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Penny Century #3 "Home School", by Jaime Hernández

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Tom Spurgeon

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware

2000

  • Best Inker: Jaime Hernández, Penny Century

  • Best Letterer: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Cover Artist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best New Series: Weasel by Dave Cooper, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Acme Novelty Library #13 by Chris Ware

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library #13 by Chris Ware

2001

  • Best Artist or Penciller: Jaime Hernández, Penny Century

  • Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best New Series: Luba's Comix and Stories by Gilbert Hernández, edited by Gary Groth

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal

2002

  • Best Cartoonist (writer/artist): Daniel Clowes, Eightball

  • Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best Letterer: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library

  • Best New Series: La Perida, by Jessica Abel

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Eightball #22 by Dan Clowes

2003

  • Best Inker: Jaime Hernández, Love and Rockets

  • Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work: 20th Century Eightball by Daniel Clowes

  • Best Anthology: Comics Journal Summer Special 2002

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: B. Krigstein Vol. 1

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: Krazy and Ignatz

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Krazy and Ignatz, designed by Chris Ware

2004

  • Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best Cover Artist: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Love and Rockets #9 by Jamie and Gilbert Hernández (tied with Gotham Central # 6-10 by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark)

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: Krazy and Ignatz by George Herriman, edited by Bill Blackbeard

2005

  • Best Writer: Daniel Clowes - Eightball

  • Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best Single Issue or Story: Eightball #23 by Daniel Clowes - 2006, Love and Rockets (vol. 2) #15, by Hernández

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Peanuts 1950–1952 by Charles Schulz

  • Special Award Excellence in Presentation: The Complete Peanuts 1950–1952, by Charles Schulz, designed by Seth

2006

  • Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole

  • Best New Talent: R. Kikuo Johnson, Night Fisher (split award with tied Marvel Knights 4 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa)

  • Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth

2007

  • Best Cartoonist (writer/artist): Jaime Hernández, Love and Rockets

  • Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Peanuts

2008

2009

2011

  • Best Continuing or Limited Series: Love and Rockets Vol. 3 by Jaime and Gilbert Hernández

2013

  • Best Cartoonist (writer/artist): Jaime Hernández, Love and Rockets

References

Notes

Sources